About the Author

Carolyn Keene is a pen name used by a variety of authors for the classic Nancy Drew Mystery series. The first author to use the pseudonym was Mildred Wirt Benson, who wrote 23 of the original 30 books. Other writers who have adapted the "Carolyn Keene" moniker include Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Walter Karig, and Nancy Axelrod.

Reviews

Gr 3-6-Girl sleuth, Nancy Drew, is introduced in this audio version of the first book in the series. After aiding an injured child, Nancy accidentally stumbles upon the mystery of Josiah Crowley's missing will. While several of Crowley's impoverished relatives claim that he had included them in his will, his arrogant relatives, seem to possess the only copy, which leaves them in total possession of the deceased man's fortune. Nancy is intrigued by the situation and begins searching for Crowley's missing antique clock, an object that reportedly contains a clue to the will's location. During her investigation, she encounters a series of obstacles, one of which is the theft of the clock by thieves. Nancy's rescue of the clock ultimately leads to her discovery of the real will. Narrator Laura Linney (The Mothman Prophecies, The Truman Show) delivers a pleasant listening experience with clear pronunciation and excellent timing. While the voices of some characters are more clearly delineated than others at times, the exchanges between characters are still easily followed. Background music is occasionally used, usually to indicate moments of tension. Libraries with a demand for fiction featuring girl detectives will want to add this to their collections.-Paula L. Setser, Deep Springs Elementary School, Lexington, KY Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.