The Stolen Bones

Nancy Drew: Girl Detective #29

by Carolyn Keene

I'm hunting for something other than clues for a dinosaur bones! Bess, George, and I travel out to the desert to join a paleontology dig. The other volunteers are a pretty quirky bunch, but we're all having a great time...until an important find goes missing. It turns out fossils can be worth millions. I'm making no bones about it - the thief is going down.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Crime, Adventure, Mystery Thriller

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 22, 2008

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun setting for a mystery! Nancy, Bess and George are at a paleontology dig and they stumble right into a mystery. The isolated setting made it intriguing, and I liked seeing how Nancy approached the mystery. Her instincts always prove to be good, and I like how she and her friends work well to solve the mystery.

[Suresh P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bough this book and if I remember correctly, this is my first ever book purchase. I had read one of the Nancy Drew books from my school library and during my train journey to my hometown which by the way takes 18 hrs, I bought this at the local book store.

The trio goes helps a team of archaeologists and while doing so, someone steals some bones. We know how much Nancy Drew loves mysteries. She solves it of course!

[Brandy Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This time we find Nancy Drew solving a case involving some stolen bones. When Nancy, Bess, and George go on a paleontology dig, things get a little out of hand. Someone is trying to steal bones dug up for a paleontology, but who? There is screaming in the middle of the night due to an unexpected visit. Later at night, someone snuck into the girls’ tent and let loose a rattlesnake. Who are the culprits behind these disturbances?
Nancy Drew is only happy when there is a crime to solve. You could call her a detective, but she does not carry a gun or badge. She helps out the authorities with the solving of cases that are beyond them. George Fayne and Bess are Nancy’s best friends. They are always by her side while she is solving a crime. Ned is Nancy’s boyfriend.
The story is set in the late 1900’s in the desert. The technology is not as advanced as today which makes it clear why it is set in this time zone. The desert? That is one of the most likely place to find fossilized remains.
I would recommend this book for people in their early teens who love a good mystery.

[Dishha · Rating 3 out of 5]

:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)):):):):):):):):):)):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

[Kamaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a nice story. I had thought of Abby as the theft because she was just odd and always not around so where could she have been or what she was doing .jus neva suspected that the 2 boys were her son but I also thought they were involved.

[Denise Elwyn McKenzie Elwynmckz McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoy this one after being disappointed with the last one in this series. Nancy had wit, bravery, and was sensible, which she seemed to be lacking in the last one. Still, she wasn't.The Nancy I grew up with.

I'm still not sure how you lasso a tarantula.

◇3☆◇3♡◇FBC◇GDR◇RDJ◇

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was about searching for dinosaur bones so, naturally, I loved it.

[Annie]

AHHH KINDA VORING CAUSE IT WAS KINDA EASY FOR ME TO KNOW WHO STOLE THE BONES.But worth the read bc of Bess, George and Nancy's friendship fr

[ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dig in for a great read!

What a wild and fun read! The excitement of fossil discovery and thieves in the night in the Southwest is a great mystery for any age!

[Harsha Sanyukta · Rating 3 out of 5]

QUITE NICE!!

[Jessica Suann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ilove all of the Nancy Drew books that I read because I always love a good mystery and theses books are just so hard to put down.

[Snigdha Prakash · Rating 3 out of 5]

average

[Erikat · Rating 5 out of 5]

COOL BOOK

[Annanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love every single Nancy Drew book. They are really nice but this book was not as good as I expected it to be.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Rafi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's good to go back to where my love for books all started! Nancy Drew never fails to bring out the detective in me :)

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love EVERY single one of her books sooo it was defintly awesome!

[Hildaguard Houdini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the suspense of most pages and the answer to the is presented perfectly mystery.