The Secret of the Old Clock

The Mystery of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene is a 1930 publication.

Well, what a lovely reminder of a different time and a nostalgic reminder of how much I enjoyed Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries when I was growing up.

In one the earliest installments in the series, Nancy is on the hunt for a hidden will- one that will provide a great deal of financial relief to relatives who truly deserve the money- but for now it looks as if other, less charitable relatives might be the only legal beneficiaries. Can Nancy find the will in time?

I can’t recall the last time I read a Nancy Drew mystery- but I’m certain I read those published long after this one. I do remember enjoying these books, though, I didn’t read them exclusively as a show more teen and this series was not my first introduction to mysteries -as my parents still had some old Bobbey Twins books that got passed down to me, which I read before I ever discovered ND. But Nancy was older and a character one could sort of look up to, I think- I know I did.

In the beginning Nancy solves mysteries- but not murder mysteries, but they can still be moderately dangerous. I liked this version of Nancy- she walks that fine line of being sharp, mature for her age, and independent- and pushed an envelope here and there. But she also had values and principles and cared about those who needed a helping hand, making her popular with a broad audience and making it hard to find too much fault with her.

I liked the story, the fast pace, the time and place, the touch of suspense, but mostly I liked the purpose behind Nancy’s involvement and how everything came together in the end. A wonderful YA book – the way one should be presented to the audience it courted.

It’s too bad that young readers today do not have a recent incarnation of Nancy or the Hardy Boys mysteries to read. It’s a shame that the character was allowed to fizzle and fade- not being written in a way that made Nancy a character that young readers could admire and relate to at the same time- while enjoying a good mystery and some clean entertainment.

But at least these books are available in digital format- and can be found in many libraries. It is a relief that they are at least being preserved and who knows- maybe a young person will be curious enough to read one someday- even as the threat of Nancy fading into obscurity looms large- and be inspired to pick up the torch and breathe new life into the character, but with the spirit of the original version of Nancy we see portrayed here…. One can only hope…

Overall, I enjoyed my fun excursion into the past with the first version of Nancy Drew. Though she went through many incarnations over the decades, her mysteries always bring back fond memories and a wistful hope that future generations will someday be able experience the same enjoyment from this series and that Nancy will inspire them the way she inspired me.

4.5 stars show less

In the first of many sleuthing adventures, Nancy Drew meets several friends and relatives of recently deceased Josiah Crowley. The wealthy Crowley had hinted that he intended to leave them all something in his will that would ease their financial worries. Instead, Crowley’s estate went to his Topham relatives, who needed the least financial help. By piecing together scraps of information from these friends and relatives, Nancy realizes that Crowley had written a new will that superseded the one leaving his estate to the Tophams. As readers might guess from the title, it seems that an old clock might hold the key for locating the new will.

I was a huge fan of Nancy Drew as a tween, and I even belonged to a mail order book club for a show more while. I missed the supporting characters from later books, including Nancy’s friends, Bess and George, and her boyfriend Ned. Nancy has admirable qualities that I aspired to emulate, including her consideration for the needs and feelings for others, her inquisitiveness, and her logic. Reading her as an adult, I see aspects of Nancy’s character that I missed. She reminds me more than a little of Jane Austen’s Emma as she offers solutions to people’s problems without consulting the individuals involved about their wishes. Nancy isn’t as perfect as she seemed to my younger self. show less

Mặc dù là tập đầu tiên, nhưng câu chuyện xuất phát cực kì thẳng-vào-vấn-đề. Nhân vật và những bí ẩn được giới thiệu gần như ngay lập tức, nhưng không có nghĩa là bị mất đi sự hồi hộp đâu nhé! Thực ra cả series này mỗi tập cũng chỉ rất ngắn, khoảng 200 trang thôi, nhưng với ngần ấy dung lượng thì câu chuyện vẫn được phát triển rất mượt mà. Nhân vật chính Nancy Drew cực đáng yêu, thân thiện, cảm giác như chỉ muốn kéo cô ấy ra khỏi trang sách và làm bạn thôi vậy. Được mô tả như một cô gái thông minh, đầy trách nhiệm và dũng cảm, thực sự đúng là mẫu nhân show more vật dành cho thể loại middle grade. Và phần giải những bí ẩn thì không quá hack não, nhưng vẫn làm người đọc nhấp nhổm không yên. Bối cảnh và cách nói chuyện của nhân vật khá là “ngày-xưa”, nhưng chính điểm này làm mình rất thích luôn ý!! show less

I first began to read the Nancy Drew Mysteries in 4th grade. I particularly remember reading Nancy Drew books during 4th grade math and tucking the book inside the long, rectangular red cover math book. When I would stand the math book up on my desk, the Nancy Drew book fit perfectly “inside” as the math book spine height was just a little taller than the Nancy Drew book. My teacher would continue teaching but walk behind me and reach down to pull out the Nancy Drew book and put it on his desk before returning to the front chalkboard. It always impressed me that he would tuck my bookmarker inside to keep my place and allow me to take the book home the same evening of my distraction from class. Now >50 years later, a dear girlfriend show more surprised me with a ©1959 edition of “The Secret of the Old Clock” in mint condition that she found in AZ and brought back for me in PA. I read the story again in one sitting and I was as enthralled with the mystery as I was so many years ago. I found the mystery riveting and just couldn't put it down. Now I can easily understand why I forgot to look up occasionally to act as though I was interested in that day's math lesson. Nancy Drew adventure or math? Still, no contest. lol

I had forgotten so many of the details of the series opener as well as the initial plot. The Nancy Drew Mysteries invigorated my interest in reading and particularly mysteries that has brought me a lifetime of reading adventures and treasured hours. What a priceless gift! My girlfriend also read Nancy Drew books during her childhood. She grew up to be an elementary reading teacher and I grew up to be a children's librarian. show less

I haven't read this series since I was in middle school, and I've been itching to do a re-read for YEARS. Well, I had just as much fun as I remembered when I was a kid. Nancy is most def. a Mary Sue, but that didn't annoy me. I love a good mystery, and seeing her coolly use her wits to deduce clues about her reminded me how thrilling that was to have such a self-sufficient protagonist to read about. In this mystery, Nancy is determined to find the last will of an elderly man who promised his fortune to deserving and impoverished relatives, while the only will known to exist left his fortunes to the haughty Topham family. Hijinks ensue.

This book is VERY dated, but I found a real charm in that. I was enthralled by the idea that Nancy went show more around the county in her convertible, running errands for her dad and solving mysteries along the way. I'm looking forward to continue the series. I think I'll read the "original" set from the 1959 revision onward, so I'll be confining that to Books 1-56, since those are the ones I read as a kid. show less

The original Nancy Drew. I couldn't believe my eyes when I found one of the first Nancy Drew books in my local used book store. I've been wanting to pick up older classics and this fit the bill!

Did I enjoy this book as much as some of the "newer" books (circa 1970s and 80s), not really, but for a classic this was well worth the read.

Nancy Drew is quite the icon - a mystery series for girls with an independent, smart leading lady? Heck, yes! In the first book in this long series, Nancy is helping her friends try to find a will for their late Uncle, making sure those who deserve the money get it and not the rich snobs. This book has a lot of positivity in it and the story is quite engaging. It is a book published in the 1930s, so some of show more the language doesn't "hold up" to what our more modern definitions are. Regardless, I can easily see middle graders still picking up this book and enjoying it. For a first time middle grade read, I think this is marvellous.

I did find the book to have some chapters that really didn't need to be there, but that's just my personal opinion.

Three out of five stars. show less

Original Review

The Secret of the Old Clock is the first book in the hardcover Nancy Drew series (flashlight editions). I read the Nancy Drew books as a young girl and through them, fell in love with reading. That they are still in print and parents are still buying them for their children makes my heart so happy.

This year, I’m attempting to reread all of the original 56 books - about one per week, with some weeks doubled up. I’ve started with book one and it was such a delight to read it again. These mysteries carry so much nostalgia for me, and reading them again feels so comforting - like drinking a hot cup of tea, wrapped up in a cozy blanket on a cushioned window seat listening to the rhythm of the rain; a warm hug for my soul.

I show more thoroughly enjoyed reading The Secret of the Old Clock again. I love how the story is set in the 1930’s and carries with it that decade’s unique atmosphere, yet is still so timeless.

My sister once told me she didn’t like Nancy Drew much when she was younger because Nancy is too perfect in the books and I think that is a fair criticism (she is unrealistically perfect and very privileged; some of the circumstances are a bit too tidy as well), but I also think that is one of the things I liked about her stories. Reading them allowed for a bit of escapism and stoked my imagination, and that was still true for me as an adult reading this installment again.

There’s a scene in the story that made me want to find a 1930’s recipe similar to Hannah’s cinnamon cake to bake up and serve with hot applesauce. Why is this not a popular pairing anymore? It sounds delicious!

I’d recommend Nancy’s mysteries for anyone who is interested in a fast-paced, lighthearted middle grade book, for reluctant readers, or for anyone who read them when they were younger and is looking for a serving of nostalgia. show less