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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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.
Series
Books
The Mardi Gras Mystery
1988
The Paris Connection
1990
Island of Secrets
1994
Flying Too High
1995
Designs in Crime
1993
The Phantom of Nantucket
2014
The Tortoise and the Scare
2019
Nancy Drew
2007
The Case of the Vanishing Veil
1988
A Race Against Time
2007
The Clues Challenge
2001
Vanishing Act
1989
The Sign in the Smoke
2016
The Case of the Artful Crime
1992
Mall Madness
2008
Bad Medicine
1989
Trails of Treachery
2007
Serial Sabotage
2010
Under His Spell
1996
Fatal Ransom
1987
Nancy Drew Files Vol. I
Secrets Can Kill; Deadly Intent; Murder on Ice
2019
Hidden Pictures
2020
The Stranger in the Shadows
1991
Captive Witness
1980
The Cheating Heart
1990
Trouble in Tahiti
1987
Broken Promises
1996
Very Deadly Yours
1988
Till Death Do Us Part
1988
Clue in the Ancient Disguise
1982
The Sky Phantom
1976
Secret Cargo
1984
The Case of the Safecracker's Secret
1990
The Case of the Lost Song
2001
Lights, Camera…
2004
Sabotage Surrender
Book Three in the Sabotage Mystery Trilogy (Nancy Drew
2011
The Silent Suspect
1990
False Notes
2004
The Magician's Secret
2015
Lights! Camera! Clues!
1999
The Puppy Problem
1996
Bonfire Masquerade
2011
Captain Stone's Revenge
2023
Dressed to Steal
2007
In Search of the Black Rose
1997
Puppy Love Prank (13)
2020
The Apple Bandit
2005
The Stolen Bones
2008
The Case of the Floating Crime
1994
The Girl Who Couldn't Remember
1989
Werewolf in a Winter Wonderland
2003
Love Times Three
1989
The Crook Who Took the Book
2002
The Circle of Footprints
1937
Nancy's Mysterious Letter
1932
Lies and Whispers
1991
The Swami's Ring
1981
The Elusive Heiress
1971
Running Into Trouble
1996
Once Upon a Thriller
2013
The Music Festival Mystery
2000
Troubled Waters
2012
The Clue on the Silver Screen
1995
The Scarytales Sleepover
2002
Double Take
2009
Out of Control
1997
Crosscurrents
1992
The Clue in the Old Album
1947
The Quest of the Missing Map
1942
In the Name of Love
1996
In the Shadow of the Tower
1934
An Instinct for Trouble
1994
The Lucky Horseshoes
1998
The Curse of the Black Cat
2001
Last Lemonade Standing
2015
No Laughing Matter
1993
The Halloween Hoax
2007
The Missing Money Mystery
1985
The Haunting on Heliotrope Lane
2018
The Kachina Doll Mystery
1981
The Secret of Shadow Ranch
1931
The Riddle in the Rare Book
1995
The Double Horror of Fenley Place
1987
Jealous Feelings
1997
The Secret at Seven Rocks
1991
Best of Enemies
1991
Getting Closer
1996
High Marks for Malice
1989
Bad Times, Big Crimes
2005
A Taste of Danger
2003
Big Top Flop
2016
Double Crossing
1988
The Secret of the Fiery Chamber
2001
The Legend of Miner's Creek
1992
Exhibition of Evil
1997
The Secret of the Swiss Chalet
1958
Princess on Parade
1997
The Joker's Revenge
1988
The Cinderella Ballet Mystery
2006
The Clue in the Camera
1988
Mystery of the Tolling Bell
1946
The Mystery of the Masked Rider
1992
The Fortune Teller's Secret
1994
Deadly Doubles
1987
The Teen Model Mystery
1995
Wicked Ways
1996
Super Sleuths! Vol. 2
1981
Mystery of the Winged Lion
1982
Never Say Die
1987
Mystery at Moorsea Manor
1999
Fishing for Clues
2007
The Secret of the Forgotten Cave
1996
The Mysterious Fireplace
1941
The Secret of the Tibetan Treasure
1992
The Secret of the Knight's Sword
1984
The Feathered Serpent
1984
Dangerous Games
1989
Candy Is Dandy
2000
The Message in the Haunted Mansion
1994
Stop the Clock
2005
The Hidden Window Mystery
1956
Turkey Trouble
2003
Danger on the Great Lakes
2003
Captive Heart
1985
Wrong Track
1991
Evil in Amsterdam
1993
The Clue of the Velvet Mask
1953
Movie Madness
2016
The Circus Scare
2007
Chick-napped!
2008
The Mystery of the Locked Room
1938
The Secret of the Golden Pavilion
1959
En Garde
2006
New Lives, New Loves
1995
Pit of Vipers
2006
The Missing Horse Mystery
1998
Rehearsing for Romance
1996
Curse of the Arctic Star
2013
The Case of the Disappearing Diamonds
1987
Deep Secrets
1990
The Ringmaster's Secret
1953
Hot Tracks
1992
The Flying Saucer Mystery
1985
The Sierra Gold Mystery
1961
Mountain-Peak Mystery
1978
Playing with Fire
1988
Poison Pen
1991
Babysitting Bandit
2009
Third-Grade Reporter
2000
Dangerous Loves
1997
The Mystery of the 99 Steps
1966
The Case of the Photo Finish
1990
The Bike Race Mystery
2004
The Clue of the Rusty Key
1942
Choosing Sides
1993
Friends and Rivals
1990
Update on Crime
1992
The Purple Fingerprint
2001
Riverboat Roulette
2017
Sabotage at Willow Woods
2014
The Bluebeard Room
1985
Two Points to Murder
1988
The Dashing Dog Mystery
2001
Cheating Hearts
1990
The Vanishing Statue
2020
The Secret of the Scarecrow
2013
False Impressions
1990
Danger on Parade
1992
The Secret in the Old Well
1944
Junior Class Trip
1991
Trial by Fire
1987
The Dollhouse Mystery
2004
Flower Power
2001
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach
1960
The Crooked Banister
1971
Stalk, Don't Run
Book Three in the Malibu Mayhem Trilogy (Nancy Drew
2012
Superstitions of "The Scottish Play"
2025
Sisters in Crime
1988
The Mystery at Lilac Inn
1930
The Clue of the Black Flower
1956
The Suspect in the Smoke
1993
Mystery of the Bamboo Bird
1960
Snowbound
1998
Dare at the Fair
1998
The Kitten Caper
2005
The Wrong Chemistry
1989
Illusions of Evil
1994
The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes
1964
Riverboat Ruse
2005
Mystery by Moonlight
2002
The Clue in the Antique Trunk
1992
Power of Suggestion
1993
The Secret Santa
1994
Hotline to Danger
1994
Love Notes
1995
Greek Odyssey
1992
The Curious Coronation
1976
Duck Derby Debacle
2021
The Legend of the Emerald Lady
2000
The Nutcracker Ballet Mystery
1992
