# Nancy Drew — The Secret of the Old Clock character guide > Nancy Drew in The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Nancy, Miss Drew **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-lost-will ## Who they are A teenage detective who turns a mantel clock's chime into a clue, chasing a missing will with the patience of a psychologist and the nerve of a pursuit driver. ## Relationships ### [Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/carson_drew) _family_ Carson is Nancy's loving and supportive father, often assisting her in investigations. ### [Grace Horner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/grace_horner) _friendship_ Grace is a close friend and ally of Nancy, frequently involved in her sleuthing adventures. ### [Richard Topham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/richard_topham) _rivalry_ Richard is a suspicious and antagonistic figure who opposes Nancy's investigation into the Crowley inheritance. ### [Helen Corning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/helen_corning) _friendship_ Helen is Nancy's loyal friend and confidante, often accompanying her on cases. ### [Josiah Crowley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/josiah_crowley) _psychological_ Josiah, though deceased, is the central figure whose secret will and past actions drive Nancy's investigation and create a posthumous puzzle. ### [Abigail Rowen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/abigail_rowen) _friendship_ Abigail is a kind elderly woman who becomes a friend and beneficiary of Nancy's efforts to recover the lost will. ### [Allie Horner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/allie_horner) _friendship_ Allie is Grace's younger sister and a friendly acquaintance who helps Nancy with local information. ### [Jeff Tucker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/jeff_tucker) _friendship_ Jeff is a helpful local handyman and friend who assists Nancy with practical tasks during her investigation. ### [Ada Topham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/ada_topham) _rivalry_ Ada is a haughty and unfriendly member of the Topham family who resents Nancy's interference. ### [Isabel Topham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/isabel_topham) _rivalry_ Isabel is a snobbish and antagonistic member of the Topham family who opposes Nancy at every turn. ### [Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/carson_drew) _family_ Carson is Nancy's loving and supportive father, often assisting her in investigations. ### [Richard Topham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/richard_topham) _rivalry_ Richard is a suspicious and antagonistic figure who opposes Nancy's investigation into the Crowley inheritance. ## In the story ### [The Lost Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/i-the-lost-will) Nancy is a curious and determined sixteen-year-old who questions the fairness of the Tophams inheriting Crowley's fortune and suspects a missing will. ### [II: A Chance Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/ii-a-chance-meeting) Determined to find the second will after hearing Mr. Rolsted's disclosure; demonstrates capability and intuition. ### [III: Racing the Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/iii-racing-the-storm) Drives to Masonville to deliver legal papers for her father, then takes the River Road home and is caught in a violent storm, seeking shelter in a barn where she meets a mysterious girl. ### [An Interesting Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/iv-an-interesting-story) Visits the Horner sisters during a storm and learns about their story regarding Josiah Crowley's will. ### [V: A Conference](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/v-a-conference) Impatiently awaits the conference with the Horner sisters, determined to help them find the missing will. ### [VI: An Unpleasant Encounter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/vi-an-unpleasant-encounter) Decides to assist the Horner girls but feels stuck; goes shopping on her father's advice; witnesses and intervenes in the department store incident; later overhears the Topham sisters discussing 'the will' in the park. ### [VII: Nancy Turns Sleuth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/vii-nancy-turns-sleuth) Eavesdrops on the Topham sisters, deduces the will may still exist, and decides to investigate further by contacting other relatives. ### [VIII: A Discouraging Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/viii-a-discouraging-day) Visits the Horner sisters, Mathews brothers, and Turner sisters; offers to commission a dress from Grace Horner; feels discouraged by lack of progress. ### [IX: Vital Information](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/ix-vital-information) Finds and cares for Abigail Rowen, learns about the second will. ### [X: Abigail's Disclosure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/x-abigail-s-disclosure) Visits Abigail Rowen, learns about the notebook and clock, devises a plan to use charity tickets to enter the Topham residence. ### [Visiting the Tophams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xi-visiting-the-tophams) Visits the Tophams under the guise of selling charity tickets to learn the whereabouts of the Crowley clock. ### [XII: Following a Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xii-following-a-clue) Devises a plan to go to Moon Lake under the guise of visiting Helen Corning at camp; stops to help the Horner sisters; changes a flat tire en route; joins a launch ride to locate the Topham bungalow. ### [An Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xiii-an-adventure) Determined to visit the Topham cottage, Nancy takes the launch alone, struggles with the engine, and is stranded for hours before finally restarting it. ### [An Exciting Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xiv-an-exciting-discovery) Leaves camp to investigate the Topham bungalow, discovers it has been robbed. ### [XV: A Desperate Situation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xv-a-desperate-situation) Nancy hides in a closet to avoid detection by the robber gang, is discovered after sneezing, and is captured and locked in the closet. ### [Left to Starve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xvi-left-to-starve) Locked in a closet, she struggles to escape using a hairpin and a wooden rod, and is finally discovered by Jeff Tucker. ### [XVII: Jeff Tucker’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xvii-jeff-tucker-s-story) Freed from the closet, she interrogates Jeff about the robbery and the Crowley clock, then hurries him to report the crime. ### [Notifying the Police](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xviii-notifying-the-police) Drives at high speed to Melbourne, reports the robbery, leads the police chase, and independently investigates a roadhouse where she discovers the robbers. ### [XIX: A Risky Undertaking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xix-a-risky-undertaking) Takes a risky solo mission to recover the Crowley clock from the robbers' van. ### [XX: What Nancy Found](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xx-what-nancy-found) Hides from robbers, retrieves the clock, and discovers the notebook. ### [Capturing the Robbers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xxi-capturing-the-robbers) Finds the notebook, pursues the robbers, and identifies the leader to the marshal. ### [XXII: What the Notebook Revealed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xxii-what-the-notebook-revealed) Returns home with the Crowley clock, discovers the notebook, and plans to retrieve the will. ### [Looking for the Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xxiii-looking-for-the-will) Oversleeps, retrieves the Crowley notebook, and accompanies her father to the bank to find the will. ### [The Coup de Grâce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xxiv-the-coup-de-gr-ce) Excitedly awaits the reading of the will; is praised by the relatives for her role in finding the will and capturing the robbers; hints she will ask for a specific reward. ### [A Reward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xxv-a-reward) Visits the Horner sisters and requests the Crowley clock as a reward. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/nancy_drew - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters