RIVER HEIGHTS GAZETTE
Books Desk • Series File
Front Page • Books Timeline • Last updated October 23, 2025

Mystery Stories (aka Original Series)

1930 – Still in Print   |   Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap

Overview: The original Nancy Drew Mystery Stories introduced readers to the confident teenage sleuth of River Heights, featuring mysteries full of secret passages, lost wills, and daring rescues.

Years Published: 1930-1979
Total Books: #1-56 (#1-34 Unrevised)
Main Format: Hardcover
Style & Themes: Classic Themes, Hidden Passages and Tunnels
Cover Artists: Russell H. Tandy, Bill Gillies, Rudy Nappi

Titles

  1. The Secret of the Old Clock
  2. The Hidden Staircase
  3. The Bungalow Mystery
  4. The Mystery at Lilac Inn
  5. The Secret of Shadow Ranch
  6. The Secret of Red Gate Farm
  7. The Clue in the Diary
  8. Nancy's Mysterious Letter
  9. The Sign of the Twisted Candles
  10. The Password to Larkspur Lane
  11. The Clue in the Broken Locket
  12. The Message in the Hollow Oak
  13. The Mystery of the Ivory Charm
  14. The Whispering Statue
  15. The Haunted Bridge
  16. The Clue of the Tapping Heels
  17. The Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk
  18. The Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion
  19. The Quest of the Missing Map
  20. The Clue in the Jewel Box
  21. The Secret in the Old Attic
  22. The Clue in the Crumbling Wall
  23. The Mystery of the Tolling Bell
  24. The Clue in the Old Album
  25. The Ghost of Blackwood Hall
  26. The Clue in the Leaning Chimney
  27. The Secret of the Wooden Lady
  28. The Clue of the Black Keys
  29. The Mystery at the Ski Jump
  30. The Clue of the Velvet Mask
  31. The Ringmaster's Secret
  32. The Scarlet Slipper Mystery
  33. The Witch Tree Symbol
  34. The Hidden Window Mystery
  35. The Haunted Showboat
  36. The Secret of the Golden Pavilion
  37. The Clue in the Old Stagecoach
  38. The Mystery of the Fire Dragon
  39. The Clue of the Dancing Pupper
  40. The Moonstone Castle Mystery
  41. The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes
  42. The Phantom of Pine Hill
  43. The Mystery of the 99 Steps
  44. The Clue in the Crossword Cipher
  45. The Spider Sapphire Mystery
  46. The Invisible Intruder
  47. The Mysterious Mannequin
  48. The Crooked Banister
  49. The Secret of Mirror Bay
  50. The Double Jinx Mystery
  51. Mystery of the Glowing Eye
  52. The Secret of the Forgotten City
  53. The Sky Phantom
  54. The Strange Message in the Parchment
  55. Mystery of Crocodile Island
  56. The Thirteenth Pearl

Notes

  • The Series was conceived by Edward Stratemeyer, owner of book packager The Stratemeyer Syndicate, who died less than two weeks after the first three books were published.
  • The first three books in the series (#1: The Secret of the Old Clock, #2: The Hidden Staircase, and #3 The Hidden Staircase) were published simultaneously on April 28-28, 1930.
  • The original texts (#1 – 34) have 25 chapters, while the revisions and subsequent books in the series (#1 – 56) were shortened to 20 chapters.
  • A few of the digests (#57 – 64) were published in the hardcover yellow editions by Simon & Schuster in 2005, for Nancy Drew's 75th anniversay.

Trivia & Fun Facts

  • Other names originally considered for Nancy Drew included: Stella Strong, Helen Hale, Nan Nelson, Diana Dare, Diana Drew, and Nan Drew (which was the publisher’s preference).
  • While originally a blonde, the cover illustration of #35 The Haunted Showboat came out red-haired, and she soon-after began being referred to as “titian-haired” in the series.

Cover Gallery

Secret of the Old Clock Hidden Staircase Bungalow Mystery Mystery at Lilac Inn Secret of Shadow Ranch Secret of Red Gate Farm Clue in the Diary Nancy's Mysterious Letter Sign of the Twisted Candles Password to Larkspur Lane Clue in the Broken Locket Message in the Hollow Oak Mystery of the Ivory Charm Whispering Statue Haunted Bridge Clue of the Tapping Heels Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion Quest of the Missing Map Clue in the Jewel Box Secret in the Old Attic Clue in the Crumbling Wall Mystery of the Tolling Bell Clue in the Old Album Ghost of Blackwood Hall Clue in the Leaning Chimne Secret of the Wooden Lady Clue of the Black Keys Mystery at the Ski Jump Clue of the Velvet Mask Ringmaster's Secret Scarlet Slipper Mystery Witch Tree Symbol Hidden Windown Mystery Haunted Showboat Secret of the Golden Pavilion Clue in the Old Stagecoach Mystery of the Fire Dragon Clue of the Dancing Puppet Moonstone Castle Mystery Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes Phantom of Pine Hill Mystery of the 99 Steps Clue in the Crossword Cipher Spider Sapphire Mystery Invisible Intruder Mysterious Mannequin Crooked Banister Secret of Mirror Bay Double Jinx Mystery Mystery of the Glowing Eye Secret of the Forgotten City Sky Phantom Strange Message in the Parchment Mystery of Crocodile Island Thirteenth Pearl

Related Reading

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