The Clue in the Antique Trunk

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #105

by Carolyn Keene

In a town as pretty as a picture postcard, Nancy seeks the key to a picture-perfect crime!Nancy has come to White Falls, Massachusetts, to visit her former neighbor, Vera Alexander. The town is rich in history, and Vera wants to preserve a piece of its past. But her plan to convert the old Caulder Cutlery factory into a museum turns suddenly ominous when someone threatens her life.

Why was Vera's antique trunk stolen? What dark secrets has she unwittingly disturbed? The answers are hidden in the past. Fifty years ago the owner of Caulder Cutlery was killed by his own knife -- and Nancy knows that before she can solve the present-day case, she must first uncover the haunting truth behind an old-fashioned murder.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Crime, Classics

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1992

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Hope Vollm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look at Nancy coming into the 21st century. There was a computer. But she didn’t age. Interesting.

Nancy, Bess, and George are going to this craft fair. Spoiler alert: they don’t do anything there except solve a mystery. I did peg who the bag guy was. But I enjoyed the lead up to this. I love a small town and a festival so I was on board.

Also, Bess is literally me. Girl just wants to eat.

[Rachel Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth- or fifth-grade Rachel would have inhaled this one -- I can't believe I never read it when I was younger! This is honestly one of the most enjoyable Nancy Drew books that I've read as an adult: murder, history, antiques, New England. Though it's got the thin characterization and quick pacing of basically every Nancy Drew, I honestly really enjoyed it!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid and nostalgic

[Kavya Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book out of a 100 nancy drew books which involved the case of a murder.

[Bettie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spänning, halvt oväntad skurk, löser ett gammalt mord och helt enkelt en fröjd att få läsa!

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up out of nostalgia. It was a fun, quick read. Rather predictable but that could be because I've read so many!

The idea that Nancy is working to save a craft fair in rural Massachusetts, really makes me think the book was written for adults instead of children. It certainly reinforced the idea that I could still be Nancy Drew when I grow up. Anybody worried about their upcoming craft fair? Give me a call!

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

the plot twist with Julie is both very good and very obvious.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with I imagine many of the later Nancy Drew books, this lacks some of the creeping dread of the old ones and is sort of formulaic, but can still be fun if you just want a light read.

[Lisa Shower · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

These more recent additions to the series have so little character and substance. An ok read but not at all suspenseful, rather predictable instead.

[Aino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oli tosi hyvä kirja

[Chris Comden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Clue in the Antique Trunk by Carolyn Keene
Series: Yes Nancy Drew #105
Format: Softcover
Stars: 4
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: Yes

The story was interesting. It felt a little like a cozy mystery.

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...

[Y · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title doesn't even apply that well to the story. There are a number of trunks in the book, but the only one that makes sense in the title isn't found until the last 1/10 of the book or so, and they were led to the trunk through a diary, in reality. Perhaps Nancy already had too many titles about diaries. Yes, I'm nitpicking.

[Miri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nancy's old friend Vera has moved to White Falls and is planning on setting up a museum there, but someone is opposed to her plans, things are being sabotaged and stolen, could these events somehow be linked to a murder committed years ago?

[Kailyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book, but not as interesting as I was hoping it'd be. The ending still surprised me, however it was hard for me to really get into the book right away and I found the story to be a bit too simplistic.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't recall another Nancy Drew mystery that involved an old crime in the new one. Well done with historical mystery and museum theme and setting.

[V. Arrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pacing and general vibe of this book felt much more in line with a Nancy book from decades earlier -- which is nice.