The Key in the Satin Pocket

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #152

by Carolyn Keene

When Nancy tries on an old brocade jacket in a vintage clothing store with Bess and George, she finds an old safe-deposit box receipt in the pocket and a key sewn into the lining. Soon the girls are tracing items from an old estate scattered in antiques shops across town—and are immersed in a mystery involving long-lost relatives, a missing will, and a hidden fortune .

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Juvenile, Classics, Thriller, Crime

149 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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.

Reviews

[Gracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok.

[LuAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good old-fashioned hometown detective work--run around checking in River Heights antique stores, call all the local hotel, interrogate bank clerks, break into the mansion-turned-school, take a break for lunch--Nancy, Bess and George are all heavily involved in tracking down the clues. They seem to jump to more conclusions than usual in this one--Nancy is usually pretty fact-based in her deductions, but I enjoyed it. Missing wills and heirs, antiques and mansions are always fun in mystery stories. There's even a fun fact from Nancy's childhood about a bridge with an amusing nickname!

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Classic Nancy Drew. Inheritance, Nancy ensuring poor people become rich, Nancy gets instant access to police help for some reason, Bess and George serve no other reason than to tell Nancy how impressive she is, and everyone helpfully refers to every one else by their full names to ensure it's impossible not to pick the culprit from their first appearance. Cost me $1, and its going right back to the 2nd hand book store!

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply one of my fave nancy drews to revisit. Yes, it's for kids/pre-teens but, it's fast-paced, engaging, and the aesthetic of the vintage shop & old manor home turned school are both beautiful. I always enjoyed how long this one took to turn into a mystery beyond a simple nostalgic "what happened to the people who came before?" attitude.

[Christine Goodnough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book seems to be written in the same voice as the original series and with the original characters, though technical aspects are updated. Otherwise the story-line is much the same as what you'd expect from the traditional Nancy Drew tales.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Doris Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good mystery

[Megan Fultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one 💕💕💕

[Shades · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

[mcxydust · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading the first chapter of this book when I was in seventh grade. I wasn't interested in Nancy Drew mysteries at the time, so I promptly returned it. After nearly six years of forgetting about this book, I suddenly felt compelled to finish what I had started.
So... my 13 years old self was right all along!! This book is definitely not worth reading.

[Rhintany · Rating 5 out of 5]

gw suka semua seri nancy drew... bagi yang suka petualangan yang super seru tapi gak bikin otak ciut bacanya.. ini dia jawabannya..

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to really be into the Nancy Drew series. In grade 2, 3, and 4, I must have read at least a hundred of them, at least twice each.
This is probably my favourite of them all.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome but quite scary

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always check the pockets of your new clothes especially if you bought it from antique shops, because u may find things that might lead you to bloodthirsty mysteries!!

[Lav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used to love Nancy Drew books when I was a little girl.

[V. Arrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

"[The victim] knew what they were doing. They left a clue where Nancy Drew could find it."

[Alexis :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it it is sooooooooo good! ive read it twice!