Nancy Drew as cook and housecleaner?

March 15, 2009 6:30 PM

In one of the early Nancy Drew books, circa 1931-2 or thereabouts, Nancy takes care of an elderly guy ( I think that's the scenario) and actually cooks and cleans for a couple of days at his house. Which book would it be?

I've done some searching but I can't find the book or the section? It would be in the early chapters of one of the early books, I think? It may have been edited out in the updates, but should still appear in the Applewood editions? Anybody of the hive mind, have any ideas? Thanks!

posted by ragtimepiano to society & culture (9 comments total)

That's Nancy Drew, in the series by "Carolyn Keene".
posted by ragtimepiano at 7:57 PM on March 15

My daughter and I just finished book 1 and 2 - that scenario isn't in those books. Sorry I can't narrow it down any more than that.
posted by Sassyfras at 9:18 PM on March 15

The Wikipedia summaries of the early books are not detailed, but maybe they include enough information to remind you which book it is. Here's the link to one of them; you can use the Previous Book/Next book links to go through the series a book at a time:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sign_of_the_Twisted_Candles
posted by lockedroomguy at 9:57 PM on March 15

Are you perhaps thinking of when she helps poor Mrs. Swenson and her daughter in The Clue in the Diary? Nancy and the gang buy them groceries, have "a feast" with the intent of leaving behind lots of leftovers, and I think they help around the house too. I only have the 1962 version but I think there was a lot more of that helping out described in the 1932 edition reprint I read. She eventually helps find the missing Mr. Swenson.
posted by girlhacker at 10:00 PM on March 15

The Sign of the Twisted Candles features a 100-year-old man for part of the story. He ends up being related to Bess and George, who stop speaking to Nancy once they find out that she is friendly with him and her father is handling his estate. Don't know if this is the book you're thinking of, though.
posted by Oriole Adams at 10:20 PM on March 15

No, no, I'm pretty sure that it isn't The Sign of the Twisted Candles. You might be thinking of The Haunted Bridge--the one where Nancy is in a golf tournament. Ned, Dave, and Burt also make major appearances in order to take care of the man. It is book number 15.

This might not be it, though. There is another book that is popping into mind. Nancy takes care of an older man and leaves him money for groceries. For some reason, I feel like he was in a fire. I'm pretty sure that Ned stops by in the end to help her out, but who knows.
posted by vas deference at 11:16 AM on March 16

Thanks, everyone. I've had fun looking through the Wikipedia summaries. In "The Haunted Bridge," Nancy does indeed prepare a meal for an elderly man, and for Ned and his friends, but I don't think that is what I had in mind. Is anyone familiar with the original version of "The Secret of Red Gate Farm"? Or the 1932 version of "The Clue in the Diary." which does indeed begin with a big fire?
posted by ragtimepiano at 3:58 PM on March 16

And does anyone know the plot( of the 1941, not the later rewrite) "Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion?" In reading the Applewood version "excerpts" on amazon, that looks promising! Thanks again.
posted by ragtimepiano at 4:21 PM on March 16

I think it's the "Moss-Covered Mansion," where Nancy fixes a big dinner for an older lady who has hurt her shoulder. Nancy has to make two trips into town (in her roadster, of course!) to get necessary items like salt and baking powder, and Bess attempts to make a layer cake, but can't get the hang of the old stove so the cake is burned on the bottom and falls in on top!
But I'm still searching, as I seem to remember that Nancy is on her own, cleaning and cooking for an elderly gentleman....
posted by ragtimepiano at 11:32 AM on March 23