New Releases by Carolyn Keene

The young detective Nancy Drew’s sleuthing skills are once again put to the test when her friend’s inheritance of diamonds—forty thousand dollars worth—is stolen during a lunch. Nancy struggles to uncover enough clues to break open the case before the police arrest her friend’s guardian, the last person known to have the diamonds. Can Nancy solve the case and exonerate an innocent person before it’s too late? The Mystery at Lilac Inn was ghostwritten by Mildred Wirt Benson, one of the many ghostwriters who wrote Nancy Drew stories under the pen name Carolyn Keene. It was first published in 1930, and was almost entirely rewritten in 1961 by Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. This Standard Ebooks edition follows the first edition text. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.

The Secret of the Old Clock tells the story of a determined young woman resolved to uncover the truth behind a missing will that could change the lives of several struggling relatives. Nancy, a bright and resourceful teenager from River Heights, encounters Judy, a girl nearly hit by a van, who introduces her to a family desperate for financial relief. The family’s hope hinges on the inheritance of Josiah Crowley, a well-to-do and eccentric man whose latest will has mysteriously disappeared. The only official will found favors the Topham family, a group known for their arrogant and greedy nature, who claim it is the only legitimate document. Unwilling to accept this injustice, Nancy begins a relentless quest to find Josiah Crowley’s new will. She navigates a web of clues and legal contacts, driven by her belief that Crowley intended to help several deserving friends and relatives who are in dire need. Along the way, Nancy faces danger, including being trapped by burglars who steal important evidence — specifically a unique mantel clock thought to conceal the hidden will. Her courage and quick thinking help her escape and recover the clock, leading to the discovery of a notebook revealing the location of the safety deposit box where the true will is kept. With the support of her father’s legal expertise, Nancy ensures that justice prevails. The rightful heirs receive their inheritance, and the greedy Tophams’ deceitful plans are thwarted. The story concludes with Nancy receiving the old clock as a token of gratitude, symbolizing the triumph of truth, perseverance, and kindness over greed and corruption. Rich in themes of justice and the victory of good over evil, the narrative paints a vivid portrait of a clever young detective whose determination and integrity inspire readers. The novel highlights not only Nancy’s bravery but also her compassionate spirit as she helps those less fortunate, embodying the values of fairness, courage, and social responsibility.

Nancy’s Earth Day project turns into chimpanzee chaos in the nineteenth book in the interactive Nancy Drew Clue Book mystery series. Nancy, Bess, and George need to create an Earth Day project for school, and they’ve landed on the perfect idea: Chimpiñatas! These globe-shaped piñatas are enrichment toys made for the chimpanzees at the Hairy Hideaway animal sanctuary to enjoy. The girls have filled them with the chimps’ favorite healthy snacks, like seeds and fruit, but when the chimps crack open the piñatas, they find that one of them is filled with candy! Who could have switched out the Chimpiñata, and why would they want to make the chimps go bananas? If anyone can find the schemer behind this sugar rush, it’s the Clue Crew!

Nancy, Bess, and George look for Nancy’s missing father in the twenty-second book in the Nancy Drew Diaries series, a fresh approach to a classic series. While Nancy’s dad is away at a conference in Washington, DC, she invites Bess and George over for a slumber party. The girls are having a great time until Nancy gets a call from a number she doesn’t recognize. Her dad never showed up for his panel and he isn’t in his room. No one’s seen him since the night before, and he isn’t answering his phone. Worried, Nancy and the gang hop the next flight to DC to investigate. The girls scour the hotel for clues with little luck until Nancy finds her dad’s cell phone in the hotel basement. She’s pretty sure he left her a message on the home screen, if only she could figure out what it means. The hunt takes them across the US capital, retracing Mr. Drew’s steps to figure out what went wrong or who might be out to do him harm. If they don’t solve this mystery, it may cost Mr. Drew his life.

