The Mystery of Misty Canyon

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #86

by Carolyn Keene

Nancy learns that Tammy Calloway, a former rodeo champion, has received threats that her horse Renegade will be destroyed if Tammy comes out of retirement to compete in the annual Fourth of July rodeo

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

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Eric Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good ND book. The story moved along nicely, although a little slow paced at times. The author did a good job of not making the culprit look obvious, but I had a feeling who it was halfway through and was right. Nancy's investigating was fine, but I thought she could have done a little better and solves the mystery at the end on a sudden solution from an apple! Overall, an entertaining read. 3 1/2 stars.

[˜”*°•.˜”*°• Sheri •°*”˜.•°*”˜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved Nancy Drew forever. The books are not great literature but they're good clean fun with unbelievable detecting involved and forever friends.

In this particular book the girls have gone on a vacation to a dude ranch where there's back luck and sabotage happening (imagine that :) ), which of course sets Nancy Drew's detective senses to tingling and she is on the cases.

Meant for young people but fun for old people too.

[Maxyne.D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un excellent Alice!
Au ranch Calloway, au canyon des brumes, Alice, Marion et Bess sont venues passer quelques jours de vacances. Mais la gérante et le ranch sont l'objet de tant de malchances et de sabotages que l'instinct d'Alice est tout de suite mis en éveil. Une enquête vraiment palpitante du début à la fin! La solution de l'énigme est vraiment loin d'être simple, et c'est vraiment agréable de la découvrir sans avoir même soupçonné ce qu'elle pouvait être. A découvrir sans hésiter, pour les petits et les grands!

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Schu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy, Bess, and George are vacationing at a Montana ranch, and where Nancy goes, there is sure to be a mystery. There is a saboteur at work on the ranch with several dangerous episodes in this mystery, but this does not dissuade Nancy. Nancy and her friends work together with the ranch owner, Tammy, to find the people who "mean business"-- am I the only one who snickers when they read this!? There aren't as many red herrings in this story, but the motive and the mystery of the horses boggle Nancy's mind until one overlooked clue connects the pieces. I enjoyed the flow of the story, and it did have moments of suspense. I thought George and Bess could have added more to the account, but they were resourceful at specific points. Favorite quote: "That reminds me," McMillan said. "Miss Drew, you rode Renegade last night! I thought he was billed as the horse no man could ride." "He was," Nancy replied with a dimpled smile. "But he wasn't billed as the horse no woman could ride!"

[Kimmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great book but I read this in the mid 90's and my memories of any favorite parts in the book are no longer there for my nostalgic enjoyment. I'll need to re-read it again.

[Stavroula · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Haamubanaani · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent quick read, although as a horse person the crazy stallions were a bit much. Still, an awesome flashback to my tween years!

[Tarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a visit to Calloway Dude Ranch in Montana, Nancy Drew finds trouble.
Horse trouble. Financial trouble. Family Trouble.
Nancy and her friends help out as much as they possibly can, but more hurdles seem to keep coming their way!

The storyline to the book was just fantastic.
I could barely rip myself way!

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wouldn't normally pick up a modern Nancy Drew book, but I bought this in a $2.00-a-box library sale, and it looked decent. It was, and similar to the original Nancy Drew books. Of course, the characters never age--they're still in high school. All in all, I enjoyed it, but it was certainly nothing deep or edifying--just a fun children's mystery.

[Yue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This kind of books never gets old. Or maybe I just like to read books from the '80/'90.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon a few Nancy Drew's at a goodwll and had to get them. I love re-reading things I read as a kid!

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

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