The Scarlet Macaw Scandal

Nancy Drew: Girl Detective #8

by Carolyn Keene

Bess, George, and I volunteered to go to Costa Rica for some R&R: rest and research. See, Corcovado Ecologica, a popular resort and preserve, isn't only a beautiful getaway; it's also a great place to study three species of monkeys. Or so we thought.

When we arrived on the scene, we found the place in a shambles, and the monkeys were few and far between. And if the problem gets worse, the resort's going to be in trouble. Clearly my friends and I won't have much time for "monkeying around" on this trip -- we've got a case to crack!

Catch my next case:

Secret of the Spa

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2004

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, this series delivers once again.

[Leeanne G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just knew that I would love this mystery. Costa Rica, wild animals, and a book of this Nancy Drew series = 5 stars. It was wonderful to get out of River Heights and visit a beautiful country like Costa Rica. It was even better to be at an ecological reserve! I feel so jealous that Nancy, Bess, and George not only got to visit the place but were part of an ecological research team! I loved learning about some of the native wildlife, especially the many different species of monkeys. And to top it off, the mysteries were very engaging with very high stakes.

[Seema M. Fazil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but really predictable.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Y’all. This is so bad that I almost want to give it 5 stars for the sheer audacity. It surpassed even my low expectations.

It reads like the publisher sponsored a “write the next Nancy Drew mystery!” contest at a high school and this was the “winner”. The only other plausible explanation for this hot mess of a MG book is nepotism. But, hey, it checked off a reading challenge prompt so I can’t call it a total waste of the hour and a half it took me to read it.

[Abhi]

there was no electricity and my phone and Kindle were both out of battery so i decided to reread this!!! i finished it in only 40 minutes lol these books are SHORT

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great surprise, it was fun and super quick to read, plus it's fitting for all age groups. I think I might check oujt the other 39 books in the series, and especially look into the classic series.

[Randi]

I had never read a Nancy Drew book - I didn't realize there was an 'updated' Nancy Drew series from the 2000s, so I still kind of feel like I haven't read a Nancy Drew book. IDK what age group this targets since Nancy is in college but it is written like it is still for an elementary kid.

[Riya Sabhwarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love mysteries and romance novels this one was certainly what I was looking for, it really displaces friendship and bond and how people can be innocent and not see what the other person is actually doing. *Okay no more spoilers*
Read it if you like mysteries.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

On reading list for upcoming grandparent/grandchild trip to Costa Rica. It's been a long time since I read a Nancy Drew and this one entertained and informed about the rain forest.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, with actual clue finding and less wild hunches than usual.

[Kanan Virkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply amazing

[C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the ones that came before it, maybe because it's predictable. However, that doesn't mean that it's bad, it's still a fun read.

[Sohila Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant plot and characters. Highlights very real problems in the world.

[Mansi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too predictable,but a fast read.
I loved other Nancy Drew stories far more than this.It lacked suspense.
But good for a short cosy read or a travel read.

[Natasha Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is part of the Nancy Drew series and it did not disappoint me in delivering on the usual Nancy Drew mystery series charm. I thought that it was a refreshing break from the usual River Heights scene in which the vast majority of Nancy Drew books are set, and I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of Costa Rica's nature during the book.

Where this book was disappointing for me, is that for the vast majority of the book Nancy Drew and her friends George and Bess where carrying out surveys on monkeys and that the scarlet macaw was only mentioned in the last 1/4 of the book, (this made the title of the book confusing when I was reading the story). I also found it unbelieved and unrealistic the identity of the thief that stole the missing items.

Overall I thought that the book was an enjoyable to read and that one could read easily read this book in a few hours. It was interesting to see the Nancy Drew character away from River Heights. which made it different to other Nancy Drew books.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I like birds, I like Nancy Drew and I like mysteries. So one would assume I would have loved this one. Unfortunately I found it just a bit too slow, for about two thirds of the book I was wondering why it was given this particular title and Nancy kept insisting SOMETHING was going on, but one didn't really know WHAT it was. It was a bit annoying, and different I guess. But I don't really read these books for their deep literary and divine story telling I read them for entertainment, and even there I just found myself getting distracted from the little things and not being able to focus because the story itself didn't draw me in enough. The setting was great, the premise was great, the characters were great but the story not so much. So therefore it was "okay".

[Ayana Myles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book because I loved it so much I read it in about an hour there are like 100+ pages this book is about nancy drew and her friends in costa rica they go to a rain forest and discovered that it wasn't as luxurious as they thought and the other parts were to die for because they were so mysterious and always keeps you guessing

[Reagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about Nancy Drew and her two friends Bess and George, as they figure out why the monkeys are disappearing. Is it really about the monkeys though. Read about Nancy and how she unlocks the mystery of the Scarlet Macaw.

[Lindsay]

This is an amazing book with mystery. Its about when Nancy goes to Costa Rica and something happens when she trys to study monkeys

[Addie Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book so much! It's my favorite. Nancy Drew will never let you down!

[matilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75*

[Safiya]

good book

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was one of my favorites of the 'new' style..

[V. Arrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine. I think whenever Nancy travels, I want more scenery and scene-setting than these books want to give me.

[Zelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a really good book that i could not put down <3

[Vidula Pagar · Rating 3 out of 5]

another fine adventure of nancy, bess and george! it was a marvelous book!!!

[Yong Min Yue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nancy Drew never gets old.

[Joud T]

It was really suspicious because everyone was keeping secrets. I think it was good but there could have been more information about the family that cooks for the camp. at the end i was still suspicious why jason kept on screaming