The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene

It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.Įdna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. But the pretty titian-haired detective remains undaunted in her determination to solve the mystery.Ĭarolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people- both men and women- over the years. While seeking further clues, the girls' investigation in a ghost town ends in a near disaster when Nancy is trapped inside a building that is toppled by a rockslide - a rockslide which is deliberately caused. The first vital clue is found in an antique watch and sparks a series of clever deductions and dangerous developments.

Suspecting that a treasure hidden by Valentine may be at the root of the Shadow Ranch mystery, Nancy undertakes a challenging search, aided by her friends Bess Marvin and George Fayne. Local people believe that the ghostly animal is carrying out the curse of Dirk Valentine, the romantic outlaw who was killed many years ago at Shadow Ranch, where he had gone to fulfill a promise to his sweetheart. The ranch is being haunted by a phantom horse and maliciously damaged by an unknown enemy. Nancy drew arrives in Phoenix, Arizona, eagerly looking forward to a fun-filled vacation at Shadow Ranch, but abruptly finds herself involved in a baffling mystery.

The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene