Ann Sheldon / Linda Craig Series

Ann Sheldon was not a real person, but a pseudonym created to cover a number of ghost-writers writers who penned the Linda Craig mystery/pony series.

Slightly confusing books for collectors as there are two completely separate Linda Craig series, each with their own reading order. I have dubbed these the 'original' and 'newer' series. The 'original' series can also be split into two with the first six titles being written in the 1960s, and then the others being added 20 years later when the first books were also re-hashed and updated. The 'newer' series is completely separate and was written  from 1988 to 1990.

The ghost-writers for the first 6 books are unknown, although number 6 may possibly have been written by Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. The later books of the 'original' series were penned in the 1980s were ghost-written by Sharon Wagner (who also wrote the Gypsy pony series) One of the ghost writers of the 'newer' series is the author Alison Hart  I don't know the identity of the writer/s of the others.

NB. Many thanks to James Keeline for providing additional information on ghost-writers and publishing.

'Original' Linda Craig Series:
Series of 'Nancy Drew' type adventures in which teenage Linda, along with her beautiful palomino mare Chica, investigates strange happenings, many with an equine slant. The first 6 titles were written in the 1960s with a long gap of almost 20 years before it was decided to add a number of titles and update the older ones.

For an excellent article/review of the series written by one of our own forum members on her blog please click here

1) THE PALOMINO MYSTERY
(DOUBLEDAY 1962)
(1st UK edition ARMADA PB 1982)
Republished (and revised?) in the 1980s by Simon & Schuster/Wanderer.
Reprinted in paperback by Scholastic and later by Simon & Schuster.
Published in the UK in paperback by Armada.
Also published in the UK as part of an omnibus edition by Diamond.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Simon & Schuster reprint, UK Armada paperback.
SUMMARY: Linda falls in love with Chica d'Oro, a lovely palomino filly. When Chica and another horse are taken, Linda sets out to investigate.

2) THE CLUE ON THE DESERT TRAIL
(DOUBLEDAY 1962)
(1st UK edition ARMADA PB 1982)
Reprinted in paperback by
Republished (and revised?) in the 1980s by Simon & Schuster/Wanderer
Published in the UK in paperback by Armada.
Also published in the UK as part of an omnibus edition by Diamond.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, UK Armada paperback.
SUMMARY: Linda and Chica are once more swept into adventure.

3) THE SECRET OF RANCHO DEL SOL
(DOUBLEDAY 1963)
(1st UK edition ARMADA PB 1982)
Republished (and revised?) in the 1980s by Simon & Schuster/Wanderer.
Reprinted in paperback in the 1980s by Simon & Schuster/Aladdin.
Published in the UK in paperback by Armada.
Also published in the UK as part of an omnibus edition by Diamond.
EDITION PICTURED: UK Armada paperback.
SUMMARY: A horse show and a jewel thief are the start of another adventure for Linda.

4) THE MYSTERY OF HORSESHOE CANYON
(DOUBLEDAY 1963)
(1st UK edition ARMADA PB 1982)
Republished (and revised?) in the 1980s by Simon & Schuster/Wanderer
Reprinted in paperback in the 1980s by Simon & Schuster/Aladdin.
Published in the UK in paperback by Armada.
Also published in the UK as part of an omnibus edition by Diamond.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, UK Armada paperback.
SUMMARY: Have Linda and her friends found a treasure map?

5) THE MYSTERY IN MEXICO
(DOUBLEDAY 1964)
(1st UK edition ARMADA PB 1983)
Republished (and revised?) in the 1980s by Simon & Schuster/Wanderer.
Reprinted in paperback in the 1980s by Simon & Schuster/Aladdin.
Published in the UK in paperback by Armada.
Also published in the UK as part of an omnibus edition by Diamond.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, UK Armada paperback.
SUMMARY: Linda is staying at a ranch where she is to take part in a fiesta, but she becomes involved in the mystery of a disappearing water supply.

6) THE GHOST TOWN TREASURE
(DOUBLEDAY 1964?)
(1st UK edition ARMADA PB 1983)
Republished (and revised?) in the 1980s by Simon & Schuster/Wanderer
Reprinted in paperback in the 1980s by Simon & Schuster/Aladdin.
Published in the UK in paperback by Armada.
Also published in the UK as part of an omnibus edition by Diamond.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, UK Armada paperback.
SUMMARY: When out on a camping trip with her brother and the ranch's foreman, Linda hears a spooky tale of a girl and her horse who mysteriously disappeared 20 years ago and who now haunt the mountains. Later that night Linda spots the ghostly pair!

7) THE HAUNTED VALLEY (By Sharon Wagner)
(SIMON & SCHUSTER PB 1982)
(1st UK edition ARMADA PB 1983)
Published in the UK in paperback by Armada.
Also published in the UK as part of an omnibus edition by Diamond.
EDITION PICTURED: UK Armada paperback.
SUMMARY: A ghostly prowler is scaring guests away from Shadow Canyon Ranch. Can Linda discover the terrifying truth of the mysterious spooky horseman?

8) THE SECRET OF THE OLD SLEIGH (By Sharon Wagner)
(SIMON & SCHUSTER PB 1983)
(1st UK edition ARMADA PB 1983)
Published in the UK in paperback by Armada.
Also published in the UK as part of an omnibus edition by Diamond.
EDITION PICTURED: UK Armada paperback.
SUMMARY: Linda finds a beautiful old sleigh in a shed...but what are the meaning of the strange markings on it and what is the ancient secret they hide?

9) THE EMPEROR'S PONY (By Sharon Wagner)
(SIMON & SCHUSTER PB 1983)
(1st UK edition ARMADA PB 1983)
Published in the UK in paperback by Armada.
Also published in the UK as part of an omnibus edition by Diamond.
EDITION PICTURED: UK Armada paperback.
SUMMARY: Linda is a witness to the theft of a priceless Chinese antique...

10) PHANTOM OF DARK OAKS (By Sharon Wagner)
(SIMON & SCHUSTER PB 1984)
(1st UK edition ARMADA PB 1984)
Published in the UK in paperback by Armada.
EDITION PICTURED: 1st edition, UK Armada paperback.

11) SEARCH FOR SCORPIO (By Sharon Wagner)
(SIMON & SCHUSTER PB 1984)
Very rare.

Other editions:

LINDA CRAIG MYSTERIES: THE PALOMINO MYSTERY/CLUE ON THE DESERT TRAIL/SECRET OF RANCHO DEL SOL
(DIAMOND BOOKS PB)
SUMMARY: 3 in 1 omnibus

LINDA CRAIG MYSTERIES: THE MYSTERY OF HORSESHOE CANYON/MYSTERY IN MEXICO/GHOST TOWN TREASURE
(DIAMOND BOOKS PB)
SUMMARY: 3 in 1 omnibus

LINDA CRAIG MYSTERIES: THE HAUNTED VALLEY/SECRET OF THE OLD SLEIGH/THE EMPEROR'S PONY
(DIAMOND BOOKS PB)
SUMMARY: 3 in 1 omnibus

Collectors Info:
First published in the USA. The first 6 titles were first published by Doubleday in the 1960s and also reprinted in paperback. These were then reprinted by Simon & Schuster under the Wanderer Books imprint in the 1980s (I assume they were also updated and revised although I have yet to confirm this). Simon & Schuster then published  the rest of the series as paperbacks under the Wanderer/Aladdin imprint.

When the series was increased and updated in the 1980s they were also
published in the UK by Armada paperbacks. There were also three 3 in 1 volumes by Diamond Books in the 1990s, which are perhaps the most commonly seen UK editions today (pictured below the single volumes). The last two books were not included in any omnibus editions as far as I know and I don't think the last one was ever published in the UK. Most are not too hard to find in paperback, although the first US editions/hardbacks are much scarcer. The last two books are the hardest to find, especially Search for Scorpio, which is extremely so.