Carolyn Keene
Author of The Secret of the Old Clock
About the Author
Carolyn Keene was the pseudonym that Mildred Wirt Benson and Walter Karig used to write Nancy Drew books. The idea of Nancy Drew came from Edward Stratemeyer in 1929. He also had other series, that included the Hardy Boys, but he died in 1930 before the Nancy Drew series became famous. His show more daughters, Harriet and Edna, inherited his company and maintained Nancy Drew having Mildred Wirt Benson, the original Carolyn Keene, as the principal ghostwriter. During the Depression, they asked Benson to take a pay cut and she refused, which is when Karig wrote the books. Karig's Nancy Drew books were Nancy's Mysterious Letter, The Sign of the Twisted Candles, and Password to Larkspur Lane. He was fired from writing more books because of his refusal to honor the request that he keep his work as Carolyn Keene a secret. He allowed the Library of Congress to learn of his authorship and his name appeared on their catalog cards. Afterwards, they rehired Benson and she wrote until her last Nancy Drew book (#30) was written in 1953, Clue of the Velvet Mask. Harriet and Edna Stratemeyer also contributed to the Nancy Drew series. Edna wrote plot outlines for several of the early books and Harriet, who claimed to be the sole author, had actually outlined and edited nearly all the volumes written by Benson. The Stratemeyer Syndicate had begun to make its writers sign contracts that prohibited them from claiming any credit for their works, but Benson never denied her writing books for the series. After Harriet's death in 1982, Simon and Schuster became the owners of the Stratemeyer Syndicate properties and in 1994, publicly recognized Benson for her work at a Nancy Drew conference at her alma mater, the University of Iowa. Now, Nancy Drew has several ghostwriters and artists that have contributed to her more recent incarnations. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Disambiguation Notice:
Do NOT combine this page with that of "C. Keene", as there are other authors on LT who share that surname and intial. Thank you.
This author is a nom de plume of the several authors of the Nancy Drew and The Dana Girls series. It is a pseudonym owned originally by the Stratemeyer Syndicate (now a name used by Simon and Schuster). Authors of books in the former series include Mildred Wirt Benson, Harriet Adams, James Duncan Lawrence, Walter Karig, Nancy Axelrad, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller, Jr., Margaret Scherf, and Susan Wittig Albert. Authors of books in the latter series include Leslie McFarlane, Mildred Wirt Benson, and Harriet Adams.
Note that Caroline Quine is the Dutch and French name of this author.
Please do not combine the individual authors with Carolyn Keene; They may have written under the name Carolyn Keene, but many of them also wrote other books under their own name.
As "Carolyn Keene" is an artificial corporate entity, it has no gender, which should be designated "n/a".
Image credit: Mildred Wirt Benson, the first of many to write under the name Carolyn Keene. University Archives. Dept. of Special Collections. University of Iowa Libraries.
Series
Works by Carolyn Keene
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock / The Hidden Staircase / The Bungalow Mystery / The Mystery at Lilac Inn / The Secret of Shadow Ranch / The Secret of Red Gate Farm (2000) 240 copies, 4 reviews
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock / The Bungalow Mystery / The Mystery of the 99 Steps (2004) 172 copies, 2 reviews
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock / The Hidden Staircase / The Bungalow Mystery / The Mystery at Lilac Inn (2015) 148 copies
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew: Sleepover Sleuths / Scream for Ice Cream / Pony Problems / The Cinderella Ballet Mystery (2020) 144 copies
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew: Sleepover Sleuths / Scream for Ice Cream / Pony Problems / The Cinderella Ballet Mystery / Case of the Sneaky Snowman (2009) 80 copies
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock / The Hidden Staircase / The Bungalow Mystery / The Mystery at Lilac Inn / The Secret of Shadow Ranch (2012) 75 copies
Nancy Drew: The Hidden Staircase / The Ghost of Blackwood Hall / The Thirteenth Pearl (2004) 66 copies
Nancy Drew: The Bike Tour Mystery / The Riding Club Crime / Werewolf in a Winter Wonderland (2003) 63 copies
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock / The Hidden Staircase / The Bungalow Mystery (1999) 63 copies, 1 review
Nancy Drew Girl Detective: Without a Trace / A Race Against Time / False Notes / High Risk (2004) 62 copies, 1 review
Nancy Drew: The Clue of the Dancing Puppet / The Moonstone Castle Mystery (1962) 55 copies, 1 review
Nancy Drew Clue Book: Pool Party Puzzler / Last Lemonade Standing / A Star Witness / Big Top Flop (2016) 33 copies
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock / The Hidden Staircase / The Mystery of the 99 Steps 29 copies
Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Glowing Eye / The Secret of the Forgotten City (1975) 26 copies, 1 review
Nancy Drew Diaries: Curse of the Arctic Star / Strangers on a Train / Mystery of the Midnight Rider / Once Upon a Thriller (2013) 19 copies
Nancy Drew: The Triple Hoax / The Flying Saucer Mystery / The Secret in the Old Lace (1981) 18 copies
Nancy Drew: The Elusive Heiress / The Clue in the Ancient Disguise / The Broken Anchor (1994) 17 copies
Nancy Drew: The Clue of the Tapping Heels / The Mystery of the Tolling Bell / The Phantom of Pine Hill (1984) 15 copies
Nancy Drew Diaries: Curse of the Arctic Star / Strangers on a Train / Mystery of the Midnight Rider (2016) 14 copies
Nancy Drew 14 copies
Nancy Drew: The Hidden Window Mystery / The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes / The Mysterious Mannequin (1993) 11 copies
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Forgotten City / The Strange Message in the Parchment (1992) 10 copies
Nancy Drew: The Clue of the Dancing Puppet / The Clue in the Crumbling Wall / The Ringmaster's Secret (1983) 9 copies
Nancy Drew: The Clue of the Black Keys / The Clue of the Leaning Chimney / The Scarlet Slipper Mystery (1994) 9 copies
Nancy Drew: The Sign of the Twisted Candles / The Haunted Bridge / The Clue in the Jewel Box (1993) 8 copies
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock / The Mystery at Lilac Inn / The Clue in the Diary (1993) 8 copies
NANCY DREW 22: DRESSED TO ST 7 copies
Nancy Drew: The Hidden Staircase / The Mystery of the Ivory Charm / The Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk (1990) 7 copies
Nancy Drew: The Clue of the Dancing Puppet / The Clue of the Black Keys / Nancy's Mysterious Letter (1985) 5 copies
Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Pine Hill / The Mystery of the Fire Dragon / The Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion (1988) 5 copies
Nancy Drew: The Scarlet Slipper Mystery / The Secret of the Golden Pavilion / The Secret in the Old Attic (1994) 5 copies
Nancy Drew: The Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk / The Clue of the Velvet Mask (1995) 4 copies, 1 review
Nancy Drew Files: Secrets Can Kill / Deadly Intent / Murder on Ice / Smile and Say Murder / Hit and Run Holiday (1972) 4 copies
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories 4 copies
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Golden Pavilion / The Secret in the Old Attic / The Clue in the Old Album (1993) 4 copies
Nancy Drew Mystery At The Ski Jump 3 copies
Nancy Drew Diaries Collection, Volume 2: Mystery of the Midnight Rider, Once upon a Thriller 3 copies
Nancy Drew: Girl Detective, Graphic Novels: Writ in Stone / Global Warning / The Fake Heir (2007) 3 copies
Nancy Drew: The Secret of Shadow Ranch / The Message in the Hollow Oak / The Mystery at the Ski Jump (1973) 3 copies
Nancy Drew: The Invisible Intruder / The Mysterious Mannequin / The Crooked Bannister / The Secret of Mirror Bay / The Double Jinx Mystery (1997) 2 copies
The Secret of the Vanishing Pyramid 2 copies
Nancy Drew: The Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion / The Ghost of Blackwood Hall / The Kachina Doll Mystery (1998) 2 copies
Nancy Drew: The Password to Larkspur Lane / The Clue of the Broken Locket / The Clue of the Leaning Chimney (1982) 2 copies
Nancy Drew: The Suspect in the Smoke / Trouble at Lake Tahoe / The Clue on the Silver Screen / The Secret of the Scarlet Hand (1994) 2 copies
Nancy Drew: The Hidden Window Mystery / The Sign of the Twisted Candles / The Secret of the Old Clock (1935) 1 copy
Nancy Drew Short Stories 1 copy
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew 1 copy
The Hardy Boys 1 copy
Dark Quartet 1 copy
Nancy Drew Files: Last Dance / The Final Scene / The Suspect Next Door / Shadow of a Doubt / Something to Hide (1987) 1 copy
ALICE DANS L'ILE AU TRESOR 1 copy
Ghost Stories 2 1 copy
Model Mystery 1 copy
Nancy Drew: Clue Book 1 copy
Nancy Drew - Girl Detective 1 copy
Nancy A Drew And Hardy Boys 1 copy
Dead on Target/Evil Incorporated/Cult of Crime/Lazarus Plot (Hardy Boys Casefiles, Case 1-4) and Shock Waves (Nancy Drew (1992) 1 copy
The Secret of Mirror Bay 1 copy
Nancy Drew Collection 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Keene, Carolyn (publisher's house name, English)
Quine, Caroline (publishers house name, francophone) - Gender
- n/a
- Occupations
- publisher's house name
- Nationality
- USA
- Disambiguation notice
- Do NOT combine this page with that of "C. Keene", as there are other authors on LT who share that surname and intial. Thank you.
This author is a nom de plume of the several authors of the Nancy Drew and The Dana Girls series. It is a pseudonym owned originally by the Stratemeyer Syndicate (now a name used by Simon and Schuster). Authors of books in the former series include Mildred Wirt Benson, Harriet Adams, James Duncan Lawrence, Walter Karig, Nancy Axelrad, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller, Jr., Margaret Scherf, and Susan Wittig Albert. Authors of books in the latter series include Leslie McFarlane, Mildred Wirt Benson, and Harriet Adams.
Note that Caroline Quine is the Dutch and French name of this author.
Please do not combine the individual authors with Carolyn Keene; They may have written under the name Carolyn Keene, but many of them also wrote other books under their own name.
As "Carolyn Keene" is an artificial corporate entity, it has no gender, which should be designated "n/a". - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Discussions
Found: Nancy Drew book set in a beach town in Name that Book (January 2024)
YA mystery with girl detectives in Name that Book (November 2017)
Reviews
Mặc dù là tập đầu tiên, nhưng câu chuyện xuất phát cực kì thẳng-vào-vấn-đề. Nhân vật và những bí ẩn được giới thiệu gần như ngay lập tức, nhưng không có nghĩa là bị mất đi sự hồi hộp đâu nhé! Thực ra cả series này mỗi tập cũng chỉ rất ngắn, khoảng 200 trang thôi, nhưng với ngần ấy dung lượng thì câu chuyện vẫn được phát triển rất mượt mà. Nhân vật chính Nancy Drew cực show more đáng yêu, thân thiện, cảm giác như chỉ muốn kéo cô ấy ra khỏi trang sách và làm bạn thôi vậy. Được mô tả như một cô gái thông minh, đầy trách nhiệm và dũng cảm, thực sự đúng là mẫu nhân vật dành cho thể loại middle grade. Và phần giải những bí ẩn thì không quá hack não, nhưng vẫn làm người đọc nhấp nhổm không yên. Bối cảnh và cách nói chuyện của nhân vật khá là “ngày-xưa”, nhưng chính điểm này làm mình rất thích luôn ý!! show less
When Frank and Joe Hardy are asked by Jonathan Kimball at the State Department to impersonate the sons of a wealthy New Yorker, and go on their Egyptian honeymoon, the Hardys agree. Posing as the Hardys' wives are Nancy and Bess. But shortly after arriving in Egypt, the group discover that their mission is not as straightforward as it initially appeared. As they try to figure out just why Kimball brought them to Egypt in the first place, their search for answers may be more deadly than show more anyone expected.
I loved this book as a kid. I borrowed it from the library so many times, my mom eventually just bought me my own copy so I could re-read it at my leisure. Reading it as an adult, it holds up relatively well. It took me about forty pages before I remembered where the mystery was going. However, I was amused at childhood me and the moments between Frank and Nancy that I found SO swoony when I was 8. I also cracked up at the cliffhangers at the end of every chapter. The age of the book shows and as an adult the suspension of disbelief required to believe that the State Department would ever hire a group of teenagers (to pretend to be twenty-somethings) was difficult. But my fondness for the book remains and an adult re-read didn't ruin the book for me. If you're a fan of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys double mysteries, I will always recommend this one. show less
I loved this book as a kid. I borrowed it from the library so many times, my mom eventually just bought me my own copy so I could re-read it at my leisure. Reading it as an adult, it holds up relatively well. It took me about forty pages before I remembered where the mystery was going. However, I was amused at childhood me and the moments between Frank and Nancy that I found SO swoony when I was 8. I also cracked up at the cliffhangers at the end of every chapter. The age of the book shows and as an adult the suspension of disbelief required to believe that the State Department would ever hire a group of teenagers (to pretend to be twenty-somethings) was difficult. But my fondness for the book remains and an adult re-read didn't ruin the book for me. If you're a fan of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys double mysteries, I will always recommend this one. show less
They are out of print now (I'm fortunate to own all but a couple they published) but Applewood Books turned back the hands of time and gave the real Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys back to readers with these facsimile editions. The reproduction of the original dust jackets conjured up images and phrases from the enchanted America of yesteryear. Faithfully restored to its original form, word-for-word, The Sign of the Twisted Candles is the Nancy your mother or grandmother remembers. These show more beautifully reproduced hardback editions are not condensed, rewritten or updated. In Sign of the Twisted Candles, we have not only the Nancy of the 1930s, with her blonde bob, but one of the best written books of the entire series.
While it is still a book designed for youthful readers, there is much better writing, a bit more depth, and not a small dose of nostalgia when read today. You can almost see the Coke sign outside the River Heights Theatre showing the latest Nancy Carroll picture as Nancy goes whizzing past in hot pursuit of a clue. A warm and affectionate introduction by popular mystery writer Carolyn G. Hart is the only addition or deviation from Twisted Candles first appeared in this lovely edition.
Nancy and her pals George and Bess are caught in a rainstorm and seek shelter at The Sign of the Twisted Candles. Nancy befriends a young orphan named Sadie and finds danger and mystery lurking at the Twisted Candles, of course. The plot revolves around Asa Sydney and his will, and a family feud which will cause George and Bess to desert Nancy for a time until a lesson about loyalty is learned. Nancy's father, famous lawyer Carson Drew, gets involved on behalf of his daughter, and Hannah Gruen, the Drew's houskeeper and mother-figure to Nancy, is present here as well.
Buried secrets and an attempt to run Nancy off the road offer plenty of action unmarred by today's brand of violence for readers. An exciting and heartfelt conclusion punctuates a wholesome mystery which provides a role model even today. These Applewood editions stand head and shoulders above the others, helping young readers discover Nancy in a romantically nostalgic past. It is a past more innocent to be sure, filled with ice cream parlors and roadsters, five-cent Saturday mornings at the movies watching our favorite serial adventure and, of course, Nancy Drew.
And yes, before someone in the PC brigade squawks, attempting to apply current views with those closing in on a hundred years ago, there are societal elements portrayed here which have changed for the better. However, this is an accurate presentation of the views during the time period in which this was written. It is a quite charming and very nostalgic read. The Sign of the Twisted Candles is one of the finest in the series, in its original form, and this is the real Nancy Drew. Most older readers will certainly emit a wistful sigh for a time long gone in America's past, at the turning of the final page... show less
While it is still a book designed for youthful readers, there is much better writing, a bit more depth, and not a small dose of nostalgia when read today. You can almost see the Coke sign outside the River Heights Theatre showing the latest Nancy Carroll picture as Nancy goes whizzing past in hot pursuit of a clue. A warm and affectionate introduction by popular mystery writer Carolyn G. Hart is the only addition or deviation from Twisted Candles first appeared in this lovely edition.
Nancy and her pals George and Bess are caught in a rainstorm and seek shelter at The Sign of the Twisted Candles. Nancy befriends a young orphan named Sadie and finds danger and mystery lurking at the Twisted Candles, of course. The plot revolves around Asa Sydney and his will, and a family feud which will cause George and Bess to desert Nancy for a time until a lesson about loyalty is learned. Nancy's father, famous lawyer Carson Drew, gets involved on behalf of his daughter, and Hannah Gruen, the Drew's houskeeper and mother-figure to Nancy, is present here as well.
Buried secrets and an attempt to run Nancy off the road offer plenty of action unmarred by today's brand of violence for readers. An exciting and heartfelt conclusion punctuates a wholesome mystery which provides a role model even today. These Applewood editions stand head and shoulders above the others, helping young readers discover Nancy in a romantically nostalgic past. It is a past more innocent to be sure, filled with ice cream parlors and roadsters, five-cent Saturday mornings at the movies watching our favorite serial adventure and, of course, Nancy Drew.
And yes, before someone in the PC brigade squawks, attempting to apply current views with those closing in on a hundred years ago, there are societal elements portrayed here which have changed for the better. However, this is an accurate presentation of the views during the time period in which this was written. It is a quite charming and very nostalgic read. The Sign of the Twisted Candles is one of the finest in the series, in its original form, and this is the real Nancy Drew. Most older readers will certainly emit a wistful sigh for a time long gone in America's past, at the turning of the final page... show less
I first began to read the Nancy Drew Mysteries in 4th grade. I particularly remember reading Nancy Drew books during 4th grade math and tucking the book inside the long, rectangular red cover math book. When I would stand the math book up on my desk, the Nancy Drew book fit perfectly “inside” as the math book spine height was just a little taller than the Nancy Drew book. My teacher would continue teaching but walk behind me and reach down to pull out the Nancy Drew book and put it on show more his desk before returning to the front chalkboard. It always impressed me that he would tuck my bookmarker inside to keep my place and allow me to take the book home the same evening of my distraction from class. Now >50 years later, a dear girlfriend surprised me with a ©1959 edition of “The Secret of the Old Clock” in mint condition that she found in AZ and brought back for me in PA. I read the story again in one sitting and I was as enthralled with the mystery as I was so many years ago. I found the mystery riveting and just couldn't put it down. Now I can easily understand why I forgot to look up occasionally to act as though I was interested in that day's math lesson. Nancy Drew adventure or math? Still, no contest. lol
I had forgotten so many of the details of the series opener as well as the initial plot. The Nancy Drew Mysteries invigorated my interest in reading and particularly mysteries that has brought me a lifetime of reading adventures and treasured hours. What a priceless gift! My girlfriend also read Nancy Drew books during her childhood. She grew up to be an elementary reading teacher and I grew up to be a children's librarian. show less
I had forgotten so many of the details of the series opener as well as the initial plot. The Nancy Drew Mysteries invigorated my interest in reading and particularly mysteries that has brought me a lifetime of reading adventures and treasured hours. What a priceless gift! My girlfriend also read Nancy Drew books during her childhood. She grew up to be an elementary reading teacher and I grew up to be a children's librarian. show less
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Nancy Drew List (35)
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Awards
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Statistics
- Works
- 929
- Also by
- 8
- Members
- 202,591
- Popularity
- #20
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 1,328
- ISBNs
- 4,826
- Languages
- 21
- Favorited
- 75
