What do you think?
Rate this book
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #159
The Secret of the Fiery Chamber
MAKING IT? OR FAKING IT?
The ancient Japanese art of raku pottery is highly dramatic--the colorful one-of-a-kind pots are pulled from the kiln, glowing and red-hot. But when Nancy and her friends visit a local crafts village, Bess is the one who nearly goes up in flames when she's showered with sparks! And that's only the beginning.
Nancy's been alerted by Theresa Kim, a rising young artist at the village, that someone is producing brilliantly made fakes and selling them as antiques--for lots of money. Now the pressure is on for others to join the illegal operation. When Nancy starts to investigate, she discovers that amid the beautiful treasures lurks a very clever--and dangerous--counterfeiter. If Nancy doesn't watch her step, she may be the one going up in smoke!
Cover art by Franco Accornero
The ancient Japanese art of raku pottery is highly dramatic--the colorful one-of-a-kind pots are pulled from the kiln, glowing and red-hot. But when Nancy and her friends visit a local crafts village, Bess is the one who nearly goes up in flames when she's showered with sparks! And that's only the beginning.
Nancy's been alerted by Theresa Kim, a rising young artist at the village, that someone is producing brilliantly made fakes and selling them as antiques--for lots of money. Now the pressure is on for others to join the illegal operation. When Nancy starts to investigate, she discovers that amid the beautiful treasures lurks a very clever--and dangerous--counterfeiter. If Nancy doesn't watch her step, she may be the one going up in smoke!
Cover art by Franco Accornero
147 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2001
18 people are currently reading
725 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,017 books3,872 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 17, 2024
A fun mystery surrounding counterfeit art. Enjoyed.
February 17, 2022
I enjoyed reading this book because it talks about different art forms. I loved Bess and George in this book very much. It's written in full detail that it makes me imagine the vases in full perspective. Overall great book with amazing story.
August 11, 2023
Trust in our Cultural History a Must!
INTERFERENCE IN QUALITY OF ANTIQUES MKT. LIKE RAKU AND PEWTER. A CRIME AGAINST CIVILIZATION AND HUMANITY. Great Work Nancy. Your love for the law is tops.
INTERFERENCE IN QUALITY OF ANTIQUES MKT. LIKE RAKU AND PEWTER. A CRIME AGAINST CIVILIZATION AND HUMANITY. Great Work Nancy. Your love for the law is tops.
July 27, 2017
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
May 2, 2018
Loved this book. I grew up reading the Nancy Drew mysteries.
April 2, 2023
Solvable. This one was really good. There definitely was a higher risk and danger level than some of the other Nancy Drew books. Usually when the bad guys try to kill her it's fast (rock slide, bomb) or convenient and non-messy (drowning, lack of oxygen) but in this book they intentionally choose to attempt to kill her in a gruesome way, . 78/100
February 29, 2016
In this book, Nancy, George and Bess are at a pottery camp seeing Nancy's friend Theresa. When Theresa tells Nancy about a forged pot that she found, Nancy finds herself in another mystery. I would recommend this book. AH
February 18, 2013
another great nancy drew!
July 21, 2014
i have read it when i was in third year high school, and then i keep reading nancy drew stories, the mystery of tornado alley and more,!!!
August 11, 2014
Young readers with a love for art will enjoy this mystery.
Read
July 2, 2016nothing
July 26, 2017
Good, but not quite up to par for this series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews