Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock

Title: Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock
Author: Carolyn Keene
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: Nine to Twelve Years Old
Characters: Nancy Drew, the Crowley's, the Topham's, and Carson Drew
Plot: Nancy Drew was driving along a country highway when she noticed a little girl on the road. The young girl just barely avoided being hit by an aggressive moving van. The girl fell over a bridge beside a river. Nancy jerked out of her car and rescued the girl. She brought her to the Crowley's who introduced themselves as the girl's aunt. The aunts sadly tell Nancy that the movers were in a hurry because they had stolen their silver. They tell Nancy how they don't have much money although a man had promised them that they would be included in his will. However, the man's last keepers, the Tophams, had received all of the will money. Nancy reports the stolen silver to the police and later runs into several other relatives that stated the same thing about the will. Everyone seems to believe that there was a second will. The young adult decided that she would take on this case herself alongside her Dad, Carson Drew. Nancy's Dad is a lawyer, so he takes care of all her legal problems during the case. First, she starts out by interviewing relatives and the Topham family. Pretty soon, she learns some clues that lead her to believe that a second will has something to do with an old Crowley clock. Nancy learns that the clock is found in the Topham's house on a lake. She goes to talk to the housekeeper about it. However, once there she sees the same moving van that stole the silver and the housekeeper is missing. Eventually, the robbers find Nancy and lock her in a closet. Nancy manages to get out with the help of the housekeeper. Once out they notify the police and follow the van. Nancy is able to get hold of the Crowley clock inside the van and finds a notebook hidden in the clock just as she anticipated. The notebook includes a key with instructions to go to a bank and put the key in the corresponding box to find his late will. Nancy and her father find the will and the money is given to all of his deserving relatives and friends. The Tophams put up a fight, but did not win. Nancy is overjoyed at the success of her first mystery and celebrates with all of the jubilant people she helped.
Precautions: There are no major precautions in this book. Although there are some thieves in the book, the author gives the indication that this is a wrong act. Overall, this is a pure, clean book that is perfect for the young mystery lover.
Ratings: I highly recommend this book for the mystery lover. Nancy Drew keeps you entertained and engaged in the story at all times. Be sure to check out the rest of this series, as this book is the first in the series.