Mystery at Moorsea Manor

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #150

by Carolyn Keene

“No room at the inn” means someone wants Nancy to check out—permanently. There’s nothing like riding a horse across the beautiful English countryside, and Nancy has been looking forward to this vacation. But the danger begins even before she arrives at stately Moorsea Manor. Someone steals a road sign, sending Nancy down a dark, twisting road to nowhere. When she finally finds the inn, she’s almost killed by a bronze statue dropped from a second-story window. The owners tell her that there have been other “pranks” as well. And once someone gets hurt, the Moorsea Manor will be out of business. Now it’s up to Nancy to find the culprit—before the guest list becomes a casualty list.

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

164 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 1999

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable case for Nancy and George. I really enjoyed the setting of this story, and the mystery was a great one.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am probably too old to really appreciate Nancy Drew and other YA books, but I fondly recall reading the Nancy Drew series when I was young, and was pleasantly surprised to find this slim and yellowed volume in my neighborhood lending library. Although this book was published in 1999 as number 150 in the long-running series, Nancy Drew has not changed much. What IS interesting is that Carolyn Keene is a pen name, and the series was written by almost a dozen or more writers under contract.

The mysteries are fun to read, and, as far as I know, free of murder, sex and topics one might consider R-rated. This mystery at Moorsea Manor involves an estate in England that has been turned into a small but successful boutique luxury hotel. Nancy and her friend George luck out on a trip when Nancy’s aunt is injured and can’t travel, but doesn’t want to waste the hard-to-get reservation. The hotel is plagued by ever more dangerous tricks that threaten the guests as well as the success of the hotel. Although only 18, Nancy takes on the case and the owners, a young couple, apparently don’t blink when a teenager offers her detective services.

Nancy solves the case, the culprit is caught in the act and there is another big reveal in the end. In less than 150 pages, the book develops the characters nicely. You Don have to have read the prior 149 Nancy Drew books to get a feel for Nancy and George, and with a few strokes the other characters come alive as well. A nice read.

[Eric Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book! I really liked the setting(the author did a good job with the description), the characters were really interesting, and the mystery was intriguing. The author didn't make the culprit totally obvious and did a good job of making the reader guess who it is and why. There was also a twist at the end that I didn't expect. Overall, a very enjoyable mystery. 4 stars.

[Nelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riktigt mysig lyssning.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun trip back down Nancy Drew Lane.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Nancy Drew book.

[Nelli Muukkonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Den var en bra kort bok. Jag älskade Kitty när jag var liten så jag var jätte glad att läsa en av hennes böcker igen.

[Meredith]

Actually figured out the culprit although not the why early on.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reminded me of the Nancy Drew I grew up with. It was a good mystery. I'm reading these for my Vintage Book Circle reading group. We are planning a Nancy Drew night. I'm having fun seeing how she has changed over time.

[Miri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moorsea Manor is a beautiful Inn in England and popular too, that is until annoying pranks turn into dangerous tricks. Someone is targeting the guests of Moorsea, trying to put the hotel out of business. Luckily Nancy Drew is there to catch the culprit.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite Nancy Drew when I was younger...

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was such a good book the ending was not how i guessed it to be

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first Nancy Drew book I ever read. Led to what seems to be a lifelong love of mysteries. So thank you writer using nom de plume Carolyn Keene!

[Asma Gallardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

love Nancy Drew mysteries..

[Lav · Rating 5 out of 5]

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