The Secret of the Old Clock

210 pages

English language

Published Jan. 5, 1991 by Applewood Books, Distributed by Globe Pequot Press.

ISBN:
978-1-55709-155-0
Copied ISBN!
OCLC Number:
24945537

View on OpenLibrary

(24 reviews)

Nancy Drew's keen mind is tested when she searches for a missing will.

7 editions

reviewed The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew mystery stories)

None

Read the 50s version and found Nancy to be kinda crazy
Highlights:
★Almost goes Karen mode and tells Taylor's employee she will talk to the manager
★Invades Allison's birthday (also wtf why does Allison start singing)
★Has only one friend other than the randos she meets and befriends to solve their mysteries?

reviewed The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew mystery stories -- 1)

Review of 'The Secret of the Old Clock' on 'Goodreads'

Where it all began. Nancy sticks her nose in everyone's business and saves the day. Spoiler, the rest of the series is going to follow this formula.

Nancy almost runs over a young girl, chases down some robbers, and gets involved with a missing will. I'm going to give you three guesses where it's hidden, guys, and the first two don't count. She gets captured, breaks out, nearly gets captured again, and saves the day. Did we expect anything else?We don't get any Bess & George, but don't worry, they are coming soon. Plenty of Carson Drew, father of the year, and Hannah Gruen, the best surrogate mother around.

These books are silly but I loved them growing up. I review them all so you don't have to. You're welcome.

reviewed The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew mystery stories)

Review of 'The Secret of the Old Clock' on 'Goodreads'

This is the original 1930 version of the book that started the Nancy Drew series. Like most girls I was completely obsessed with the series, but mostly I read the yellow-cover revisions that even I can remember were very poorly written potboilers. For nostalgia's sake I’m planning to reread at least the first bunch of books in the series, and also because I’m curious about the original versions.

This book was both so much better than I expected it to be, but also a product of its time in a terrible cringey way. The characters are really thin and stereotyped; the bad people are bad in every way and the good people are nothing but good. There is a really horrible racist portrayal of a black caretaker in the middle of the book that was painful to read. Nancy herself is independent and plucky but intensely privileged; she’s clearly super …

reviewed The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew mystery stories -- 1)

Review of 'The Secret of the Old Clock' on 'Goodreads'

When I was about 8 or 9 I was obsessed with Nancy Drew. It was hilarious to read it as an adult. Things I learned from Ms. Drew:

1. It is awesome when your dad is rich and you don't have to do shit for money
2. Politeness is mandatory at all times
3. Rural, poor people are simple, kind and trusting
4. It is appropriate to wear a matching sweater suit when sleuthing
5. Always describe the outfit changes of your protagonist
6. Being able to change your own tire means you are an extraordinary girl
7. Criminals are dumb
8. Police will always help you (if you look like Nancy Drew)
9. If the people around you are simple enough, the most basic logic looks like genius
10. Cute convertibles have constant car trouble

I mean, at least the 1950s version took out most of the overt prejudice …

reviewed The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew mystery stories -- 1)

Review of 'The Secret of the Old Clock' on 'Goodreads'

Not as good as I remember from when I was younger and definitely dated, but still entertaining. I think people like their heroines a little more flawed today than they did when Carolyn Keene wrote the Nancy Drew series, but the series still holds a lot of nostalgia for me!

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Subjects

  • Mystery and detective stories