# Nancy Drew — The Mystery at Lilac Inn character guide > Nancy Drew in The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Nancy, Miss Nancy, Miss Drew, IX Nancy, XVI The Stranger Nancy Drew, Old man Drew, Drew **First appearance:** 0000-i-a-chance-meeting ## Snapshot A teenage detective whose knack for noticing what others overlook turns a routine summer into a hunt for stolen jewels and a missing handbag. ## Who they are Nancy moves between her father's law office, the fading elegance of Lilac Inn, and the lake road with a roadster and a mind that won't let go of a puzzle. She is confident to the point of stubbornness, and when her father gently suggests a case may never be solved, she thrusts her chin up and refuses to admit defeat. Her early suspicion of Mary Mason shows both her instinct for a clue and her honest worry about accusing the innocent, making her the restless center of the book's widening mystery. ## Relationships ### [Mary Mason](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/mary_mason) _friendship_ Mary is Nancy's close friend and confidante, often assisting in her investigations. ### [Mrs. Jane Willoughby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/mrs_jane_willoughby) _rivalry_ Mrs. Willoughby is a suspicious and antagonistic figure who opposes Nancy's inquiries at Lilac Inn. ### [Emily Crandall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/emily_crandall) _friendship_ Emily is a friend of Nancy's, involved in the mystery surrounding Lilac Inn. ### [Bud Mason](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/bud_mason) _friendship_ Bud is Mary's brother and a supportive friend to Nancy, often helping with practical tasks. ### [Tom Tozzle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/tom_tozzle) _friendship_ Tom is a local boy and friend to Nancy, occasionally assisting with information or errands. ### [Helen Corning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/helen_corning) _friendship_ Helen is a close friend of Nancy's, often accompanying her on social outings and investigations. ### [Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/carson_drew) _family_ Carson is Nancy's father, a lawyer who supports and advises her in her sleuthing. ### [Captain Dudley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/captain_dudley) _rivalry_ Captain Dudley is a gruff and obstructive figure who tries to hinder Nancy's investigation. ### [Hannah Gruen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/hannah_gruen) _family_ Hannah is the Drew family housekeeper, acting as a maternal figure to Nancy. ### [Judge Graham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/judge_graham) _professional_ Judge Graham is a legal authority who interacts with Nancy regarding the case. ### [Viola Granger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/viola_granger) _rivalry_ Viola is a suspect and antagonist who competes with Nancy over the mystery at Lilac Inn. ### [Mr. Hodge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/mr_hodge) _professional_ Mr. Hodge is a local businessman or official who provides information or obstacles to Nancy. ## In the story ### [A Chance Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/i-a-chance-meeting) Drives to Lilac Inn for lunch, meets Emily Crandall, and learns of her inheritance. Later receives news from her father about Hannah Gruen's departure and Judge Graham's visit. ### [Rising to an Occasion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/ii-rising-to-an-occasion) Takes charge of household management after Hannah's departure, interviews a poor housekeeper candidate, and reflects on her detective interests. ### [A Queer Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/iii-a-queer-girl) Nancy is frustrated with housekeeper interviews and reluctantly hires Mary Mason, but is puzzled by Mary's strange reaction to her identity. ### [About the Crandall Jewels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/iv-about-the-crandall-jewels) Hires Mrs. Carter, visits Emily, and learns about the Crandall jewels and Emily's engagement. ### [At Lilac Inn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/v-at-lilac-inn) Drives back toward River Heights, troubled by her fears about the Crandall jewels. ### [VII: Damaging Rumors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/vii-damaging-rumors) Nancy learns about the stolen jewels and discusses the case with her father, expressing her interest in helping Emily. ### [VIII: Mrs. Willoughby’s Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/viii-mrs-willoughby-s-call) Observes Mrs. Willoughby closely, nods to her father to take the case, and later visits Emily to offer support and agree to investigate. ### [IX: Nancy Investigates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/ix-nancy-investigates) Takes over the case from her father and begins investigating the robbery at Lilac Inn. ### [X: An Encounter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/x-an-encounter) Feels frustrated by the lack of progress in the case but remains determined. While shopping with Helen, she spots Mary Mason at an expensive dress shop and becomes suspicious. ### [XI: A Trip to the Inn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xi-a-trip-to-the-inn) Nancy is determined to solve the Crandall robbery despite mounting pressure and lack of clear clues. She investigates Mary Mason and considers new leads. ### [XII: A New Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xii-a-new-discovery) Determined to follow every lead, Nancy visits Mrs. Stonewell and travels to Dockville to find Mary Mason. ### [A Surprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xiii-a-surprise) Investigates Mary Mason's suspicious wealth and purchases, following her to a poor neighborhood and questioning the delivery driver. ### [XIV: New Information](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xiv-new-information) Shares her discovery about Mary Mason's expensive purchases and discusses theories with her father. ### [XV: What Mr. Drew Learned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xv-what-mr-drew-learned) Determined to solve the mystery, she visits Emily, discusses evidence with her father, and insists on leading the investigation herself. ### [The Stranger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xvi-the-stranger) Nancy acts on a hunch, following a stranger who drops an envelope addressed to 'Mr. B. Mason,' and impulsively boards a train to Winchester, demonstrating her risk-taking and detective instincts. ### [XVII: A Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xvii-a-crisis) Determined to solve the case before Mrs. Willoughby's arrest, Nancy drives to Dockville and spies on Mary Mason. ### [During the Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xviii-during-the-storm) Brave but nervous, Nancy hides in bushes, sneaks into the house during a storm, and overhears the criminals' argument. ### [In the Storeroom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xix-in-the-storeroom) Hides in a packing box in the storeroom, eavesdrops on the criminals, and is captured after being revealed by lightning. ### [A Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xx-a-prisoner) Nancy is captured, attempts a trick to escape, is retied, and is taken by motorboat during a storm. ### [XXI: Down the River](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xxi-down-the-river) Captive in the motorboat, Nancy endures the storm and Mary's gloating, but remains alert and determined to escape and recover the Crandall jewels. ### [Sinking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xxii-sinking) Bound and left to drown in the sinking motorboat, she screams for help and is rescued. She then tries to save the Crandall jewels and alerts the crowd to Tom Tozzle's escape. ### [Captured](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xxiii-captured) Rescued from the motorboat, she pursues and captures Mary Mason, then accuses the criminals before Captain Dudley. ### [The Search](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xxiv-the-search) Leads the search for the jewels, discovers the secret compartment in the clock, and recovers the stolen gems. ### [XXV: Nancy's Reward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xxv-nancy-s-reward) Honored guest at the party; receives a bracelet from Emily and is asked to be maid of honor. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/nancy_drew - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters