Hollywood Horror

Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys: Super Mystery #20

by Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys find unexpected mystery and terror in Hollywood as they cope with deadly sabotage, crazed fans, and an obsessed stalker targeting television star Marla Devereaux.

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

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Jess]

One of the rare genuine good mysteries, I think, that I can judge accordingly while ignoring my Frank/Nancy scale.

[Mel]

Found this in a box of books in my shed - I loved these when I was younger! Nancy Drew was awesome, and I had a crush on Frank Hardy, so the super mysteries were my favourite. They are a little dated now but could easily be updated with some revision. Good wholesome all American fun. I still want to be a teen detective!

[Kristin]

Nancy Drew does Universal Studios aka Hollywood Gold Studios here.

This had a fun setting with the whole movie studio and theme park. 1994 was early days for Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights which would’ve made an even more fun mystery! Instead we have a vampire themed ride (with gnashing teeth) that’s opening to coincide with a horror movie release from the studio. There’s sabotage galore and tons of suspects as it could be anyone working at the park.

-so many creatures.
-so many costumes. Cowboy. Astronaut. Grim Reaper. At one point Joe wears a banana costume.
-There’s a chase down of someone in an alien costume through the park.
-poisoned pop. Twinkle is the brand name here lol
-someone catches on fire
-cliffside hang and human chain

[Delanie]

There was 1 fatphobic comment about Bess in the beginning and I was concerned it would continue like in the Miner's Creek N.D. book but it thankfully didn't.

This book otherwise was fairly boring and it felt like Nancy Drew wasn't written right. The Hardy Boys actually investigate, find clues, and use their clues to find the culprit. Nancy Drew finds out that one of the suspects, Chelsea, who had motive, put arsenic in Marla's drink and goes, "hmmm, wierd... How could Izzy have done this?"

[Andy]

I thought this was a fun Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys crossover. I like it when they actually work together as a team. Plus, I adore their friendship and how they are always there for each other. I do wish I could read one book where Bess wasn't a one dimensional character. Other than that, I thought the setting of a Hollywood studio and theme park was a fun one.

[Sara S.]

It did exactly what it set to achieve so I'm not disappointed

[Erin]

Sure, these are schlocky fun, but isn't the fun the important part?

[Alex]

This theme park sounds so fun!