An Instinct for Trouble

Nancy Drew Files #95

by Carolyn Keene

When her boyfriend is injured under mysterious circumstances during a trip to Yellowstone National Park, Nancy arrives on the scene and uncovers a criminal plan to steal the park's native animals. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure, Crime, Childrens

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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]

Remember that old commercial, "It's fun gettin' into trouble"?

That may have been an advertisement for a board game--albeit a very enjoyable one that me and my friends used to play often back in the day--but, this book about trouble was fun, too!

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and would probably read it again. One thing I would change however is that the professor would have been part of it. Overall I think this was a very well done book.

[Jeammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgia is reaal! ❤️

[V. Arrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean. It's a mystery about marmots.

Marmots.

[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.

[PenNPaper52 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was an avid fan of the Nancy Drew books when I was young, and thought I might revisit the words again. This one involves Nancy going to the Yellowstone Park to help Ned. Ned is involved with a research team that is studying furry creatures resembling hamsters. Accompanied by Bess, Nancy sets out to find out where fifty of the creatures have disappeared to and who are the guilty parties. Just like Paris Hilton made small doggies a fashion icon, these creatures are sought by the rich and famous as pets. In the black market each can fetch more than $500, and with fifty missing, someone is in the process of earning $25000. It was a fun read, less than 100 pages with the mystery engrossing...

[K.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy and Bess are visiting Ned at Yellowstone Park. Ned and his college crew are studying marmots, but strange accidents are happening and marmots are being stolen. Ned as per usual dislikes it when Nancy suspects anyone he knows...

[Behnaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

it would have been much better if the crime wasnt so easy to solve by the way anyone know which number 2 points to murder is? spell check not required:D

[Prami{reader and dreamer} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy peasy to solve but still a good read. :)

[Eric Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was average . Plot was way too predictable and there was too much romance for my taste . But overall it was good and deserves 3 stars .