Teenage sleuth Nancy Drew searches for a missing will that could help a struggling family
The case that started it all
Nancy Drew is eighteen, clever, brave and independent, and lives in the town of River Heights with her father, the lawyer Carson Drew. When the wealthy Josiah Crowley dies, his whole fortune goes to the snobbish, greedy Topham family, even though he had promised to help several relatives and friends who badly need it. Nancy suspects there may be a later will that no one has found.
Who will enjoy it
Readers aged about eight to twelve who enjoy classic mysteries with a smart, brave heroine, clues to follow and a satisfying ending.
What you will get
A brisk, old-fashioned mystery with a smart, fearless heroine, a missing will, a hidden clue and plenty of small-town adventure.
The Secret of the Old Clock Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Children’s Books · Girl detective · Missing will · Classic series
Length
192 pages · ≈ 6 h
More about this book
Nancy's curiosity is sparked after she rescues a little girl in an accident and meets the girl's kind great-aunts, who were among the people Mr. Crowley meant to remember. Following clues about an old clock that may hold the secret, Nancy visits the people who were once close to him and questions them. Her search leads her to a summer cottage by a lake, where she runs into a gang of thieves.
Nancy is trapped, chased and nearly outwitted, but her courage and quick thinking carry her through, and she drives her blue roadster with great style. The book was first published in 1930 and revised in 1959; most modern editions use the shorter, updated text. The style is simple and old-fashioned, but the pace is quick, and Nancy remains a confident, capable heroine who solves problems for herself.
Brisk, cheerful and comforting, the book that launched one of the most popular mystery series of all time. It is a good first mystery for young readers and a nostalgic treat for adults who grew up with Nancy Drew. About 192 pages in the Grosset & Dunlap hardcover.
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