The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene is widely praised for its engaging plot and strong, resourceful protagonist, Nancy Drew. Reviewers appreciate its nostalgic charm and straightforward narrative. However, some criticize the dialogue as dated and the character development as superficial. Overall, it remains a beloved classic in children's mystery fiction.

A reader who enjoys The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene typically appreciates classic mystery adventures featuring a young, intelligent female detective. They likely enjoy series like The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon or Trixie Belden by Julie Campbell, which combine puzzled-solving and coming-of-age themes.

In The Secret of the Old Clock, teenage detective Nancy Drew helps uncover a missing will hidden by the deceased Josiah Crowley, challenging a greedy family's unjust inheritance claims. Set in River Heights, Nancy's investigation leads her through various adventures, including rescuing a young girl and solving the mystery, ultimately ensuring the rightful heirs receive their inheritance. The novel portrays people using racial and ethnic stereotypes.

Mysterious / Adventurous / Nostalgic / Suspenseful

- The Secret of the Old Clock was the first book in the Nancy Drew series, originally published in 1930, and it helped to establish the template for the girl detective genre.
- The character Carolyn Keene, credited as the author of the Nancy Drew series, is actually a pseudonym used by various writers contributing to the series, and the original outline for the book was developed by Edward Stratemeyer.
- The book has undergone several revisions since its initial publication, with the most significant changes made in 1959 to update the language and provide a more modern setting for new readers.

**Nancy Drew**  
An independent and resourceful 18-year-old girl with intellectual curiosity who uses her keen deductive skills to solve mysteries, often finding herself in dangerous situations to help others.

**Carson Drew**  
Nancy's widowed father, a distinguished local lawyer who supports and assists Nancy in her investigations while showing concern for her safety.

**Hannah Gruen**  
The Drews’ caring housekeeper, who has a maternal interest in Nancy's well-being and occasionally offers helpful insights in her detective work.

**Josiah Crowley**  
A recently deceased wealthy man whose eccentric decision to hide his will sets off a series of events, impacting the lives of those he intended to benefit.

**Abby Rowen**  
An elderly cousin of Josiah Crowley’s wife, who lives in poverty and plays a crucial role in the unfolding of the mystery surrounding the missing will.

**Judy**  
A playful five-year-old girl who initially draws Nancy into the story’s central mystery after Nancy rescues her from a stream.

**The Turner Sisters**  
Edna and Mary, Judy’s great-aunts, who care for her after her parents’ tragic accident and struggle financially as seamstresses.

**The Hoover Sisters**  
Allison and Grace, orphaned siblings who run a farm and were close to Josiah Crowley, hoping for a chance at a better future through his promised inheritance.

**The Mathews Brothers**  
Fred and William, two lifelong bachelors who run a fruit farm and were former suitors of the Turner sisters, sharing ties with Judy’s family.

**The Topham Daughters**  
Ada and Isabel, social-climbing former classmates of Nancy, who are anxious about their family’s claim to Josiah Crowley's fortune.

**Mr. and Mrs. Topham**  
An arrogant couple focused on social status and wealth, who tried to secure Josiah’s inheritance for their own benefit.

Carolyn Keene

Middle grade

Novel

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories

Fiction

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The Secret of the Old Clock

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