Lost in the Everglades

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #161

by Carolyn Keene

When Nancy and her friends visit the Florida Everglades, they join in the search for a missing park volunteer, Jade Romero, and for the sculpture of a panther said to be hidden in the backwoods.

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

151 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2001

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Lauren Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nancy Drew books were my favorite as a middle graders (ish). I re-read this one for nostalgia's sake after getting my collection from my parents' house. It still held up for me, even though the story line and writing are pretty simple. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Nancy!

[Anna Klaar]

Den har precis det som en Kitty bok ska ha. Spänning, onda rika och ett lyckligt slut.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun mystery with a beautiful setting. The end had some surprising twists and was super good. I really enjoyed this one!

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Nancy was the one who got lost in Everglades, then you are the one who is gonna get lost in the mystery!

[Brad Wilber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Over the decades Nancy Drew mysteries have been shortened from 25 chapters to 20 to 15 (the so-called "digest" format)--I've decided to gradually purge my collection of digests and keep only up to #78. In other words, my personal canon is only what I would have read in childhood, 20 chapters or more.

I give this title credit for a nice twist but the execution was rushed and sloppy -- suddenly in the last 2-3 chapters the story became about an Indigenous artifact, easily located? A couple o loose ends get left loose, as well.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Nancy Drew mysteries and this was no exception. I recently moved to Florida and learning about the Everglades was cool. This story was about the search for a volunteer at Everglades National Park and ended in the finding of an archeological artifact of a panther. The only thing that I didn't care for is the fact that the story was shorter than most Nancy Drew stories

[Vibhiksha Yadav · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. The ending was a bit unsatisfactory but other than that, the book is quite full of suspense and mystery. There are some bits which are unbelievable and they will make you re-read the sentence again. Ages 8-15 will enjoy this book a lot.

[Febriana Ramadhani · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read. I like books that I can finish in one sitting. I like the setting-Everglades, liking how daredevil she is, and moreover the simplicity of the plot. It's a companion reading you can take while resting. No need to think, just get immersed in it.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Iniya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It looks good to read Nancy Drew

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was a weird format for this one.

[Ella Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a re-read.

[Vishvasri J.S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Visiting an old friend in Florida, Nancy, Bess, and George are awed by the beauty of the Everglades. But Jade Romero, a young park volunteer is missing. She went backcountry camping and never returned. When Nancy agrees to search for her, she also learns about a priceless native American statue of a panther hidden in the wilderness.

A clue leads Nancy to Panterra corporation, which is developing a big mall at the edge of the Everglades. Then a close escape on the road and a threatening note convince Nancy to search the backwoods. Deep in untamed country, alligators are menacing the girls - but the worst danger is coming from enemies they never suspected!

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

The original Nancy Drew books are the best, but the more contemporary mysteries still can be fun. Lost in the Everglades is pretty basic for a kid's mystery (like, god, it's so obvious), but it's still cute. Protect those manatees! Yeah!

[Breezy · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book