If you want to be sure of getting a mystery book that’s age-appropriate for kids aged 8 and up, with no strong language or adult situations and starring a girl detective with plenty of smarts, check out the Nancy Drew series of tween mystery novels that are now available in 80th anniversary editions in Kindle format. There are no plot points that hinge on the use of modern technology in these books and no references to recent pop culture touchstones, but there’s also no strong language, violence or adult situations.
The Secret of the Old Clock: 80th Anniversary Limited Edition (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $5.70)
One Amazon reviewer says:
“This particular story finds Nancy involved in a search for a missing will.
“She is assisted in this by her father, who is a noted attorney, and by her older friend Helen Corning. (The re-occuring characters of George, Bess, and Ned do not appear in the earliest books.)
“As her investigation progresses she not only finds herself at odds with unworthy heirs, but confronting furniture thieves as well.”
Nancy Drew 02: The Hidden Staircase (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $5.99)
After receiving a call from her friend Helen Corning, Nancy agrees to help solve a baffling mystery. Helen’s Aunt Rosemary has been living with her mother at the old family mansion, and they have noticed many strange things. They have heard music, thumps, and creaking noises at night, and seen eerie shadows on the walls. Could the house be haunted?
Just as soon as she hangs up the phone, a strange man visits Nancy’s house to warn her and her father that they are in danger because of a case he is working on buying property for a railroad company. This warning leads Nancy and her father Carson to search for the missing Willie Wharton, a landowner, who can prove he signed away his land to the railroad and save the railroad from a lawsuit. Will Nancy be able to find the missing landowner and discover how these mysteries are related?
Nancy Drew 03: The Bungalow Mystery (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $5.99)
While driving a motorboat around the Twin Lakes, Nancy and her friend Helen get caught in a dangerous storm.
Luckily, they are rescued by another teenage girl in a rowboat.
They soon learn that their rescuer is Laura Pendleton, whose mother has recently having passed away.
Laura has come to meet up with her new guardians, but something isn’t quite right about them. Nancy investigates the situation, and soon she stumbles upon a shocking surprise in the cellar of a bungalow!
Nancy Drew 04: The Mystery at Lilac Inn (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $5.99)
Nancy and her friend Helen visit their friend Emily Willouby at the Lilac Inn, which Emily now owns, to help her plan her wedding.
Emily plans on selling inherited diamonds in order to help fix up the Lilac Inn.
However, Nancy soon learns that someone has been impersonating her and making expensive purchases under her name.
Soon after, Emily’s diamonds are stolen! Can Nancy find the thieves and recover the missing diamonds?
Click here to browse the full selection of Nancy Drew Mysteries in Kindle format.
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