The Fox Hunt Mystery

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #132

by Carolyn Keene

When Nancy's friend Laura's family stables are sabotaged and then Laura's favorite horse is stolen, Nancy must discover if Laura's spoiled rival is trying to hurt her or if the upcoming fox hunt has enraged animal activists who will stop at nothing to end this sport.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Adventure, Contemporary

151 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1996

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my youth, Nancy Drew was SUPER big among the popular girls at my school. I was never into Nancy Drew for that reason (I was a bit of a rebel nerd and I relished in my Harry Potter, Goosebumps and Twilight) but I always wanted to sneak a peek at these books.

I found this one at a local used book store and decided it would be a nice addition to my shelf, and I wasn't wrong!

I can tell why young girls like these books. They are dramatic, easy to read, full of youthful tones and amusing. Right from the beginning, if you are in detective mode then you can tell how this book is going to end. The fact that it's the #132 book in the series blows my mind, because this series went on FOREVER and I just didn't realize.

This book is predictable. Nancy Drew (who is now 18) goes on a fox hunt mystery (like the title suggests) with her friends. When a horse is stolen and people are being threaten to stop the horrible fox hunt, chaos ensues. Nancy Drew hopes on to solve the mystery and my gosh, she does it!

There are some comments in this book that made me actually laugh. One of the real gems is that she doesn't want people to know she's a detective. Okay, she is in her own right but it's not like she went to study Law or anything... but it's a middle grade novel, so you need to throw reality out the window.

Overall, this doesn't have the magic that I hoped it would but it was enjoyable. It was a nice, quick, escape read that made me smile.

Two out of five stars.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like usual, I'm short on time today, so, I'll be brief: Though this was good, it wasn't up to par with most of the other mysteries I've read featuring the famed teenage sleuth.

[Raven · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've always loved reading the Nancy Drew series. However, I find the newer books to be pretty horrible. Maybe it's the fact that there's an attempt to modernize everything. I just really liked the time period and writing style the originals have.

[Miri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Someone is sabotaging a Fox Hunt, putting riders and horses in danger, is it the animal activists trying to bring a halt to the hunt altogether, a competing hunt club owner trying to run them out of business, or someone with a more personal vendetta?

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect to like this book since fox hunting isn't very appealing, but the author worked that aspect in and I enjoyed this and didn't see the resolution coming. The subplot with the animal activists was well done and added meaning.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a decent read, especially for a YA book. I prefer the classic yellow hardbacks. I like that the book promotes that it's not good to hunt and scare animals unnecessarily, but it felt very aggressive, such as you have to agree with this POV. The story had the usual mystery, but it felt lacking in its atmosphere, like a bit flat. I think a lack of action is the issue. Nancy doesn't get much in the line of threats and it felt like most of the investigation was kept to short conversations and summaries of Nancy and George's detective work.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.

http://spreadthewordnevada.org/

Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.

I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.

[Jodie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This would have been good, but it seems the authors of this Nancy Drew book desired to push their views down the throat of pre-teens and teens. Thank you very much, but I will decide if I agree with fox hunts or not !!!
I like Nancy Drew books, but I don't really appreciate it when the authors shove things like evolution and the like down my throat ... which is why I prefer the original Nancy Drew books. They still have some stuff I don't like, but nowhere near the amount the newer ones have. And in the original books, Nancy isn't boy crazy.

[Eric Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent ND book! Fast paced, intriguing, and engaging. I liked that there were different suspects with motives and that Nancy didn't focus on one suspect. The culprit did become obvious halfway through, but the motive was unclear. Overall, a really good ND book that will keep you guessing with a happy satisfactory ending. 5 stars.

[Prami{reader and dreamer} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't remember much but I liked Nancy and the mysteries.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Gail Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I'm now a senior, I still enjoy Nancy Drew for a relaxing, quick read. Read them all when young.

[Kelly Wickham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never read a Nancy Drew book as a kid, but was pleasantly surprised as an adult reading them with the kids, that they are decent and intelligent reading. I liked that Nancy is a strong female heroine. She is intelligent and in control of the situation and not afraid of putting herself in danger to solve the mystery for the good of all concerned. While the plot is somewhat juvenile and simplistic, it was still not obvious who done it. The chapter endings did crack me up with their consistent silly cliffhangers. It was irresistable to say du, du du at the end of each chapter.

[peter f mathias · Rating 5 out of 5]

My relationship to horses not up to a fox hunt. Tour de France more my style

Preserving beautiful countryside is best accomplished by understanding and respecting tradition - together with a big dose of modern ecology. Easy to see Nancy and George as proponents of both. TALLYHO State of Maryland!

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5; I have to remember that these books are written for teens or pre-teens, so I’m a bit more sophisticated than that. The story lines seem to be repeating with some changes in the villains.

[Jamie Clendening · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love all Nancy Drew books, takes me back to childhood. It was fun to read this with my daughter. Suspense with every page turn. Who was the one trying to stop the fox hunt?

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun read. The mystery was good and pretty entertaining.

[Saradha Devi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy’s friend Laura Passano has invited her down to Maryland to enjoy a horseback riding holiday. The weather is wonderful, the pastures peaceful, the trip a real treat. There’s only one catch: Someone’s out to sabotage the Passano family stables. First, the feed is poisoned, and then Laura's favorite horse, Morning Glory, is stolen!

Did Alexa Shaw, Laura’s spoiled rival, find the perfect way to hurt her? Or has the upcoming fox hunt so enraged animal activists that they’ve turned to sabotage? Spurred to action, Nancy’s on the hunt for a lawbreaker—and she’s headed straight into a hornet’s nest of greed, jealousy, deception, and dangerous secrets!

[V. Arrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know. It's a whole book about how fox hunting is okay, actually, and can be done morally, actually, and like. I just feel like it's one of those ND books that doesn't... mesh with who Nancy *is*

[Kacie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too Juvenal,
Not for me.
Just read to scratch off reading bucket list.
Library book sale.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cunning like a fox! :D

[Katie (BooksRUs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this series as a kid!