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Nancy Drew Mystery Stories — by Carolyn Keene
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories Series in Order: 175 books
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The Secret of the Old Clock
Book - 1
Copyright � 1930, 1959, 1987. [First printing April 28, 1930]: Publisher descriptions [associated copyright dates unknown] > Nancy Drew's keen mind is tested when she searches for a missing will. > Nancy, unaided, seeks to find a missing will. Her...
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The Hidden Staircase
Book - 2
Copyright � 1930, 1959, 1987. [First printing April 29, 1930]: Publisher descriptions [associated copyright dates unknown] > Teenage detective Nancy Drew uses her courage and powers of deduction to solve the mysterious happenings in an old stone ma...
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The Bungalow Mystery
Book - 3
Copyright � 1930, 1960, 1988. [First printing April 29, 1930]: Publisher descriptions [associated copyright dates unknown] > Nancy believes her friend's guardians are trying to steal her inheritance. As she investigates, she has a perilous experien...
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Mystery at Lilac Inn
Book - 4
The Mystery at Lilac Inn byCarolyn Keene is the fourth novel in the classic Nancy Drew mystery series, blending suspense, adventure, and youthful determination. The story follows teenage detective Nancy Drew as she visits the Lilac Inn expecting a pe...
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Secret at Shadow Ranch
Book - 5
NANCY DREW arrives in Phoenix, Arizona, eagerly looking forward to a fun-filled vacation at Shadow Ranch, but abruptly finds herself involved in a baffling mystery. The ranch is being haunted by a phantom horse and maliciously damaged by an unknown e...
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Secret of Red Gate Farm
Book - 6
The beloved and bestselling Nancy Drew mystery series continues with this latest exciting installment of the adventures of every girl's favorite detective in The Secret of Red Gate Farm. Solving crime never takes a vacation! While off on a summer vis...
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The Clue in the Diary
Book - 7
Nancy and her friends, George and Bess, are returning from a country carnival when they witness the explosion and burning of a beautiful country mansion. Fearing its occupants may be trapped in the blazing building, they rush to the rescue -- and une...
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Nancy's Mysterious Letter
Book - 8
By mistake Nancy Drew receives a letter from England intended for an heiress, also named Nancy Drew. When Nancy undertakes a search for the missing young woman, it becomes obvious that a ruthless, dangerous man is determined to prevent her from findi...
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The Sign of the Twisted Candles
Book - 9
Another exciting mystery begins for the attractive young detective when her friends Bess and George ask her to investigate a rumor that their wealthy great-granduncle, Asa Sidney, is virtually a prisoner in his own mansion. But solving the mystery an...
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Password to Larkspur Lane
Book - 10
Blue bells will be singing horses! This strange message, attached to the leg of a wounded homing pigeon, involves Nancy Drew in a dangerous mission. Somewhere an elderly woman is being held prisoner in a mansion. Nancy is determined to find and free ...
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The Clue of the Broken Locket
Book - 11
NANCY DREW and her friends are plunged into a network of strange events when they visit Misty Lake. The very night they arrive, they meet pretty, red-haired Cecily Curtis, who seeks Nancy's help in solving two mysteries: one concerning Cecily's fianc...
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The Message in the Hollow Oak
Book - 12
A group of professional detectives challenge Nancy to tackle a mystery that they have failed to solve: find an invaluable message hidden by a missionary centuries ago in a hollow oak tree in Illinois. While searching the woods for the ancient tree...
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The Mystery of the Ivory Charm
Book - 13
What secret life-giving power does the exquisite ivory elephant charm contain? Can the trinket really protect its wearer from all harm? Nancy Drew finds out when the owner of the Bengleton Wild-Animal Show asks her to investigate one of the perfor...
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The Whispering Statue
Book - 14
Nancy Drew is asked to solve a puzzling mystery and immediately is confronted with another, even more complicated. The first one concerns a valuable collection of rare books that Mrs. Horace Merriam commissioned a supposedly reputable art dealer to s...
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The Haunted Bridge
Book - 15
Mr. Drew is on the trail of an international ring of jewel thieves and asks Nancy to assist him. The trail leads to a summer resort area. Before Nancy has a chance to start work on her father's case, a golf caddy tells her a frightening tale. In the ...
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The Clue of the Tapping Heels
Book - 16
Challenging questions confront Nancy Drew when she attempts to solve the mystery of the strange tapping sounds in the house of a retired actress. Who is the tapper? How does he gain access to Miss Carter's house, despite securely locked doors and win...
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The Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk
Book - 17
From the moment Nancy Drew boards an ocean liner leaving for New York, she becomes involved in a new and dangerous mystery. A man on the pier gestures to someone on board in the sign language of the deaf. BEWARE OF NANCY DREW AND NE, he signals. Who ...
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The Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion
Book - 18
A friend of Carson Drew's has been arrested and charged with sending a truck loaded with explosive oranges into the Space Center complex at Cape Kennedy. Knowing that Mr. Billington could not possibly be guilty of sabotage, Nancy and her father rush ...
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The Quest of the Missing Map
Book - 19
"No! No! I won't go there!" seven-year-old Trixie Chatham cries out. "The Ship Cottage is haunted!" Prompted by her concern for the frightened child, Nancy investigates the small studio on the Chatham estate. What the astute young detective disco...
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The Clue in the Jewel Box
Book - 20
An antique dealer's revelation about a former queen's priceless heirloom starts Nancy on a trail of exciting adventures. Madame Alexandra, now living incognito in River Heights, asks Nancy to find her missing grandson. With only one clue to go on ...
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The Secret in the Old Attic
Book - 21
Nancy Drew races against time to unravel the clues in a dead man's letters. If she succeeds, Philip March and his little granddaughter can be saved from financial ruin. Following the obscure clues, Nancy undertakes a search for some unpublished music...
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Clue in the Crumbling Wall
Book - 22
When Nancy is asked to find a professional dancer who disappeared several years before, the young detective becomes involved in a mystery reaching far beyond a missing-person's case. Clues lead to a huge estate which the dancer is to inherit if sh...
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The Mystery of the Tolling Bell
Book - 23
Nancy becomes involved in a maze of mystery when she accepts an invitation from Mrs. Chantrey, a client of Mr. Drew, to vacation at her cottage in a picturesque seaside town. Carson Drew has promised to join his daughter, but fails to arrive. The ala...
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The Clue in the Old Album
Book - 24
Nancy Drew witnesses a purse snatching and runs after the thief. She rescues the purse, but not its contents, then is asked by the owner, a doll collector, to do some detective work. "The source of light will heal all ills, but a curse will follow...
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The Ghost of Blackwood Hall
Book - 25
When Mrs. Putney seeks Nancy Drew's help in recovering her stolen jewelry, the search for the thieves takes the teen-age detective and her friends Bess and George to the colorful French Quarter in New Orleans. But the quest is hampered by the strange...
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The Clue of the Leaning Chimney
Book - 26
As a result of an encounter with a sinister stranger on a lonely country road, Nancy Drew and her friend Bess Marvin discover that a rare and valuable Chinese vase has been stolen from the pottery shop of Dick Milton, a cousin of Bess. Dick had bo...
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The Secret of the Wooden Lady
Book - 27
Adventure abounds on the Bonny Scot in Boston Harbor as Nancy Drew helps Captain Easterly uncover the mystery of his ghostly visitors. From the moment the clever young detective and her friends, Bess Marvin and George Fayne, take up residence on the ...
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The Clue of the Black Keys
Book - 28
Terry Scott, a young archaeology professor, seeks Nancy's help in unearthing a secret of antiquity which can only be unlocked by three black keys. While on an archaeological expedition in Mexico, Terry and Dr. Joshua Pitt came across a clue to the bu...
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Mystery at the Ski Jump
Book - 29
When Nancy learns that the Drews' housekeeper has been duped by an elegantly dressed woman into buying a stolen fur piece, the young detective starts a search for the clever swindler. To Nancy's astonishment, she discovers that the woman is using the...
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The Clue of the Velvet Mask
Book - 30
Carson Drew portends his teen-age detective daughter's future adventure when he says half-jokingly, "Nancy, don't let any of the party thieves ruin your evening." The masquerade party at the Hendricks' mansion quickly turns into a mystery when Nan...
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The Ringmaster's Secret
Book - 31
Nancy is given a beautiful gold bracelet and finds that one of the horse charms is missing. When she learns the unusual story behind the jewelry, she sets out to solve the fascinating mystery. The bracelet had been presented to a former circus per...
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The Scarlet Slipper Mystery
Book - 32
Nancy meets Helene and Henri Fontaine, refugees from Centrovia who run a dancing school in River Heights. Strange circumstances have brought the brother and sister to the United States. When they receive an anonymous note threatening their lives, Nan...
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The Witch Tree Symbol
Book - 33
When a neighbor asks Nancy Drew to accompany her to an old uninhabited mansion, a new mystery opens up, and danger lurks on the second floor. Nancy finds a witch tree symbol that leads her to Pennsylvania Dutch country in pursuit of a cunning and rut...
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The Hidden Window Mystery
Book - 34
A magazine article offering a large reward to anyone who can find a missing medieval stained-glass window intrigues Nancy. She asks Bess and George to join her on a search in Charlottesville, Virginia. Before the three friends leave River Heights, th...
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The Haunted Showboat
Book - 35
Bess and George invite Nancy on a trip to New Orleans, to help their relatives solve a mystery. Their uncle wants to restore an old showboat, the River Princess, but no one will go near it! Mysterious occurrences are making everything believe the boa...
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The Secret of the Golden Pavilion
Book - 36
One of Mr. Drew's new clients, Mr. Sakamaki, requests Nancy's help solving a mystery. Mr. Sakamaki recently inherited his grandfather's estate in Hawaii, but two strangers arrive, claiming to also be the grandchildren of his deceased grandfather. Can...
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The Clue in the Old Stagecoach
Book - 37
Mrs. Strook requests Nancy's help finding an old stagecoach she believes her uncle hid in her hometown of Francisville. Mrs. Strook believes the stagecoach houses a clue that will be valuable for the town! Can Nancy help her find the missing stagecoa...
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The Mystery of the Fire Dragon
Book - 38
Nancy receives an urgent call from her Aunt Eloise in New York, requesting her help in solving a mystery. Her neighbor's granddaughter, Chi Che Soong, has gone missing! Nancy and her friends fly to New York to help track down the missing girl....
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The Clue of the Dancing Puppet
Book - 39
When the eerie performances of a life-size puppet begin to haunt the old Van Pelt estate, where an amateur acting group -- the Footlighters -- have their theater, Nancy Drew is called upon to unravel the baffling mystery. From the moment the pr...
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The Moonstone Castle Mystery
Book - 40
When Nancy Drew receives a valuable moonstone as a gift from an unknown person, she is amazed and puzzled. But it is only the first of several startling events in this complex mystery that challenge the ingenuity of the pretty sleuth. Why are the ...
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The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes
Book - 41
Warnings not to go to Scotland can't stop Nancy Drew from setting out on a thrill-packed mystery adventure. Undaunted by the vicious threats, the attractive young detective -- with her father and her two close friends -- goes to visit her great-gr...
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The Phantom of Pine Hill
Book - 42
When Nancy Drew, together with her two close friends, arrive for the Emerson University June Week celebration and learn there has been a mix-up in their motel reservations, the confusion leads to a baffling mystery. Uncle John Rorick, a descendant...
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The Mystery of the 99 Steps
Book - 43
NANCY DREW'S search for a flight of 99 steps to solve the mystery of a friend's weird dream takes her to France. But before she leaves the United States, an unknown person calling himself Monsieur Neuf warns the young sleuth not to pursue her mission...
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The Clue in the Crossword Cipher
Book - 44
Told against the fascinating background of South America, this Nancy Drew mystery-adventure makes exciting reading. Lovely young Carla Ponce who lives in Peru invites Nancy and her friends Bess and George to visit her and solve her "monkey mystery," ...
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The Spider Sapphire Mystery
Book - 45
Thrilling, dangerous adventures confront Nancy Drew while on a safari in East Africa with a group of American college students. Excitement runs high as the teen-age detective delves into the theft of a fabulous sapphire formed by nature millions of y...
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The Invisible Intruder
Book - 46
"Nancy Drew, forget the ghost hunt!" a male voice rasps on the telephone. Despite the mysterious warning, the pretty teen-age detective and a group of friends start out on a ghost-hunting expedition to investigate five places reputed to be haunted...
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The Mysterious Mannequin
Book - 47
The strange disappearance of a young Turkish client of Mr. Drew's and the gift of an Oriental rug with a coded message woven into its decorative border start Nancy on a difficult search for a missing mannequin. What happened to the attractive figure ...
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The Crooked Bannister
Book - 48
Nancy and her friends Bess and George spend an exciting week exploring a mysterious zigzag house with its fantastically crooked staircase, its bizarre serpent picture, and an unpredictable robot that nearly causes the young detective to lose her life...
