The Secret of Shady Glen

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #85

by Carolyn Keene

A cemetery of dark secrets... and Nancy's in the middle of it!

Shady Glen was no different from any other cemetery — maybe a little spooky, but harmless nonetheless. At least that's what Nancy thought until she stumbled onto a treasure map... and stumbled into a world of trouble.

The map leads Nancy into a network of underground passageways, where she uncovers a series of clues to a recent outbreak of robberies and the location of a long-lost fortune in gold. She follows the hidden tunnels into the cold, dark heart of the cemetery and comes face-to-face with the chilling secret of Shady Glen!

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

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Briana Yaccich Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A book that makes me feel nostalgic.” ✅ I’ve always loved Nancy Drew books. I can’t say I have too many negative things to say about the book at all. I love reading YA books because I always know I’m in for a good, heartfelt story that ends with tying up all of the loose ends— it’s comforting. And I can always count on Nancy for a thrilling story with a brave, gutsy, likable female lead. I’ve learned to adopt many of Nancy’s qualities throughout the years and I hope to pass these great stories down to my future kiddos. Overall, another great mystery intertwined with elements of friendship and heart.

[Ria Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!!
THIS WAS AN AMAZING NANCY DREW BOOK!! JUST LOVED IT!! REALLY COMPLICATED AND EXCITING!!
nancy is a real detective to figure out such a twisted mystery.all those maps and treasure and three tight bullies!!shes soooo pert and clever!!
but hey, thats all to the author actually!!
so thanks anyways carolyn!!
by the way do anybody feel that they'll overgrow nancy drew??
not me.
this was a one-best-plot!!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of boring.

[Seema M. Fazil · Rating 3 out of 5]

good read... but it was way too predictable!

[yana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mid-way after Nan found herself trapped in the mausoleum, I was kind of pissed that she hadn't called the police. Even after her house was robbed, she mentioned only the tire track theory of it going into the woods.

Another face palm moment was when they were on a stake-out to catch the trio in their act. Even I could tell that that cry for help was a ploy to lure the officer away from Nancy. Gah!

As much as I'm loving re-discovering new to me ND books, sadly my EQ has improved and can't help but groan in frustration when Nancy does what she does even after being trapped in all possible places.

[Thomas Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for everyone, mainly teens and young adults who love the mystery and the twists of the horrific secrets behind Shady Glen. Back when I was in community college, I had the time to read the book, just for my break or occasional free-time.

When reading, you can actually watch your personal “TV/Movie” or fantasize while reading this book. It’s actually fun to fantasize your dream cast playing the book characters!

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying mystery set in River Heights solved with Bess’ and later George’s help for a new friend and “client” for Nancy involving an old classmate and bully. I enjoyed the typical mystery elements including a cemetery which is surprisingly rare in NDMSs. This book turned out to be surprisingly relevant to the issue of racial justice currently in focus!

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. My sister used to read these books when we were young. I used to read the Hardy Boys. I read a few Nancy Drew books growing up. I found myself not wanting to put it down. These books are good ones for those that like reading and want something interesting to read.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cleaning out my parents' place and found a couple of these which I read for nostalgia. This one was surprisingly more inclusive than I remembered! A history lesson about the underground railroad ties in with the central mystery, which is a plus for child readers.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

6th grade book report:

I think this book was very excting and thrilling. Nancy Drew books are my favourite because they are always thrilling. Whenever I read one of these books, I can't put them down!

[Fedya Sahota · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had higher expectations for the plot twist compared to what the book delivered aka the plot twist was a bit too obvious for my liking. Other than that it was a sweet nostalgic read (minus the crime n knife ig)

[Jason Roland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with my daughter. Nancy Drews are terrific way to introduce mysteries to children without worrying about adult content.

[Ramandeep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery for beginners.

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all the secret passages!

[Sarah Rayman · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY ALL TIME FAVORITE NANCY DREW NOVEL. Always a wonderful palate cleanser between books.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, sweet, satisfying, and has a great cover! There’s next to no guesswork involved in the mystery, but the nostalgia makes up for it.

[Kathy velez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book. I liked nancy drew as a kid and now my daughters like these books.

[Lisa Shower · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read

Not the best of the series but also, not the worst. The newer books are not nearly as good as the ones up to 1970 or so, but there are exceptions.

[Teresa Krasteva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure vibes

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

[Aishwarya]

How weird is it that I appreciated Nancy Drew so much more, now, as an adult than I did when I was the target audience.

[Soujanya Murali · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up reading Nancy Drew and when I visited the book store one day, I couldn't resist the urge to buy a couple of her mysteries :)

This is one of the books I bought and boy! what a fun it was to read it!

It took me back to my school days and I absolutely loved being part of the formidable Shady Glen adventure with Nancy, Bess and George.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'll surely read this book if you come to know that Shady Glen is a creepy graveyard! Yes, I too was shocked! The mystery gets creepier and creepier. And every time I had to cross the Shady Glen, I shivered from top to toe.

[Elizabeth Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read many Nancy Drew books as a kid, both the original series and the paperback ones that came later, and I liked this particular story the best out of them all. I read it so many times that I think my copy of the book is raggedy looking! Lol!

[Miri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nancy encounters three bullies behaving mysteriously in Shady Glen cemetery, meanwhile she's looking for half of a missing map to hidden gold left to Bess' babysitting client while simultaneously investigating a series of robberies in town.

[V. Arrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm SHOCKED that this one hasn't been adapted as a HER game. It also really makes me more disgusted by that other title in which Nancy and Bess casually hang out at a plantation in Georgia. This book was great.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really exciting story in the Nancy Drew series involving lost gold, treasure maps, robbers etc.
All the ingredients for a good mystery story.

[Dv]

Read at an early age,so found it pretty scary .But definitely a Carolyn keene can't crush one's expectations!

[Abhinav · Rating 5 out of 5]

REALLY!NANCY IS A GREAT DETECTIVE.SHE CAN EVEN FIND CRIMINALS EVEN IF THEY ARE HIDDEN IN HELL.AMAZING
?
THIS ONE IS MOST RECOMMENDED

[Arantxa Suares]

awesome book !
i love mystery and suspense
i love nancy drew so much now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!