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The Dana Girls Mystery Stories, Second Set #17
The Witch's Omen
Ein Fall für Barbie und Susan - Schmuggler an Bord - bk1444; Engelbert Verlag; Carolyn Keene; Paperback; 1980
179 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1978
56 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,020 books3,874 followersCarolyn 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 3, 2025
One star for nostalgia and one star for good writing. The Danas have nothing on Nancy Drew.
January 9, 2019
Noooo. This book is kind of confusing and just not that good. I mean, any “Carolyn Keene” stories require a certain suspension of disbelief, but this one is a bit extreme. The whole mystery is based on the bad guys giving themselves away- basically showing up out of the blue to cause trouble. Unless you LOVE the never-in-school-because-of-various-excuses (this time there’s “repairs” happening) Dana Girls, don’t bother.
September 13, 2017
Call me cynical but I'm just not able to suspend my disbelief as much as this book demands. Kid (well, late teen) detectives, sure. I believe it. But kid detectives who are encouraged by every single adult around, including the police? Nah.
September 9, 2023
After two unknown people crash their Halloween party, set fire to something in the closet and leave a warning note, the Dana girls decide to investigate. It's a good job their school is closed for repairs! Diamond smuggling, tropical birds and all sorts of happenings later they bring the gang to justice. A daft adventure.
September 14, 2021
Really enjoyed revisiting this series, a real favourite of mine from the 80's. So sad there's no more.
October 18, 2022
Always fun to revisit a favorite series from childhood. Times have certainly changed...
May 25, 2024
Revisiting my youth. Simple and fun.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews