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Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #66
Race Against Time
Nancy is asked to recover Shooting Star, a valuable race horse that has been stolen from Rainbow Ranch.
Important: Not to be confused with A Race Against Time, Book #2 in the Nancy Drew Girl Detective series.
Important: Not to be confused with A Race Against Time, Book #2 in the Nancy Drew Girl Detective series.
206 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
7 people are currently reading
1226 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,055 books3,924 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 26, 2020
exciting!!
October 6, 2025
Set in River Heights. 206 pp. Read this for a reading prompt ("read a book with exactly 20 chapters"). Pretty much as dire as I'd thought it would be. I'm sure there are some young people who would love this, but I really kind of hope not. Nancy is just perfect in everything she does... a terrible role model!
Found online at https://ia904605.us.archive.org/23/it....
Race Against Time (Nancy Drew, #66) by Carolyn Keene
Found online at https://ia904605.us.archive.org/23/it....
Race Against Time (Nancy Drew, #66) by Carolyn Keene
October 2, 2020
Nancy is enlisted to act in a film by Ned's college film club - she's also embroiled in the hunt for a missing racehorse. Strange events occur at the old mansion where the club are filming and Nancy discovers a link with the missing racehorse. This is a typical - all systems go - Nancy adventure. She is portrayed as so acomplished at everything - riding and acting, as well as investigating. This was one mystery where the link wasn't too obvious and I appreciated that it wasn't too straightforward to figure out. Overall an enjoyable romp.
April 13, 2025
A valuable thorough bred ‘Shooting Star’ has been stolen and the owner asks Nancy to investigate. At the same time Ned is shooting a movie which is being entered into a film contest engendering jealousy and vandalism.
Nancy Drew can truly do anything she puts her mind to this time she combines horseriding with modelling and being an actress in an amateur production and we know that where Nancy is a mystery is not far behind. Nice to see her spending a bit of time with Ned who quite often is the neglected boyfriend. She also shows her caring side by helping a little girl solve her own mystery. I like the fact that the authors of the books always showed Nancy being kind and helping others. This one is not a stand out but just a nice story.
Nancy Drew can truly do anything she puts her mind to this time she combines horseriding with modelling and being an actress in an amateur production and we know that where Nancy is a mystery is not far behind. Nice to see her spending a bit of time with Ned who quite often is the neglected boyfriend. She also shows her caring side by helping a little girl solve her own mystery. I like the fact that the authors of the books always showed Nancy being kind and helping others. This one is not a stand out but just a nice story.
June 9, 2017
A stolen racehorse. A spate of country-house burglaries. A suspicious fire in the stables of the old mansion where Nancy's beau, Ned Nickerson, and his college film club are producing an amateur vampire-spoof movie (starring Nancy, of course!).
Nancy's friends, Bess and George, have minor parts in this episode. Mostly it's all Nancy in action, first as a lead actress, then starring in a series of TV commercials. I liked the fact that the shy youngster, Tina, played a major role in the denouement of the book.
Nancy's friends, Bess and George, have minor parts in this episode. Mostly it's all Nancy in action, first as a lead actress, then starring in a series of TV commercials. I liked the fact that the shy youngster, Tina, played a major role in the denouement of the book.
Read
October 26, 2022Summary: Nancy Drew is put in a friend's movie and in a TV show. She is the star of a show and gets put on a case to find a missing race horse. She finds a correlation between a burglar and the missing horse. She solves the case and her friend's movie wins a award.
Reaction: Nancy Drew is a very strong, independent woman in the book. How females are treated in book amazes me. They are all lower to men and the woman only talk to Nancy Drew. There are no woman to men interactions besides with Nancy Drew.
Content Warning:
-violence
-kidnapping
Reaction: Nancy Drew is a very strong, independent woman in the book. How females are treated in book amazes me. They are all lower to men and the woman only talk to Nancy Drew. There are no woman to men interactions besides with Nancy Drew.
Content Warning:
-violence
-kidnapping
June 9, 2021
Paula osallistuu Nedin komediallisen vampyyrielokuvan kuvauksiin päätähtenä ja selvittää läheiseltä tilalta kadonneen kilparatsun kohtaloa. Ja pääsee myös mainosmalliksi kauneussaippuan mainoskuvauksiin.
Menoa ja meininkiä riittää tuttuun tapaan, hieman höpsöyksiä, mutta oikeastaan aika viihdyttävä.
Menoa ja meininkiä riittää tuttuun tapaan, hieman höpsöyksiä, mutta oikeastaan aika viihdyttävä.
May 5, 2023
Lmao I’m pretty sure I read a different “race against time” Nancy Drew book because it was about road cycling?
June 17, 2023
Attendrez… c’est un livre français, non? Ce n’est pas un livre anglais?
Le livre que je lis était en français. Je parle anglais et c’était mon premier livre français. J’aimais bien! C’était drôle.
Le livre que je lis était en français. Je parle anglais et c’était mon premier livre français. J’aimais bien! C’était drôle.
Read
May 17, 2025Very nostalgic, entertaining, and old-timey feeling.
April 10, 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.
December 27, 2015
I'd read this book when I was about 10 years old. I still remember thinking (when I first saw this book)- wow, this book must be about time travel! Nancy travels back in time to solve a mystery! But, sadly, it wasn't so (actually the picture of a horse on the cover and the word "race" in the title together should have given me a clue [that this book was about races], but I was only 10!) - nevertheless, it was a good read.
September 20, 2012
Read in Finnish as Neiti Etsivä ja kadonnut kilpahevonen.
A very interesting Nancy Drew story. I only found a logical problem in the premise. Who allows bets on horses before all horses competing are applied?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2016
I have read so many Nancy Drew mysteries and I still love them. It is a strange world to enter, fear is around every corner and even though you know Nancy won't get hurt you still wonder. Great fun and something nice to turn to when you need a friend.
Want to read
August 6, 2009when Olivia will be able to read French properly...
November 13, 2009
Very interseting plot, kept me guessing till te end...allthough nancy and her personality can be TO PERFECT!!!
August 21, 2010
Nancy seaches for a race horse called Shooting Star
July 9, 2012
A horse on the cover! Definitely an eye catcher for someone who loves horses. It's a typical Nancy Drew book, nothing to make it stand out.
January 16, 2015
another good story.
May 20, 2025
Nancy Drew: Rahasia Rumah Tua was the first novel I got when I was a kid (my neighbor, Pak Zainal, gave it to me). Totally loved it!
April 25, 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 - 22 of 22 reviews