Nancy and her friends search for a stolen camera in the fourteenth book in the interactive Nancy Drew Clue Book mystery series. Nancy is ready for fun in the sun when she joins Bess and George’s families on a trip to Hawaii. The girls are excited to take surfing lessons, swim with manta rays, and experience the beautiful sights of the Big Island. At a luau one night, the girls get to taste all kinds of yummy local specialties and are even invited up to help with a hula performance. But during the show, one the other guests has his fancy camera stolen, and he’s sure someone there is the culprit. Luckily, Nancy, Bess, and George are on the case! Can the Clue Crew see the big picture and zoom in on the thief in time to enjoy the rest of their trip? Or will this island adventure be a total washout?

Nancy and her friends must unravel the secrets of mysterious conspiracy and track down a ring of counterfeiters.

When Nancy arrives at the McGuire’s fitness ranch in Arizona, she discovers that the future of the ranch is being threatened by unexplained accidents. Teaming up with a ghost, Nancy begins her search for a precious collection of ancient Kachina dolls that may unlock the motives of her elusive adversary. Will the person determined to prevent the ranch from operating succeed?

When her father’s coworker is murdered, Nancy sets out to find the killer. The victim has left a long list of enemies to work from, but the people in River Heights have their own ideas about who is responsible—Nancy’s father! Desperate to find the truth, Nancy sets out to find the culprit before her father takes the blame.

On a tour of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Nancy is asked to look into a series of threats against the staff. But the controversial curator, whose stand against industrial pollution had sparked conflict, is immediately killed. Nancy races to solve the crime before the murderer strikes again.

When Nancy’s boyfriend, Ned Nickerson, looks into insurance fraud as part of his job as an insurance company investigator, the perpetrator ends up dead—and Ned’s prints are on the weapon. Can Nancy intervene before her boyfriend ends up behind bars?

When Nancy Drew’s new neighbor, Nikki Masters, is questioned about her boyfriend’s murder, Nancy—convinced of her friend’s innocence—investigates the crime.

A special treat for Nancy Drew fans, and any reader who's new to the series! We're releasing a stunning new edition of an old favorite: The Bungalow Mystery, the third book in the incredibly popular, long-running series. It's the same exciting mystery that readers have fallen in love with for more than 80 years—Nancy Drew has to help Laura Pendelton retrieve her family jewels, but they have to act quickly! Now with a brand-new look, this is an edition that collectors won't want to miss!

Nancy’s holiday at a California college turns into an investigation of a mysterious drowning, and she discovers that some sorority girls are far from innocent.

Teenage heir Hal Colson has been kidnapped, and Nancy knows it will take $475,000 to get him back. Lance Colson, Hal’s handsome uncle and guardian, is convinced that the punk rockers Hal hangs out with are responsible. Nancy gets nervous when she and George are caught casing one of the punk rockers and taken to their hideout—especially when one pulls a gun. But are the punk rockers to blame?

When someone tries to rig the Far West Regional Water-Skiing Championship, Nancy Drew and her old friend, Katie Cobb, who is favored to win the competition, search for a dangerous saboteur.

Romance and adventure await Nancy on the craggy coast of Cornwall, England. There to help a friend who could be in danger, Nancy finds more than she bargained for!

Mystery writer Monica Crown hires Nancy to prove her jailed daughter is innocent of a diamond heist. Can Nancy find the real culprit before it’s too late?

Nancy can hardly believe it. While visiting an amusement park owned by the world-famous Royal Chocolates Company, her friend Bess tears open a million-dollar candy wrapper in a contest. But when they go to collect, they’re told that someone else has won. And then they’re accused of tampering with the winning wrapper! Something is rotten in chocolatetown. The proof comes when Nancy and her friends are treated to a near-death experience in the park’s animal safari. Someone’s pulling a million-dollar swindle, and getting Nancy and her friends out of the way seems to be the icing on the cake. If Nancy isn’t careful, she just might learn the real meaning of “Death by Chocolate.”

Nancy and George are thrilled to take part in the filming of a pirate movie onboard the Swift Adventure, a reproduction of a centuries-old sailing ship. Twin brothers Andrew and Daniel Wagner are producing the low-budget film, and they’ve asked their friends to help out. With Nancy as assistant director and George set to play a notorious female pirate, the girls can’t wait to jump in. But a series of robberies at the hotel where the cast and crew are staying, plus the discovery of gold doubloons at the crime scenes, has almost everyone in the production under suspicion. Could the robberies be a publicity stunt staged by one of the brothers? An angry crew member trying to sabotage the film? With her own safety in jeopardy, Nancy needs to figure out who in a big cast of characters is masterminding this criminal production.

A DAY OF SLEDDING SNOWBALLS INTO A BAFFLING MYSTERY! Hurray! The ground is covered with thick snow and that means no school. As soon as Nancy gets the news, she, George, and Bess head straight for the park to go sledding. Everybody is there, including Molly Angelo with her brand-new sled. Molly's sled is really fast, and everyone wants to borrow it. But after the girls take a hot-chocolate break, they return to find it's gone! So who took it? Just like snowflakes, no two mysteries are alike -- and Nancy better figure this one out before the snow melts!

WHAT'S ON TV? IS IT NANCY DREW? It's the Amazing Pet Contest, and the winner gets to go on Mr. Lizard's Funhouse . . . on TV! Katie's got a singing parrot. David's got a gross rat. And Nancy's got Chocolate Chip, her soccer-playing puppy. . . . But Chip won't do her trick. Something's wrong, and Nancy's afraid she's sick. She also thinks it just wouldn't be fair if Chip doesn't get to go on TV because somebody played a dirty trick on her!

A thief strikes, and Nancy is on the trail! In #29, The Stolen Bones, Nancy, Bess, and George are volunteering on a paleontology dig. When a priceless fossil goes missing Nancy must figure out which of the volunteers is really a gold digger.

Nancy Drew is on the run when someone starts playing tricks on her soccer team! Who let the air out of the soccer ball? Who added salt to the water on the sidelines? Who put the red glop in the goalie's soccer shoes? It's gooey. It's gross. It's not fair. Soccer is supposed to be a kick. But somebody's being a drag. Nancy Drew wants to know who's playing the silly games with her third grade soccer team

Who rained on the parade? River Heights Elementary School is putting on an Earth Day parade, and Nancy's class has a special honor: They get to build the float! Nancy, Bess, George, and all the kids in Mrs. Ramirez's class have worked hard to make the "greenest" float they can, collecting recycled materials to use for decoration. But someone's spoiled all the fun and sabotaged the float days before the parade. Who could've done something like this -- and why? Sounds like another case for the Clue Crew!

Nancy Drew and her friends get tickets to the opening of a luxury spa, but when someone tampers with the food and commits other acts of sabotage, they begin to look for clues.

Just as Nancy gears up to help plan the Mahoney Library's 75th anniversary celebration, the beautiful old clock in the library is stolen. Soon Nancy learns that what's inside the clock is more valuable than the clock itself.

Nancy Drew and her friends investigate a murder case, that involves some members of the university basketball team.

Nancy has a part in a film reenactment of the heist that gave her town its name. When the cameras start rolling trouble begins.

Nancy is looking for the trickster who is spoiling all the fun or else the show may be cancelled.

A Boston Wedding... A Veiled Threat... A Dangerous Environment... When Nancy attends a wedding in Boston, she encounters a marriage marred by mischief. The groom may have stolen the bride's heart, but a thief has made off with her antique lace veil! From a mansion in Cape Cod to a museum of witchcraft in Salem, Nancy, Bess, and George follow a trail of intrigue and deceit across the New England countryside. They uncover the shocking story behind the wedding-day prank -- and a $60 million mystery behind the vanishing veil!