# Nancy Drew — The Bungalow Mystery character guide > Nancy Drew in The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Nancy, Drew, Miss Drew **First appearance:** 0000-i-racing-the-storm ## Snapshot A teenage detective whose quiet modesty hides a taste for midnight tunnels and hidden staircases, she takes on a stranger's terror as if it were her own. ## Who they are Nancy moves through Moon Lake as the friend everyone trusts and the investigator no one quite keeps up with — Helen brags about her solved cases while Nancy waves off the praise as luck. What unsettles her is not danger but other people's fear: she notices Laura's dread of an unseen guardian before anyone else does, and quietly decides it is her problem now. Her willingness to act on a hunch, alone and after dark, is what pulls the book from a polite lakeside visit into genuine peril. ## Relationships ### [Laura Pendleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/laura_pendleton) _friendship_ Nancy acts as Laura's protector and advocate, working to restore her inheritance. ### [Jacob Aborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/jacob_aborn) _rivalry_ Nancy actively investigates and outwits Aborn to thwart his criminal plans. ### [Stumpy Dowd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/stumpy_dowd) _rivalry_ Nancy repeatedly foils Stumpy Dowd's attempts to hinder her investigation. ### [Helen Corning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/helen_corning) _friendship_ Helen is Nancy's loyal and supportive best friend who often accompanies her on investigations. ### [Hannah Gruen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/hannah_gruen) _family_ Hannah Gruen is the Drew family's housekeeper and a maternal figure who cares for Nancy. ### [Laure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/laure) _social_ Laure is a deceased character whose past actions indirectly involve Nancy in the mystery. ### [Laura Pendleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/laura_pendleton) _friendship_ Laura deeply trusts Nancy and relies on her to solve the mystery of her missing inheritance. ### [Jacob Aborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/jacob_aborn) _rivalry_ Jacob Aborn is the main antagonist, a scheming lawyer who opposes Nancy's investigation into his fraudulent guardianship. ### [Stumpy Dowd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/stumpy_dowd) _rivalry_ Nancy repeatedly foils Stumpy Dowd's attempts to hinder her investigation. ### [Laura Pendleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/laura_pendleton) _friendship_ Nancy acts as Laura's protector and advocate, working to restore her inheritance. ### [Helen Corning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/helen_corning) _friendship_ Helen is Nancy's loyal and supportive best friend who often accompanies her on investigations. ### [Jacob Aborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/jacob_aborn) _rivalry_ Nancy actively investigates and outwits Aborn to thwart his criminal plans. ## In the story ### [Racing the Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/i-racing-the-storm) Shows quick thinking and courage as she tries to steer the boat, stuffs her coat into the hole, and shouts for help. ### [A Desperate Struggle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/ii-a-desperate-struggle) Shows exceptional courage and lifesaving skill, refusing to abandon Helen despite exhaustion and danger. ### [A New Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/iii-a-new-friend) Rowing desperately in the storm, then rescuing Helen with Laura's help; shows courage and resourcefulness. ### [A Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/iv-a-visitor) Nancy is recovering from the lake accident and is eager to befriend Laura, sensing her loneliness and worry. ### [Laura's Guardian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/v-laura-s-guardian) Visits Laura at the hotel, becomes suspicious of Jacob Aborn, and overhears his harsh treatment of Laura. ### [Homeward Bound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/vi-homeward-bound) Nancy is the protagonist, leaving camp and driving home despite an approaching storm. ### [A Close Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/vii-a-close-call) Displays resourcefulness and courage after a near-fatal accident; comforts and aids Laura Pendleton. ### [VIII: Laura's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/viii-laura-s-story) Drives Laura to River Heights, provides dry clothes and a warm meal, listens to Laura's story, and resolves to help her despite her father's absence. ### [Nancy's Plan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/ix-nancy-s-plan) Devises a plan to deliver Laura's letter to Jacob Aborn, drives to Melrose Lake, and spots Aborn with a bundle. ### [The Mysterious Bungalow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/x-the-mysterious-bungalow) Follows Jacob Aborn through the forest, discovers the mysterious bungalow, and is confronted by Aborn while peering through a window. ### [Ordered Away](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xi-ordered-away) Confronts Jacob Aborn, delivers Laura's letter, and refuses to disclose Laura's whereabouts despite threats. ### [XII: Nancy Bides Her Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xii-nancy-bides-her-time) Plans and executes a nighttime investigation of Jacob Aborn's bungalow, climbing a trellis to enter Laura's room and hiding in a closet when footsteps approach. ### [A Narrow Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-a-narrow-escape) Hides in Laura's closet and later in the broom closet, narrowly escaping discovery; observes Aborn's actions and deduces he is a thief. ### [Startling Revelations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-startling-revelations) Hides behind the davenport, observes Aborn's actions, escapes the house, drives to the bungalow, and enters the cellar. ### [A Familiar Face](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xv-a-familiar-face) Nancy is the protagonist who investigates the bungalow, experiences fear, and returns to investigate further after hearing a cry for help. ### [XVI: What Nancy Discovered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-what-nancy-discovered) Discovers the real Jacob Aborn chained in the cellar, works to revive him and free him, and learns the truth about Stumpy Dowd's scheme. ### [A Desperate Situation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-a-desperate-situation) Nancy is struck unconscious, tied up, and left in the cellar. She recalls a detective's trick to loosen her bonds. ### [Left to Starve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-left-to-starve) Bound in the cellar, she frees herself through determination and resourcefulness despite bleeding wrists and a head injury. ### [XIX: In Pursuit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xix-in-pursuit) Assists Jacob Aborn out of the cellar, drives him to the bungalow, discovers the safe empty, and decides to pursue Stumpy Dowd. ### [Nancy's Daring Action](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xx-nancy-s-daring-action) Leaves Aborn, runs to her roadster, drives to the hotel, makes urgent calls, and sets off alone to pursue Stumpy. ### [Laura Begins to Worry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxi-laura-begins-to-worry) Nancy is away at Melrose Lake executing a daring plan. She calls Laura to inform her of the plan and instructs her to send the police if she doesn't hear back within 24 hours. ### [A Chance Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxii-a-chance-meeting) Drives her roadster in pursuit of Stumpy Dowd, showing resourcefulness and courage. ### [A Bad Turn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxiii-a-bad-turn) Drives in the chase, rescues Stumpy, and retrieves Laura's suitcases from the burning car. ### [Stumpy's Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxiv-stumpy-s-fate) Takes charge of the rescue, retrieves the suitcases, and orchestrates the reunion between Laura and her real guardian. ### [Laura’s Gratitude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxv-laura-s-gratitude) Visits Laura and Mr. Aborn; accepts a pendant as a souvenir; reflects on her love for mystery. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/nancy_drew - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters