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Nancy Drew Books In Order
Read Nancy Drew Books In Order ... Or Not: It's Your Choice
I don't know about you, but I loved Nancy Drew mysteries when I was a kid. I read Nancy Drew books in order from start to finish. Nancy was a smart, resourceful and clever girl and was always solving crimes, sometimes with her friends.
Nancy Drew survived many scary situations while solving those mysteries. I remember staying up way past my bedtime to see what would happen next--dang those cliff-hanger chapter endings! But she always won out at the end of the day, and it was thrilling to tag along with her on all of those adventures.
There's actually no need to read Nancy Drew books in order, but that's just how I did it. And you still can and then some. These days, Nancy Drew has far more opportunities for adventure than just those yellow-spined novels I had growing up. She's branched out into graphic novels, had several additional series targeted toward older kids (romance over mystery, boo!) and a cute series that takes Nancy back to third grade.
Some of these books are still in print, while others are more difficult to find. But there's a Nancy Drew book for just about everyone these days!
Did You Read Nancy Drew Books in Order? - And do you think it matters at all? (You can use the comments section to answer this part after you take the poll.)
I just like to read book series in order if at all possible, even if it really doesn't matter. With Nancy Drew mysteries, even if you read them out of order or even backwards, you'll still know what's going on and who Nancy Drew is. Each Nancy Drew mystery can stand on its own. Still, I enjoyed reading the first book then second and the third and so on ... and on ... and on.
What about you?
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories
Can't beat the classics!
About The Original Nancy Drew Series
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories in order
The Nancy Drew series was created by a man named Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate book packaging firm, also responsible for the Hardy Boys series, the various Tom Swift series, the Bobbsey Twins, the Rover Boys, and others.
There were 56 titles in the original Nancy Drew Mystery Stories hardcover series (seemed like more!) all published between 1930 and 1979 and written by various people, including Stratemeyer's daughter, Harriet, and syndicate writer Mildred Wirt Benson, all under the single pen name Carolyn Keene
In 1979, the publisher began issuing the books in paperback and later added volumes 57-64. Continuing this series, the Digest sized paperback books were published by Simon & Schuster all the way up through the last digest--#175, Werewolf in a Winter Wonderland.
The complete list of Nancy Drew books in order of publication is available on Wikipedia if you need to double-check your collection.
Classic Nancy Drew Revised
From 1959 until 1978, the first 34 Nancy Drew mysteries were revised by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, who removed stereotypes, outdated language, and updated the stories, shortening them from 25 chapters and 200 or more pages to 20 chapters and about 180 pages. Apparently, the shorter books were geared more toward "modern readers."
The Book That Started It All - "Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock"
The first chapter of Nancy Drew first ever book
Get Started Reading Nancy Drew Books In Order With These Sets - A great way to save on the first Nancy Drew books....
If like me you prefer the classics and want your daughter to discover Nancy Drew, check these box sets:
List Of Nancy Drew Books In Order
Spin off series are not included in the list (but keep reading if you want to read the spin off books in order)
1 The Secret of the Old Clock
2 The Hidden Staircase
3 The Bungalow Mystery
4 The Mystery at Lilac Inn
5 The Secret of Shadow Ranch
6 The Secret of Red Gate Farm
7 The Clue in the Diary
8 Nancy's Mysterious Letter
9 The Sign of the Twisted Candles
10 The Password to Larkspur Lane
11 The Clue of the Broken Locket
12 The Message in the Hollow Oak
13 The Mystery of the Ivory Charm
14 The Whispering Statue
15 The Haunted Bridge
16 The Clue of the Tapping Heels
17 The Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk
18 The Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion
19 The Quest of the Missing Map
20 The Clue in the Jewel Box
21 The Secret in the Old Attic
22 The Clue in the Crumbling Wall
23 The Mystery of the Tolling Bell
24 The Clue in the Old Album
25 The Ghost of Blackwood Hall
26 The Clue of the Leaning Chimney
27 The Secret of the Wooden Lady
28 The Clue of the Black Keys
29 The Mystery at the Ski Jump
30 The Clue of the Velvet Mask
31 The Ringmaster's Secret
32 The Scarlet Slipper Mystery
33 The Witch Tree Symbol
34 The Hidden Window Mystery
35 The Haunted Showboat
36 The Secret of the Golden Pavilion
37 The Clue in the Old Stagecoach
38 The Mystery of the Fire Dragon
39 The Clue of the Dancing Puppet
40 The Moonstone Castle Mystery
41 The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes
42 The Phantom of Pine Hill
43 The Mystery of the 99 Steps
44 The Clue in the Crossword Cipher
45 The Spider Sapphire Mystery
46 The Invisible Intruder 1969
47 The Mysterious Mannequin
48 The Crooked Banister 1971
49 The Secret of Mirror Bay
50 The Double Jinx Mystery
51 Mystery of the Glowing Eye
52 The Secret of the Forgotten City
53 The Sky Phantom
54 The Strange Message in the Parchment
55 Mystery of Crocodile Island
56 The Thirteenth Pearl
57 The Triple Hoax
58 The Flying Saucer Mystery
59 The Secret in the Old Lace
60 The Greek Symbol Mystery
61 The Swami's Ring
62 The Kachina Doll Mystery
63 The Twin Dilemma
64 Captive Witness
65 Mystery of the Winged Lion
66 Race Against Time
67 The Sinister Omen
68 The Elusive Heiress
69 Clue in the Ancient Disguise
70 The Broken Anchor
71 The Silver Cobweb
72 The Haunted Carousel
73 Enemy Match
74 The Mysterious Image
75 The Emerald-Eyed Cat Mystery
76 The Eskimo's Secret
77 The Bluebeard Room
78 The Phantom of Venice
79 The Double Horror of Fenley Place
80 The Case of the Disappearing Diamonds
81 The Mardi Gras Mystery
82 The Clue in the Camera
83 The Case of the Vanishing Veil
84 The Joker's Revenge
85 The Secret of Shady Glen
86 The Mystery of Misty Canyon
87 The Case of the Rising Stars
88 The Search for Cindy Austin
89 The Case of the Disappearing Deejay
90 The Puzzle at Pineview School
91 The Girl Who Couldn't Remember
92 The Ghost of Craven Cove
93 The Case of the Safecracker's Secret
94 The Picture-Perfect Mystery
95 The Silent Suspect
96 The Case of the Photo Finish
97 The Mystery of Magnolia Mansion
98 The Haunting of Horse Island
99 The Secret at Seven Rocks
100 A Secret in Time
101 The Mystery of the Missing Millionairess
102 The Secret in the Dark
103 The Stranger in the Shadows
104 The Mystery of the Jade Tiger
105 The Clue in the Antique Trunk
106 The Case of the Artful Crime
107 The Legend of Miner's Creek
108 The Secret of the Tibetan Treasure
109 The Mystery of the Masked Rider
110 The Nutcracker Ballet Mystery
111 The Secret at Solaire
112 Crime in the Queen's Court
113 The Secret Lost at Sea
114 The Search for the Silver Persian
115 The Suspect in the Smoke
116 The Case of the Twin Teddy Bears
117 Mystery on the Menu
118 Trouble At Lake Tahoe
119 The Mystery of the Missing Mascot
120 The Case of the Floating Crime
121 The Fortune Teller's Secret
122 The Message in the Haunted Mansion
123 The Clue on the Silver Screen
124 The Secret of the Scarlet Hand
125 The Teen Model Mystery
126 The Riddle in the Rare Book
127 The Case of the Dangerous Solution
128 The Treasure in the Royal Tower
129 The Baby-Sitter Burglaries
130 The Sign of the Falcon
131 The Hidden Inheritance
132 The Fox Hunt Mystery
133 The Mystery at the Crystal Palace
134 The Secret of the Forgotten Cave
135 The Riddle of the Ruby Gazelle
136 The Wedding Day Mystery
137 In Search of the Black Rose
138 The Legend of the Lost Gold
139 The Secret of Candlelight Inn
140 The Door-to-Door Deception
141 The Wild Cat Crime
142 The Case of Capital Intrigue
143 Mystery on Maui
144 The E-mail Mystery
145 The Missing Horse Mystery
146 The Ghost of the Lantern Lady
147 The Case of the Captured Queen
148 On the Trail of Trouble
149 The Clue of the Gold Doubloons
150 Mystery at Moorsea Manor
151 The Chocolate-Covered Contest
152 The Key in the Satin Pocket
153 Whispers In the Fog
154 The Legend of the Emerald Lady
155 The Mystery in Tornado Alley
156 The Secret in the Stars
157 The Music Festival Mystery
158 The Curse of the Black Cat
159 The Secret of the Fiery Chamber
160 The Clue on the Crystal Dove
161 Lost in the Everglades
162 The Case of the Lost Song
163 The Clues Challenge
164 The Mystery of the Mother Wolf
165 The Crime Lab Case
166 The Case of the Creative Crime
167 Mystery By Moonlight
168 The Bike Tour Mystery
169 The Mistletoe Mystery
170 No Strings Attached
171 Intrigue at the Grand Opera
172 The Riding Club Crime
173 Danger on the Great Lakes
174 A Taste of Danger
175 Werewolf in a Winter Wonderland
Nancy Drew: Girl Detective
A new take on our favorite young sleuth
Read Nancy Drew Books (in Order) from the Girl Detective Series - The first 2 books
This new series featuring Nancy Drew picks up where the paperback digest series left off at volume 175, starting over with volume 1, Without a Trace. And now the series is written in first person--in Nancy's voice.
She still drives a blue car, but now it's a hybrid. (Yay, Nancy Drew is going green!) And she's got all the new modern toys, like a cell phone.
But these newer books try to remain true to the old Nancy Drew spirit. Do you think they're succeeding?
Nancy Drew and The Clue Crew
Mysteries for the younger set
Check Out a Young Nancy Drew - Introducing the Clue Crew
This is a really cute idea in my book. Nancy is back in the third grade, where she's solving mysteries - just not quite as complicated or dangerous as the originals. This concept started back in 1994 with the Nancy Drew Notebooks, then was repackaged as the Clue Crew in 2006.
The Nancy Drew Notebooks - The first title that started this series....
Nancy Drew Graphic Novels
Nancy like you've never seen her before!
Nancy Drew Gets the Graphic Novel Treatment - A great way to introduce an ambivalent reader to Nancy
Nancy Drew for Older Teens
An attempt to draw in older readers
Tweaks and Twists to Attract a Teen Audience - Nancy Drew with a romantic slant
I have to admit I've never read any of these titles. But if you're collecting or just want to see what these Nancy Drew stories are all about, here you go....
The Nancy Drew Files and Nancy Drew On Campus were both attempts to target older teens and brought in more romance than adventure. Covers depicted a saucy Nancy, always with a boy.
Check out some of those prices on new and used books. If you have any of these in a closet or box or attic, you might want to reconsider keeping them!
Books About Nancy Drew
See what's written about our favorite detective....