Mardi Gras Masquerade

Nancy Drew: Girl Detective #28

by Carolyn Keene

What could be more fun than a masked Mardi Gras ball at a so-called haunted mansion? George brings her digital camera, insisting that she's going to bust some ghosts. I'm just looking forward to a night of dressing up and dancing with Ned and my friends.

Soon the fun turns freaking, though -- things go haywire and everyone starts to wonder if the ghost stories could actually be true. But when Deirdre Shannon's antique tiara is snatched, I'm certain the crook is a guest, not a ghoul.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Mystery Thriller, Middle Grade, Detective, Adventure, Young Adult

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Aesha☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh i will NEVER get tired of reading Nancy Drew books!!

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

I pretty much always enjoy this franchise, and books like this are why.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one, but George sure did act out of character throughout a lot of it.

[Charlotte Miraya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Drew, her best friends, Bess and George along with her boyfriend Ned go to a fund raiser masquerade ball, with a Mardi Gras atmosphere to raise some money for a the owner of an ancient house with rumors of a ghost.
George took her camera with her to try and get some photos of the ghost while the others just enjoyed the masquerade. However Deirdre's tiara which actually belonged to a lady who had died and got her reputation as the "ghost" got stolen, it's up to Nancy with her friends' help of course to find out who it was...
I really liked this book but I felt like George was out of character and the end wasn't a twist or someone you TOTALLY wouldn't expect.
It was actually a person I suspected from the start, and who Nancy and the others had suspected quite a lot too. It was an obvious person if I have to be honest.
My Opinion:
I really think this story could have been absouletely outstanding if the masquerade was shown more and if it was spooky (With the ghost and all) and if at one point Nancy actually thought it was the ghost but then in the end she realised who it actually was. I feel like if the ghost spookiness was taken up a notch it would have been great!

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Nancy Drew book I’ve ever read. Can’t believe it. Nancy and her crew are invited to a Mardi Gras party at an old mansion that is allegedly haunted. While the party is going on a very expensive tiara is stolen from one of the guests. Can Nancy figure out who did it before the end of the party? B

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one! It was intriguing, and the whole mystery took place in an evening. I also liked the ghost story aspect, and the house was a bit spooky. Nancy is such a good character, and I love how she approaches a mystery. It’s fun to try and solve it with her.

[Lauren]

If you're planning on reading all the books the games are loosely based off, maybe make sure you're reading the right book (the game is based off Mardi Gras *Mystery* not Mardi Gras *Masquerade*) (I think. I'm no longer certain of anything.)

[Bertina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never get tired of Nancy Drew books

[Kudzai Mhangwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this earlier during my time in high school, the allure was there then and it was still there when I read it again, Very quick and easy read to pass the time.

[Pearl Das · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the mystery.. the suspense almost made me wanna flip the pages to know just who committed the crime.. although, the cover wasn't very attractive, I absolutely loved the book...

[Donny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to sit and not only read it but picture it in such great detail.

[deena]

read this in the 5th grade and loved it . time 4 a reread

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok that kinda slapped ....
I love dierdre so much she's my meow meow and this mystery actually surprised me

[Hildaguard Houdini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the drama, tension and happy environment of this mystery so that was nice and just love the way this is an easy read and enjoyable one for mystery lovers.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ITS VERY SUSPENSE FILLED

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book