By Amanda Pompilii
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock
By Carolyn Keene
Publisher and Publication Year: Simon and Schuster, 1930
The Hardy Boys: The Tower Treasure
By Franklin W. Dixon
Publisher and Publication Year: Simon and Schuster, 1927
Originally written in the early 20th century, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys have stood the test of time, becoming synonymous with the children’s mystery genre and memorialized as a nostalgic tribute to amateur sleuths everywhere in both pop culture and the memories of the series’ readers.
The first Nancy Drew book, The Secret of the Old Clock, focuses on 18-year-old Nancy Drew, who has a penchant for solving her lawyer father’s most puzzling cases. One day, Nancy rescues a young girl, Judy Turner, who was wandering on the road. When she returns Judy to the care of her aunts, she learns that the Turners’ eccentric and wealthy cousin, Josiah Crowley, has just passed, and despite his promise to leave his fortune to the Turners – and several other relatives – his will instead states that he has left his entire estate to the greedy Topham family. Rumour has it, however, that Crowley had made and hidden a second will just before his death – one in which he has left his wealth to his previously intended beneficiaries.
What follows is a thrilling chase as Nancy searches for an antique timepiece that just might hold the clue she needs to crack the case of Crowley’s secret will.
The first Hardy Boys book, The Tower Treasure, follows 18-year-old Frank Hardy and his 17-year-old brother, Joe, who rival their famous detective father in their crime-solving talent. The boys’ mystery begins when their friend, Chet, finds that his beloved yellow jalopy has been stolen. Just as the brothers close in on the thief, they are shaken by news that the Tower Mansion, owned by the reclusive and wealthy Applegate siblings, was also robbed.
Worse still, the Applegates have accused their caretaker – the father of the Hardy brothers’ friend, Henry “Slim” Robinson – of being the culprit. Determined to clear Mr. Robinson’s name and convinced that the two thefts are connected, Frank and Joe team up with their father and friends in a perilous search that involves New York City theatres, hidden trap doors, and crumbling staircases.
I personally loved how timeless and relatable the protagonists were. Although written almost a hundred years ago, Nancy’s ability to escape the toughest obstacles using her self-confidence and intuition is still inspiring today. Similarly, Frank and Joe’s teamwork and perseverance, even when stumped on a clue, will resonate with readers of all ages.
At the heart of these tales are the messages that the best solutions are not always the easiest to spot, and every problem can be overcome by believing in oneself, having compassion, and thinking outside the box.
Aspiring sleuths – new or returning to the series – will have fun deciphering clues alongside Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, and earning their own amateur detective badges as they follow each twist to its ultimate exciting reveal.