The Hidden Staircase

A haunted mansion. A missing father. A hidden passage. And a young woman who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

This is The Hidden Staircase as it was first published in 1930, before it was revised and shortened in 1959, softening Nancy's edges and taming her independence for a more cautious era. The original has been largely unavailable for nearly seven decades. Now, for the first time since entering the public domain, the original 1930 text is back in print: longer, darker, and more daring than the version you may remember.

The Nancy of this original edition embodies the "New Woman" of the 1920s and 30s: independent, assertive, and comfortable operating in spaces traditionally reserved for men. She is sixteen years old and works alone. She sleeps with her father's revolver under her pillow. She breaks into a suspect's house to find evidence. She is trapped in an underground passage, injured and fighting off rats in the darkness. When the police prove useless, she takes matters into her own hands.

Read the Nancy Drew Classic Mystery Series as they were originally intended.

This edition faithfully reproduces the original 1930s text as written by Mildred Wirt Benson, complete with period illustrations. A racial stereotype has been edited so that this book may be enjoyed by all without perpetuating racism. A full description of these changes is included in the afterword.

This edition includes an appendix detailing the differences between the 1930 original and the 1959 revision.