The Case of the Safecracker's Secret

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #93

by Carolyn Keene

Someone has broken into the safety depository at the Wilputte Bank & Trust, but nothing has been stolen. Nancy is called in to investigate and meets a couple of robbers comparable to Bonnie and Clyde.

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

154 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1990

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Michelle Villmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy, Bess and George are undercover at a large bank where mischief is occuring in the vault. A lot of information about bsnk security and seemingly impossible case tests the girls sleuthing skills. A lot of action and a wild ending. Great fast read, a little over the top, but suspend your belief and have fun with it.

[David Allen Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the more modern Nancy Drew tales, a paperback, but before the series took the dip in quality that the books into the hundreds saw. Nancy and her friends are asked to investigate mysterious break-ins to safe deposit boxes in a high end bank that does not want to attract attention to the problem and scare off clients. Despite cameras and a watchman the burglars are able to access the vault and look through the boxes suggesting an inside job but nothing seems taken? Later it becomes apparent two old-time burglars have returned to their criminal ways in search of long ago hidden loot. Any fan of Nancy Drew will enjoy this story and I am sorry that it like all the paperback Nancy Drew tales are now out of print. But if you are a fan of the series and come across this book you will enjoy it!

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

them hiding out in the safe is the very best

[Lakshmi Vijayakumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bank robbers who break in and don’t steal anything. Nancy and friends on another cozy mystery ride.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An modern bank pre-computer security era is a new setting for an ND mystery. Having Nancy and her chums go undercover with no security checks and then spend half their time at work sleuthing and discussing the case with no one noticing stretched credibility more than usual. I liked the unusual clue that helped crack the case and the unusual suspects and culprits.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this with McCall

[Prami{reader and dreamer} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't remember much but I know I liked it.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Mellanie C]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14679667