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Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #40
The Moonstone Castle Mystery
When Nancy Drew receives a valuable moonstone as a gift from an unknown person, she is amazed and puzzled. But it is only the first of several startling events in this complex mystery that challenge the ingenuity of the pretty sleuth. Why are the Bowens--a missionary couple who recently returned to the United States--having so much trouble finding their missing seventeen-year-old granddaughter?
178 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1963
90 people are currently reading
2548 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
948 books3,854 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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 - 30 of 171 reviews
March 30, 2009
There's nothing like a Nancy Drew book to pick up your spirits. Who wouldn't love to stay for several weeks at a charming hotel, zip around the countryside in a convertible, and explore spooky old castles while wearing a dress and heels. Now, that's my idea of a good time.
January 29, 2021
My first read of Nancy Drew. Usually it's Siri Salma for us Malaysian kids haha.
August 16, 2024
An enjoyable outing for Nancy and friends. A shame that everything was explained in a rush in the last 5 pages. I mean, it was a well-paced storyline but the author, (whichever incarnation of Carolyn Keene wrote this particular book) obviously got fed up and summed up the myriad of plotlines as quickly as possible although one or two loose ends were left undone.
December 4, 2018
MOONSTONES ARE PRETTY!
Nancy Drew receives a big one as a present, and her friends Bess and George tease her, asking if Nancys's good boy friend Ned has sent it, and Nancy replies in her typical eye rolling fashion to the tune of "Ha ha. No."
The whole story is a delightful mess. Abandoned castle: yes. Someone steals Nancy's car: yes. The girls and their boy friends go on a boat ride: yes. Boat crashes: yes; twice. Boys participate in delightful banter, but it makes no sense, because it is cheesy. Their conversation literally goes like this:
Burt says: We are renting a boat called the Sea Witch
Dave says: Which witch?
Burt pretends to throw Dave into the river.
Super cute but stupid.
The bad guy names in this book are also worse than usual. One in particular goes by the alias "Mr. Seaman," and his real name is supposedly Ben Oman. Which is worse?
(Which witch??!!)
(Author is thrown into the river.)
We also come across a chapter helpfully titled "BATS!" I'll leave future readers to guess what our intrepid heroines encounter here.
AND, never forget the most important part of any Nancy book! Our ladies find a fantastic tearoom during their busy day sleuthing, and they have a nice luncheon on several occasions. No matter what town or city they visit, they ALWAYS find a nice tearoom for luncheon.
These books are just the best!
Nancy Drew receives a big one as a present, and her friends Bess and George tease her, asking if Nancys's good boy friend Ned has sent it, and Nancy replies in her typical eye rolling fashion to the tune of "Ha ha. No."
The whole story is a delightful mess. Abandoned castle: yes. Someone steals Nancy's car: yes. The girls and their boy friends go on a boat ride: yes. Boat crashes: yes; twice. Boys participate in delightful banter, but it makes no sense, because it is cheesy. Their conversation literally goes like this:
Burt says: We are renting a boat called the Sea Witch
Dave says: Which witch?
Burt pretends to throw Dave into the river.
Super cute but stupid.
The bad guy names in this book are also worse than usual. One in particular goes by the alias "Mr. Seaman," and his real name is supposedly Ben Oman. Which is worse?
(Which witch??!!)
(Author is thrown into the river.)
We also come across a chapter helpfully titled "BATS!" I'll leave future readers to guess what our intrepid heroines encounter here.
AND, never forget the most important part of any Nancy book! Our ladies find a fantastic tearoom during their busy day sleuthing, and they have a nice luncheon on several occasions. No matter what town or city they visit, they ALWAYS find a nice tearoom for luncheon.
These books are just the best!
March 22, 2017
Not up to par with the rest of the series.
June 25, 2019
COUNTDOWN: Mid-20th Century North American Crime
BOOK 171 (of 250)
If you haven't read a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boy book recently, or not at all, and you like to read a little of everything, try one! They are enjoyable and a nice escape. I taught myself to read on Keene and Franklin Dixon (Hardy Boys) and Agatha Christie: they are my go-to comfort reads.
HOOK=3 stars: "Hurry! Open the package, Nancy!" is the first line. Bess says, "Somebody is being very mysterious," as the address is composed of letters and numbers cut from a newspaper. The contents send Nancy, Bess, and George (a gal) off on another adventure.
PACE=3: Solid: every chapter opening and closing with intriguing lines. Chapter 1 ends with Nancy calling for her dad, but "There was no answer." I believe all the original books in the series had to have 20 chapters, 20 'action sequences', and 40 attention grabbing lines to open and close each chapter, even the final lines of the last chapters leading us to the next adventure. The same formula, I believe, applied to the entire Hardy Boys series. And I like the subtle method Nancy and the Boys intersect, more on that in another Hardy Boys book review.
PLOT=3: Something odd is going on at the titular Moonstone Castle in a small town, Deep River, nearby. Nancy and her friends check into a "delightful' and recommended hotel run by a family acquaintance. That's an early lesson to young readers: check out your future accommodations before checking in! And as adults, don't we do just that? One (or more) people are following Nancy around: friends or foes? And there could be a ring of thieves hiding out in plain sight of Deep River citizens.
CHARACTERS/PEOPLE=3: Nancy's attitude, as are Bess's and George's, is always pleasant, kind, and very curious. Nancy's father is in the background, sort of watching out for the girls, as is Mrs. Thompson, the friend running the hotel. The girls meet boys (natch!) at the hotel pool, play tennis, go to picnics...and get into all kinds of trouble in the mysterious Moonstone Castle. We see only one side of characters, though, as everyone is either 'good' or 'bad'.
ATMOSPHERE/PLACE=3: This author (there are several different 'Carolyn Keene' authors) has a blast with the castle: a moat, drawbridge that can be operated in several different ways, towers, staircases, cobwebs, bats, dust, hidden rooms, sliding panels, etc. The quaint town has a cozy tea room, and the hotel feels like a resort. These books are one-sit reads for adults, and this visit to Deep River, for me, was a pleasant vacation at home.
Summary: 3.0 - An odd castle? That might be haunted? Or something? It's worth a visit.
BOOK 171 (of 250)
If you haven't read a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boy book recently, or not at all, and you like to read a little of everything, try one! They are enjoyable and a nice escape. I taught myself to read on Keene and Franklin Dixon (Hardy Boys) and Agatha Christie: they are my go-to comfort reads.
HOOK=3 stars: "Hurry! Open the package, Nancy!" is the first line. Bess says, "Somebody is being very mysterious," as the address is composed of letters and numbers cut from a newspaper. The contents send Nancy, Bess, and George (a gal) off on another adventure.
PACE=3: Solid: every chapter opening and closing with intriguing lines. Chapter 1 ends with Nancy calling for her dad, but "There was no answer." I believe all the original books in the series had to have 20 chapters, 20 'action sequences', and 40 attention grabbing lines to open and close each chapter, even the final lines of the last chapters leading us to the next adventure. The same formula, I believe, applied to the entire Hardy Boys series. And I like the subtle method Nancy and the Boys intersect, more on that in another Hardy Boys book review.
PLOT=3: Something odd is going on at the titular Moonstone Castle in a small town, Deep River, nearby. Nancy and her friends check into a "delightful' and recommended hotel run by a family acquaintance. That's an early lesson to young readers: check out your future accommodations before checking in! And as adults, don't we do just that? One (or more) people are following Nancy around: friends or foes? And there could be a ring of thieves hiding out in plain sight of Deep River citizens.
CHARACTERS/PEOPLE=3: Nancy's attitude, as are Bess's and George's, is always pleasant, kind, and very curious. Nancy's father is in the background, sort of watching out for the girls, as is Mrs. Thompson, the friend running the hotel. The girls meet boys (natch!) at the hotel pool, play tennis, go to picnics...and get into all kinds of trouble in the mysterious Moonstone Castle. We see only one side of characters, though, as everyone is either 'good' or 'bad'.
ATMOSPHERE/PLACE=3: This author (there are several different 'Carolyn Keene' authors) has a blast with the castle: a moat, drawbridge that can be operated in several different ways, towers, staircases, cobwebs, bats, dust, hidden rooms, sliding panels, etc. The quaint town has a cozy tea room, and the hotel feels like a resort. These books are one-sit reads for adults, and this visit to Deep River, for me, was a pleasant vacation at home.
Summary: 3.0 - An odd castle? That might be haunted? Or something? It's worth a visit.
September 25, 2011
This was a really great book that adds to the greatness of the Nancy Drew mystery book series.
November 2, 2017
Charming and soothing - classic Nancy Drew
August 5, 2025
This was a fun little story. Nancy receives a moonstone as a mystery present, she is intrigued. Then she receives a commission from her father to help find a lost girl, granddaughter to the Bowens who had disappeared after her other grandmother died. Nancy and her friends take a trip to Deep River to try and solve the mystery and find themselves exploring an abandoned castle called ... wait for it ... Moonstone Castle!
I enjoyed some parts of the story, especially the garrulous and gossipy Mrs Hemstead. Her insistence that everyone is looking for a partner was kind of amusing. The girls snooping around moonstone castle were some of the best scenes in the book, and highly enjoyable. Finding a man hiding in there had undertones of The Clue of the Tapping Heels.
Too many random things happen in the book, though, and nothing much stands out for me for a reread. The Jonie / Jody mystery was rather ridiculous and did not make much sense to me, especially that she managed to get back a large part of her inheritance after more than a decade. There's no memorable fun moment to get back to either. An average one!
I enjoyed some parts of the story, especially the garrulous and gossipy Mrs Hemstead. Her insistence that everyone is looking for a partner was kind of amusing. The girls snooping around moonstone castle were some of the best scenes in the book, and highly enjoyable. Finding a man hiding in there had undertones of The Clue of the Tapping Heels.
Too many random things happen in the book, though, and nothing much stands out for me for a reread. The Jonie / Jody mystery was rather ridiculous and did not make much sense to me, especially that she managed to get back a large part of her inheritance after more than a decade. There's no memorable fun moment to get back to either. An average one!
April 12, 2011
Este es el único volumen de la numerosísima saga de Nancy Drew que tuve la oportunidad de leer en mi infancia. Fue una saludable y entretenida alternativa a los "Elige tu propia aventura", que ya me resultaban fastidiosos.
Tengo que ponerle cuatro estrellitas... Tres sería poco fiel a lo que lo disfruté en su momento, si bien cuatro es un poco excesivo. De cualquier forma, le debo el haberme inspirado a seguir indagando en el género y eso no es poco.
La idea de la adolescente Nancy viajando en su convertible junto con sus amigas y cruzándose (casi ominosamente) con misterios para resolver en cada vuelta de esquina, es simplemente adorable. Claro, todo esto sin perder ni una pizca de glamour, y siempre en high heels!
Tengo que ponerle cuatro estrellitas... Tres sería poco fiel a lo que lo disfruté en su momento, si bien cuatro es un poco excesivo. De cualquier forma, le debo el haberme inspirado a seguir indagando en el género y eso no es poco.
La idea de la adolescente Nancy viajando en su convertible junto con sus amigas y cruzándose (casi ominosamente) con misterios para resolver en cada vuelta de esquina, es simplemente adorable. Claro, todo esto sin perder ni una pizca de glamour, y siempre en high heels!
February 10, 2021
5+ stars & 6/10 hearts. Here's another favourite Nancy Drew! The mysteries were really well done and were fascinating without being creepy. I enjoyed the plot and the characters, who were very interesting. I was kept guessing to the very end. Brilliant!
May 23, 2018
A charming mystery with Nancy Drew and her friends. Sleuthing around an old castle is always interesting.
August 15, 2024
I wanted to like this story based on the title alone, but I was sorely disappointed.
So many things didn’t make sense in this mystery. Top of the list being why Mr. Wheeler got in a boat accident from speeding, unless we’re supposed to believe he was just a horrible driver 🚤. And a random new friend being super willing to show childhood photographs to a stranger ☠️. Unless that was something people commonly did in the 60s.
Too many names, places, and thin threads of connection.
I judged by the cover, and I was l let down 🫠.
So many things didn’t make sense in this mystery. Top of the list being why Mr. Wheeler got in a boat accident from speeding, unless we’re supposed to believe he was just a horrible driver 🚤. And a random new friend being super willing to show childhood photographs to a stranger ☠️. Unless that was something people commonly did in the 60s.
Too many names, places, and thin threads of connection.
I judged by the cover, and I was l let down 🫠.
March 25, 2020
En av mina favoriter från ungdomen. Att läsa om den i vuxen ålder var underbart nostalgiskt! Visst är det en del skämt och kommentarer som inte riktigt funkar idag och ibland kändes det på samma sätt som när man ser en filmatisering av en bok - som att de bara tog med de viktigaste delarna. Men hur som helst älskar jag serien och kommer absolut läsa flera böcker snart.
January 19, 2016
I'm approaching this review in a slightly different manner. First, I'm going to list the basic components of what happens:
1. Basic theme: theft of inheritance
2. Kidnapping
3. Threatening notes
4. Someone follows Nancy
5. Someone spies outside the Drew home
6. Crooked 'servants'
7. Boat Nancy is in crashes (plus second kamikaze-like attack on another boat she is in)
8. Nancy's car is stolen
9. Nancy is almost hit by lightning.
10. Nancy works closely with the local police.
These are elements found in various other stories.
The basic concept of the book is that a group of crooks is trying to steal inheritance money and other money from older people. Nancy, Bess and George set out to investigate, their investigation dovetailing with something Mr. Drew is working on.
They find an old castle-like structure complete with a water-filled moat and a drawbridge. There's a group of crooks that uses the place to store loot. Ned and the boys appear briefly and help out. It's a somewhat complicated set of things that happen but Nancy, as always, is able to make sense out of clue chaos and bring the crooks to justice.
A typically interesting story.
1. Basic theme: theft of inheritance
2. Kidnapping
3. Threatening notes
4. Someone follows Nancy
5. Someone spies outside the Drew home
6. Crooked 'servants'
7. Boat Nancy is in crashes (plus second kamikaze-like attack on another boat she is in)
8. Nancy's car is stolen
9. Nancy is almost hit by lightning.
10. Nancy works closely with the local police.
These are elements found in various other stories.
The basic concept of the book is that a group of crooks is trying to steal inheritance money and other money from older people. Nancy, Bess and George set out to investigate, their investigation dovetailing with something Mr. Drew is working on.
They find an old castle-like structure complete with a water-filled moat and a drawbridge. There's a group of crooks that uses the place to store loot. Ned and the boys appear briefly and help out. It's a somewhat complicated set of things that happen but Nancy, as always, is able to make sense out of clue chaos and bring the crooks to justice.
A typically interesting story.
June 13, 2015
I won't try to pretend that the books in this series are particularly profound in any way, but I will admit that I do enjoy this series when I'm feeling sick or lazy, or when I just want to lie outside in the hammock all day. This book was a fun, easy read with good action and an interesting mystery. Nancy, George, and Bess are searching for a missing girl, who is supposed to inherit money from her dead grandparents' estate. The conclusion to the mystery was rather surprising, as some of the people who were involved(I won't spoil it!) weren't who I expected.
February 16, 2020
I remember getting this book, we went in a toy store to buy a birthday gift for someone and I spotted it and conned my mother into buying it for me. I was about 9. So that would explain why I thought these books were so great. Although I never warmed up to Nancy like I did to say, Trixie Belden. She's a Mary Sue and a half, and I notice now, awfully reckless and sometimes just plain stupid. But this is why you read these books when you are nine.
July 1, 2014
I took a walk down memory lane and reread one of my favorite Nancy Drew books. Some of the writing is a bit old fashioned, but it is a great story. I still would like to be like Nancy and zip around in a convertible and stay at different places.
October 24, 2016
One of Carolyn Keene's best works in her Nancy Drew series. I felt as if I was joining Nancy, George, and Bess as they tried to find the missing girl and solve the moonstone mystery. Very exciting and fast-paced!
July 25, 2013
Nancy could have used... Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Herbie the Love Bug, a GPS for her car yet again, and a dance card.
January 20, 2016
Read this in an hour.
August 1, 2018
Secrets, a captive, and much more will keep readers curious to see how the whole story unfolds. I thought that this book was one of my more favorite books in the Nancy Drew series.
May 15, 2022
“George received permission to go, then Bess called her house. Mrs. Marvin said her daughter might accompany Nancy, and added that if Mr. Drew had not already chosen a place for them to stay, she would recommend the Long View Motel on top of the hill overlooking Deep River and the valley.”
Nancy and her friends are recruited by Carson Drew to find clues to a missing child in Moonstone Valley/Deep River Valley. While gathering clues, Nancy also gathers clues to the mysterious gift that she receives, a beautiful moonstone. The mystery features an old castle, a town gossip, and lots of adventurous pursuits. I enjoyed this book, it was a bit more realistic than others (Nancy and friends encounters with the local police to be specific). I enjoyed this classic, having never read it in the past, and would recommend the book to fans of Nancy Drew.
Nancy and her friends are recruited by Carson Drew to find clues to a missing child in Moonstone Valley/Deep River Valley. While gathering clues, Nancy also gathers clues to the mysterious gift that she receives, a beautiful moonstone. The mystery features an old castle, a town gossip, and lots of adventurous pursuits. I enjoyed this book, it was a bit more realistic than others (Nancy and friends encounters with the local police to be specific). I enjoyed this classic, having never read it in the past, and would recommend the book to fans of Nancy Drew.
March 24, 2021
Nancy D's 40th mystery is all about moonstones. . .are they lucky or not? There's a castle, a missing heiress (who may not have even existed, or there may have been fraud if she did), a moat, with moat swimming, a number of elderly folks who keep falling ill, a kiss from Ned - which if not the first kiss (and I don't think it was or we would have heard more about that!) is at least the first we, The Readers, have been informed of in passing text, feels like there was more shrieking and screaming in this one, oh and Nancy was handcuffed and taken to jail - until Mr. Drew's name was mentioned. New cops in an out of River Heights jurisdiction.
On to #41. We're going to Scotland! Break out the Bagpipes!
On to #41. We're going to Scotland! Break out the Bagpipes!
July 8, 2020
The Moonstone Castle Mystery deals with an apparently established plot in the universe of Nancy Drew.But what comes of as a surprise is the way the plot has been executed.Familiar characters and the use of aliases rank this book higher.The story feels cinematic at times making you go to the depth of the story.Though there was a letdown due to the very usual treatment for the title location,the book does a good job in building the adventures around the dawn bridge castle.The crooks were not that memorable except for the one who is really a surprise.It was nice to see someone(Joanie Horton)who plans to offer our heroines special gifts.The cover of this book was especially engaging.A 4.5 star rating will be good.After all,its in the top ten.
August 12, 2021
A missing child with a significant inheritance, a castle, and a mysterious moonstone come together for a wonderful mystery! And thank goodness we finally get an adopted character who, you know, is actually loved and treated well by her adoptive parents! And even when the long-lost family comes calling, the child gets to stay with their adoptive parents.
September 23, 2025
The kid couldn’t decide on our next book so I picked a random Nancy Drew to pass the time. The includes one of the more messed up crimes of the series - financial abuse of the elderly (including medicating and starving them) - and slightly less fatphobia than usual.
June 10, 2021
Classic Nancy.
December 23, 2024
really good !!! mentally im nancy
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews