At a glance
The Secret of the Old Clock
Children's fiction
The Secret of the Old Clock
Book 1 of the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series
210 pages · First published 1930
Nancy Drew becomes involved in the affairs of the Turner family after learning that a recently deceased man’s promised inheritance may have been diverted by a later will. Her search for the missing document leads to clues involving an old clock and people with strong financial motives. Nancy’s independence and confidence allow her to investigate beyond what the adults around her expect from a teenage girl. Carolyn Keene’s first Nancy Drew mystery established the enduring young detective through inheritance intrigue, hidden evidence, and a heroine who treats unanswered questions as invitations.
Paired for this story
Jump to the pours ↓Secret Garden Cooler + Smoked Old Fashioned
Choose your bookseller
Find the Book
Print retailers offer a search when an exact edition is unavailable. Kindle links open a specific edition. Audiobook links may open an edition or a search.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Book Bartender earns from qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org links also earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. Your price is not affected. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Burglary/theft and criminal investigation; Nancy is forcibly confined by thieves; chase/pursuit danger; financial hardship and inheritance conflict; original 1930 edition contains more dated racial stereotypes than later revisions.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Secret Garden Cooler
A bright, refreshing sip suits a reading mood full of secrets and intrigue.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Gently muddle cucumber and mint with lime juice. Add ice, top with sparkling water, and stir.
- Garnish: Cucumber ribbon and mint sprig.
- Glassware: Highball glass.
Shop glassware & tools
We earn a commission from qualifying purchases through these Amazon links, at no extra cost to you.
Highball glass ↗Muddler ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Smoked Old Fashioned
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
A warming pour with a sharp edge suits a reading mood full of secrets and intrigue.
What you'll need
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1/4 oz demerara syrup ↗
- 2–3 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Food-safe oak or cherry wood chips for smoking ↗
Alcohol-shopping links are not shown on children's or young-adult book pages.
How to mix it
- Stir bourbon, demerara syrup, and bitters with ice and strain over one large cube. Express an orange peel over the drink. Use a cocktail smoker with food-safe oak or cherry chips to fill the covered glass with smoke for 20–30 seconds, then uncover and serve.
- Garnish: Orange peel.
- Glassware: Rocks glass.
Shop glassware & tools
We earn a commission from qualifying purchases through these Amazon links, at no extra cost to you.
Rocks glass ↗Cocktail smoker ↗Set up the bar cart
Shop the Barware
Find the glasses and tools for your next pour.