SILVER COBWEB ND71

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #71

by Carolyn Keene

Nancy's latest mystery involves golf pros, opera stars, jewelry designers, and webs and spiders.

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

Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Laura (Reading is a Doing Word) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy is embroiled in helping an elderly woman recover from a stroke, whilst discovering the secret behind a career break of a pro golfer and all linked to an opera Prima Donna and a ruby spider necklace! The mystery was quite involved and clever - although the usual coincidences occurred - but the ending was a bit abrupt. We learn that not only is Nancy a talented actress but also a gifted life drawing artist - is there anything she can't do?! Fun, as usual.

[Y · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. By far one of the more convoluted Nancy Drew plots. It ends rather abruptly, and you don't get to find out what happens to the other characters that got caught up in the mystery. Also, Nancy looks a lot like Melissa Joan Hart on the cover of my edition.

[Frida Hultgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Swedish title: Kitty och golfmysteriet.

[Regan Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book toward the Popsugar Book Challenge - “Silver” in the title 😇

Very classic Nancy book but the ending was so strange and didn’t feel natural. Still enjoyed for the overall nostalgia.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery is pretty good, but it ends rather abruptly. If it weren't for the 'Nancy wondered what her next case would be' part I might have thought there was missing page. There were also a few mistakes in the book (Nancy learns the final Opera is on Sunday, but then goes to it on Saturday, etc.), and River Heights is too close to the east coast, Nancy can drive to the ocean in an hour and go to NYC and back home in the same afternoon. Most other books place River Heights closer to the Midwest, either near Chicago or Ohio.

For the mystery, it was pretty good. Multiple characters act suspicious and Nancy does a lot of actual investigating.

[Delanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't great but it wasn't terrible. The best line is 2 pages from the end which I wish I could tell you but it would spoil it. Downsides, there's alot of driving and I mean ALOT. Plus there's a drawing on page 47 that features Nancy's purse and on it is a giant eagle. It very much resembles a Nazi symbol and it's even "faded" at the bottom where a swastika would be. These illustrations look very new and don't resemble the other book drawings at all. I'm trying to figure out if this new artist is a neo-nazi or if they just chose a really poor design. Probably poor design.

[Sandy Hearn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last chapter of the book after the crime was solved, Ned gathered Nancy in his arms, she was happy to feel Ned's kiss on her cheek and hear his whispering voice call her "my sweet little mystery solver".
That is the flirtatious and affectionate I have ever seen this couple.

[Deepa T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick, almost comforting read. I remembered some parts of the story, but had forgotten enough to keep me interested. The mystery was really quite good. This is one of my earliest book purchases. Pure nostalgia.

[Nikita Wells (Kita's Book Nook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty interesting Nancy Drew book!!

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Drew mystery series #71. Nancy is involved in another entertaining mystery. Fun read.

[Johnnysbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad book. Got my attention throughout the book, which was cool.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wait, now Nancy can drive to New York in just a couple of hours?!

[Angela DeMott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though Nancy Drew books don't exactly hold up in adulthood, this one is noticeably better than others in the Nancy Drew Files series. Not only does Nancy solve the mystery before the denouement, but she also manages to get herself out of a locked warehouse. (Of course, it was her own stupidity that got her attacked and locked up in the first place, but that's a standard convention in all Nancy Drew novels and can be expected mid-book.)

I loved The Silver Cobweb so much as a kid and would read it several times a year. I was especially intrigued by the theater scenes and Nancy's now-so-obvious (white) privilege. Nancy has no apparent career or college aspirations, but does have a completely unburdened, adolescent independence, which I subconsciously worshiped as a young reader. Rarely do you see Nancy calling home or checking in with her father, and in this novel, Nancy is seen spending several nights away from home. In fact, two of those nights have Nancy traveling to a private island spur of the moment.

I probably won't reread this anytime soon, but it was still fun revisiting everyone's favorite teen sleuth.

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

Huh?

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

another good story.

[Madisyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Book was pretty good and it is a mystery book so if you liked the hardy boys I am sure you would like this book series too.

[Mskychick]

Placeholder for reread of Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

[Emma Gallacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok
Readable but not amazing

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Sharon Teagarden-king]

Still love my Nancy Drew with light reading nights!