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Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #166
The Case of the Creative Crime
After Rhoda Benton, the director of an arts colony on Pennington estate, is threatened, Nancy and Bess search for the perpetrator.
154 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2002
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,200 books4,052 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 13, 2016
Four stars for what it is, not compared to great literature.
I would love to know who the ghostwriter is, because s/he just nails the old time style while simultaneously updating Nancy and the world she inhabits. We aren't even sure whodunit until the penultimate chapter, so it succeeds as a mystery, too. No Ned here, but I never liked him, so fine by me. I've struggled through cozies aimed at adults that I liked less, that's for sure. And I've read ghostwritten bestselling mysteries for adults where the ghost had less than 1% of the sensitivity to style that this one had.
A totally useless review for the intended audience, I know, but I suspect they'll like it too
I would love to know who the ghostwriter is, because s/he just nails the old time style while simultaneously updating Nancy and the world she inhabits. We aren't even sure whodunit until the penultimate chapter, so it succeeds as a mystery, too. No Ned here, but I never liked him, so fine by me. I've struggled through cozies aimed at adults that I liked less, that's for sure. And I've read ghostwritten bestselling mysteries for adults where the ghost had less than 1% of the sensitivity to style that this one had.
A totally useless review for the intended audience, I know, but I suspect they'll like it too
September 23, 2022
Enjoyed this art themed mystery for Nancy and Bess at an Artist Colony. Good read.
April 4, 2020
Just seven books ago this series had a mystery at an arts camp, now there's one at an arts colony. But this is different enough. I liked the River Heights setting and research. Bess has become uncharacteristically bold and athletic, compared to her original characterization, almost getting the jump on Nancy in a chase or general sleuthing, taking initiative. It's a nice change, yet there is less to distinguish her from Nancy with additional personality traits. The surliness of so many of the characters seems contrived just to make them more likely suspects. And every time Nancy is on her own, she's in danger--why do her friends let her do this and why does she not take more precautions? Well, I just picked numerous nits, but I did enjoy this one.
January 4, 2025
Bess is my fave ND sidekick so I love that she was the co-star here. Also love that this adventure was all about an arts colony! Villain's ID and motive weren't super easily guessed, so it was fun seeing nancy figure it out.
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.
February 5, 2017
The main reason that I read this book is because there is no other book that interest me. This is children books. Mind you.
May 4, 2013
Don't remember much but I liked Nancy and the mysteries.
November 15, 2016
Just finished it!
I really liked this ND book, except the only thing I didn't like about it was that George and Ned weren't in it.
I really liked this ND book, except the only thing I didn't like about it was that George and Ned weren't in it.
May 5, 2023
Eh. The solution to this one felt cheap and unearned.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews