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Author photo. Harriet (Stratemeyer) Adams was head of the Stratemeyer Syndicate (running it with her sister, Edna) from her father's death in 1930 until her own death in 1982. She wrote many of the books in the Nancy Drew series, in addition to writing outlines, editing, and revising many of the Syndicate works.

Harriet (Stratemeyer) Adams was head of the Stratemeyer Syndicate (running it with her sister, Edna) from her father's death in 1930 until her own death in 1982. She wrote many of the books in the Nancy Drew series, in addition to writing outlines, editing, and revising many of the Syndicate works.

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146,883 (146,916)1,02539 (3.71)70
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 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) — biography from The Secret of the Old Clock… (more)
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.

The Secret of the Old Clock 6,348 copies, 104 reviews
The Hidden Staircase 4,871 copies, 49 reviews
The Bungalow Mystery 3,989 copies, 29 reviews
The Mystery at Lilac Inn 3,744 copies, 26 reviews
The Secret of Shadow Ranch 3,614 copies, 28 reviews
The Secret of Red Gate Farm 3,030 copies, 24 reviews
The Clue in the Diary 2,550 copies, 21 reviews
Nancy's Mysterious Letter 2,424 copies, 19 reviews
The Sign of the Twisted Candles 2,378 copies, 19 reviews
The Clue of the Broken Locket 2,186 copies, 14 reviews
The Password to Larkspur Lane 2,180 copies, 14 reviews
The Message in the Hollow Oak 1,901 copies, 12 reviews
The Whispering Statue 1,804 copies, 11 reviews
The Mystery of the Ivory Charm 1,669 copies, 11 reviews
The Haunted Bridge 1,668 copies, 8 reviews
The Clue of the Tapping Heels 1,547 copies, 9 reviews
The Secret in the Old Attic 1,506 copies, 11 reviews
The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk 1,504 copies, 12 reviews
The Quest of the Missing Map 1,466 copies, 8 reviews
The Clue in the Jewel Box 1,463 copies, 10 reviews
The Ghost of Blackwood Hall 1,439 copies, 8 reviews
The Clue in the Crumbling Wall 1,353 copies, 4 reviews
Mystery of the Tolling Bell 1,350 copies, 7 reviews
The Clue in the Old Album 1,318 copies, 4 reviews
Mystery at the Ski Jump 1,293 copies, 6 reviews
The Clue of the Leaning Chimney 1,280 copies, 9 reviews
The Mystery of the 99 Steps 1,273 copies, 3 reviews
The Secret of the Wooden Lady 1,232 copies, 8 reviews
The Scarlet Slipper Mystery 1,221 copies, 4 reviews
The Clue of the Velvet Mask 1,205 copies, 7 reviews
The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes 1,172 copies, 5 reviews
The Clue of the Black Keys 1,167 copies, 6 reviews
The Haunted Showboat 1,133 copies, 4 reviews
The Ringmaster's Secret 1,122 copies, 3 reviews
The Witch Tree Symbol 1,120 copies, 4 reviews
The Moonstone Castle Mystery 1,100 copies, 2 reviews
The Clue of the Dancing Puppet 1,096 copies, 4 reviews
The Spider Sapphire Mystery 1,094 copies, 6 reviews
The Hidden Window Mystery 1,092 copies, 2 reviews
The Secret of the Forgotten City 1,087 copies, 3 reviews
The Secret of the Golden Pavilion 1,080 copies, 7 reviews
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach 1,058 copies, 4 reviews
The Mystery of the Fire Dragon 1,054 copies, 3 reviews
Mystery of the Glowing Eye 1,045 copies, 3 reviews
The Clue in the Crossword Cipher 1,025 copies, 4 reviews
The Invisible Intruder 1,014 copies, 6 reviews
Mystery of Crocodile Island 1,003 copies, 4 reviews
The Mysterious Mannequin 977 copies, 3 reviews
The Phantom of Pine Hill 969 copies, 3 reviews
The Crooked Banister 968 copies, 7 reviews
The Secret of Mirror Bay 944 copies, 3 reviews
The Sky Phantom 938 copies, 5 reviews
The Double Jinx Mystery 892 copies, 1 review
The Thirteenth Pearl 846 copies, 2 reviews
The Secret in the Old Lace 530 copies, 2 reviews
The Triple Hoax 486 copies, 2 reviews
Without a Trace 472 copies, 5 reviews
The Flying Saucer Mystery 453 copies, 4 reviews
Captive Witness 394 copies, 7 reviews
A Race Against Time 366 copies, 4 reviews
The Greek Symbol Mystery 362 copies, 1 review
The Twin Dilemma 349 copies, 3 reviews
Secrets Can Kill 342 copies, 7 reviews
The Slumber Party Secret 335 copies, 4 reviews
The Kachina Doll Mystery 335 copies, 2 reviews
The Swami's Ring 312 copies, 2 reviews
Nancy Drew Ghost Stories 288 copies, 3 reviews
The Lost Locket 263 copies, 1 review
Deadly Intent 262 copies, 1 review
False Notes 260 copies
Double Crossing 259 copies, 1 review
High Risk 248 copies
Hit and Run Holiday 231 copies, 2 reviews
The Lost Files of Nancy Drew 229 copies, 2 reviews
Murder on Ice 225 copies, 4 reviews
Smile and Say Murder 215 copies, 1 review
Pit of Vipers 210 copies
The Case of the Lost Song 209 copies, 3 reviews
By the Light of the Study Lamp 195 copies, 1 review
False Moves 189 copies, 1 review
The Nutcracker Ballet Mystery 187 copies, 1 review
The Teen Model Mystery 184 copies, 1 review
Two Points to Murder 184 copies, 2 reviews
Bad Day for Ballet 182 copies, 1 review
The Fox Hunt Mystery 179 copies, 1 review
White Water Terror 176 copies, 3 reviews
Trial By Fire 174 copies
Trade Wind Danger 173 copies, 1 review
A Model Crime 173 copies
The Sinister Omen 172 copies, 2 reviews
Lights, Camera... 171 copies, 1 review
The Secret at Lone Tree Cottage 169 copies, 2 reviews
The Haunted Carousel 167 copies, 2 reviews
Deadly Doubles 167 copies, 2 reviews
Mystery of the Winged Lion 164 copies, 1 review
Action! 164 copies, 2 reviews
The Secret Santa 160 copies, 1 review
The Silver Cobweb 159 copies, 2 reviews
Buried Secrets 159 copies, 2 reviews
The E-Mail Mystery 158 copies, 1 review
Strangers on a Train 157 copies, 3 reviews
The Secret of Shady Glen 156 copies, 1 review
Danger on the Great Lakes 156 copies, 2 reviews
The Emerald-Eyed Cat Mystery 154 copies, 1 review
The Case of the Vanishing Veil 151 copies, 1 review
The Treasure in the Royal Tower 149 copies, 2 reviews
The Final Scene 149 copies, 1 review
The Stolen Relic 148 copies, 2 reviews
Operation: Titanic 148 copies, 1 review
Vanishing Act 146 copies, 2 reviews
The Clue in the Antique Trunk 145 copies, 2 reviews
Clue in the Ancient Disguise 144 copies, 1 review
Mystery Train 144 copies
Enemy Match 143 copies, 2 reviews
The Bluebeard Room 143 copies, 3 reviews
New Year's Evil 141 copies
The Nancy Drew Sleuth Book 140 copies, 2 reviews
The Phantom of Venice 139 copies, 2 reviews
