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Welcome to the Nancy Drew Sleuth Unofficial Website!
We've Moved!! Click on this link: www.nancydrewsleuth.com
As the site is transfered to the new address,
pages such as this one will remain and links from it until everything makes the
transition to the new site. Then there will only be a link from this page to the new site once the transfer
is complete, so be
sure to bookmark the new site.
Now operational are the following links on the left margin tool bar:
My eBay Auctions, My Books & Collectibles list for direct
purchase here(10 percent off for Sleuths
Group Members!),
The Library Section: Mystery stories main pages and only individual page of #1 The
Secret of the Old Clock up--re-done with its new look!, the digest paperbacks 57-156 are up,
and the Library Editions section!! Collectibles--main page, movie
collectibles, and picture contest up, Anatomy of a Series Book--check out its new look,
Mysterious Letters, Wants,
Trivia, Collecting/Selling Tips, Legal, Sources, and the Links!
 For
over 70 years Nancy Drew® has captured our imaginations and our spirit for mystery as we have read and collected the many treasured volumes of the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories® by Carolyn Keene. Whether it is her instinctive talent for sleuthing, her compassion for those in need of her help, or her strong determination to succeed in solving the most baffling mysteries, she has that enduring timeless quality that keeps us turning the pages time and time again.
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The
Nancy Drew Sleuth Unofficial Website was created with the purpose
of bringing the stories and the characters we adore so much to life--visually and textually.
This site is growing to be a true source for cover art, internal art, the plots and themes
of the stories, the basic formats of the series, trivia and much more!
Below is a neat
summary of the many key areas of this site--all linkable from the toolbar along the lefthand
column. It is a site that is growing daily with
more and more updates, so be sure to bookmark and visit often. For the novice collector
this site should be a nice primer for introduction to the books, characters, formats and odds
and ends. For the more seasoned collector, I think this site will be useful in bringing back
to mind some of your favorite characters, stories, themes, and art. Ultimately, I hope to
inspire all of you to read the books again and again.
Note: I would normally say that
this site is best viewed due to its graphic content with applications such as Netscape
Navigator as apposed to Aol's browser. However, Netscape seems to have a problem recently
with bringing the site up properly and
loading pictures from my aol ftp area. I have made no changes to this page, so I am not sure
why Netscape does not want to load the page properly as well as other pages of the site.
So, I suggest you use internet explorer instead until Netscape will work with this site again.
Also the site is best viewed with your windows maximized on your screen. If you are
experiencing any technical problems with the site please do
e-mail here.
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The Nancy Drew®
Library
This area of the Sleuth site is one of my favorites.
It catalogues all of the volumes of the various Nancy Drew® Series.
Each series is visually displayed with graphics of the cover art and internal art
of the books along with a very in-depth discussion of each mystery and its varying texts.
You will be able to look through the library and at once get the big picture as opposed to
having to pull numerous volumes from your own shelves or spooky attics. It is an excellent
way to see the changes both externally and internally as the art and text were revised over
time as exemplified by the 4 different cover art to volume #11, The Clue of the Broken
Locket, pictured above.
Not only are the regular editions and art shown but also
featured are the book club, library, and foreign editions.
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Nancy Drew® Collectibles
Over 70 years of Nancy Drew® staying power has produced many
sought after collectibles related to the movies, the books themselves, and the 70's television
show. Displayed in this area of the site are many of these collectibles including the 1957
Game pictured above--check out how many variations it has shown up in!
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Anatomy of a Series Book
Keeping up with all the different formats and types of Nancy
Drew® books takes a really dedicated sleuth! From white spine dust jackets to picture
covers to paper backs, orange silhouette end papers to double ovals, glossy v. plain, original
text v. revised text and many variations and rarities in between, this area of the site
explains the basic anatomy of every element of a these books with overtones for other similiar
series books.
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The History of Nancy Drew®
Nancy Drew® was born to the series book world in 1930, the brain child of Edward Stratemeyer, under the pen name 'Carolyn Keene.' This area briefly outlines the history of how Nancy came to be and various events surrounding the series up until the present. Also profiled are the various illustrators, publishers, and writers for the series including the writer of most of the original text Nancys--Mildred Wirt Benson.
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Nancy & Her Chums
This area is your basic who's who section about Nancy, her chums Bess and George, her father Carson Drew, Housekeeper Hannah Gruen, Steady Ned Nickerson, Myself and other familiar characters from the series. Ok, I know you are saying that I could not have been a character in the books as they are fictional--but I just know I was there--with every twist and turn of each mystery I was surely as completely wrapped up in the whole mystery as were the characters! Included are quotations about Nancy and solving mysteries with her.
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Nancy's Home
River Heights is the famous locale of our favorite sleuth, but just where is this "mysterious" place? Find out the answer to that and read about mysteries Nancy has solved in and around River Heights. Curl up in the old davenport as Nancy gives you a tour of her home.
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Nancy Drew® Traveler
While River Heights and its surrounding towns are home to many of Nancy's mysteries, she has also traveled to a lot of interesting far off places. Read about her travels and the mysteries that take her there. Learn the actual and historical places Nancy has visited, famous people she has met, and read about the many souvenirs Nancy has brought home with her in this area.
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Nancy's Roadster
Nancy's snappy little roadster has speedily chauffered her to and from her mysterious destinations. It has really been put to the test--just ask her mechanic and insurance agent!
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The Perfect Sleuthing Frock
Whether Nancy's running up stairs 2 at a time, scaling walls, searching through cluttered dark attics, or sprinting after suspects, she is always footloose and fancy free in a classy frock and matching.... pumps?! How does she do it and still manage to look so unrumpled and not break an ankle! This area showcases the many fashions and sleuthing outfits that have so gloriously adorned Nancy. From the classic Tandy illustrations of the 1930's up until the most modern fashions of the present, this area covers each in detail.
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Tools of the Trade
Where would Nancy be without her trusty flashlight and magnifying glass? This area showcases some of the many sleuthing tools she has used in various mysteries. Also featured are some of the more unusual objects she has used to her advantage to get out of tangled situations.
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Sleuthing with Nancy
Did you ever want to be just like Nancy and solve mysteries with ease? This area looks at some of Nancy's common sleuthing tips, sleuthing language, and the ever helpful Nancy Drew Sleuth Book.
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Anatomy of a Mystery
It is the timeless and enduring freedom that Nancy has to solve many a mystery that keeps us on pins and needles right down to the "psychological moment" in each thrilling volume. This area explores the basic plots, themes, time, the "psychological moment", and symbols of the stories including storms, detours, and the art of suspense.
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Dastardly Villians
Without these sinister villians, Nancy would be empty-handed without a mystery to solve. Remember bumbling Frank Semitt from volume #9, The Sign of the Twisted Candles? Remember the unmasking of Nancy, Bess, and George by the evil Maurice Hale from volume #6, The Secret of Red Gate Farm? All your favorite villians are profiled here along with their schemes and undoings by Nancy.
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Legends
Legends play an interesting role in several of Nancy's mysteries such as Cowboy-Outlaw Dirk Valentine's treasure in volume #5, The Secret of Shadow Ranch--revised text. The underground city in the Nevada desert that Nancy discovers in volume #52, The Secret of the Forgotten City, is also featured along with many more. Explore your favorite legends in this area.
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Nancy & Romance
Romance is an undercurrent in the original Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®--it plays a major backburner to the important part--the mystery! The undercurrent of romance adds a personable quality to Nancy and her chums and an added ingredient to each mystery that many fans enjoy. Ned Nickerson, characterized in early original text volumes as a good friend and in later revised texts as her favorite date is prominently featured in this area as are other escorts of Nancy, Bess, and George. The change of romance becoming more a part of the mysteries in the Files series and On Campus series is also discussed.
