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{{short description|Fictional character in a juvenile mystery series}}
{{About|the fictional character|the main book series|Nancy Drew Mystery Stories{{!}}''Nancy Drew Mystery Stories''|the films|Nancy Drew (2002 film){{!}}''Nancy Drew'' (2002 film)|and|Nancy Drew (2007 film){{!}}''Nancy Drew'' (2007 film)|the television series|Nancy Drew (2019 TV series){{!}}''Nancy Drew'' (2019 TV series)}}
{{Infobox character
| image = File:The Secret of the Old Clock (1930) cover art, 1953 printing (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 220
| caption = Cover of the 1953 version of ''[[The Secret of the Old Clock]]'', the first Nancy Drew mystery
| first = ''[[The Secret of the Old Clock]]'' (1930)
| creator = [[Edward Stratemeyer]]
| portrayer = {{plainlist|
* [[Bonita Granville]] <small>(1938–1939 films)</small>
* [[Pamela Sue Martin]] <small>([[The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries|1977 TV series]])</small>
* [[Janet Louise Johnson]] <small>([[The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries|1977 TV series]])</small>
* [[Tracy Ryan (actress)|Tracy Ryan]] <small>(1995 TV series)</small>
* [[Maggie Lawson]] <small>([[Nancy Drew (2002 film)|2002 TV film]])</small>
* [[Emma Roberts]] <small>([[Nancy Drew (2007 film)|2007 film]])</small>
* [[Sophia Lillis]] <small>([[Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019 film)|2019 film]])</small>
* [[Kennedy McMann]] <small>([[Nancy Drew (2019 TV series)|2019 TV series]])</small>
}}
| voice = {{plainlist|
* [[Lani Minella]]
* Claire Boynton
* Brittany Cox
}}
| occupation = Detective
| family = Carson Drew (father)
| nationality = American
}}

'''Nancy Drew''' is a fictional character appearing in several mystery book series, movies, video games, and TV shows as a teenage amateur sleuth. The books are [[ghostwriter|ghostwritten]] by a number of authors and published under the collective pseudonym [[Carolyn Keene]].<ref>Peters (2007), 542.</ref> Created by [[Edward Stratemeyer]], the founder of the [[book packager|book-packaging]] firm [[Stratemeyer Syndicate]], as the female counterpart to his [[Hardy Boys]] series, the character first appeared in 1930 in the ''[[Nancy Drew Mystery Stories]]'' series, which lasted until 2003 and consisted of 175 novels. Over the decades, the character has evolved in response to changes in American culture and tastes. Beginning in 1959, the books were extensively revised and shortened, partly to lower the printing costs,<ref name="rehak-243">Rehak (2006), 243.</ref> with arguable success.<ref>Nash (2006), 55.</ref><ref name="rehak-248">Rehak (2006), 248.</ref> In the revision process, the heroine's original character was changed to be less unruly and violent.<ref name="Lapin">Lapin (1989).</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nancy Drew Revealed |url=https://www.nancydrewsleuth.com/ndrevealed.html |access-date=11 August 2025 |website=Nancy Drew Sleuth}}</ref> In the 1980s, an older and more professional Nancy emerged in a new series, ''[[The Nancy Drew Files]]'', that included romantic subplots for the sleuth.<ref name="leighbrown-1d">Leigh Brown (1993), 1D.</ref> Launched in 2004, the ''[[Nancy Drew: Girl Detective]]'' series features Nancy driving a [[hybrid electric vehicle]] and using a cell phone. In 2012, the ''Girl Detective'' series ended, and a new series, ''Nancy Drew Diaries'', was launched in 2013. Illustrations of the character evolved over time to reflect contemporary styles.<ref name="Stowe">Stowe (1999).</ref>

The ''Nancy Drew'' franchise has been adapted into other forms of media with varied success. As of April 2020, the character has been adapted into six feature films, three television series, four television pilots, 34 video games produced by the brand [[HeR Interactive]], and two comic-book series. Film and television adaptations of the character have been met with mixed reviews, and the video games by HeR Interactive have often been lauded. The character proves continuously popular worldwide; at least 80&nbsp;million copies of the books have been sold,<ref>Inness (1997), 79.</ref> and the books have been translated into over 45 languages.

A [[cultural icon]], Nancy Drew is cited as a formative influence by several women, from [[Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court Justices]] [[Sandra Day O'Connor]]<ref>McFeatters (2005), 36.</ref> and [[Sonia Sotomayor]] to former [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary Rodham Clinton]]<ref name="Burrell">Burrell (2007).</ref> and former [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] [[Laura Bush]].<ref>Argetsinger and Roberts (2007), C03.</ref> [[Feminist literary criticism|Feminist literary critics]] have analyzed the character's enduring appeal, arguing variously that Nancy Drew is a mythic heroine, an expression of [[wish fulfillment]],<ref>Sherrie A. Inness writes that in "many respects, Nancy Drew exists as a wish fulfillment." See Inness (1997), 175.</ref> or an embodiment of contradictory ideas about femininity.<ref>Chamberlain (1994).</ref>

== Characteristics ==
Nancy Drew is a fictional amateur detective. She is originally depicted as a blonde-haired and blue-eyed 16-year-old high school graduate, but in later editions is rewritten as a [[Titian hair|titian-haired]] and blue-eyed 18-year-old graduate and detective. In the series, she lives in the fictional town of River Heights<ref>Fisher (2004), 71.</ref> with her father, attorney Carson Drew, and their housekeeper, Hannah Gruen.<ref>Macleod (1995), 31.</ref> Carson is very successful in his job, and is often called away on business for days or even weeks at a time, leaving Nancy on her own—and when this happens, he is always shown to have complete faith and trust in Nancy's ability to look after herself, and to solve mysteries. Nancy for her part is very proud of her father and his work, and is unshakable in her respect and admiration for him. She loses her mother at the age of ten in the original versions and at the age of three in the later version. This loss is reflected in her early independence—running a household since the age of ten with Hannah clearly identified as a servant in the earlier series, who is however later referred to as a surrogate parent. As a teenager, she spends her time solving mysteries; some she stumbles upon, and some begin as cases of her father's.

In the opening volumes, Nancy's closest friend is the somewhat flighty but fun-loving Helen Corning, but this character is quickly supplanted by the fifth book by her two long-term closest friends, cousins Elizabeth "Bess" Marvin and [[George Fayne]]. Bess is delicate and feminine, while George is a tomboy. The two are very much opposites, although both are both loyal and devoted friends of Nancy, and usually end up assisting her in the solving of whatever mystery is at hand—Bess much more so than Helen, who is only glimpsed very, very occasionally in later volumes. Nancy is also occasionally joined by her boyfriend [[Ned Nickerson]], a student at [[Emerson College]], who is introduced in the seventh book.

Nancy is often described as a super girl. In the words of [[Bobbie Ann Mason]], she is "as immaculate and self-possessed as a [[Miss America]] on tour. She is as cool as a Rock Star and as sweet as [[Betty Crocker]]."<ref name="mason-50">Mason (1995), 50.</ref> Nancy is well-off, attractive, and amazingly talented:

{{blockquote|At sixteen, she 'had studied psychology after and in school, and was familiar with the power of suggestion and association.' Nancy was a fine painter, spoke French, and had frequently run motorboats. She was a skilled driver who, at sixteen, 'flashed into the garage with a skill born of long practice.' The prodigy was a sure shot, an excellent swimmer, a skillful oarsman, an expert seamstress, a gourmet cook, and a fine bridge player. Nancy brilliantly played tennis and golf and rode like a cowboy. Nancy danced like [[Ginger Rogers]] and could administer first aid like the [[Mayo clinic|Mayo]] brothers.<ref>Jones (1973), 708.</ref>}}

Nancy never lacks money, and in later volumes of the series often travels to faraway locations, such as France in ''[[The Mystery of the 99 Steps]]'' (1966), [[Lima]] in ''[[The Clue in the Crossword Cipher]]'' (1967), [[Nairobi]] in ''[[The Spider Sapphire Mystery]]'' (1968), [[Istanbul]] in "[[The Mysterious Mannequin]]" (1970), Austria in ''[[Captive Witness]]'' (1981), Japan in ''[[The Runaway Bride (Nancy Drew)|The Runaway Bride]]'' (1994), Costa Rica in ''Scarlet Macaw Scandal'' (2004), and [[Alaska]] in ''Curse of The Arctic Star'' (2013). Nancy is also able to travel freely about the United States, thanks in part to her car, which is a blue [[Roadster (automobile)|roadster]] in the original series and a blue [[Convertible (car)|convertible]] in the later books.<ref>Inness (1997), 91.</ref> Despite the trouble and presumed expense to which she goes to solve mysteries, Nancy never accepts monetary compensation; however, by implication, her expenses are often paid by a client of her father's as part of the costs of solving one of his cases.<ref>Keene (1961), 198.</ref>

The character of Nancy Drew has gone through many permutations over the years. The Nancy Drew mystery series was revised beginning in 1959,<ref>Dyer and Romanov (1995), 194.</ref> with commentators agreeing that Nancy's character changed significantly from the original Nancy of the books written in the 1930s and 1940s.<ref>See, for example, Betsy Caprio, Geoffrey Lapin, Karen Plunkett-Powell, and Melanie Rehak.</ref> Observers also often see a difference between the Nancy Drew of the original series, the Nancy of ''The Nancy Drew Files'', and the Nancy of ''[[Girl Detective]]'' series.<ref>See, for example, [[Maureen Corrigan]], Catherine Foster.</ref> Nevertheless, some find no significant difference among the permutations of Nancy Drew, finding Nancy to be simply a good [[role model]] for girls.<ref>See, for example, Gerstel (2007), Kismaric & Heiferman (2007), and Plunkett-Powell (1993).</ref>

Despite revisions, "What hasn't changed, however, are [Nancy's] basic values, her goals, her humility, and her magical gift for having at least nine lives. For more than six decades, her essence has remained intact."<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 55.</ref> Nancy is a "teen detective queen" who "offers girl readers something more than action-packed adventure: she gives them something original. Convention has it that girls are passive, respectful, and emotional, but with the energy of a girl shot out of a cannon, Nancy bends conventions and acts out every girl's fantasies of power."<ref>Kismaric & Heiferman (2007), 8.</ref>

Other commentators see Nancy as "a paradox—which may be why feminists can laud her as a formative 'girl power' icon and conservatives can love her well-scrubbed middle-class values."<ref>O'Rourke (2004).</ref>

== Creation ==
[[File:Stratemeyerposing.jpg|thumb|Edward Stratemeyer conceived the character and wrote plot outlines but hired [[Mildred Benson|Mildred Wirt Benson]] to ghostwrite the first volumes in the series under the pseudonym [[Carolyn Keene]].]]
The character was conceived by [[Edward Stratemeyer]], founder of the [[Stratemeyer Syndicate]]. In 1926, Stratemeyer created the [[The Hardy Boys|Hardy Boys]] series (although the first volumes were not published until 1927), which was such a success that he decided on a similar series for girls, featuring an amateur girl detective as the heroine. While Stratemeyer believed that a woman's place was in the home,<ref>Johnson (1982), xxvi.</ref> he was aware that the Hardy Boys books were popular with girl readers and wished to capitalize on girls' interest in mysteries by offering a strong female heroine.<ref>Johnson (1993), 12.</ref>

Stratemeyer initially pitched the new series to Hardy Boys publishers [[Grosset & Dunlap]] as the "Stella Strong Stories," adding that "they might also be called 'Diana Drew Stories,' 'Diana Dare Stories,' 'Nan Nelson Stories,' 'Nan Drew Stories,' or 'Helen Hale Stories.'"<ref>Rehak (2006), 113–14.</ref> Editors at Grosset & Dunlap preferred "Nan Drew" of these options, but decided to lengthen "Nan" to "Nancy".<ref>Rehak (2006), 113.</ref> Stratemeyer accordingly began writing plot outlines and hired [[Mildred Benson|Mildred Wirt]], later Mildred Wirt Benson, to [[Ghostwriter|ghostwrite]] the first volumes in the series under the pseudonym [[Carolyn Keene]].<ref>Carpan (2008), 50.</ref> Subsequent titles have been written by several ghostwriters under the same [[pseudonym]].

The first four titles were published in 1930 and were an immediate success. Exact sales figures are not available for the years before 1979. Still, an indication of the books' popularity can be seen in a letter that Laura Harris, a Grosset and Dunlap editor, wrote to the Syndicate in 1931: "Can you let us have the manuscript as soon as possible, and no later than July 10? There will only be three or four titles brought out then, and Nancy Drew is one of the most important."<ref>Quoted in Rehak (2006), 121.</ref>

The 6,000 copies that [[Macy's]] ordered for the 1933 Christmas season sold out within days.<ref>Kismaric and Heiferman (2007), 27.</ref> In 1934, [[Fortune (magazine)|'' Fortune'']] featured the Syndicate in a cover story and singled Nancy Drew out for particular attention: "Nancy is the greatest phenomenon among all the fifty-centers. She is a best seller. How she crashed a Valhalla that had been rigidly restricted to the male of her species is a mystery even to her publishers."<ref>Quoted in Plunkett-Powell (1993), 18.</ref>

== History ==
=== 1930–1959: Early stories ===
{{Main|Nancy Drew Mystery Stories{{!}}''Nancy Drew Mystery Stories''}}
The earliest Nancy Drew books were published as dark-blue [[hardcover]]s with the titles stamped in orange lettering with dark-blue outlines and no other images on the cover. The [[Cover art|covers]] went through several changes in the early years: leaving the orange lettering with no outline and adding an orange silhouette of Nancy peering through a magnifying glass; then changing to a lighter blue board with dark blue lettering and silhouette; then changing the position of the title and silhouette on the front with black lettering and a more "modern" silhouette.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nancy Drew Mystery Stories |url=http://www.series-books.com/nancydrew/nancydrew.html |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=www.series-books.com}}</ref>

Nancy Drew is depicted as an independent-minded 16-year-old who has already completed her high school education (16 was the minimum age for graduation at the time).{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} While the first four books of the series are noted for their strong continuity and sense of passing seasons and time, it is lost throughout the series with changes like Nancy's hair color being changed to [[Titian hair|titian]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} Her age is changed from 16 to 18 in book 31, ''The Ringmaster's Secret'' (1953), with no in-universe explanation.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} Affluent (her father is a successful lawyer), she maintains an active social, volunteer, and sleuthing schedule, as well as participating in athletics and the arts, but is never shown as working for a living or acquiring job skills.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} Nancy is affected neither by the [[Great Depression]]—although many of the characters in her early cases need assistance as they are poverty-stricken—nor [[World War II]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Nancy lives with her lawyer father, Carson Drew, and their [[Housekeeper (domestic worker)|housekeeper]], Hannah Gruen. Some critics prefer the Nancy of these volumes, largely written by Mildred Benson. Benson is credited with "[breathing]{{nbsp}}... a feisty spirit into Nancy's character."<ref name="Fisher">Fisher, "Nancy Drew, Sleuth."</ref> The original Nancy Drew is sometimes claimed: "to be a lot like [Benson] herself&nbsp;– confident, competent, and totally independent, quite unlike the cardboard character that [Edward] Stratemeyer had outlined."<ref>Kismaric & Heiferman (2007), 24.</ref>

This original Nancy is frequently outspoken and authoritative, so much so that Edward Stratemeyer told Benson that the character was "much too flip, and would never be well received."<ref>Quoted in Plunkett-Powell (1993), 33.</ref><ref>While Benson repeatedly stated in interviews that Stratemeyer used these words to her (Keeline 25), James Keeline states that there is no independent confirmation of this; Stratemeyer's written comments to Benson upon receipt of the manuscript for ''The Secret of the Old Clock'' contain no such criticism (Keeline 26).</ref> The editors at [[Grosset & Dunlap]] disagreed,<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 33.</ref> but Benson also faced criticism from her next Stratemeyer Syndicate editor, [[Harriet Adams]], who felt that Benson should make Nancy's character more "sympathetic, kind-hearted and lovable." In Benson's words, Adams repeatedly asked Benson to "make the sleuth less bold{{nbsp}}... 'Nancy said' became 'Nancy said sweetly,' 'she said kindly,' and the like, all designed to produce a less abrasive, more caring character."<ref>Quoted in Kismaric and Heiferman (2007), 28.</ref> Many readers and commentators, however, admire Nancy's original outspoken character.<ref>See, for example, Kismaric & Heiferman (2007), Lapin (1986), and Fisher.</ref>

A prominent critic of the Nancy Drew character, at least the Nancy of these early Nancy Drew stories,<ref>. At the same time, Mason's book was originally published in 1975 after the Drew books began to be revised and rewritten; Mason cites the unrevised volumes almost exclusively.</ref> is mystery writer [[Bobbie Ann Mason]]. Mason contends that Nancy owes her popularity largely to "the appeal of her high-class advantages."<ref>Mason (1995), 49.</ref> Mason also criticizes the series for its racism and classism,<ref>Mason (1995), 69–71.</ref> arguing that Nancy is the upper-class [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant|WASP]] defender of a "fading aristocracy, threatened by the restless lower classes."<ref>Mason (1995), 73.</ref> Mason further contends that the "most appealing elements of these daredevil girl sleuth adventure books are (secretly) of this kind: tea and fancy cakes, romantic settings, food eaten in quaint places (never a [[Howard Johnson's|Ho-Jo's]]), delicious pauses that refresh, old-fashioned picnics in the woods, precious jewels, and heirlooms{{nbsp}}... The word dainty is a subversive affirmation of a feminized universe."<ref name="mason-60">Mason (1995), 60.</ref> At the bottom, says Mason, the character of Nancy Drew is that of a girl who can be "perfect" because she is "free, white, and sixteen"<ref name="mason-50" /> and whose "stories seem to satisfy two standards&nbsp;– adventure and domesticity. But adventure is the superstructure, domesticity the bedrock."<ref name="mason-60" />

Others argue that "Nancy, despite her traditionally feminine attributes, such as good looks, a variety of clothes for all social occasions, and an awareness of good housekeeping, is often praised for her seemingly masculine traits{{nbsp}}... she operates best independently, has the freedom and money to do as she pleases, and outside of a telephone call or two home, seems to live for solving mysteries rather than participating in family life."<ref>Parry (1997), 148.</ref>

=== 1959–1985: Continuation of ''Mystery Stories,'' revisions at Grosset & Dunlap ===
At the insistence of publishers [[Grosset & Dunlap]], the Nancy Drew books were revised in 1959 to make them more modern and eliminate [[Ethnic stereotype|racist stereotypes]].<ref>Carpan (2008), 15.</ref> Although Harriet Adams felt that these changes were unnecessary, she oversaw a complete overhaul of the series, as well as writing new volumes in keeping with the new guidelines laid down by Grosset & Dunlap.<ref name="rehak-243" />

The series did not so much eliminate racial stereotypes, however, as eliminate non-white characters.<ref name="rehak-248" /> For example, in the original version of ''[[The Hidden Window Mystery]]'' (1956), Nancy visits friends in the [[Southern United States|South]] whose [[African-American]] servant, "lovable old Beulah{{nbsp}}... serves squabs, sweet potatoes, corn pudding, piping hot biscuits, and strawberry shortcake."<ref name="mason-70">Mason (1995), 70.</ref> The house mistress waits until Beulah has left the room and then says to Nancy, "I try to make things easier for Beulah, but she insists on cooking and serving everything the old-fashioned way. I must confess, though, that I love it."<ref>Keene (1956), 64. Quoted in Mason (1995), 70.</ref> In the revised 1975 version, Beulah is changed to Anna, a "plump, smiling housekeeper".<ref>Keene (1975), 35.</ref>

Many other changes were relatively minor. The new books were bound in yellow with color illustrations on the front covers. Nancy's age was raised from 16 to 18, her mother was said to have died when Nancy was three, rather than ten, and other small changes were made.<ref name="Fisher" /> Housekeeper Hannah Gruen, sent off to the kitchen in early stories, became less a servant and more a mother surrogate.<ref>Kismaric and Heiferman (2007), 94.</ref>

Critics saw this Nancy of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s as an improvement in some ways, a step back in others: "In these new editions, an array of elements had been modified{{nbsp}}... and most of the more overt elements of racism had been excised. In an often overlooked alteration, however, the tomboyish nature of the text's title character was also tamed."<ref>Abate (2008), 167.</ref> Nancy becomes much more respectful of male authority figures in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, leading some to claim that the revised Nancy becomes too agreeable and less distinctive, writing of her, "In the revised books, Nancy is relentlessly upbeat, puts up with her father's increasingly protective tendencies, and, when asked if she goes to church in the 1969 ''[[The Clue of the Tapping Heels]]'', replies, 'As often as I can."<ref>Kismaric & Heiferman (2007), 113–14.</ref>

Harriet Adams continued to oversee the series until she died in 1982. After her death, Adams' protégés, Nancy Axelrad and Lilo Wuenn, and her three children oversaw the Nancy Drew books and other Stratemeyer Syndicate series production. In 1985, the five sold the Syndicate and all rights to [[Simon & Schuster]]. Simon & Schuster turned to book packager Mega-Books for new writers.<ref name="plunkett-29" /> These books{{Which|date=March 2024}} continued to have the characters solve mysteries in the present day while still containing the same basic formula and style of the books during the Syndicate.{{Original research inline|date=March 2024}}

=== 1986–1997: ''Files'', ''Super Mystery'', and ''On Campus'' ===
{{main|The Nancy Drew Files{{!}}''The Nancy Drew Files''|Super Mystery{{!}}''Super Mystery''|Nancy Drew on Campus{{!}}''Nancy Drew on Campus''}}
[[File:Ndharh.jpg|thumb|''The Nancy Drew Files'' showcased a more mature character version and romance elements, as seen on the cover of ''Hit and Run Holiday'' (1986). Here, Nancy is in swimwear, in proximity to an attractive young man rather than a clue.|upright]]
In 1985, as the sale of the Stratemeyer Syndicate to Simon & Schuster was finalized, Simon & Schuster wanted to launch a spin-off series that focused on more mature mysteries and incorporated [[Romance novel|romance]] into the stories. To test whether this would work, the final two novels before the sale, ''The Bluebeard Room'' and ''The Phantom of Venice'', were used as [[backdoor pilots]] for the new series.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

The books read are drastically different from the preceding novels of the past 55 years. For example, ''The Phantom of Venice'' (1985) opens with Nancy wondering in italics, "''Am I or am I not in love with Ned Nickerson?''"<ref>Keene (1985), 1.</ref> Nancy begins dating other young men and acknowledges sexual desires: "'I saw [you kissing him]{{nbsp}}... You don't have to apologize to me if some guy turns you on.' 'Gianni ''doesn't'' turn me on!{{nbsp}}... Won't you please let me explain.'"<ref>Keene (1985), 111–12. Cited by Shangraw Fox.</ref>

The next year, Simon & Schuster launched the first Nancy Drew spin-off, titled ''The Nancy Drew Files''. However, after the above-mentioned two Mystery Stories books, as implied in ''The Double Horror of Fenley Place'', Nancy appears to be dating Ned again and the series continues without any reference to Nancy dating other guys in ''The Bluebeard Room'' or in ''The Phantom of Venice''.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

The Nancy Drew character in the ''Files'' series has earned mixed reviews among fans. Some, including [[sex-positive feminists]], contend that Nancy's character becomes "more like Mildred Wirt Benson's original heroine than any [version] since 1956."<ref>Caprio (1992), 27.</ref> Others criticize the series for its increasing incorporation of romance and "[dilution] of pre-feminist [[wikt:moxie|moxie]]."<ref>Torrance (2007), D01.</ref>

One reviewer noticed, "Millie [Mildred Wirt Benson] purists tend to look askance upon the ''Files'' series, in which fleeting pecks bestowed on Nancy by her longtime steady, Ned Nickerson, give way to lingering embraces in a Jacuzzi."<ref name="leighbrown-1d" /> Cover art for ''Files'' titles, such as ''Hit and Run Holiday'' (1986), reflects these changes; Nancy is often dressed provocatively, in short skirts, shirts that reveal her stomach or cleavage, or a bathing suit. She is often pictured with an attentive, handsome boy in the background and frequently appears aware of and interested in that boy.{{Original research inline|date=March 2024}}

The books emphasize character relationships, with Nancy Drew and Ned Nickerson becoming more of an on-off couple and having other love interests that span multiple books. However, at the end of the last book in the series, statements imply that Nancy keeps dating Ned. The end of the book ''Murder on Ice'' strongly implies that Nancy and Ned engage in [[sexual intercourse]] (at the very least, they go into a Jacuzzi together).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Keene |first1=Carolyn |title=Murder on Ice |date=21 January 2014 |publisher=Collins |isbn=9781481414470 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nWxvAAAAQBAJ&q=jacuzzi}}</ref> Nancy also becomes more vulnerable, being often [[chloroform]]ed into unconsciousness, or defenseless against [[chokehold]]s.<ref>Foster (1986), 31.</ref>

Furthermore, the minor thefts of the original books are replaced by murders and murder attempts, and Nancy is frequently in mortal danger. In an extreme example, in the book ''Deadly Doubles'', the fate of an entire nation and millions of lives are at stake, a character is tortured and strangled off-screen, and Nancy and her allies are nearly killed on five separate occasions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Keene |first1=Carolyn |title=Deadly Doubles |date=11 February 2014 |publisher=Collins |isbn=9781481414517 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2cBRAQAAQBAJ}}</ref>

The ''Files'' also launched its spin-off. A crossover spin-off series with ''The Hardy Boys'', titled the ''[[Super Mystery]]'' series, began in 1988.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} These books were in continuity with the similar ''Hardy Boys'' spin-off, ''[[List of Hardy Boys books#The Hardy Boys Casefiles (1987–1998)|The Hardy Boys Casefiles]]''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

In 1995, Nancy Drew finally goes to college in the ''[[Nancy Drew on Campus]]'' series. These books read more similar to soap opera books, such as the ''[[Sweet Valley High]]'' series.{{Original research inline|date=March 2024}} The ''On Campus'' books focus more on romance plots and also center around other characters; the mysteries are merely used as subplots.{{Original research inline|date=March 2024}}

By reader request, Nancy broke off her long-term relationship with boyfriend Ned Nickerson in the second volume of the series, ''On Her Own'' (1995).<ref name="Fisher" /><ref>Drew (1997), 185.</ref> Similar to the ''Files'' series, reception for the ''On Campus'' series was also mixed, with some critics viewing the inclusion of adult themes such as [[date rape]] as "unsuccessful".<ref>{{cite book|last= Mitchell |first=Claudia|title=Girl Culture: Studying girl culture : a readers' guide|year=2007|publisher= Greenwood |isbn=978-0-31333909-7|page =450|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=arQy0v_PBx4C&pg=PA450}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Nancy Drew is updated – and dated|url= http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AK&s_site=ohio&p_multi=AK&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EE780A8128CB7B9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date= 3 February 2013|newspaper= Akron Beacon Journal|date= September 21, 1995|archive-date= 7 March 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160307042736/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AK&s_site=ohio&p_multi=AK&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EE780A8128CB7B9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status= dead}}</ref> Carolyn Carpan commented that the series was "more soap opera romance than mystery" and that Nancy "comes across as dumb, missing easy clues she wouldn't have missed in previous series".<ref>{{cite book |last=Carpan|first= Carolyn|title= Sisters, Schoolgirls, and Sleuths|year= 2009 |publisher= Scarecrow Press|isbn= 978-0-81086395-8 |pages= 135–36|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8kdbbiIqVbsC&pg=PA136}}</ref> The series was also criticized for focusing more on romance than on grades or studying, with one critic stating that the series resembled collegiate academic studying in the 1950s, where "women were more interested in pursuing{{nbsp}}... the [[MRS Degree|'MRS' degree]]."<ref>{{cite book |last= Johnson |first= Naomi |title= Consuming Desires: A Feminist Analysis of Bestselling Teen Romance Novels |year= 2008 |publisher= University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |isbn= 978-0-54932477-5 |page= 18 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=DB01qubusloC&pg=PA19 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 1997, Simon & Schuster announced a mass cancellation of ''Nancy Drew'' and ''Hardy Boys'' spin-offs, except for younger children.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} The ''Files'' series ran until the end of 1997, while both the ''Super Mystery'' and ''On Campus'' series ran until the beginning of 1998.{{Original research inline|date=March 2024}}

=== 2003–2012: ''Girl Detective'' and graphic novels ===
{{Main|Nancy Drew: Girl Detective{{!}}''Nancy Drew: Girl Detective''}}
In 2003, publishers Simon & Schuster ended the original Nancy Drew series and began featuring Nancy's character in a new mystery series, ''Girl Detective''. The Nancy Drew of the ''Girl Detective'' series drives a [[Hybrid vehicle|hybrid car]], uses a mobile phone, and recounts her mysteries in the [[First-person narrative|first person]]. Since the series is set in the 21st century, several technologies and pop-culture references exist. Many{{Who|date=March 2024}} applaud these changes, arguing that Nancy has not changed at all other than learning to use a cell phone.<ref>Springen and Meadows(2005).</ref> Others{{Who|date=March 2024}} praise the series as more realistic; Nancy, these commentators argue, is now a less perfect and therefore more likable being, one whom girls can more easily relate to&nbsp;– a better role model than the old Nancy because she can be emulated, rather than a "prissy automaton of perfection." (This is more a description of the Nancy of the 1959 revision, rather than the ‘unruly’ original).<ref>Benfer (2004), A15.</ref>

Some, mostly fans, vociferously lament the changes, seeing Nancy as a silly, air-headed girl whose trivial adventures (such as discovering who squished the zucchini in 2004's ''Without a Trace'') "hold a shallow mirror to a pre-teen's world."<ref>Corrigan (2004).</ref> Leona Fisher is typical of these, trying to argue that the new series portrays an increasingly white River Heights, partially because "the clumsy first-person narrative voice makes it nearly impossible to interlace external authorial attitudes into the discourse," while it continues and worsens "the implicitly xenophobic cultural representations of racial, ethnic, and linguistic others" by introducing what she calls gratuitous speculations on characters' national and ethnic origins. There is more of this sort of thing.<ref>Fisher, Leona (2008), 73.</ref>

The character is also the heroine of a series of graphic novels, begun in 2005 and produced by Papercutz. The graphic novels are written by [[Stefan Petrucha]] and illustrated in [[manga]]-style artwork by Sho Murase. The character's graphic novel incarnation has been described as "a fun, sassy, modern-day teen who is still hot on the heels of criminals."<ref>"Sleuths Go Graphic" (2008).</ref>

When the 2007 film was released, a non-canon novelization of the movie was written to look like the older books. A new book was written for each of the ''Girl Detective'' and ''Clue Crew'' series, which deal with a mystery on a movie set. In 2008, the ''Girl Detective'' series was re-branded into trilogies with a model on the cover. These mysteries became deeper, with the mystery often spread across three books and multiple culprits. These trilogies also met with negative fan reception due to Nancy's constant mistakes, the shortness of the books, and the lack of action.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} With the new trilogy format, sales began slipping.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} In 2010, Simon & Schuster cut back from six to four ''Nancy Drew'' books per year.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} In December 2011, they announced that the series was canceled along with the Hardy Boys ''[[Undercover Brothers]]''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

=== 2013–present: ''Diaries'' ===
{{Expand section|date=November 2017}}
With the cancellation of the ''Girl Detective'' series, the ''Nancy Drew Diaries'' started in 2013. The series is described as "a classic Nancy Drew with her modern twist", following Nancy, with her friends Bess and George, solving both violent and nonviolent crimes.<ref>{{Cite book |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Nancy Drew Diaries |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/series/Nancy-Drew-Diaries |access-date=August 15, 2023 }}</ref> The series is similar to the ''Nancy Drew Girl Detective'' series, continuing the first person narration, references to modern pop culture and technology, and featuring stories with themes of environmentalism. However, this series is more targeted to readers aged 8–12 with noticeable changes. This iteration of Nancy does not navigate the world of adults like previous versions of the character. She is more looked down upon by adults and has to prove herself capable of handling a mystery. This series always includes her friends. The mysteries tend to be notes thrilling since the series is made for children 8-11 years old, but certain books are indeed similar to the original Nancy Drew series.

As of 2025, there are 26 books in the series plus one holiday special published in 2018 that also features The Hardy Boys.<ref name="ND Christmas">{{Cite book |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Nancy-Drew-Christmas/Carolyn-Keene/Nancy-Drew-Diaries/9781534431638 |title=A Nancy Drew Christmas |date=2020-10-20 |isbn=978-1-5344-3163-8 |language=en |last1=Keene |first1=Carolyn |publisher=Simon and Schuster }}</ref> This is the first series to be available in three different formats: paperback, hardcover (with dust jacket), and eBooks.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

== Ghostwriters ==
Consistent with other Stratemeyer Syndicate properties, the Nancy Drew novels were written by various writers, all under the [[pen name]] Carolyn Keene.<ref name="SS1">{{cite web| last=Andrews|first=Dale| title=The Hardy Boys Mystery | url=http://www.sleuthsayers.org/2013/08/the-hardy-boys-mystery_27.html |work=Children's books |publisher=SleuthSayers| location=Washington| date=2013-08-27}}</ref> Following the customs of Stratemeyer Syndicate series production, ghostwriters for the Syndicate signed contracts that have sometimes been interpreted as requiring authors to sign away all rights to authorship or future royalties.<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 24.</ref> Contracts stated that authors could not use their Stratemeyer Syndicate pseudonyms independently of the Syndicate.<ref>Keeline (2008), 21.</ref> In the early days of the Syndicate, ghostwriters were paid a fee of $125, "roughly equivalent to two months' wages for a typical newspaper reporter, the primary day job of the syndicate ghosts."<ref>Keeline (2008), 22.</ref>

During the [[Great Depression]], this fee was lowered to $100 and eventually $75.<ref>Rehak (2006), 149.</ref> All royalties went to the Syndicate, and all correspondence with the publisher was handled through a Syndicate office. The Syndicate was able to enlist the cooperation of libraries in hiding the ghostwriters' names; when [[Walter Karig]], who wrote volumes eight through ten of the original ''[[Nancy Drew Mystery Stories]]'', tried to claim rights with the [[Library of Congress]] in 1933, the Syndicate instructed the Library of Congress not to reveal the names of any Nancy Drew authors, a move with which the Library of Congress complied.<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 26–27.</ref>

The Syndicate's process for creating the Nancy Drew books consisted of creating a detailed plot outline, drafting a manuscript, and editing the manuscript. Edward Stratemeyer and his daughters [[Harriet Adams]] and Edna Stratemeyer Squier wrote most of the outlines for the original Nancy Drew series until 1979. Volume 30, ''[[The Clue of the Velvet Mask]]'' (1953), was outlined by [[Andrew Svenson]]. Usually, other writers wrote the manuscripts. Most of the early volumes were written by [[Mildred Benson|Mildred Wirt Benson]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mildred Augustine Wirt Benson Papers |url=http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa/findingaids/html/BensonMildred.htm |work=Iowa Women's Archives |publisher=University of Iowa Libraries |access-date=27 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510065205/http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa/findingaids/html/BensonMildred.htm |archive-date=10 May 2013 }}</ref> Other volumes were written by [[Walter Karig]], [[George Waller, Jr.]], [[Margaret Scherf]], [[Wilhelmina Rankin]], [[Alma Sasse]], [[Charles S. Strong]], [[Iris Vinton]],<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 39.</ref> and [[Patricia Doll]].

Later titles were penned by [[Nancy Axelrad]], [[Sharon Wagner]], and [[James Duncan Lawrence (author)|James Duncan Lawrence]], and according to ''[[Book Riot]]'', [[Carol Gorman]], [[Ellen Steiber]], and [[Alison Hart Edward]] "each wrote several Nancy Drews in the 1980s and '90s."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Annika Barranti |date=2019-10-24 |title=Carolyn Keene and the Mystery of the Real Nancy Drew Author |url=https://bookriot.com/real-nancy-drew-author/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=BOOK RIOT |language=en-US}}</ref> Stratemeyer edited the first three volumes, and Harriet Adams edited most subsequent volumes until she died in 1982. In 1959, the earlier titles were revised, largely by Adams.<ref>Rehak (2006), 245.</ref> From the late 1950s until she died in 1982, Adams herself wrote the manuscripts for most of the books.<ref>Farah (2005), 431–521; Rehak (2006), 249.</ref>

After Adams' death, series production was overseen by Nancy Axelrad (who also wrote several volumes). The rights to the character were sold in 1984, along with the Stratemeyer Syndicate itself, to [[Simon & Schuster]]. [[Book packager]] Mega-Books subsequently hired authors to write the main Nancy Drew series and a new series, ''[[The Nancy Drew Files]]''.<ref name="plunkett-29">Plunkett-Powell (1993), 29.</ref>

=== Legal disputes ===
In 1980, Harriet Adams switched publishers to Simon & Schuster, dissatisfied with the lack of creative control at Grosset & Dunlap and the lack of publicity for the Hardy Boys' 50th anniversary in 1977. Grosset & Dunlap filed suit against the Syndicate and the new publishers, Simon & Schuster, citing "breach of contract, copyright infringement, and unfair competition."<ref>Johnson (1993), 16.</ref>

Adams filed a countersuit, claiming the case was in poor taste and frivolous and that, as the author of the Nancy Drew series, she retained the rights to her work. Although Adams had written many of the titles after 1953 and edited others, she claimed to be the author of all of the early titles. She had rewritten the older titles and was not their original author. When Mildred Benson was called to testify about her work for the Syndicate, Benson's role in writing the manuscripts of early titles was revealed in court with extensive documentation, contradicting Adams' claims to authorship. The court ruled that Grosset had the right to publish the original series as they were in print in 1980 but did not own characters or trademarks. Furthermore, any new publishers chosen by Adams were completely within their rights to print new titles.<ref>Johnson (1993), 17.</ref>

== Illustrations ==
Nancy Drew has been illustrated by many artists over the years, and her look constantly updated. The Stratemeyer Syndicate and the books' publishers have exercised control over how Nancy is depicted.<ref>Rehak (2006), 228.</ref> Some aspects of Nancy's portrayal have remained relatively constant through the decades. Her most characteristic physical depiction is that she is shown holding a [[flashlight]].<ref name="EW">"The Top 20 Heroes," ''Entertainment Weekly'' 1041 (April 3, 2009): 36.</ref>

=== 1930–1949: Russell H. Tandy ===
Commercial artist [[Russell H. Tandy]] was the first artist to illustrate Nancy Drew. Tandy was a fashion artist and infused Nancy with a contemporary fashion sensibility: her early style is that of a flatfoot [[flapper]]: heeled [[Mary Jane (shoe)|Mary Janes]] accompany her blue flapper skirt suit and [[cloche hat]] on three of the first four-volume [[dust jacket]]s. As styles changed over the next few years, Nancy began to appear in glamorous frocks, with immaculately set hair, pearls, matching hats, gloves, and handbags.<ref>Stowe (1999), 15.</ref> By the 1940s, Nancy wore simpler, tailored suits and outfits; her hair was often arranged in a [[pompadour (hairstyle)|pompadour]].<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 44.</ref> In the post-war era, Tandy's Nancy is shown hatless, wearing casual skirt and blouse ensembles, and carrying a purse, like most teens of the late 1940s.<ref name="Plunkett-Powell 1993, 43–44">Plunkett-Powell (1993), 43–44.</ref>

Tandy drew the inside sketches for the first 26 volumes of the series and painted the covers of the first 26 volumes except for volume 11&nbsp;– the cover artist for volume 11 is unknown. Tandy read each text before sketching, so his early covers were closely connected to specific plot scenes. He also hand-painted the cover lettering and designed the original Nancy Drew logo: a silhouette of Nancy bending slightly and looking at the ground through a [[magnifying glass]].<ref name= "Plunkett-Powell 1993, 43–44"/>

Tandy often portrays Nancy Drew with confident, assertive body language. She never appears "shocked, trepidatious, or scared."<ref>Stowe (1999), 26.</ref> Nancy is shown either boldly in the center of the action or actively, but secretively, investigating a clue.<ref>Stowe (1999), 28.</ref> She is often observed by a menacing figure and appears to be in imminent danger, but her confident expression suggests to viewers that she is in control of the situation.<ref name= "Stowe-32">Stowe (1999), 32.</ref>

Tandy's home was struck by fire in 1962, and most of his original paintings and sketches were destroyed. As a result, the Tandy dust-jackets are considered valuable by collectors.<ref name= "plunkett-46">Plunkett-Powell (1993), 46.</ref>

=== 1950–1952: Bill Gillies ===
Beginning with Tandy in 1948 and continuing into the early 1950s, Nancy's appearance was updated to follow the prevailing styles. In postwar opulence, a trend emerged for young adults to have their casual style instead of dressing in the same styles as more mature adults, and Nancy became less constrained. Sweater or blouse and skirt ensembles and a [[pageboy]] hairstyle were introduced in 1948 and continued with new artist Bill Gillies. They updated ten covers and illustrated three new jackets from 1950 to 1952. Using Gillies's wife for a model, Nancy reflects the conservative 1950s, with immaculately waved hair and a limited wardrobe&nbsp;– she wears a similar sweater, blouse, and skirt ensembles, in different combinations, on most of these covers. Gillies also designed the modern-era trademark as a spine symbol used for decades: Nancy's head in profile, looking through a quizzing glass.<ref name= "plunkett-46" />

In the later Tandy period (1946&nbsp;– 1949) and throughout the 1950s, Nancy is depicted less frequently in the center of the action. ''The Ghost of Blackwood Hall'' shows an assertive Nancy leading more timid friends up the front steps of the haunted house and marks a transition to later illustrations. From 1949 forward, she is likely to observe others, often hiding or concealing herself.<ref>Stowe (1999), 30.</ref> Her mouth is often open in surprise, and she hides her body from view.<ref>Stowe (1999), 30–31.</ref> Although Nancy "expresses surprise, she is not afraid. She appears to be a bit taken aback by what she sees, but she looks as if she is still in control of the situation."<ref name="Stowe-32" />

Many of these covers feature Nancy poised to observe a clue, spy on criminal activity, or display her discoveries to others involved in the mystery. Only occasionally is she shown in action, such as running from the scene of a fire, riding a horse, or actively sleuthing with a flashlight. At times she is only involved in the action as her hiding place has been discovered by others. In most cases, more active scenes are used for the frontispiece, or in books after 1954, illustrations throughout the text drawn by uncredited illustrators.{{Citation needed |date=September 2020}}

=== 1953–1979: Rudy Nappi ===
[[Rudy Nappi|Joseph Rudolf "Rudy" Nappi]], the artist from 1953 to 1979, illustrated a more average teenager. Nappi was asked by [[Grosset & Dunlap]]'s art director to update Nancy's appearance, especially her wardrobe. Nappi gave Nancy [[Peter Pan collar]]s shirtwaist dresses, a pageboy (later a flip) haircut, and the occasional pair of jeans. Nancy's hair color was changed from blonde to strawberry-blonde, reddish-blonde, or [[Titian hair|titian]] by the end of the decade. The change was long rumored to have resulted from a printing ink error. Still, it was considered so favorable that it was adopted in the text for books published after 1959 and by illustrator Polly Bolian for volumes she created for a special book club in 1959–60.<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 48.</ref>

In 1962, all [[Grosset & Dunlap]] books became "picture covers", books with artwork and advertising printed directly on their covers, as opposed to books with a dust jacket over a tweed volume. The change was to reduce production costs. Several of the 1930s and 1940s cover illustrations were updated by Nappi for this change, depicting a Nancy of the Kennedy era, though the stories themselves were not updated.

Internal illustrations, dropped in 1937, were returned to the books beginning in 1954 as pen and ink [[Line art|line drawings]], mostly by uncredited artists but usually corresponding with Nappi's style of drawing Nancy on the covers.<ref name="Fisher" /> Nappi followed trends initiated by Gillies and often illustrated Nancy wearing the same clothing more than once, including a mustard shirtwaist dress.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=give+you+up&view=detail&mid=4E7B1C0F8E67E9F7B1364E7B1C0F8E67E9F7B136&FORM=VIRE0&ru=/search?q=give+you+up&cvid=9ebb78772b6f48b3ae2a23675efe30cb&aqs=edge.0.69i59j69i57j0l6j69i65.6164j0j1&pglt=43&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=HCTS|title=Give you up - Bing video|website=Bing.com|access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref>

Unlike Tandy, Nappi did not read the books before illustrating them; his wife read them and provided him with a brief plot summary before Nappi began painting.<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 49.</ref> Nappi's first cover was for ''[[The Clue of the Velvet Mask]]'', where he began a trend of portraying Nancy as "[[bobby-soxer]]{{nbsp}}... a contemporary sixteen-year-old. This Nancy was perky, clean-cut, and extremely animated. In the majority of his covers, Nancy looks startled&nbsp;– which, no doubt, she was."<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 47.</ref> Nancy's style is considered conservative and remains so during the [[Psychedelic era|psychedelic period]].

Although she wears bold colors and prints, or the background colors are shades of electric yellow, shocking pink, turquoise, or apple green, her clothing is high-necked and with long hemlines. Earlier Nappi covers show Nancy in poses similar to those in the covers by Tandy and Gillies; for many updated covers, he simply updated the characters' color scheme, clothing style, and hairstyles but retains their original poses in similar settings. Later Nappi covers show only Nancy's head or part of her body, surrounded by spooky or startling elements or clues from the story. These Nappi covers would later be used for the opening credits of the television production, with photos of [[Pamela Sue Martin]] inserted on the book covers.

Often, "Nancy's face wears the blank expression of one lost in thought,"<ref name="stowe-35">Stowe (1999), 35.</ref> making her appear passive.<ref name= "stowe-36">Stowe (1999), 36.</ref> On the cover of ''[[The Strange Message in the Parchment]]'' (1977), for example, in contrast to earlier covers, Nancy "is not shown in the midst of danger or even watching a mystery unfold from a distance. Instead, Nancy is shown thinking about the clues";<ref>Stowe (1999), 33.</ref> in general, Nancy becomes less confident and more puzzled.<ref name="stowe-35" />

=== 1980–2000s: Ruth Sanderson, Paul Frame, and others ===
[[File:Ndtcotvv.jpg|thumb|Nancy is shown in danger on the cover of ''The Case of the Vanishing Veil'' (1988) and other covers from the 1980s. Unlike in earlier covers from the series, she is not completely in control of the situation. |upright]]

[[Ruth Sanderson]] and Paul Frame provided cover art, and interior illustrations for the first Nancy Drew paperbacks published under the Wanderer imprint. Other artists, including Aleta Jenks and others whose names are unknown,<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 52.</ref> provided the cover art, but no interior illustrations, for later paperbacks. Nancy is portrayed as "a wealthy, privileged sleuth who looks pretty and alert{{nbsp}}... The colors, and Nancy's facial features, are often so vivid that some of the covers look more like glossy photographs than paintings."<ref name= "plunkett-51">Plunkett-Powell (1993), 51.</ref>

Nancy is frequently portrayed pursuing a suspect,<ref name="stowe-36" /> examining a clue or observing the action. She is often also shown in peril:<ref>Stowe (1999), 38.</ref> being chased, falling off a boat, or hanging by a rope from rafters. These covers are "characterized by frenetic energy on Nancy's part; whether she is falling, limbs flailing, an alarmed look on her face, or running, hair flying, body bent, face breathless. Nancy does not have any control over the events that are happening in these covers. She is shown to be a victim, being hunted and attacked by unseen foes."<ref>Stowe (1999), 40.</ref> Nancy is sometimes pursued by a visibly threatening foe, as on the cover of ''The Case of the Vanishing Veil'' (1988).

The covers of ''The Nancy Drew Files'' and ''[[Girl Detective]]'' series represent further departures from Tandy's bold, confident character. The Nancy portrayed on the covers of ''The Nancy Drew Files'' is "a markedly sexy Nancy, with a handsome young man always lurking in the background. Her clothes often reveal an ample bustline, and her expression is mischievous."<ref name= "plunkett-51" />

In the ''Girl Detective'' series, Nancy's face is depicted on each cover in fragments. Her eyes, for example, are confined to a strip across the top of the cover, and her mouth is near the spine, in a box, separate from her eyes. The artwork for Nancy's eyes and mouth is taken from Rudy Nappi's cover art for the revised version of ''[[The Secret of the Old Clock]]''.<ref name="Fisher" />

In the ''Diaries'' series, Erin McGuire made all of the cover illustrations. They depict Nancy sleuthing in the book-specific locations, much like the original series. She looks younger, and the art style is more appealing to its target demographic of children. She is always alone on the cover, usually in pursuit of a suspect.{{Original research inline|date=March 2024}}

== Books ==
{{main|List of Nancy Drew books{{!}}List of ''Nancy Drew'' books}}
The longest-running series of books to feature Nancy Drew is the original Nancy Drew series, whose 175 volumes were published from 1930 to 2003. Nancy also appeared in 124 titles in ''The Nancy Drew Files'' and became the heroine of the ''Diaries'' series. Various other series feature the character, such as the ''[[Nancy Drew Notebooks]]'' and ''[[Nancy Drew on Campus]]''. While Nancy Drew is the central character in each series, continuity is preserved only within one series, not between them all; for example, in concurrently published titles in the ''Nancy Drew'' series and the ''Nancy Drew on Campus'' series, Nancy is respectively dating her boyfriend Ned Nickerson and broken up with Ned Nickerson.

The two exceptions are the series ''Super Mystery'' (also called ''A Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery''), which ran concurrently with the ''Files'' and shares continuity with those stories and the then-running ''Hardy Boys Casefiles'', and in 2007, a new ''A Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery'' series shared continuity with the ''Girl Detective'' series. The Hardy Boys also appeared in the special holiday book of the ''Diaries'' series.<ref name="ND Christmas" />

In 2023, the history of the ''Nancy Drew'' franchise was chronicled in ''What is the Story of Nancy Drew?'', a children's nonfiction book written by Dana Meachen Rau<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rau|first=Dana Meachen|date=January 10, 2023|url=https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=-JZpEAAAQBAJ|title=''What is the Story of Nancy Drew?''|publisher=Who HQ}}</ref> and illustrated by Dede Putra, with an unabridged narration performed by Jorjeana Marie.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rau|first=Dana Meachen|date=January 10, 2023|url=https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details?id=AQAAAECC7yKvsM|title=''What is the Story of Nancy Drew?'' (Audiobook)|publisher=Who HQ}}</ref>

=== International publications ===
The main ''Nancy Drew'' series, ''The Nancy Drew Files'', and the ''Girl Detective'' books have been translated into a number of languages besides English. Estimates vary from between 14 and 25 languages.<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 160.</ref><ref name="Fox">Shangraw Fox.</ref> Nancy Drew books have been published in many European countries (especially in [[Nordic countries]] and France) as well as in Latin America and Asia. The character of Nancy Drew seems to be more popular in some countries than others. Nancy Drew books have been in print in Norway since 1941 (the first country outside the United States<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nancydrewworld.com/norwegian.html | title = Around the World with Nancy Drew&nbsp;– Norway | publisher = Nancydrewworld.com |date=December 21, 2001 |access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref>), in Denmark since 1958, in France since 1955,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carolinequine.com/pages/Presentation_de_la_serie_Alice-504890.html|title=Présentation de la série &quot;Alice&quot;|first=Anne|last=Haunyme|website=Alice Roy ou Nancy Drew, et autres détectives...|access-date=Sep 27, 2020|archive-date=October 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024135926/http://www.carolinequine.com/pages/Presentation_de_la_serie_Alice-504890.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in Italy since 1970 by [[Arnoldo Mondadori Editore]]. Other countries, such as [[Estonia]], have only recently{{When|date=March 2024}} begun printing Nancy Drew books.<ref name="Fox" />

Nancy's name is often changed in translated editions: in France, she is known as Alice Roy; in Sweden, as Kitty Drew; in Finland, as Paula Drew;<ref name="Fox" /> and in Norway, the book series has the name of ''Frøken Detektiv'' (''Miss Detective''), though the heroine's name is still Nancy Drew inside the books.<ref>Skjønsberg (1994), 72.</ref> In Germany, Nancy is a German law student named Susanne Langen. [[George Fayne]]'s name is even more frequently changed, to Georgia, Joyce, Kitty, or Marion.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} Cover art and series order is often changed as well, and in many countries, only a limited number of Drew books are available in translation.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

== Films ==
=== Bonita Granville ===
In 1937, [[Warner Bros.]] bought the rights to the ''Nancy Drew'' book series from the Stratemeyer Syndicate, for a reported $6,000. Warner Bros. wanted to make a series of [[B movie|B-films]] based on the character, to serve as a companion to their popular ''[[Torchy Blane]]'' B-film series, which starred [[Glenda Farrell]], [[Barton MacLane]], and [[Tom Kennedy (actor)|Tom Kennedy]]. Adams sold the rights to [[Jack L. Warner]] without an agent or any consultation; thus, she sold all and any film rights to Warner Bros., a move she would later regret and that would later come into question by her publishers.

From 1938 to 1939, four films in the series were released. All of them were directed by [[William Clemens (film director)|William Clemens]], written by ''Torchy Blane'' writer Kenneth Gamet, and featured the same primary cast: [[Bonita Granville]] as Nancy Drew, [[John Litel]] as Carson Drew, and [[Frankie Thomas]] as Ted Nickerson (changed from Ned Nickerson). [[Renie Riano]] and [[Frank Orth]] also appeared in some of the films as Effie Schneider and Captain Tweedy, respectively.

The four are as follows: 
*''[[Nancy Drew... Detective]]'' (November 1938; loosely based on ''[[The Password to Larkspur Lane]]'')
*''[[Nancy Drew... Reporter]]'' (February 1939)
*''[[Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter]]'' (June 1939)
*''[[Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939 film)|Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase]]'' (September 1939; loosely based on ''[[The Hidden Staircase]]'')

The series was announced by Warner Bros. in April 1938; production of the first film, ''Nancy Drew Gets the Passport'', was set to begin production in June, directed by [[John Farrow]] with a screenplay from Robertson White. However, for unclear reasons, Farrow and White were replaced by Clemens and Gamet, and production was delayed to August. The first two films did well enough to allow Warner Bros. to expand the budgets for the third and fourth films; in early 1939, they announced the green-lighting of an additional four films, which would have brought the total up to eight.<ref name="BuzzFeedMovie">{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/phixwithwings/80-years-ago-nancy-drew-made-her-big-screen-debut-3ofba|title=80 Years Ago Nancy Drew Made Her Big Screen Debut|last=phixwithwings|date=November 15, 2018|website=[[BuzzFeed]]|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name="DetectiveAFI">{{cite web|url=http://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/6253?sid=3331456f-45e2-4be6-b6b0-506496746486&sr=5.6730986&cp=1&pos=3|title=Nancy Drew, Detective|website=AFI|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref>

After the second film, Warner Bros. assigned the third film, originally titled ''Nancy Drew Steps Out'', to Eddie Anderson and Charles Perry; like White, they were replaced under unclear circumstances. Gamet was once again rehired to write for the series and completed writing the eight films. In late 1939, Warner Bros. decided to eliminate their [[double feature]] setup, thus canceling the ''Nancy Drew'' film series. Although it was initially announced that the ''Nancy Drew'' series would be converted into [[two-reeler]]s, Warner Bros. canceled those plans days later.<ref name="BuzzFeedMovie"/> Gamet had at least written the fifth and sixth film, and the fifth may have been produced. Frankie Thomas stated that he believes he and Granville had made five films, not four, while Harriet Adams wrote in August 1939 to [[Mildred Benson|Mildred Wirt]], the ghostwriter of the books at the time, that "three have been shown in this area, and I have just heard that a fifth is in production."<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 117.</ref><ref name="kismaric-103">Kismaric and Heiferman (2007), 103.</ref> In addition, Gamet had reportedly written a sixth film.<ref name="BuzzFeedMovie" />

Critical reaction to these films was mixed. Some found that the movies do not "depict the true Nancy Drew",<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 114.</ref> in part because Granville's Nancy "blatantly used her feminine wiles (and enticing bribes)" to accomplish her goals.<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 115.</ref> The films also portray Nancy as childish and easily flustered, a significant change from her portrayal in the books.<ref>Nash (2006), 71–116.</ref> Just as with the critics, both ghostwriter Mildred Wirt and editor Harriet Adams were also divided on the films' reception. Adams did not like the films and resented the studio for its treatment of the character; she did, however, keep a personalized autographed photo from Granville on her office desk for many years according to her employees and may have used John Litel's portrayal of Carson Drew to revamp the character when she revised the books in the 1960s and 1970s. Contrary to Adams, Benson was said to have liked the films of the time, despite them being different from the character she wrote.<ref name="kismaric-103" />

To promote the film, Warner Bros. created a Nancy Drew [[fan club]] that included a set of rules such as "must have steady boy friend, in the sense of a 'pal'" and must "take part in choosing own clothes."<ref>Kismaric and Heiferman (2007), 116.</ref> These rules were based on some research Warner Bros. had done on the habits and attitudes of "typical" teenage girls.<ref>Nash (2006), 87–90.</ref> Granville was the "honorary president" of the fan club, and a kit for the club came with autographed pictures of her.

The series became somewhat of a [[Cult film|cult success]] after the films started appearing on cable channels such as [[Turner Classic Movies]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} The films were arguably ones in which all five cast members were notable for in their careers.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} Granville recalled making the films fondly and later called ''Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter'' her favorite of the four.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} She and Litel would later reunite for the 1947 film ''[[The Guilty (1947 film)|The Guilty]]'', produced by Granville's husband [[Jack Wrather]].

=== Emma Roberts ===
{{main|Nancy Drew (2007 film){{!}}''Nancy Drew'' (2007 film)}}
A new film version of ''Nancy Drew'' had been in the works at Warner Bros. since the mid-1990s. However, nothing came to fruition until the mid-2000s. On June 15, 2007, [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] released a new film titled ''[[Nancy Drew (2007 film)|Nancy Drew]]'', with [[Emma Roberts]] starring as Nancy, [[Max Thieriot]] as Ned Nickerson, and [[Tate Donovan]] as Carson Drew; [[Andrew Fleming]] directed and cowrote the film with Tiffany Paulsen, while [[Jerry Weintraub]] produced. This film sees Nancy move to Los Angeles with her father on an extended business trip and pick the house of a murdered movie star as their house to solve the cold case.

As with the earlier ''Drew'' films, reactions were mixed. Some see the film as an updated version of the basic character: "Although it has been glammed up for the lucrative tween demographic, the movie retains the best parts of the books, including, of course, their intelligent main character."<ref>Cheong (2007).</ref> Others find the movie "jolting" because Nancy's "new classmates prefer shopping to sleuthing, and Nancy's plaid skirt, [[penny loafers]], and magnifying glass make her something of a dork, not the town hero she was in the Midwest."<ref>Brown (2007), D1.</ref> Before the release of the 2007 film, Roberts, Fleming, and Weintraub had signed on for two ''Nancy Drew'' sequels, but these films were never made.

=== Sophia Lillis ===
{{main|Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019 film){{!}}''Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase'' (2019 film)}}
On April 20, 2018, Warner Bros. announced they were making a new ''Nancy Drew'' film series, starring [[Sophia Lillis]] as Nancy. The first film was adapted from ''[[The Hidden Staircase]]'', with [[Ellen DeGeneres]] and [[Wendy Williams]] among the producers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/939705-sophia-lillis-star-nancy-drew-hidden-staircase|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|title='It' Star Sophia Lillis To Topline Warner Bros' 'Nancy Drew And The Hidden Staircase'|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 20, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/it-sophia-lillis-warner-bros-nancy-drew-and-the-hidden-staircase-1202372950/|last=Evry|first=Max|title=IT's Sophia Lillis to Star in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase|work=Comingsoon.net|date=April 20, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018}}</ref>

== Television ==
=== ''The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries'' ===
{{main|The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries{{!}}''The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries''}}
The first and most successful attempt at bringing Nancy Drew to life on television was ''[[The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries]]'', which ran from 1977 to 1979 on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].<ref>Carpan (2008), 110.</ref> Future ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' star [[Pamela Sue Martin]] starred as Nancy, with [[Jean Rasey]] and George O'Hanlon, Jr. as friends George and Ned, and [[William Schallert]] as Carson Drew.

The first season originally alternated with the Hardy Boys; the Hardy Boys was met with success, but the Drew episodes were met with mixed results. In the second season, the format shifted to present the Hardy Boys as the more prominent characters, with Nancy Drew mostly a character in crossover episodes.

The three "solo" episodes made that season featured [[Susan Buckner]] in the role of George, and focused on more bizarre cases. After the thirteenth episode, Martin left the series, citing the changes made to the character and show. 19-year-old [[Janet Julian|Janet Louise Johnson]] replaced Martin for her final four appearances, all of which were crossover episodes.<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 121.</ref> When the series came back for a third season, Nancy Drew was dropped from the series, with it now focusing completely on the Hardy Boys; ABC canceled the series soon after this change.

Though the ''Nancy Drew'' aspect of the show received mixed reception, it is regarded as the most faithful adaptation of the character, with Martin often regarded by many fans as the best actress to portray her. The series was also faithful in its tone of smaller mysteries, such as haunted houses or theft.

=== ''Nancy Drew'' (1995 TV series) ===
{{anchor|1995 TV series}}
The second ''Nancy Drew'' series, ''Nancy Drew'' aired in first-run syndication from September to December 1995. Produced by [[Nelvana]], [[Tracy Ryan (actress)|Tracy Ryan]] starred as Nancy Drew, who is now a 21-year-old criminology student, moving to New York City and living in an upscale apartment complex called the "Callisto". Nancy solved various mysteries with Bess (Jhene Erwin), a gossip columnist at ''The Rag'', and George ([[Joy Tanner]]), a mail carrier and amateur filmmaker. [[Scott Speedman]] recurred as Ned Nickerson, who works on charity missions in Africa. This ''Nancy Drew'' series was again partnered with [[The Hardy Boys (1995 TV series)|a series based on ''The Hardy Boys'']], with Ryan appearing in two episodes of the latter series as Nancy.

The series was based on ''[[The Nancy Drew Files]]'' series, and the three stars were used on several of the series' covers to promote the show. Both shows were cancelled midway through their first seasons due to low ratings; the poorly syndicated half-hour shows aired in a slot outside of prime time on the newly launched [[The WB]] and [[UPN]] networks.<ref>Kismaric and Heiferman (2007), 122.</ref> The entire series has since been released on DVD, and has appeared on several online streaming sites, including the Retro Rerun YouTube channel.

==== List of episodes ====
{| class="wikitable"
! #
! Episode Title
! Directed by
! Written by
! Air date
|-
! 1
| "Welcome to the Callisto"
| [[Alex Chapple]]
| Laura Phillips
| September 23, 1995
|-
! 2
| "Happy Birthday, Nancy"
| [[Jon Cassar]]
| Laura Phillips (story)<br />Renata Bright (teleplay)
| September 30, 1995
|-
! 3
| "Exile"
| Jon Cassar
| Laura Phillips
| October 7, 1995
|-
! 4
| "Asylum"
| Don McCutcheon
| Dennise Fordham<br />and [[Nadine van der Velde]] (story)<br /> Renata Bright (teleplay)
| October 14, 1995
|-
! 5
| "The Ballad of Robin Hood"
| Stacey Stewart Curtis
| Dennise Fordham
| October 21, 1995
|-
! 6
| "Bridal Arrangements"
| Eleanore Lindo
| Anna Rehak and Nadine van der Velde (story)<br />Nadine van der Velde (teleplay)
| October 28, 1995
|-
! 7
| "The Death and Life of Billy Feral"
| [[Bruce McDonald (director)|Bruce McDonald]]
| Laura Phillips
| November 4, 1995
|-
! 8
| "Double Suspicion"
| Jon Cassar
| Dawn Ritchie
| November 11, 1995
|-
! 9
| "The Stranger by the Road"
| Jon Cassar
| Elizabeth Baxter
| November 18, 1995
|-
! 10
| "Photo Finish"
| Don McCutcheon
| Lawrence Shore<br />and Johnathan Levine
| November 25, 1995
|-
! 11
| "Who's Hot, Who's Not"
| Alex Chapple
| Laura Phillips
| December 2, 1995
|-
! 12
| "Fashion Victim"
| Don McCutcheon
| Elizabeth Baxter
| December 9, 1995
|-
! 13
| "The Long Journey Home"
| [[Ron Oliver]]
| Jeffrey Frohner
| December 16, 1995
|}

==== ''Nancy Drew'' (2002 film) ====
{{main|Nancy Drew (2002 film){{!}}''Nancy Drew'' (2002 film)}}
On December 15, 2002, ABC aired ''[[Nancy Drew (2002 film)|Nancy Drew]]'', starring [[Maggie Lawson]] and produced by [[Lawrence Bender]]. The movie was intended to be a pilot for a possible weekly series, which would see Nancy and her friends going off to college in a modern setting and Nancy pursuing a journalism degree. Like the 1930s films, this pilot also took a more mature turn, with the mystery being a drug bust and Nancy having a falling out with her father. The pilot aired as part of the ''Wonderful World of Disney'' series, with additional scripts being ordered and production contingent on the movie's ratings and reception. The series was passed at ABC, and [[UPN]] also passed after Lawson was cast in another ABC series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/12/13/tem_1213robbie.html|author=Harris, Beth|title=No mystery: Actress detects similarity with Nancy Drew|date=December 13, 2002|agency=Associated Press}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== ''Nancy Drew'' (2019 TV series) ===
{{main|Nancy Drew (2019 TV series){{!}}''Nancy Drew'' (2019 TV series)}}
The third television series, ''[[Nancy Drew (2019 TV series)|Nancy Drew]]'', premiered on The CW on October 9, 2019. