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Nancy Drew: Girl Detective Super Mystery #2
Once Upon a Crime
Once upon a crime, in a faraway land know as River Heights...
Hi, it's me, Nancy Drew. I thought meeting my hero, mystery writer Hazel Perrault, would be a dream come true. As soon as I found out she was joining forces with a local charity to build a community center for wayward teen girls, I knew I wanted to help.
But instead of building and decorating, I'm, stuck doing all the cooking and cleaning for all the other volunteers! Yuck! Worse yet, I have a hunch that someone is trying to sabotage the project -- and the big fund-raising gala at the end of it.
My fairy-tale adventure is turning into a nightmare, and if I can't solve this mystery, I'm not sure any of us will be able to live happily ever after....
Hi, it's me, Nancy Drew. I thought meeting my hero, mystery writer Hazel Perrault, would be a dream come true. As soon as I found out she was joining forces with a local charity to build a community center for wayward teen girls, I knew I wanted to help.
But instead of building and decorating, I'm, stuck doing all the cooking and cleaning for all the other volunteers! Yuck! Worse yet, I have a hunch that someone is trying to sabotage the project -- and the big fund-raising gala at the end of it.
My fairy-tale adventure is turning into a nightmare, and if I can't solve this mystery, I'm not sure any of us will be able to live happily ever after....
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,101 books3,902 followersCarolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people- both men and women- over the years. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 9, 2011
Only rated 3, because I don't remember much about it since I read it so long ago ...
July 10, 2023
Considering this was a Super Mystery I was expecting a lot more. The mystery would have been better suited for the younger series of Nancy Drew books. It took me so long to read it because I was so often just bored with it. In fact, the only reason I did finish it was because I really want to read every single book in the cannon. The first half of the book was incredibly slow and only had a few paragraphs of clues towards the final solution. The end was lackluster and quite frankly tells you a great deal about the Girl Detective Series.
May 5, 2021
This was okay, but the Cinderella references were a little much.
February 17, 2023
A very cute (yet low intensity) mystery that doubles as a Cinderella retelling starring Nancy Drew. Not too much action but several good character moments and very little Ned so I enjoyed it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2007
I started reading this book for my next english project the genre is mystery i still have not finished my book The Wish but that should be coming up in the fantasy genre but this book is pretty good so far there is really good detail and there is a good plot.
September 27, 2008
go nancy drew!!!
April 27, 2010
I like this book so far, but it is not my favorite book!
It is good entertainment if you are bored:)
It is good entertainment if you are bored:)
March 24, 2012
Good! Details fill the book!
May 4, 2012
Nancy Drew.
January 11, 2016
I enjoyed the subtle borrowings and hinting from one of my favourite fairy tales, Cinderella. It was interesting to see how a Nancy Drew story would pan out if it were a fairy tale.
June 15, 2018
I think a character strength for nancy drew would definitely be determined. she never gave up on her goal no matter how hard or difficult it was. And wasn't ready to ever give up!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews