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Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #88

The Search for Cindy Austin

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When Cindy Austin, the mischievous daughter of two government scientists, disappears for a second time, Nancy is convinced that this time its not a prank and Cindy is in trouble

150 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1989

11 people are currently reading
1028 people want to read

About the author

Carolyn Keene

999 books3,864 followers
Carolyn 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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.

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5 stars
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105 (32%)
3 stars
102 (31%)
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21 (6%)
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library).
4,899 reviews89 followers
March 6, 2021
No matter how many Nancy Drew books I read, I still find myself enthralled by almost every one. Like an old-school Saturday morning series, this one delivers plenty of action, fun, and intensity. Some may say they've written too many books about that famed teenage sleuth; maybe they have, but, I'm still having a blast with these novels.
Profile Image for Izzy.
697 reviews1 follower
April 26, 2020
these paperbacks just get better and better! I love the high stakes stories
Profile Image for Janet Miles.
23 reviews
March 1, 2025
Gotta love Nancy Drew so fun to read!! Great little book!!
Profile Image for Alex.
6,650 reviews1 follower
February 11, 2024
I kind of loved this one, even though Cindy was incredibly obnoxious.
681 reviews3 followers
March 29, 2014
Cindy Austin is a precocious genius, daughter to two scientists, her life is bodyguards, moving and secrets. When she runs away and challenges Nancy to find her, she doesn't realize how much real danger she may be in.
Profile Image for Serena.
3,259 reviews71 followers
April 26, 2017
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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