Shock Waves 139 copies, 1 review
The Missing Horse Mystery 139 copies, 1 review
Uncivil Acts 137 copies
The Baby-Sitter Burglaries 136 copies, 1 review
Riverboat Ruse 135 copies
Fatal Attraction 135 copies, 1 review
In the Shadow of the Tower 135 copies, 3 reviews
High Survival 135 copies
The Scarlet Macaw Scandal 133 copies, 1 review
The Ice Cream Scoop 132 copies, 1 review
Heart of Danger 129 copies, 1 review
Secret of the Spa 128 copies, 1 review
Bad Medicine 128 copies, 1 review
Dangerous Plays 127 copies, 1 review
The Mysterious Image 127 copies, 1 review
Where's Nancy? 125 copies, 1 review
Stop the Clock 125 copies, 2 reviews
The Black Widow 124 copies, 1 review
The Last Resort 124 copies
The Eskimo's Secret 122 copies, 2 reviews
Buried in Time 122 copies, 3 reviews
Sisters in Crime 121 copies
The Double Horror of Fenley Place 120 copies, 2 reviews
Wings of Fear 119 copies, 1 review
Most Likely to Die 119 copies, 1 review
Dangerous Games 118 copies
Rich and Dangerous 118 copies, 1 review
Scent of Danger 118 copies
Pure Poison 117 copies
Danger in Disguise 116 copies, 1 review
The Riddle in the Rare Book 116 copies, 2 reviews
High Marks for Malice 116 copies, 1 review
Framed 115 copies
Never Say Die 115 copies
Fatal Ransom 114 copies
The Chocolate-Covered Contest 114 copies, 2 reviews
The Winking Ruby Mystery 113 copies, 2 reviews
The Crime Lab Case 113 copies, 2 reviews
Out of Bounds 112 copies
Hits and Misses 111 copies
Circle of Evil 111 copies
Don't Look Twice 111 copies
Terror on Tour 111 copies, 3 reviews
Spies and Lies 110 copies, 1 review
The Haunted Lagoon 110 copies, 2 reviews
The Suspect Next Door 109 copies, 1 review
Mystery at Moorsea Manor 108 copies, 2 reviews
Best of Enemies 107 copies
Dressed to Steal 106 copies, 2 reviews
Secret at Solaire 106 copies, 1 review
The Case of the Floating Crime 105 copies, 2 reviews
The Stranger in the Shadows 105 copies, 3 reviews
A Three-Cornered Mystery 104 copies, 2 reviews
Pool Party Puzzler 104 copies, 2 reviews
The Paris Connection 104 copies, 1 review
The Circle of Footprints 103 copies, 4 reviews
Tour of Danger 103 copies
Final Notes 102 copies
The Puzzle at Pineview School 101 copies, 1 review
Trail of Lies 101 copies, 1 review
Death by Design 101 copies, 1 review
Bike Tour Mystery 101 copies, 2 reviews
Win, Place or Die 101 copies, 1 review
En Garde 100 copies, 1 review
The Ghost in the Gallery 98 copies, 1 review
Making Waves 96 copies
Last Dance 95 copies
Trouble at Lake Tahoe 94 copies, 1 review
Mystery on Maui 93 copies
The Secret at the Hermitage 93 copies, 1 review
The Ghost of Craven Cove 92 copies, 2 reviews
Troubled Waters 92 copies, 2 reviews
Mistletoe Mystery 91 copies, 1 review
Swiss Secrets 91 copies, 2 reviews
Close Encounters 91 copies, 1 review
The Mystery of the Locked Room 91 copies, 1 review
A Taste of Danger 90 copies, 1 review
Mystery by Moonlight 90 copies, 1 review
Mixed Signals 89 copies, 1 review
In Search of the Black Rose 89 copies, 2 reviews
Deep Secrets 88 copies
Getting Burned 88 copies, 1 review
The Case of the Artful Crime 88 copies, 3 reviews
A Star Witness 87 copies, 1 review
Secrets of the Nile 87 copies, 2 reviews
Cold as Ice 87 copies, 1 review
The Portrait in the Sand 86 copies, 1 review
Trouble at Camp Treehouse 86 copies, 2 reviews
The Orchid Thief 86 copies, 1 review
Running Scared 86 copies
The Secret of the Fiery Chamber 86 copies, 2 reviews
The Curse of the Black Cat 86 copies, 2 reviews
The Riding Club Crime 85 copies, 1 review
Not Nice on Ice 85 copies
Tropic of Fear 84 copies
Danger Overseas 84 copies, 1 review
The Legend of the Emerald Lady 84 copies, 3 reviews
The Girl Who Couldn't Remember 83 copies, 2 reviews
The Secret at Seven Rocks 82 copies, 2 reviews
Danger for Hire 81 copies
The Clue in the Cobweb 81 copies, 3 reviews
The Case of the Captured Queen 81 copies, 1 review
The Riddle of the Ruby Gazelle 80 copies, 1 review
The Mystery at Magnolia Mansion 80 copies, 2 reviews
Squeeze Play 79 copies
Over the Edge 78 copies
The Case of the Creative Crime 78 copies, 2 reviews
Secret Cargo 77 copies, 1 review
Easy Marks 76 copies, 1 review
The Clue of the Rusty Key 76 copies, 2 reviews
High Risk 75 copies, 1 review
The Mystery of Misty Canyon 75 copies, 1 review
Into Thin Air 74 copies, 2 reviews
Greek Odyssey 74 copies
The Ghost of the Lantern Lady 73 copies, 2 reviews
Hot Tracks 72 copies, 1 review
Make No Mistake 72 copies, 1 review
Natural Enemies 72 copies
The Picture-Perfect Mystery 72 copies, 1 review
Passport to Danger 71 copies, 1 review
Poison Pen 71 copies, 2 reviews
The Silent Suspect 68 copies, 1 review
Lost in the Everglades 68 copies, 1 review
The Clue of the Black Flower 68 copies, 1 review
Cutting Edge 67 copies
The Clue on the Crystal Dove 67 copies, 1 review
Choosing Sides 66 copies
The Legend of Miner's Creek 66 copies, 2 reviews
False Pretenses 66 copies, 1 review
Mardi Gras Masquerade 66 copies, 1 review
Hot Pursuit 66 copies
Club Dread 65 copies
Perfect Cover 65 copies, 1 review
Date with Deception 64 copies, 2 reviews
Moving Target 64 copies
Once Upon a Crime 63 copies, 1 review
Diamond Deceit 63 copies
The Wrong Track 62 copies, 2 reviews
The Clue in the Ivy 61 copies, 2 reviews
The Secret in the Dark 61 copies, 1 review
The Perfect Escape 60 copies, 2 reviews
Portrait in Crime 60 copies, 1 review
Crosscurrents 59 copies, 1 review
An Instinct for Trouble 59 copies, 1 review
Nancy Drew Set - Books 1-10 59 copies, 3 reviews
Love Notes 58 copies
Let's Talk Terror 58 copies, 1 review
The Fortune-Teller's Secret 58 copies, 1 review
Stage Fright 57 copies
Secret Identity 57 copies
The Sign in the Smoke 57 copies, 2 reviews
If Looks Could Kill 57 copies, 1 review
Island of Secrets 55 copies, 1 review
Sweet Revenge 54 copies
Counterfeit Christmas 54 copies, 2 reviews
Candy is Dandy 53 copies, 1 review
The Mystery of the Mother Wolf 53 copies, 4 reviews
The Hidden Inheritance 52 copies, 1 review
The Clue on the Silver Screen 51 copies, 1 review
Last Lemonade Standing 51 copies, 1 review
Dead on Arrival 51 copies
New Lives, New Loves 50 copies, 1 review
Fishing for Clues 50 copies, 1 review
Pets on Parade 49 copies
Power of Suggestion 49 copies, 1 review
The Cheating Heart 48 copies, 1 review
High Stakes 48 copies
Update on Crime 48 copies
At All Costs 48 copies
Out of Control 47 copies
Mountain-Peak Mystery 47 copies, 1 review
Captive Heart 47 copies
Kiss and Tell 46 copies
Identity Theft 46 copies
Heart of Ice 46 copies
Intruder 46 copies, 1 review
Model Crime 45 copies
Wicked Ways 44 copies, 1 review
Real Fake 44 copies, 1 review
The Lemonade Raid 43 copies, 1 review
Royal Revenge 43 copies
Model Menace 42 copies
Big Top Flop 42 copies, 1 review
Gold Medal Murder 40 copies, 1 review
Candy Kingdom Chaos 40 copies, 1 review
Hidden Meanings 40 copies
Anything For Love 40 copies, 1 review
Model Suspect 37 copies
Flying Too High 36 copies
The Ski Slope Mystery 36 copies, 1 review
Movie Madness 35 copies, 1 review
Dangerous Loves 34 copies
Flower Power 34 copies
Secret Sabotage 33 copies
Nancy Drew Ghost Stories #2 33 copies, 1 review
Skipping a Beat 33 copies, 1 review
The Stolen Kiss 32 copies
Riverboat Roulette 32 copies, 1 review
On Her Own 31 copies
The Witch's Omen 31 copies, 1 review
Green With Envy 30 copies
The Apple Bandit 30 copies, 1 review
The Secret in the Spooky Woods 29 copies, 1 review
Bonfire Masquerade 29 copies, 1 review
The Professor and the Puzzle 29 copies, 2 reviews
The Haunting on Heliotrope Lane 28 copies, 2 reviews
Boo Crew 28 copies
Whose Pet is Best? 27 copies, 1 review
Seeing Green 27 copies
Hannah's Secret 26 copies
Serial Sabotage 25 copies, 1 review
The Crook Who Took the Book 25 copies, 1 review
Danger on Ice 24 copies
Guilty Secrets 24 copies, 1 review
The Day Camp Disaster 24 copies, 2 reviews
Don't Look Back 23 copies
New Beginnings 22 copies
Under His Spell 21 copies
Stage Fright 21 copies
False Friends 21 copies
Secret Rules 20 copies
Stolen Kisses 19 copies
Party Weekend 19 copies
Getting Closer 19 copies
Space Case 19 copies
Going Home 18 copies
Going Too Far 18 copies
Lessons in Love 18 copies
Snowbound 18 copies
Turkey Trouble 18 copies
Hard to Get 18 copies
The Scarytales Sleepover 18 copies, 1 review
Dinosaur Alert! 17 copies
Mystery of the Lost Dogs (Author) 17 copies
Keeping Secrets 16 copies
A Capitol Crime 16 copies
Broken Promises 16 copies
Broken Hearts 16 copies
Love On-Line 15 copies
Circus Act 15 copies
Lights! Camera! Clues! 15 copies, 1 review
It's No Joke! 15 copies
Zoo Clue 13 copies, 1 review
The Purple Fingerprint 13 copies, 1 review
Mixed Emotions 13 copies
Hard to Handle 13 copies
Cheating Hearts 13 copies
Love and Games 10 copies
Nancy Drew 7 copies
Kidnappad 3 copies
20th century (363) adventure (347) Carolyn Keene (310) chapter book (635) childhood (182) children (1,133) children's (2,013) children's books (315) children's fiction (433) children's literature (769) classic (458) classics (215) Dana Girls (714) detective (891) dust jacket (149) fiction (7,815) girls' series (313) hardcover (400) Hardy Boys (147) juvenile (700) juvenile fiction (520) kids (222) middle grade (258) mysteries (305) mystery (14,687) Nancy Drew (14,045) Nancy Drew Cameo Lib Ed (187) Nancy Drew Digest PBs (131) Nancy Drew Files (589) Nancy Drew Mystery Stories (153) Nancy Drew Series (677) novel (256) own (270) read (1,130) series (2,062) to-read (863) YA (618) young adult (2,179) youth (282) z (254)
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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.

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