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Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #80
The Case of the Disappearing Diamonds
The daughter of mystery writer Beatrice Crown is convicted of stealing six diamonds, but when Beatrice tries to prove Karen had been framed, she disappears, leaving Nancy Drew to solve the puzzle
147 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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1087 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,058 books3,925 followersCarolyn 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 23, 2017
Good ND book. It was entertaining and has kept me interested all the way through. Although, I felt Nancy wasn't really doing much in this book. She just seems to just wander around, asking questions and waiting for something to happen. At the end, she suddenly knows who the culprit is when throughout the whole book, she didn't even suspect the person! The culprit was pretty obvious too. The solution also wasn’t really explained in some detail, it was kinda rushed through. However, I liked how Nancy was in the book, she was very poised and wasn't about to take any crap from anyone! Lol. Overall, an average ND mystery. 3 stars.
November 22, 2020
Great book for one of the newer Nancy Drew stories.
I have been a critic of some of the newer books written. But I was happily surprised with This book. It had a lot of drama and I was surprised that I did not know Who was The main suspect until the very end when Nancy confronted him. I really enjoyed this book and Hope that some of the newer ones continue to delight me as this one did!
I have been a critic of some of the newer books written. But I was happily surprised with This book. It had a lot of drama and I was surprised that I did not know Who was The main suspect until the very end when Nancy confronted him. I really enjoyed this book and Hope that some of the newer ones continue to delight me as this one did!
June 18, 2021
I love Nancy Drew books. No sex, no blood, no horrible gore, just plain old reading that I can enjoy. They are truly unbelievable (I mean, can Nancy REALLY hang out a window by the fingertips on one hand?:) ) but sometimes it's nice to live in an unbelievable world.
June 21, 2021
Not sure why the first review didn’t save….
Any rate, always enjoyed a good ND novel but this one didn’t quite do the job. It was an interesting enough story but I think some research should have been done relating to prison sentences and head injuries. I wouldn’t recommend this one.
Any rate, always enjoyed a good ND novel but this one didn’t quite do the job. It was an interesting enough story but I think some research should have been done relating to prison sentences and head injuries. I wouldn’t recommend this one.
May 24, 2025
Very good book 👍 👍👍👍👍
I finished it in just a few days.
It is so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😊😊😊😊😊
I highly recommend this book!!!!!!!!
LOVE IT!!!!
And I love that the mystery happens very quickly in the story and I love when the mysteries happen as quick as possible.
I finished it in just a few days.
It is so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😊😊😊😊😊
I highly recommend this book!!!!!!!!
LOVE IT!!!!
And I love that the mystery happens very quickly in the story and I love when the mysteries happen as quick as possible.
December 8, 2020
Once again, a well written book by Carolun Keene! I love these short, but amazing mystery books! I highly recommend this, and the other books in the series.
April 4, 2019
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.
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.
April 22, 2020
This addition to the Nancy Drew canon was surprisingly intense! I genuinely thought someone was going to die! The rating remains 3 stars (still) for another Nancy Drew installment, simply because the writing is quite simple. That's not necessarily the writer's fault. It's aimed at a much younger audience than me, but it's still enjoyable. Some of the ideas are a little dated, however, especially the way George and Bess are described. It always seems like Bess is being put down for the way she is. Although it is nice that both Nancy and George's love for her is continuously reinforced. Moving on to another one!
August 8, 2010
I really enjoy the Nancy Drew series, but I don't think this book was actually written by the original Carolyn Keene. It just wasn't written with the same feel and language. Still unable to solve it until the end though.
Want to read
October 17, 2012...........................................................
January 25, 2010
Nancy searches for some missing diamonds
April 26, 2017
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews