The Case of the Disappearing Deejay

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #89

by Carolyn Keene

When Dan Wildman, one of River Heights hottest rock 'n' roll DJs, is kidnapped, Nancy Drew.

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

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 1989

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

Ever since reading Janice Thompson's Weddings by Bella series years ago, I can't see or hear any reference to a deejay without thinking of the scene in the first novel, where the protagonist mistakenly believes that a guy named D.J. is an actual disc jockey. When I first opened that book, I thought: Why am I reading this? That scene, however, had me hook, line, and sinker.

As for this book, it was usual Nancy Drew fare, which is to say, great.

[Izzy]

this one is really fantastic, the mystery is so so good

[sophia woods]

i love a little free library read and i LOVE nancy drew… girl detective summer!!

[sohaaa (i am jane doe)]

I really liked this book.It was my first nancy drew.

[Olivia]

Good mystery! Didn't see it coming! I liked the characters and obviously the mystery and book itself.

[Joy Fitzpatrick]

It's kinda've funny how things can get a bit dated... and this book is definitely one of those!
It still had a great plot but how things were done was a little bit late 90's!

[Amelia]

3.5

[Aishee]

My 5th and 6th grades were spent with Nancy Drew wholesomely. I remember vividly getting lost in her arcane world of murder,kidnaps,friends and ofcourse Ned. My memory has betrayed me and I have forgotten most of the names the Nancy Drew novels are blessed with but...this book...this particular and peculiar book had just struck the right chords. This was my first Nancy Drew and I was hooked to it.The mystery and the intrigue was absolutely awesome

[Prami{reader and dreamer}]

Nancy Drew rocks as always! :)

[Serena]

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