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Whether investigating crime in River Heights or nearby spots like Moon Lake, Nancy has a penchant for traveling.
Often called
"travelogues," were volumes where Nancy visited foreign countries and children learned a few factoids about these
countries. Although she had a couple of trips out of the country previously, Nancy's passport became quite full in the
1960s and 1970s with visits to Hong Kong (The Mystery of the Fire
Dragon, 1961), Scotland (The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes, 1964), France
(The Mystery of the 99 Steps,
1966), Peru (The Clue in the Crossword Cipher 1967), South Africa (The Spider Sapphire Mystery 1968),
Turkey (The Mysterious Mannequin 1970), Japan (The Thirteenth Pearl 1979), and Mexico (The Triple
Hoax 1979).
While sleuthing to help downtrodden victims of dastardly villains, Nancy had a volatile relationship with law enforcement.
Early in the series, the police were bumbling and patronizing to Nancy. Nancy was much less trusting of the officers and their
actions. Over time, Nancy developed a more trusting relationship with the police, who were quick to ask her for help or help her in her cases. They were often
very praiseworthy of her sleuthing abilities.
Nancy was often threatened by villains, caught snooping, and warned to drop a case with a threatening phone call or an
"all-purpose assailant rock." Memorable villains include the bumbling Frank Semitt (Jemitt in the revision)from
The Sign of the Twisted Candles, poisonous spider weilding
Bushy Trott from The Secret in the Old Attic, and vixen Mary Mason who delighted in Nancy's possible demise in
The Mystery at Lilac Inn.
Nancy managed to cross the line herself when breaking and entering to find clues, keeping
stolen property (Topham clock, The Secret of the Old Clock), and obstructing justice by harboring wanted but
seemingly innocent fugitives (The Clue in the Diary). Nancy was much more flippant and more of a risk taker in regard to
the law in the early texts.
Though modest, Nancy was often rewarded by those she helped: Crowley clock (The Secret of the Old Clock), silver
urn (The Hidden Staircase), ring (The Bungalow Mystery), and a handbag (The Clue in the Diary).
Currently, I am writing a book which focuses on the mysterious history of Nancy Drew®. While this website is a good introduction into the world of Nancy Drew®, you will find further analysis in my upcoming book.
What's a girl sleuth to do without her trademark sleuthing tools? Never leave home without a trusty flashlight or a handy
magnifying glass. A bag of clothes and a bathing suit kept close at hand in the trunk for those sudden overnight sleuthing adventures is essential.
Always on the trail of clues through musty old attics, castle dungeons, secret passageways with hidden
staircases, spooky moss-covered mansions and dark alleys, Nancy leaves no stone unturned.