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The Secret of Mirror Bay
Book - 49
Aunt Eloise Drew invites Nancy and her friends to Mirror Bay Bide-A-Wee cabin near Cooperstown, New York, for a visit and a chance to solve the mystery of the woman who glides across the water. Upon their arrival Nancy becomes mixed up in a vacati...
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The Double Jinx Mystery
Book - 50
A bird of ill omen is mysteriously left on the Drews' front lawn. Did the person who put it there do so with the intent of jinxing Nancy and her father? This strange incident involves Nancy in her famous lawyer-father's case concerning a rare bir...
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The Mystery of the Glowing Eye
Book - 51
When Nancy Drew eagerly agrees to help her lawyer father solve the mystery of the glowing eye, she has no way of knowing that it will involve the kidnapping of her close friend Ned Nickerson. A puzzling note in Ned's handwriting sets Nancy and her...
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The Secret of the Forgotten City
Book - 52
Gold! There are rumors that long ago a treasure was hidden in a city now buried under the Nevada desert. Nancy and her friends plan to join a dig sponsored by two colleges to hunt for the gold. Before she starts, the young sleuth receives an ancie...
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The Sky Phantom
Book - 53
Nancy goes to the Excello Flying School in the Midwest to take lessons, while her friends Bess and George perfect their horseback riding. At once the young sleuth is confronted with the mystery of a hijacked plane and a missing pilot. Then the ranche...
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The Strange Message in the Parchment
Book - 54
A sheep farmer receives a mysterious telephone call shortly after he buys a series of pictures painted on parchment. "Decipher the message in the parchment and right a great wrong," the voice says. Puzzled, the owner asks Nancy to help. With Junie...
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Mystery of Crocodile Island
Book - 55
In a response to a friend's call for help, Nancy's father, a lawyer, asks her to travel to mysterious Crocodile Island with her friends Bess and George to study the reptiles and try to uncover a group of suspected poachers. Upon their arrival in F...
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The Thirteenth Pearl
Book - 56
Nancy is asked to locate a stolen pearl necklace that is unusual and very valuable. She soon learns that strange and dangerous people are responsible for the theft. They harass her at home and intensify it when she and her father go to Japan, and the...
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The Triple Hoax
Book - 57
When Nancy's aunt's friend is swindled out of a sizable sum of money, she invites Nancy, Bess, and George to New York to help figure out who is behind the theft. There, the girls see a performance of a magicians' group who stun their audiences with c...
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The Flying Saucer Mystery
Book - 58
When Nancy and her friends ride deep into the Sawniegunk Forest in search of a flying saucer, they find themselves in the middle of more than one mystery. Wildcats, runaway horses, deadly snakes, and a disappearing Indian keep the sleuths tangled in ...
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The Secret in the Old Lace
Book - 59
A mystery magazine is offering a prize to anyone who can solve a century-old mystery: what happened to the dashing Belgian gentleman who vanished into thin air one hundred years ago. Nancy is sure she can win -- until her entry is stolen and the game...
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The Greek Symbol Mystery
Book - 60
When Nancy is told that a large inheritance from a Greek tycoon, meant for her friend Helen Nicholas, was stolen, she knows it's up to her to find the culprit. But after following clues in the form of a poisonous snake in a basket of apples and a str...
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The Swami's Ring
Book - 61
When an amnesia victim arrives at Rosemont Hospital in River Heights, Nurse Lisa Scotti contacts her friend, Nancy Drew. The young man was found injured, at the bottom of a cliff, with no identification and no memory of what happened to him. A thorou...
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The Kachina Doll Mystery
Book - 62
When Nancy arrives at the McGuire's fitness ranch in Arizona, she discovers that the future of the ranch is being threatened by unexplained accidents. Teaming up with a ghost, Nancy begins her search for a precious collection of ancient Kachina dolls...
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The Twin Dilemma
Book - 63
When a top fashion model disappears shortly before a benefit fashion show, Nancy's aunt asks her to fill in and model the beautiful designer clothes. Then the clothes disappear too -- and Nancy is hot on the trail of another exciting mystery. As s...
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Captive Witness
Book - 64
Is absent-minded Professor Bagley a spy on a secret mission? That's what he reveals to Nancy when he desperately needs her help during their student tour of Europe. Their tour leader is also the leader of an important plan to help ten orphaned childr...
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Mystery of the Winged Lion
Book - 65
Nancy receives an urgent message from her father Carson Drew, who is in River Heights, while she is touring in Europe with a group from Emerson College. She and her close friends Bess and George fly immediately to Venice, Italy. There, amid intrigue,...
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The Elusive Heiress
Book - 68
Nancy must go to colorful Cheyenne, Wyoming, to solve her latest mystery involving the missing daughter of aging millionaire Arlo Winthrop. On the plane, Nancy and friend Ned meet Jennifer Buckman, a lonely ten-year-old. When the plane lands in Ch...
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Clue in the Ancient Disguise
Book - 69
A ROYAL BLAST FROM THE PAST The legacy of the French Revolution lives on in River Heights! Pierre Michaud, a handsome young Frenchman, has stumbled onto an ancient family mystery, and Nancy is convinced that the secret holds the key to a string of bu...
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Enemy Match
Book - 73
NANCY IS DRAWN INTO A DANGEROUS GAME WHEN A TENNIS MATCH TURNS INTO A DEADLY DUEL OF WITS Tennis star Nina Ford desperately needs Nancy's help. Nina's father, falsely convicted of fraud and sentenced to five years, has mysteriously vanished on his...
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The Mysterious Image
Book - 74
WHEN A FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER IS ACCUSED OF THEFT, NANCY DETECTS A FRAME-UP Dallas Curry, a successful advertising photographer, has been accused of stealing ideas from his rivals. At the same time, Clare Grant, Curry's former client and an actress ...
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The Emerald-Eyed Cat Mystery
Book - 75
Kidnapped while trying to investigate the sinking of three freighters, Nancy finds herself on a hacienda in Colombia, where with the help of two friends, she tries to unravel the mysterious connection between the sunken ships and the strange events a...
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The Bluebeard Room
Book - 77
A DATE WITH A BRITISH ROCK STAR... AND A DATE WITH DANGER ON THE CRAGGY COAST OF ENGLAND! Nancy's off to England and a gloomy castle overlooking the cliffs of Cornwall to help her old friend Lisa Harwood, who may be in danger. But when she lands in ...
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The Phantom of Venice
Book - 78
In this thrilling adventure rife with romance and danger, Nancy travels to Venice to investigate the kidnapping of a famous glassblower and the disappearance of an artist....
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The Double Horror of Fenley Place
Book - 79
NANCY VISITS A MOVIE SET AND FINDS TERROR ON LOCATION World-famous director Hank Steinberg is filming a horror flick in Nancy's hometown of River Heights. The movie tells a spine-tingling story about a haunted house. Most shocking of all, though, is...
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The Case of the Disappearing Diamonds
Book - 80
WHEN A FRIEND IS SET UP TO TAKE A FALL, NANCY MUST DEAL IN DIAMONDS AND DANGER Famous mystery author Monica Crown is mixed up in a real-life case more puzzling and frightening than any she's ever devised. Her daughter Karen has been accused of ste...
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The Mardi Gras Mystery
Book - 81
NANCY GOES ON A MARDI GRAS ADVENTURE AND FINDS HERSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A MILLION-DOLLAR SCAM! When Brian Seaton invites Nancy and her friends to join the fun in New Orleans, they plan a glorious week of parades and parties in America's most roman...
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The Clue in the Camera
Book - 82
NANCY FLIES INTO THE CITY OF THE GOLDEN GATE--AND LANDS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN UNDERWORLD MOB! When award-winning photojournalist Emily Foxworth invites Nancy, George, and Hannah to visit San Francisco, they look forward to a picture-perfect holiday ...
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The Case of the Vanishing Veil
Book - 83
A Boston Wedding... A Veiled Threat... A Dangerous Environment... When Nancy attends a wedding in Boston, she encounters a marriage marred by mischief. The groom may have stolen the bride's heart, but a thief has made off with her antique lace vei...
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The Joker's Revenge
Book - 84
NANCY AND HER PALS GO UNDERCOVER IN CHICAGO'S MOST EXCLUSIVE DEPARTMENT STORE Mischief is in fashion at the Danner & Bishop department store, and the owner suspects foul play. The only clue is a playing card--a joker--left behind at the scene of e...
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The Secret of Shady Glen
Book - 85
A cemetery of dark secrets... and Nancy's in the middle of it! Shady Glen was no different from any other cemetery -- maybe a little spooky, but harmless nonetheless. At least that's what Nancy thought until she stumbled onto a treasure map...and s...
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The Mystery of Misty Canyon
Book - 86
Unless Nancy can win the money in the Independence Day Rodeo, she'll lose her beloved ranch. Before the rodeo, Tammy Calloway is thrown from her horse in what appears to Nancy to be a set-up. Determined to find out who wants Tammy out of the race, Na...
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The Case of the Rising Stars
Book - 87
Nancy, Bess, and George are in Chicago for the Mystery Lovers convention -- and two of the two stars scheduled to appear have been kidnapped! Some think it's just a ratings ploy, but Nancy uncovers the truth. Can she save the missing stars before som...
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The Search for Cindy Austin
Book - 88
When a twelve-year-old prodigy child disappears, Nancy comes to the rescue. She finds Cindy once -- but then the young girl is kidnapped by an enemy agent! Can Nancy track her down a second time and uncover the kidnapper's identity before it is too l...
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The Case of the Disappearing Deejay
Book - 89
DANGER ON THE DIAL! The hottest rock station in town has just gotten a little hotter -- and somebody's going to get burned. Nancy, Bess, and George are listening to Dan "the Wild Man" Wildman's show when there is a loud crash on the air, a call for ...
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The Puzzle at Pineview School
Book - 90
NANCY MATCHES WITS WITH THE GREAT PINEVIEW JEWEL THIEF With George as assistant coach, the all-girl Pineview soccer team has earned the right to compete for the prestigious Canadian Cup. But a valuable pair of brooches that were going to be sold t...
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The Girl Who Couldn't Remember
Book - 91
MIND GAMES IN MINOSHA... Nancy, Bess, and George are determined to get away from it all so they decide to spend a week at a secluded cabin on Wisconsin's Lake Minosha. But where Nancy goes, trouble is sure to follow. A knock comes at her door, a gir...
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The Ghost of Craven Cove
Book - 92
MYSTERY IN THE MISTS.... Nancy, Bess, and George have been invited by their former grade-school teacher June Braden to spend their vacation on the coast of Maine. Miss Braden's brother, Karl, was recently lost at sea and is presumed dead, but his da...
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The Case of the Safecracker's Secret
Book - 93
DANGER ON DEPOSIT! The safe at the Bentley Bank has turned into the unsafest place in town. And when Nancy investigates a series of safe deposit box break-ins, she walks into a vault full of trouble. Whatever the burglars are after, it's not cash...
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The Picture-Perfect Mystery
Book - 94
A MASTERPIECE OF DECEIT A con artist has pulled off a near-perfect crime, switching contracts with famed local painter Lila Cramer. Nancy has just four days to catch the artful dodger, or Lila will have to forfeit her entire collection! But the s...
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The Silent Suspect
Book - 95
RAGING FIRES OF MYSTERY! Nancy's in San Francisco to help Ned's uncle, architect Robert Franklin, investigate a series of suspicious fires at one of his construction sites. Digging into the ashes, she uncovers one very disturbing clue: a bracelet be...
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The Case of the Photo Finish
Book - 96
NANCY TAKES THE LEAD IN A CASE OF TREACHERY ON THE TRACK River Heights is the site of the International High School Track and Field Games, and the rivalry between world-class athletes has drawn Nancy into a world-class mystery. America's Cheryl Pier...
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The Mystery at Magnolia Mansion
Book - 97
WHAT DANGER LURKS IN THE SHADOWS OF MAGNOLIA MANSION? Nancy journeys to the elegant historical city of Charleston, South Carolina, to visit famed gothic romance writer Amelia Beaufort. The writer has a disturbing tale to tell -- disturbing because...
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The Haunting of Horse Island
Book - 98
GHOST RIDERS' HIDEAWAY! Friends of George's parents invite the girls to visit their rustic retreat in upstate New York. With its riding stables and canoes, the resort seems a dream come true. But before Nancy can hitch up her hiking boots, she disco...
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The Secret at Seven Rocks
Book - 99
IN A WORLD OF WILD ANIMALS, NANCY FACES THE MOST DANGEROUS BEAST OF ALL -- MAN. Why would anyone want to destroy a wildlife refuge? On vacation in the Rocky Mountain town of Seven Rocks, Nancy vows to find the answer. Blame has fallen on disgruntl...
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A Secret in Time
Book - 100
The famous clock from the first Nancy Drew mystery returns in this thrilling adventure....
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The Mystery of the Missing Millionairess
Book - 101
NANCY GOES UNDERCOVER IN A CASE OF UPPER-CLASS CRIME Claudia Dixon invites Nancy to visit the Brookfield Academy, a prep school for the daughters of the rich and famous. The innocent invitation turns ominous when Claudia's roommate Veronica turns up...
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The Secret in the Dark
Book - 102
NANCY INVESTIGATES A CLASSIC CASE OF MUSICAL MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE Violinist Dierdre Thompson is vying for top honors in Seattle's most prestigious musical competition, but Nancy finds that something about the contest strikes the wrong chord. The c...
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The Stranger in the Shadows
Book - 103
A MYSTERY FROM DISTANT SHORES HITS CLOSE TO HOME--IN RIVER HEIGHTS! Paula de Jagger is a Dutch foreign exchange student staying with Nancy's neighbors, the Moorelys. Paula is smart, pretty, and popular, but something is very wrong. Lately she's be...
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The Mystery of the Jade Tiger
Book - 104
Nancy's in California to investigate a series of break-ins at the home of her father's friend Terry Kirkland. A Vietnam vet, Terry came away from the conflict with a trunk full of memories. But unknown to him, the trunk also holds a mystery -- an exo...
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The Clue in the Antique Trunk
Book - 105
IN A TOWN AS PRETTY AS A PICTURE POSTCARD--NANCY SEEKS THE KEY TO A PICTURE-PERFECT CRIME! Nancy has come to White Falls, Massachusetts, to visit her former neighbor, Vera Alexander. The town is rich in history, and Vera wants to preserve a piece ...
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The Case of the Artful Crime
Book - 106
Things are really heating up at the hottest restaurant in town. Nancy finds that the grease fires, vandalism, and poisoned food are linked to the vault of a nearby mansion and the Dragon's Eye Ruby. Someone is cooking up one of the most daring crimin...
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The Legend of Miner's Creek
Book - 107
NANCY FINDS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO BE A LAND OF BREATHTAKING BEAUTY AND HEART-STOPPING MYSTERY Carson Drew's old friend Charlie Griffin has invited Nancy and her friends to his 800-acre Highland Retreat in the Cascade Mountains. But the sheer pl...
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The Secret of the Tibetan Treasure
Book - 108
DANGER RIDES A HORSE OF GOLD INTO NANCY'S HOMETOWN When Nancy investigates the theft of a Tibetan antiquity from a local museum, she discovers that there's more to the mystery than a simple case of burglary. The golden horse is a very special kind o...
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The Mystery of the Masked Rider
Book - 109
Revenge rides a dark horse -- and Nancy's the target! Nancy is going to visit one of her best friends, Colleen, who is horse crazy and has her own horses. With one of the best of them, Nightingale, she is going to race in the Midwest International Ho...
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The Nutcracker Ballet Mystery
Book - 110
AN EVENING OF BALLET LEADS NANCY INTO A DANCE WITH DANGER! Madame Dugrand's Dance Academy is in rehearsal for The Nutcracker Ballet, and it could be a huge hit this year. Shana Edwards, a recent graduate who has made a big splash in New York, is ret...
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The Secret at Solaire
Book - 111
IN SEARCH OF A SABOTEUR, NANCY FINDS THAT EVERY DESERT TRAIL LEADS TO DANGER.... Nancy, Bess, and George are spending a week at the exclusive Spa Solaire outside Tucson, Arizona -- a place for relaxation, rigorous exercise, and complete beauty make-...
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Crime in the Queen's Court
Book - 112
NANCY SERVES A QUEEN OF ENGLAND AS SHE SEARCHES FOR A KING OF CRIME! An Elizabethan festival has come to River Heights, and Nancy has joined the troupe as a lady to the queen's court. Aside from the music, dancing, costumes, and feasts, there are ...
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The Secret Lost at Sea
Book - 113
When someone targets the seaport museum in Bridgehaven, Connecticut, destroying centuries-old nautical relics, Nancy takes times from her vacation to track down the vandal....
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The Search for the Silver Persian
Book - 114
When her friend's cat, Purrfect, is kidnapped after entering a River Heights cat show, Nancy Drew investigates the case of the missing feline and uncovers a devious scam....
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The Suspect in the Smoke
Book - 115
Nancy, Bess, and George are heading up the youth campaign to save the recently fire-gutted River Heights recreation center. Nancy suspects foul play and discovers missing insurance payments. Then someone begins sabatoging the fundraising and threaten...
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The Case of the Twin Teddy Bears
Book - 116
On the trail of a teddy bear thief, Nancy unwraps double-dealing and double crosses! Bess is working during the Christmas rush at Beary Wonderful, a toy and teddy bear shop, when the holiday season takes a sudden scary turn. The owner's prized collec...
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Mystery on the Menu
Book - 117
WHEN CRIME TAKES THE CAKE, IT'S TIME FOR NANCY TO EAT, DRINK, AND BE WARY! George's prize-winning Raspberry Chiffon Cake has earned her, Bess, and Nancy a week at the Wolfe Culinary Institute in upstate New York. But soon after their arrival, Nancy ...
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Trouble at Lake Tahoe
Book - 118
When someone tries to rig the Far West Regional Water-Skiing Championship, Nancy Drew and her old friend, Katie Cobb, who is favored to win the competition, search for a dangerous saboteur....
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The Mystery of the Missing Mascot
Book - 119
The River Heights High Wildcats are facing their bitter rivals, Red Rocks High, in a girls' softball play-off game. But before the first pitch is thrown, the spirit of foul play intrudes. Someone breaks into River Heights High and steals the school's...
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The Case of the Floating Crime
Book - 120
Volunteering on a hospital ship that brings medical care to South America, Nancy begins to suspect that someone is using the ship to transport illegal cargo and must track down the clues before her own health is risked....
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The Fortune Teller's Secret
Book - 121
When she learns that the recently widowed Mrs. Kittredge is making regular visits to a fortune-teller and turning over large sums of money to Madame Destiny, Nancy decides to investigate....
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The Message in the Haunted Mansion
Book - 122
Nancy Finds Mischief, Mystery, and Danger -- All Under One Roof! Nancy, Bess, and George have joined the Drews' housekeeper, Hannah Gruen, on a trip to San Francisco. They have come at the invitation of Hannah's friend Rose Green, who has asked thei...
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The Clue on the Silver Screen
Book - 123
NANCY FINDS MYSTERY AT THE MOVIES...AND DANGER IN THE DARK! Nancy has come all the way from River Heights to attend the Martha's Vineyard Film Festival honoring the late, great director Joseph Block. Even Velma Ford, the queen of the silent screen...
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The Secret of the Scarlet Hand
Book - 124
Visiting the nation's capital for a sightseeing vacation, Nancy is alarmed when a priceless Mayan artifact disappears from the Beech Hill museum and finds her only clue in a strange note containing a red handprint....
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The Teen Model Mystery
Book - 125
Traveling to the site of a commercial shoot, where her model friend Cindy will star, Nancy is alarmed by Cindy's disappearance and launches an investigation that takes her into the shady side of teen fashion....
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The Riddle in the Rare Book
Book - 126
When a series of rare-book thefts strikes the Bloom's Bookstore & Coffeehouse in River Heights, Nancy Drew finds her only clue in the handwriting of a dead woman....
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The Case of the Dangerous Solution
Book - 127
When the customers of the River Heights pharmacy take seriously ill after being delivered their medicine, Nancy is convinced that sabotage is involved and searches for the deadly drug....
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The Treasure in the Royal Tower
Book - 128
On a winter vacation in Wisconsin, Nancy and her friends stay in a two-hundred-year-old castle where there is the rumor of a hidden treasure....
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The Baby-Sitter Burglaries
Book - 129
Nancy tries to prove that a babysitter is being framed when three houses in River Heights are robbed -- and the only connection the police can find is that the babysitter was employed at each....
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The Sign of the Falcon
Book - 130
Nancy's father has been kidnapped in New York City, and Nancy may be his last chance to come out of it alive....
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The Hidden Inheritance
Book - 131
While doing a favor for her father in Bear Hollow, Indiana, Nancy tries to help a new friend find the reasons someone is trying to ruin her family. A long-lost family secret and an inherited fiddle seem to hide clues to a secret fortune....
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The Fox Hunt Mystery
Book - 132
Nancy's friend Laura Passano has invited her down to Maryland to enjoy a horseback riding holiday. The weather is wonderful, the pastures peaceful, the trip a real treat. There's only one catch: Someone's out to sabotage the Passano family stables. F...
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The Mystery at the Crystal Palace
Book - 133
Nancy has come to Minneapolis in the dead of winter to investigate a robbery. An old friend, Alison MacDonald, has inherited from her uncle the Crystal Palace, a state-of-the-art skating arena. But a large portion of the money he also left her has di...
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The Secret of the Forgotten Cave
Book - 134
Nancy goes to Connecticut to visit George's Aunt Elizabeth -- and lands right in the middle of a controversy. George's aunt, among others, proposes a bicycle path instead of widening a dangerously winding country road, in order to save a rare species...
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The Riddle of the Ruby Gazelle
Book - 135
While helping raise money for a Brooklyn park, Nancy must track down the kidnapper who has abducted a performing band's lead singer -- and discovers a hidden motive buried deep in the city's past....
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The Wedding Day Mystery
Book - 136
WHEN CRIME CRASHES THE PARTY, IT'S TIME FOR NANCY TO GET CRACKING! Happily Ever After, Inc.: Making weddings beautiful and romantic is their business, and they're working overtime -- four in one weekend. The place: Heights House, an old mansion on...
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In Search of the Black Rose
Book - 137
A dinner party at England's Oxford University is interrupted by an arrow shot that sends Nancy on a strange journey through the school's medieval corridors. She must find out the meaning of a clue left behind, a black rose. The search for answers mov...
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The Legend of the Lost Gold
Book - 138
Nancy, Bess, and George are vacationing in beautiful Big Sur on the rugged California coastline. But soon after they check into the Opa Tourist Lodge, their cottage is ransacked, and Nancy makes a startling discovery: The popular tourist retreat is a...
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The Secret of Candlelight Inn
Book - 139
When Emmaline Whitby died, she bequeathed the historic Candlelight Inn to the Guiding Eyes foundation. Dedicated to helping the blind, the foundation plans to create a training center for Seeing Eye dogs. But as Nancy is about to discover, the inn is...
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The Door-to-Door Deception
Book - 140
The police suspect some of the junior high kids in Nancy Drew's after-school program of breaking into houses. But when Nancy sets out to find the truth, she finds herself in danger. The real crooks are determined to shut her down -- before she shuts ...
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The Wild Cat Crime
Book - 141
While working for a TV news team, Nancy gets a chance to cover a breaking story at the zoo -- a cougar, belonging to one of the world's endangered species, has given birth to four cubs. But the wondrous news turns wicked when the cubs are stolen....
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The Case of Capital Intrigue
Book - 142
Nancy's going to the White House, where George is interning as a photographer's assistant. On the day of her arrival, a photo session of a priceless solid-gold statue is under way. But something is wrong with this picture -- Nancy gets knocked out co...
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Mystery on Maui
Book - 143
NANCY RIDES A WAVE OF DANGER IN PURSUIT OF A SURFING SABOTEUR! Nancy, Bess, and George are on Maui to check out a major international surfing competition. With its white sand, coconut palms, and beautiful blue sea, the setting is pure heaven. But the...
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The E-Mail Mystery
Book - 144
NANCY GOES ON-LINE AND KEYS INTO A CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY Nancy has always had a knack for finding trouble, but now trouble has found her...at her own kitchen table. Her father, lawyer Carson Drew, is mystified by the sudden strange behavior of his cli...
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The Missing Horse Mystery
Book - 145
A SEARCH FOR A MISSING HORSE LEADS NANCY TO A DARK DISCOVERY! Nancy's attending the Midwest Grand Prix Dressage Championships, where many of the world's best riders and finest horses compete. But more than blue ribbons is at stake. As Nancy quickly ...
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The Ghost of the Lantern Lady
Book - 146
Nancy loves a good mystery. That's why she, Bess, and George are volunteering at Persimmon Woods Pioneer Village, a living history museum of the 1830s. Nancy's heard that a lot of weird things have been happening there, like the eerie sightings of th...
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The Case of the Captured Queen
Book - 147
River Heights is the site of a major international chess tournament. Two of the best young players in the world -- Greta van Leeuwen and Donna Winston -- are set to face off in a battle of wits and nerves. But as Nancy soon discovers, the action isn'...
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On the Trail of Trouble
Book - 148
Nancy, Bess, and George can hardly believe their eyes when they arrive at the Black Hills Buffalo Ranch. Aside from the awesome natural scenery, Mount Rushmore National Memorial -- with four larger-than-life US presidents -- towers nearby. But the gi...
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The Clue of the Gold Doubloons
Book - 149
Nancy and George are thrilled to take part in the filming of a pirate movie onboard the Swift Adventure, a reproduction of a centuries-old sailing ship. Twin brothers Andrew and Daniel Wagner are producing the low-budget film, and they've asked their...
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Mystery at Moorsea Manor
Book - 150
"NO ROOM AT THE INN" MEANS SOMEONE WANTS NANCY TO CHECK OUT -- PERMANENTLY! There's nothing like riding a horse across the beautiful English countryside, and Nancy has been looking forward to this vacation. But the danger begins even before she a...
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The Chocolate-Covered Contest
Book - 151
Nancy can hardly believe it. While visiting an amusement park owned by the world-famous Royal Chocolates Company, her friend Bess tears open a million-dollar candy wrapper in a contest. But when they go to collect, they're told that someone else has ...
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The Key in the Satin Pocket
Book - 152
When Nancy tries on an old brocade jacket in a vintage clothing store with Bess and George, she finds an old safe-deposit box receipt in the pocket and a key sewn into the lining. Soon the girls are tracing items from an old estate scattered in antiq...
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Whispers in the Fog
Book - 153
Katie Firestone, champion kayaker and owner of a whale-watching tour boat, has invited George, along with Nancy, Ned, and Bess, to vacation north of San Francisco in Seabreak. But when Katie's boat is vandalized, suspicion falls on fisherman Holt Sco...
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Legend of the Emerald Lady
Book - 154
ON THE EXOTIC ISLAND OF ST. ANN, NANCY SEARCHES FOR SECRETS BURIED IN THE PAST! Swimming, sailing, and snorkeling are all that Nancy, Bess, and Ned expect when they visit old friends at their nineteenth-century plantation, Sugar Moon. But when a str...
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The Mystery in Tornado Alley
Book - 155
Dream trip? Or a nightmare of trouble?When Hannah Gruen inherits a farm from a distant cousin, the Drews, with Bess and George, drive off for a scenic Oklahoma vacation. The plan is to sell the property and pack up whatever mementos Hannah wants to k...
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The Secret in the Stars
Book - 156
WHEN NANCY GOES STARGAZING, SHE CATCHES A COMET OF AN ADVENTURE BY THE TAIL! Nancy and George are thrilled when Bob "Dr. Stars" Steller, a cool astronomer with a popular radio program, comes to River Heights for the Perseid meteor shower. Bess goes ...
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The Music Festival Mystery
Book - 157
The International Friendship Club is sponsoring a fun weekend -- but Nancy finds a melting pot of sabotage!For Nancy and her friends, Worldbeat Weekend at Emerson College is supposed to be a good time. Nancy gets to spend time with her boyfriend, Ned...
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The Curse of the Black Cat
Book - 158
Exclusive Waverly Academy looks like a medieval castle, but the horrors there are up-to-date. With minor incidents and cruel pranks running rampant, and each incident accompanied by a curse note from the Black Cat, soon everyone is spooked -- even th...
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The Secret of the Fiery Chamber
Book - 159
MAKING IT? OR FAKING IT? The ancient Japanese art of raku pottery is highly dramatic -- the colorful one-of-a-kind pots are pulled from the kiln, glowing and red-hot. But when Nancy and her friends visit a local crafts village, Bess is the one who ne...
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The Clue on the Crystal Dove
Book - 160
A cunning thief is desperate to wreck the opening of a historic landmark -- and Nancy is his target! On Gramercy Park in New York City, the magnificent Van Hoogstraten mansion with its priceless collection of glass birds is about to open to the publ...
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Lost in the Everglades
Book - 161
DEVELOPERS ARE CLASHING WITH NATURE LOVERS -- AND NANCY'S BEST HOPE IS AN ANCIENT STATUE! 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 w...
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The Case of the Lost Song
Book - 162
AT A TRAVELING ANTIQUES SHOW, NANCY'S APPRAISING BURGLARIES, FRAUD, AND A GREEDY THIEF! While visiting Chicago, Nancy, Bess, and George bring some items to the Old Can Be Gold show to see what they're worth, just for fun. In George's old tape reco...
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The Clues Challenge
Book - 163
Dangerous pranks ice over an outdoor treasure hunt -- and Nancy has to melt down the culprit! Nancy and her friend George are visiting Emerson College, courtesy of Nancy's boyfriend, Ned. His fraternity is eager to win the Clues Challenge, an athlet...
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The Mystery of the Mother Wolf
Book - 164
In a winter wonderland, Nancy takes a walk on the wild side!Nancy, Bess, and George are staying at a rustic lodge in Wyoming, looking forward to fun winter sports like skiing and dogsledding. But their vacation plunges into mystery when Rainbow, the ...
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The Crime Lab Case
Book - 165
SOLVING CRIMES WITH SCIENCE IS FASCINATING -- UNTIL A PRETEND MYSTERY BECOMES ALL TOO REAL!! Nancy gets Bess, George, and Ned to help out with a special program for high school students, a "chemystery" camp. They'll visit a forensics lab, a drug com...
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The Case of the Creative Crime
Book - 166
At River Arts, Nancy's perfecting her performance -- under cover!Set high above the river, the grand old Pennington estate is the perfect place for an arts colony. College students can work with established artists, and the owner, elderly Marianna Pe...
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Mystery By Moonlight
Book - 167
A mountain lake harbors a hidden past!A charming lakeside cottage should be the perfect vacation spot for Nancy and her friends...until Bess becomes convinced that they're sharing the place with ghosts. Strange thumps in the attic put them all on edg...
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The Bike Tour Mystery
Book - 168
Riding uphill is hard -- but going down can send you over the edge!Nancy, Bass, and George are all geared up for a bike tour in Ireland. They're looking forward to spectacular scenery, romantic ruins, local entertainment, and, at the end of the day, ...
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Mistletoe Mystery
Book - 169
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE DOESN'T PROVE THE IDENTITY OF CRAFTY THIEVES! Nancy's friend Bess has been hired by Special Effects, a River Heights company, to decorate Albemarle's department store for the holidays. When Bess discovers that her friend Ali ...
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No Strings Attached
Book - 170
How many strings will fray before a family business falls apart?Nancy, George, and Bess are going on a vacation to Paris, and Nancy's father pulled a few strings to get the girls some quaint accommodations: a tiny top-floor flat in a small three-stor...
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Intrigue at the Grand Opera
Book - 171
When the curtain goes down, the real drama begins... The American Grand Opera has come to River Heights to perform Tosca, Aida, and The Marriage of Figaro, and Nancy's friend Bess is going to be a chorus extra. It's all so exciting for the girls; the...
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The Riding Club Crime
Book - 172
This summer, nothing's safe at Green Spring -- not even the camp itself...Elsa, a friend of Nancy and George's and a counselor at Green Spring Pony Club's summer camp, invites the girls for a ride one afternoon. Along the way, Elsa gushes about how a...
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Danger on the Great Lakes
Book - 173
THERE'S MORE EXCITEMENT ON THIS CRUISE SHIP THAN NANCY BARGAINED FOR! Nancy, Bess, and George are going on a cruise around the Great Lakes for a fantastic end-of-summer vacation! As soon as the girls set foot on the ship, though, they smell somethin...
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A Taste of Danger
Book - 174
This resort has the recipe for disaster!Nancy's thrilled that she, Bess, George, and Hannah will be attending the grand opening of the newly renovated Gourmet Getaway. Not only will they be able to eat four-star meals prepared by master chefs, they'l...
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Werewolf in a Winter Wonderland
Book - 175
Things are hairy in River Heights this holiday season. Two wolves have disappeared from WildWolf, the federal wolf preserve just outside of town. Local farmers think the missing wolves are killing their sheep, but there are also rumors of werewolf si...
Series Premise
The series follows Nancy Drew, an attractive, resourceful, and fearless 18-year-old amateur detective living in the fictional town of River Heights. Nancy is the daughter of renowned criminal defense attorney Carson Drew, and she lives with her father and their beloved housekeeper Hannah Gruen (who functions as a maternal figure after Nancy’s mother died when Nancy was young). Each book presents a self-contained mystery that begins with a seemingly minor or personal incident—a missing will, a stolen piece of jewelry, a strange message, a rumor of a haunted house, or a puzzling disappearance—that quickly escalates into a larger case involving theft, fraud, kidnapping, sabotage, or hidden treasure. Nancy investigates using classic sleuthing techniques: keen observation, interviewing witnesses, following clues, researching documents, and occasionally taking calculated risks (driving fast, sneaking into forbidden places, confronting suspects). She is almost always right about her hunches, rarely makes serious mistakes, and brings the culprit to justice with the help of local police or her own ingenuity. Recurring elements include: - Nancy’s blue convertible roadster (a symbol of her independence and mobility). - Her loyal friends Bess Marvin and George Fayne (Georgia Fayne), who often assist (or get into trouble) during investigations. - Her boyfriend Ned Nickerson, a college athlete who provides moral support and occasional muscle. - Frequent brushes with danger—being locked in rooms, chased, or threatened—but Nancy always escapes unharmed and triumphs. - A moral framework: honesty, fairness, helping others, and standing up to bullies or crooks. The mysteries are light, clean, and optimistic—there is no graphic violence, no sex, and no moral ambiguity; the bad guys are caught, the innocent are saved, and order is restored.
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories Series Characters
Nancy Drew is the central protagonist: an 18-year-old amateur detective who is beautiful, intelligent, brave, resourceful, and unfailingly polite. She drives a blue convertible, excels at everything from sports to academics to sleuthing, and never panics. She is independent, self-confident, and always ready to help others, making her an aspirational figure for young readers.
Carson Drew, Nancy’s father: a successful criminal defense attorney, widowed, and quietly proud of his daughter’s detective skills. He is wise, supportive, and occasionally worried about her safety, but trusts her judgment.
Hannah Gruen, the Drew family housekeeper: warm, maternal, and an excellent cook. She has been with the family since Nancy’s mother died and serves as a nurturing, grounding presence.
Bess Marvin and George Fayne, Nancy’s two best friends:
- Bess: plump, romantic, boy-crazy, and easily frightened; she loves fashion and food.
- George: short-haired, athletic, practical, and bluntly honest; she is Bess’s cousin and often the voice of reason (or sarcasm).
Ned Nickerson, Nancy’s steady boyfriend: a college student and athlete—handsome, kind, and supportive. He often helps on cases and provides a romantic subplot.
Chief McGinnis and other local police: generally helpful but sometimes skeptical of Nancy’s involvement.
Recurring antagonists: a rotating cast of thieves, swindlers, smugglers, and schemers—usually greedy, dishonest adults who underestimate Nancy.
Setting of the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories Series
The series is set in the fictional Midwestern town of River Heights, a safe, prosperous, all-American community that feels timeless yet vaguely mid-20th-century. River Heights has a quaint downtown, a high school, a country club, a lake, parks, historic homes, and a mix of middle-class and wealthy families. It is a place where neighbors know each other, crime is rare, and Nancy is already known as the town’s resident sleuth.
Mysteries take Nancy beyond River Heights to nearby cities, rural areas, vacation spots, and occasionally farther afield (New York, Washington D.C., Europe, or the South). Common locations include:
- Old mansions, abandoned houses, or historic sites rumored to be haunted or hiding treasure.
- Schools, colleges, museums, and libraries.
- Farms, summer camps, resorts, and lakeside cabins.
- Boats, trains, planes, and Nancy’s famous blue roadster.
The setting is deliberately idealized—clean, orderly, and optimistic—reflecting a mid-century vision of small-town America where problems are solvable and good always triumphs.
Tone & Themes of the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories Series
The tone is bright, optimistic, empowering, and gently adventurous—classic wholesome children’s mystery with an upbeat, can-do spirit. The writing is straightforward, fast-paced, and engaging, with short chapters, clear language, and a sense of excitement that keeps young readers turning pages. Nancy is portrayed as nearly perfect—beautiful, intelligent, brave, polite, athletic, and always composed—which gives the series an aspirational quality: she is the ideal role model of a capable, self-reliant young woman. The stories are reassuring rather than frightening: danger is real but never overwhelming, villains are ultimately outsmarted, and Nancy’s confidence and resourcefulness always win the day. There is no cynicism, no moral grayness, and no lingering darkness—every book ends on a positive, triumphant note with friendship, family, and justice affirmed. Humor is light and situational—Nancy’s quick wit, Bess’s boy-craziness, George’s blunt practicality, or Ned’s earnest attempts to help. The tone is comforting and empowering: it tells young readers (especially girls) that intelligence, courage, and kindness can overcome almost any problem.
Carolyn Keene’s Nancy Drew Mystery Stories is a foundational work of children’s literature and one of the most enduring mystery series ever created: timeless novels that introduced generations of young readers—especially girls—to the idea that intelligence, courage, and determination can solve any problem. Through Nancy Drew’s unflappable poise, her loyal friends Bess and George, and the cozy, idealized world of River Heights, the books celebrate curiosity, fairness, friendship, and the belief that truth and justice always prevail. With its clean, optimistic tone, vivid yet safe mysteries, and an aspirational heroine who never gives up, the series remains a comforting, empowering classic—proof that a teenage girl with a blue roadster and a sharp mind can outwit any villain, one clue at a time. For nearly a century, Nancy Drew has been the ultimate symbol of youthful agency and the enduring power of a good mystery.
Books in this series fall into the following genres
Sub-Genres
People / Creatures
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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