# Nancy Drew — The Hidden Staircase character guide > Nancy Drew in The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Nancy, Miss Drew **First appearance:** 0000-i-a-rude-visitor ## Snapshot A teenage detective who reads a dark staircase the way others read a map, leading nervous officers through hidden panels toward a thief who never expected to be followed. ## Who they are Nancy arrives at the Turnbull mansion as a guest and quickly becomes its most clear-eyed investigator, treating ghost stories as puzzles with mechanical answers. Her confidence in the dark — finding the tiny knob, warning the sheriff of treacherous steps — unsettles the men she leads and infuriates the man she's hunting. She matters because the mystery only moves when she refuses to be frightened out of a room. ## Relationships ### [Rosemary Turnbull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/rosemary_turnbull) _friendship_ Nancy and Rosemary are close friends and allies, with Nancy helping Rosemary solve the mystery of the hidden staircase. ### [Nathan Gombet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/nathan_gombet) _rivalry_ Nathan Gombet is a suspicious and antagonistic figure who opposes Nancy's investigation and is involved in the mystery. ### [Floretta Turnbull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/floretta_turnbull) _friendship_ Floretta Turnbull, Rosemary's aunt, is grateful for Nancy's help and becomes a friendly ally in solving the family troubles. ### [Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/carson_drew) _family_ Carson Drew is Nancy's loving and supportive father, who encourages her detective work while ensuring her safety. ### [Allie Horner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/allie_horner) _friendship_ Allie Horner is a friendly acquaintance and helper to Nancy, providing local information and support. ### [Abigail Rowen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/abigail_rowen) _friendship_ Abigail Rowen is a friendly neighbor or local who assists Nancy with clues and background information. ### [Helen Corning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/helen_corning) _friendship_ Helen Corning is Nancy's close friend and confidante, often accompanying her on adventures. ### [Hannah Gruen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/hannah_gruen) _family_ Hannah Gruen is the Drew family's housekeeper, who acts as a maternal figure and caring supporter of Nancy. ### [Grace Horner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/grace_horner) _friendship_ Grace Horner is a friendly local who assists Nancy with information and hospitality. ### [Nathan Gombet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/nathan_gombet) _rivalry_ Nathan Gombet is a suspicious and antagonistic figure who opposes Nancy's investigation and is involved in the mystery. ### [Rosemary Turnbull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/rosemary_turnbull) _friendship_ Nancy and Rosemary are close friends and allies, with Nancy helping Rosemary solve the mystery of the hidden staircase. ### [Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/carson_drew) _family_ Carson Drew is Nancy's loving and supportive father, who encourages her detective work while ensuring her safety. ## In the story ### [A Rude Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/i-a-rude-visitor) Home alone, Nancy feels a premonition of adventure before being confronted by the rude and aggressive Nathan Gombet. She defends her father's honor and tries to protect the house from Gombet's intrusion. ### [A Warning of Trouble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/ii-a-warning-of-trouble) Nancy uses her quick thinking to fend off Nathan Gombet's attack and threatens to call the police, showing her courage and resourcefulness. ### [Interesting Information](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/iii-interesting-information) Receives Allie Horner, learns about Nathan Gombet's character, and later hikes to the railroad bridge, feeling uneasy about Gombet's threat. ### [A Second Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/iv-a-second-call) Nancy is anxious and protective, pleading with her father to be cautious after Gombet's threats. ### [Strange Happenings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/v-strange-happenings) Visits Abigail Rowen and agrees to investigate the strange happenings at The Mansion. ### [VI: The Ghost Calls Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/vi-the-ghost-calls-again) Visits The Mansion with Rosemary, investigates the theft of Floretta's diamond bar pin, and examines the room for clues. ### [VII: What Can It Mean!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/vii-what-can-it-mean) Discovers the closet empty, agrees to investigate the mansion's mystery, and persuades her father to let her stay for a week. ### [The Warning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/viii-the-warning) Preoccupied with the mystery, she packs for her trip and receives a threatening note. ### [The Anonymous Message](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/ix-the-anonymous-message) Receives a threatening anonymous note, packs her revolver, and arrives at the mansion determined to solve the mystery. ### [An Unfruitful Search](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/x-an-unfruitful-search) Conducts a thorough but unfruitful search of the attic and basement; sleeps with a revolver under her pillow; is awakened by a mysterious cry in the night. ### [A Cry in the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xi-a-cry-in-the-night) Leads the investigation after hearing the cry, armed with a revolver and flashlight. ### [The Theft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xii-the-theft) Grows increasingly anxious about her father's absence; sends a telegram to Chicago; investigates the theft of the silver urn; resolves to stay at the mansion until the mystery is solved. ### [Another Surprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xiii-another-surprise) Receives a telegram about her missing father, investigates the stolen dresses and canaries, and begins to suspect Nathan Gombet. ### [XIV: What Happened to Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xiv-what-happened-to-carson-drew) Mentioned as the supposed victim of an accident; her telegram is intercepted. ### [A Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xv-a-prisoner) Mentioned as being at the Turnbulls' house; Gombet threatens to abduct her. ### [XVI: A New Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xvi-a-new-clue) Nancy is deeply worried about her father's disappearance and struggles with suspense. She continues to investigate the mystery, now focusing on Nathan Gombet as the likely culprit. She plans to sneak into Gombet's house that night. ### [Under Cover of Darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xvii-under-cover-of-darkness) Sneaks out of the Turnbull mansion at night, armed with a flashlight and pistol, to investigate Nathan Gombet's house. ### [Inside the Other House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xviii-inside-the-other-house) Nancy breaks into Gombet's house, hides in a closet, and explores the upper floor, showing determination and resourcefulness. ### [XIX: A Chance Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xix-a-chance-discovery) Nancy is trapped in the bird room after being locked in by the servant, and later discovers a secret panel that leads to a fall. ### [The Underground Passage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xx-the-underground-passage) Nancy falls into the underground passage, sustains a head injury, and bravely explores the tunnel despite fear and danger. ### [The End of the Passage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xxi-the-end-of-the-passage) Nancy explores the secret passage, deduces Gombet's guilt, and worries about her missing father. ### [The Next Move](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xxii-the-next-move) Reveals the mystery solution, leads exploration of hidden staircases, and drives to summon the police. ### [Notifying the Police](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xxiii-notifying-the-police) Leads the effort to notify the police and confront Gombet, showing determination and quick thinking. ### [Nancy Leads the Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xxiv-nancy-leads-the-way) Leads the sheriff through the secret passage, captures the old colored woman, and rescues her father from Nathan Gombet. ### [Captured](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xxv-captured) Frees her father, interrogates Gombet, and accepts the silver urn as a gift. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/nancy_drew - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters