r/NancyDrewBooks

I keep all of my other Nancy books in boxes because I don't have space currently to display them on shelves, but I do have all of my Files out since they fit perfectly in this little bookcase, so thought I'd share a few pics after a few people have asked. (Lighting is bad, sorry, it's in a dark basement corner.) Eventually my goal is to have two copies of each book so that I can have a nice display copy and a copy to actually read. Originally I only kept one copy but I found out the hard way that the glue on these older paperbacks can become brittle and crack, causing a seemingly pristine-looking book to fall apart. I have three copies of Whitewater Terror because it's my favorite Files, and a third copy of Trial by Fire because it's a UK edition and I couldn't resist picking it up since I had never seen any of those here in the US.

I am still mad that they kept changing the spines late in the series. Look at that gorgeous uniformity until you get to the last shelf.

I used to have my Nancy Drew / Hardy Boys Super Mysteries in this same bookcase, but I ran out of room and had to go put those in a box.

In order of the photos:

1. The Case of the Rising Stars

2. The Kachina Doll Mystery

3. The Bluebeard Room

4. The Case of the Disappearing Deejay

5. The Girl Who Couldn’t Remember

6. The Double Horror of Fenley Place

I was in DFW area this weekend and had time to stop at the flagship(!) Half Price Books in Dallas (and one other location) while I was there and ended up getting a nice haul. The flagship store is huge, it has a coffee shop inside and what looked like a few reading/study rooms.

They had a few of the blue tweed covers with original text, and I’ve been looking for the original text of Secret in the Old Attic so I grabbed that.

Also, they had the UK paperback of clue in the tapping heels, I think the covers for these versions are hilarious so I grabbed it. I hope I can find more eventually. (the label is also the wrong book lol)

I was excited about #100 A Secret in Time - for those who haven’t read it, it’s a mystery involving the clock from Secret of the Old Clock.

Also of note that I didn’t buy - they had book 2 from the On Campus series, but it was $7(!?). I read a little of it in store and it was good for a laugh but definitely not something I’d want to read more of. I might have picked it up if not for the price. They also had 2 copies of Nancy Drew Ghost Stories with 2 different covers and I almost got those but decided not to.

this is probably my last haul for a while because my area doesn’t have a great selection and I don’t have any upcoming travel
plans 💔 I hope everyone keeps sharing their hauls/collections!

So I have been on this recent Nancy Drew & Hard Boys SuperMystery kick, and I somehow managed to get my hands on Secret of the Nile which was hyped as the most Francy-filled of these. Also I’m a sucker for a contrived romance trope like “both leads have to act married”.

But to be honest I was a bit disappointed. Idk if it was just the hype around it, but while I did love the mystery and fast paced action, I actually felt like The Last Resort put even more focus on Frank and Nancy’s interest in each other (which is ironic since Frank and Nancy are supposed to be acting like a married couple in SOTN)

Fyi some spoilers below if you’re waiting to read these like I was!

I think I desired just a liiiitle more moments where they had to play up their married status.

Also the kiss scene is immediately followed by just “Oops well I love Ned and you love Callie sooo let’s never do that again!”. Like I swear they barely take a breath before they say it to each other.

Whereas in The Last Resort Nancy and Frank sit with it more and Nancy has to actually see Ned right after it which I think creates more tension and drama.

Idk might just be me, but while I enjoyed both I’m putting The Last Resort just a touch higher just because I felt it drums up a bit more drama around Nancy and Franks..um “Ping” for each other (IYKYK)

All that said, worth the read if you get your hands on it but if you can get The Last Resort for a better $ I’d choose it over the latter!

PLEASE NOTE: The original text is titled “The Secret at Shadow Ranch” and is a different story compared to the revised text. You can still discuss it here.

• Published in 1931 and revised in 1965.

• Outline by Harriet Otis Smith

• Original Manuscript by Mildred Wirt.

• Revised Manuscript by Grace Grote.

# To see summaries of both versions:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Secret\_at\_Shadow\_Ranch?wprov=sfti1#

# Covers from around the world:

https://seriesbookart.weebly.com/the-secret-of-shadow-ranch.html