The Hidden Staircase facts for kids
The original dust jacket for "The Hidden Staircase"
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| Author | Carolyn Keene |
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| Illustrator | Russell H. Tandy |
| Cover artist | Russell H. Tandy |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Nancy Drew Mystery Stories |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Publisher | Grosset & Dunlap |
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Publication date
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| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 210(1930-1959); 180 |
| ISBN | 0-448-09502-5 |
| OCLC | 17335741 |
| Preceded by | The Secret of the Old Clock |
| Followed by | The Bungalow Mystery |
The Hidden Staircase is the second exciting book in the popular Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was written by an author known as Carolyn Keene. The book first came out in 1930 and was updated in 1959. The original story was penned by Mildred Wirt Benson, who said it was her favorite Nancy Drew book to write!
This mystery novel has been turned into movies more than once. A Warner Bros. film called Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase was released in 1939. Another movie based on the book came out on March 15, 2019.
Contents
Nancy's Mystery Adventure Begins
Nancy Drew, a clever young detective, finds herself in the middle of a thrilling new case. This story has two main versions, one from 1930 and a revised one from 1959. Both versions feature Nancy solving a puzzling mystery involving a hidden staircase and a missing person.
The 1930 Story: A Rude Visitor and a Haunted House
The original 1930 story starts with Nancy home alone. A rude man named Nathan Gombet shows up, demanding to see her father, Carson Drew. Nancy gets annoyed and tells him to leave.
Soon after, Nancy's friend Allie Horner arrives. Allie knows Nathan Gombet as someone who causes trouble. When Nancy's father comes home, he explains that Gombet is angry about a land deal for a railroad.
- A Strange Request: The next day, Nancy meets the Turnbull sisters, Rosemary and Floretta. They ask for her help with their old mansion in Cliffwood. They believe their house is "haunted" because valuable items keep disappearing, even though the house is locked.
Nancy agrees to stay at the mansion for over a week to investigate. Her father gives her a revolver for protection, as he will be out of town. Before she leaves, Nancy gets a threatening letter telling her to stay away from the mansion.
- Clues and Suspicions: While Nancy is at the mansion, more items vanish. She also notices a stone mansion across a hill that looks just like the Turnbulls' house. The sisters explain that both houses were built by their relatives who became rivals. Guess who owns the other mansion? Nathan Gombet! He even tried to buy their house.
Nancy now suspects Nathan Gombet is behind the thefts. Meanwhile, her father sends a telegram for Nancy to pick him up. But Gombet tricks Carson Drew, making him believe Nancy is in trouble. Carson goes to Gombet's mansion and is held prisoner. Nancy worries when she doesn't hear from her father.
- The Hidden Passage: One rainy night, Nancy bravely goes to Gombet's mansion. She sneaks in through a cellar window. She almost gets caught by his servant twice! Nancy ends up locked in an upstairs room. In the closet, she finds a secret knob.
Pulling the knob reveals a hidden staircase! This stone staircase leads to a large tunnel. The tunnel splits off into different paths, all leading to various rooms in the Turnbull mansion. This explains how the thief got in and out!
- Solving the Mystery: The next morning, Nancy and the Turnbull sisters go to the sheriff. The police raid Gombet's mansion. They find Nathan Gombet and rescue Carson Drew, who was held captive. Gombet is arrested, and the mystery of the "haunted" mansion is solved!
The 1959 Story: Twin Elms and a Kidnapped Father
The updated 1959 story starts with Nancy getting a call from her friend Helen Corning. Helen tells Nancy about a mystery at her great-grandmother's house, Twin Elms. Miss Flora, Helen's great-grandmother, thinks their home is haunted.
- A New Threat: Just as Nancy agrees to help, a man named Nathan Gomber warns her that her father, Carson Drew, is in danger. Gomber represents people unhappy with land deals for a new railroad. Mr. Drew tells Nancy to go to Twin Elms with Helen while he travels to Chicago.
After a fun dance, Nancy and her father inspect the railroad construction. They barely escape a runaway truck that tries to hit them! Nancy and Helen then head to Twin Elms. Helen shares exciting news: she's engaged!
- Strange Happenings: At Twin Elms, Miss Flora explains the strange events. Items disappear, music plays by itself, and a chandelier moves. A mask even appears in the windows! Nancy starts to investigate the old Colonial house. Nathan Gomber, by coincidence, is trying to buy the historic home.
Nancy's father doesn't return from Chicago. She traces him to the train station and learns he might have been kidnapped. Nancy continues to search for clues about her father and the intruder at Twin Elms. A night watchman helps her, and she discovers a secret room.
- The Neighboring Estate: Nancy and Helen decide to check the neighboring estate. This house has the same design as Twin Elms, so they think it might hold a clue to a secret entrance.
At the realtor's office, Nancy is shocked to find Nathan Gomber has just bought the neighboring estate. The realtor lends them a key. At Riverview Manor, Nancy finds a secret panel leading to an underground passage and staircase.
- Rescue and Arrest: The tunnel leads to another staircase. At the top, a man stops Nancy and Helen. Nancy soon discovers a missing property owner, more hidden staircases inside Twin Elms, and that her father is a prisoner in the tunnel! Nathan Gomber is found out and arrested, and Nancy's father is safe.
Other Adventures and Adaptations
The exciting story of The Hidden Staircase has inspired other projects:
- Movies: As mentioned, two Warner Bros. films were made: Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase in 1939 and another movie in 2019.
- Video Games: A Nancy Drew point-and-click adventure game called Nancy Drew: Secret of the Old Clock is loosely based on this book. It also includes parts from other Nancy Drew mysteries.
- TV Series: The pilot episode of the 2019 Nancy Drew television series mentions the book. Nancy finds a missing girl behind a hidden staircase. Later, an episode is even named "The Hidden Staircase," where Nancy returns to the old warehouse where she found the staircase.
