The Hidden Staircase

More really old-school Nancy Drew. Nancy’s hankering for a new mystery after tracking down a missing will in [The Mystery of the Old Clock], and gets two—one in the form of a referral for a couple of old ladies experiencing “haunting” events in their ancient house, and the other in the form of a creepy scammer out to get money out of Carson Drew, whatever it takes.

Nancy is decidedly skeptical about the idea of ghosts, but investigates anyway. Meanwhile, Carson fails to make it home from a trip to Chicago. As the old ladies get more and more nervous, Nancy puts herself worries about her father aside and puts herself in danger (again) to get evidence, allowing her to discover the truth behind the hauntings, summon the police, and show more lead a couple of sketchy police raids to get justice; accidentally solving Carson’s disappearance along the way.

Nancy drops the ball a couple of times along the way; she fails to follow up on a couple of hints that might have made things a bit easier for her, and, gee-whiz, given that the mysterious hauntings take place at night, maybe she should have stayed up late a bit sooner than she does. She also comes pretty close to getting caught or even dying a couple of times. (Hey, kids, maybe be careful around secret passages, and take some extra batteries.) Another highlight is Carson being perfectly comfortable giving his teenage daughter his revolver to protect herself, even if she doesn’t actually engage in a serious gun battle, even if she comes pretty close a couple of times. (Presumably, an updated edition taking place in modern America will improve the book’s realism by featuring significant gunplay.)

We also have another good ol’-fashioned racist portrayal; this time of a black woman who works for/with the crim. It’s not meant to be offensive, I’m sure, just a poor black woman speaking with a broad Southern accent, but I guess you could read it that way if you choose. show less

ND could cook an entire holiday dinner and change the oil on her blue convertible while kicking the keister out of the enemy with one hand behind her back AT THE SAME TIME. In #2, she is now on the case to find what's behind the ghost in her friend's relatives' mansion as well as where her father is who has been drugged and kidnapped. Are the two connected? Another fun read as I revisit my fave series from childhood.

Loved the second book in the series. I felt like it had great tension and the audiobook is so good. My daughter and I had so much fun listening. The danger was real for Nancy and her dad as they solve a haunted house case.

A slightly creepy but thrilling mystery in which Nancy's firm grip on reality prevents a family of women from being gaslighted by a predatory man trying to buy up old manors. This is one of the few stories in which Nancy is not kidnapped or tied up, by the way. It's an interesting digression from the usual formula.

In the spirit of female empowerment circa 1930s Nancy solves the mystery of a haunted house, nabs a swindler, and rescues her dad. And makes sandwiches. All without getting her skirts dirty! Yes these books are quaint anachronisms but there's something about their innocence and sheer naiveté which makes them fun to read all these years later.

I have always wanted to read Nancy Drew mysteries and was particularly interested in this one, because it was first published in 1930. Nancy was as independent and intelligent as a young girl could be back then, and her life must have been foreign to most young girls reading about her. Nancy was 18, definitely upper middle class, she lived with her father (an attorney), her mother was dead, she knew how to drive (owned a blue sports car), and had a knack for solving mysteries. She was always polite and never seemed intrusive, and she constantly acted lady-like, looking polished even when crawling on her hands and knees through secret passages and on old rooftops. She charms her way through everything, whether it be getting the keys from show more a realtor to a recently sold house, or getting confessions out of people at police head quarters. She is even a better police officer than the officers in three different towns. Everyone just lets her do what she wants.

I found this book to be really amusing, and outright fanciful. Nancy does all this sleuthing, but does she ever get paid for it? So far, no. She has no college degree and everything she owns was most likely paid for by her father. At 18, she is just barely an adult, so I am left wondering is she just biding her time until the right man comes along and makes her his wife. It is clear that she loves being a detective, and when her older friend Helen talks about getting engaged, it doesn't seem like Nancy is envious. But she is also younger than Helen. We know Nancy is normal--she goes on dates with boys (several different boys), but if she ever got serious about one, how would he feel about her sleuthing?

I have 50 more books to read, so maybe all of these questions will be answered in time. show less

A hallmark of detective fiction, Nancy Drew is a enduring and well known literary figure. From the original books, to remakes, spinoffs and television and movie adaptations, Nancy Drew is synonymous with amateur sleuth.

The Hidden Staircase was published on April 28, 1930, comprises of twenty five chapters and was written by Mildred Wirt Benson under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. The following review is for the 1930's edition of the text.

Nancy Drew is angry and frightened when she first makes the acquaintance of Nathan Gombet. Threatening to do her and her father harm, Nancy handles it the best way she can - by calling his bluff with her own, that she'll call the police. But it's not the last she'll see of Nathan Gombet.

Visiting her show more old friend, Abigail Rowen, Nancy gets swept up in the problems the Turnbull sisters, Rosemary and Floretta are having with the sudden haunting of their home. Frightened by voices, eerie music and the thefts of items that have been in locked rooms, the sisters are on the verge of leaving their home unless Nancy can prove there's no ghost.

“I’ve certainly struck a real mystery,” she mused thoughtfully, as she drove along the smooth road. “The Mansion is haunted all right, but it’s haunted by a flesh and blood ghost unless I miss my guess!”

Carolyn Keene [Mildred Benson]. Nancy Drew #2 The Hidden Staircase - Carolyn Keene (Kindle Locations 494-496). Kindle Edition.

It's hard not to like Nancy. She's spunky, kind and enthusiastic about her interests. She might be scared, frightened or surprised - but she'd never let that stop her from solving a case. I found she was a bit jumpier in this one, but I felt like it added to the creepy atmosphere the narrative had going on. I mean obviously, the sisters weren't being haunted by a ghost - but also there's lots of eerie things happening. Honestly, I think I'd rather the ghost than people creeping around in my walls. Secret passages sound super awesome when you're a kid, not so much when you're an adult and consider the implications of someone sneaking around spying on you. Ugh. But I was glad that Nancy kept her dry humour. Plus I enjoyed the illustration of Nancy preparing to break into Nathan's house. It's pouring rain and muddy and she's wearing "rain resistant" clothing which apparently is a coat and skirt with lovely high heels that would no doubt be sinking with every step. I though the high heels were a great touch. I know, I know, it's realistic for the time but lol, talk about impractical. There's also something rather hilarious about the fact that for every crime Nancy is attempting to solve, she's busy committing a few crimes in order to prove it .

Carson Drew is still super proud of his daughter and although he worries - is willing to let her hone her strengths as a detective. I liked his quiet support of her. Of course, giving your sixteen year old a gun is definitely not father of the year material in 2025, but I like that he wanted to protect her as best he could. I was amused at the turnaround by the Sheriff when he finds out who Nancy is.

“If my father were here, he’d convince you all right,” Nancy said, with rising temper.
“Your father?”
“Yes, Carson Drew.”
“You don’t mean Carson Drew, the lawyer from River Heights? You’re his daughter?”
“I am.”
“Well, that’s different. Why didn’t you say so at first?”
“What has that to do with the case?”
“Well, I reckon a daughter of Carson Drew knows what she’s about. If you say Nathan Gombet is a crook, I’ll take your word for it.”

Carolyn Keene [Mildred Benson]. Nancy Drew #2 The Hidden Staircase - Carolyn Keene (Kindle Locations 1651-1653). Kindle Edition.

On the other hand it says absolutely nothing for his idea of policing or the types of justice that would be found in the 1930's. I was also having Draco Malfoy flashbacks 'When my father hears about this'. The entirety of the plot regarding Carson Drew being held prisoner was a bit ridiculous. I felt very much like I was reading a Scooby Doo episode in parts of this. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just not quite what I expected after having read the first one. The plot lacked suspects, characters, red herrings and investigation. It was all just a bit on the simplistic side for my liking. And it all felt a bit random too. Like why did Nathan steal the dresses? I didn't really get that bit. I mean, maybe it was the housekeeper he had? But they were left in his room? That little plot point lost me.

This was a little more problematic than the first book in other ways too. Obviously a product of its time, The Hidden Staircase is not particularly in line with modern sensibilities. But while the first book, skirted the edges of the differing societal views, this one blunders through race, gender and class discrimination and some rather outdated opinions on mental health problems. Unfortunately it is what it is. I was kind of lost on the persistent description of Nathan as a miser though. I get the feeling it meant something very different - well and then I looked it up and it was much more of an insult than it is now.

Still, regardless of the problems, it was an entertaining read and Nancy is a very likable and relatable amateur sleuth. 3.5 stars, rounded to 3 stars. show less