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Nancy's Trinkets
As an amateur detective, Nancy would never think of taking a fee for her services. She is always modest about her abilities and reward for her is helping others. Those who are grateful to her often desire to give her special mementos of the mystery and of their friendship. Nancy has gathered quite a trophy case of trinkets such as the famous old clock from volume #1, The Secret of the Old Clock. These trinkets and their place in Nancy's mystery portfolio are revealed in this area.
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Food for Thought
Images of comfort food are quite a resonant theme in the books. Whether it is Hannah Gruen's delicious home-cooking or a quaint roadside tea room, Nancy and her chums, especially Bess, delight in a good snack. This area is full of the many tasty snacks and meals they have delighted our tastebuds with in each mystery. Recipes for some of these are included for you to try at home if you like. Last but not least, the Nancy Drew Cookbook and its thematic recipes are covered in detail. Have you ever actually tried any of these recipes?!
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A Weighty Issue
Bess is described in various volumes and text versions as overweight to pleasingly plump. She truly delights in a good dish of her favorite foods. This area explores the underlying issue of her weight in the stories and her interaction with her cousin George--an athletic opposite.
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Mysterious Architecture
Dark and mysterious moss-covered mansions, crumbling walls, creeky old staircases, and secret passage ways are many of the architectural settings that really add to the scene of each mystery. This area explores many of the different settings and places in the books.
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Art v. Story
How well do illustrators and authors really match up? Compare in this area the various illustrations--both external and internal--with the auctual pages they reference in the stories. The picture shown at the left is an example from volume #71, The Silver Cobweb--second cover art, which portrays a scene that does not take place in the story! Did you ever judge a Nancy Drew® book by its cover? These and other examples are explored in this area of the site.
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M for Murder
In the Original digest series, the books are not overly violent and do not have a theme of murder that underlies each mystery. We are likely to read about stolen jewels, kidnappers, will contests and searches, missing maps, and whispering statues. The element of murder, so common to the mystery genre, will be discussed as relevant to the original series and the appearance of murder as the mystery in the later Files series.
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Nancy Drew® & the Law
Nancy often encounters and relies on the help of her father Carson Drew, an attorney, as well as her friend Chief McGinnis of the River Heights Police Department. They in turn often ask for her help or advice with their cases. Her views on law enforcement officials in the original text and revised text versions are an interesting part of this area of the site. Her enduring search for truth and justice are profiled as well.
Does Nancy ever break the law and is she justified? Withholding evidence ok? Fleeing from the law with a wanted fugitive ok? Letting kidnappers go because they have suffered enough guilt? These and many other examples are explored in this area.
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Nancy's Mysterious Letters
This area is devoted to your letters about Nancy--questions, thoughts about the site, your reviews of stories, plots, art, etc.. Feel free to e-mail comments, suggestions, ideas, and favorite stories. If you have a scan you would like to share of a book or collectible that is not pictured in this site, please do so and it will be credited as being part of your collection! Click here for letters policy. Click here to e-mail letters, suggestions, etc..
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Wants List
There are several collectibles and books I am searching for. Perhaps you have spotted something I am wanting. I am willing to work out something for purchase or trade at reasonable prices. Check out the list!
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Trivia
This area of the site features weekly different trivia questions. Test your Nancy Drew® IQ and see how many things you know and remember!
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Tips for Collectors & Sellers
This area is devoted to tips for collectors and sellers alike on what to look for when selling and purchasing--what to do about formats and that infamous red herring --the copyright date!
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Sources
This area is a great source guide to the different books on Nancy Drew® and guides for formats including Farah's Guide and where you can purchase these.
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Links
This area is full of many interesting links to other Nancy Drew sites and other series book sites. All of these provide a great wealth of information! There are also web rings located at the bottom of the page so check out the sites in those rings.
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Legal
Be sure to note the Legal page on copyright information, trademarks, plagiarism and more. This site is filled with images of my and other friends' personal collections--except where credited--for your viewing and learning pleasure. Nancy Drew® is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster Inc. This Nancy Drew Sleuth Unofficial Site is neither associated with nor endorsed by Simon & Schuster Inc.
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