The Mardi Gras Mystery

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #81

by Carolyn Keene

What could be more fun than a masked Mardi Gras ball at a so-called haunted mansion? George brings her digital camera, insisting that she's going to bust some ghosts. I'm just looking forward to a night of dressing up and dancing with Ned and my friends.

Soon the fun turns freaking, though — things go haywire and everyone starts to wonder if the ghost stories could actually be true. But when Deirdre Shannon's antique tiara is snatched, I'm certain the crook is a guest, not a ghoul.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Mystery Thriller, Juvenile

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 1988

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a young age, I've preferred series to standalone books; when there was only one story, I would always wonder what happened to the characters after the last page. Maybe that's a product of growing up on shows such as Home Improvement and Growing Pains, both of which lasted several seasons and had over a hundred episodes each.

I may be grown up now, but, I still enjoy media that reminds me of my old favorites...and the Nancy Drew books are like a long-running television serial in literary form. While not every book featuring the famed teenage sleuth is a winner, this was definitely a fun one. I'm glad I have some more from this series on hand.

[Myrtle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book terrified me and gave me nightmares about it for days

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good entry in the series, especially for one written this late. Nancy, Bess, and George visit New Orleans, visiting a friend of Ned's from the college football team. Ned's friend Brian comes from a wealthy but sad family, as his father is disliked by many and his mother died years ago in a boating accident. Brian's grandfather blames his son-in-law. Despite this Brian tries to show them a good time around New Orleans, taking them to a masked ball, the French Quarter, and making gumbo for them. The mystery centers around a painting, seemingly of Brian's mother, that has been discovered in the abandoned farm of an artist. Brian's Uncle Warren has bought the farm and discovered the painting. He was also in love with Brian's mother and the animosity between Warren Tyler and Brian's father is intense, When the painting is stolen, everyone thinks that Brian's father did it, although the answer lies with a painter who paints forgeries and his badly scarred daughter. Needless to say Nancy solves the case, but doesn't see as much of New Orleans as she wanted to.

[Eric Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable ND book. I enjoyed the setting and the running around in New Orleans(though I would have liked a bit more details of the places Nancy and her friends are at, especially the French Quarter), the mystery was interesting, and the pacing was nice. Although, the book was a bit coincidental, especially the solution, and Nancy really solves the mystery by coincidence. There was also some things Nancy should have done to solve the mystery, especially one when the culprit gets stuck in a ditch in their car after chasing Nancy and Nancy doesn't go and see who it is! Instead, she drives off. I also thought who the culprit could be, but it turned out to be someone that wasn't in most of the book! Overall, though, this is a pretty good book, fun to read around Mardi Gras. 3 1/2 stars.

[Lidian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good modern Nancy Drew. Stolen paintings, art forgery, a mysterious woman and a few beignet-eating sessions thrown in. Not so much about Mardi Gras, which is kind of too bad. Well plotted, a fun quick read. However, the mystery hinges on two women looking very much alike - but this is never explained. That really bothered me - it makes the whole plot seem off-kilter. I need a good reason why these two random women (connected though, in so far as the father of one worked for the other's father) looked SO much alike.

[Jackie Linkous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Drew was my favorite book series when I was a child. I felt a little nostalgic today and decided to read this one. It's a newer addition, published in 1988. But the basics are the same so it's a good walk down memory lane!

[Chris Comden · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mardi Gras Mystery by Carolyn Keene
Series: Yes Nancy Drew #81
Format: Softcover
Stars: 3
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: No



I give honest reviews and all my opinions are my own.

For more of my reviews go to Heavenly High Seas Books
https://heavenlyhighseasbooks.blogspo...

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, a well writen short mystery! Very good for younger readers and all ages. Also good for light reading or just a late night book. Don't waste time reading this, read the book!
And all the Nancy Drew books! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

[Trips Starlake · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book a stronger rating. It's a proper mystery with good pacing, and family drama to make it spicy. Until the last 30 pages. The culprit was a character that hadn't been introduced until the very end, making the reveal fall super flat.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

george and bess pissed me OFF. for a book that was preaching woman empowerment/woman-doing-man’s-job, those two dragged her ass because she was doing something she loved. next book needs to be the missing case of nancy’s dignity…

[Pertti Lahti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok. All about a missing painting. Culprit kinda came out of nowhere. I wanted more Mardi Gras. A few bats. Nancy and Ned dig through trash and vacuum bags at one point.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys throughout my school and college days.
Nancy Drew is an amateur detective who solves crimes with occasional help from her best friends, Bess and George and, her boyfriend Ned. She also has occasional help from her father Carson Drew who runs a private law practice. From finding stolen goods to missing persons and solving mysterious happenings, Nancy is a force of nature.
Until I discovered that Carolyn Keene is a pen name for a whole bunch of ghostwriters, I used to feel confused about the slight differences in each character from books to book over the many series of Nancy Drew mysteries. I like the character of Nancy best in the original books written by Mildred Wirt Benson where Nancy is truly a character to root for – an independent and street smart girl with a penchant for trouble.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise for the mystery Nancy is working on in this one. Not my favorite but still good.

[Zimmy W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm forever obsessed with Nancy Drew.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

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