«The Secret of the Old Clock» by Nancy Drew is the 12th installment in the series. The plot of the book is loosely based on the popular mystery novels of the 1930s. The story revolves around a young girl who is accidentally rescued by her father from a dangerous situation, and her adventures in search of the deceased family’s missing will. There are several elements of the series’ past stories that make the Secret of the Old Clock an interesting read.
While the book is full of action and intrigue, the plot is a bit predictable. Nancy and the police suspect a burglary, but Nancy is able to sneak into the van and retrieve the stolen clock. Despite being drunk, Nancy manages to narrowly escape the thieves and get back the old clock. Nancy also contacts the police, who help her catch the crooks. The story also explores the idea of class and status.

«The Secret of the Old Clock» was written by Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, a writer and editor of the Nancy Drew books. The author was a former law student at Princeton and was later a successful criminal defense lawyer. While the characters are fictional, the setting was actually the location of a fictional camp that Nancy and her mother spent a week at. This location is an accurate depiction of the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina.
The secret of the old clock comes to light when Nancy discovers a journal in Josiah’s will inside the old clock. She learns that his will is hidden in a safe-deposit box. Her father is able to help Nancy get the will and confirms that it is indeed the latest version of the will. Once she has obtained this information, Nancy reveals it to the Turners, Hoovers, and Mathews brothers.

A metal curtain holder holds a secret passage. Clicking it will open a hidden passage. The secret passage can be accessed by going down the stairs and forward. You can also look for a lantern or a crack in the wall. In the parlor, you will find a sewing box with a needle in it. In this room, you will find a hidden passage, and Nancy will talk to Jane about her secret passage. The next time you see her, you’ll see Uri!
The secret of the old clock starts off as an investigation of possible heirs to Josiah’s estate. Nancy investigates the Hoover sisters, former neighbors of Josiah. These sisters cannot afford vocal training, and they need money to support their family. She also meets the Mathews brothers, who work a small farm but dream of travel. As she investigates these family members, she realizes that there is another will in place. In addition to investigating the Turner sisters, Nancy also becomes convinced that her uncle was gay and they should seek legal help.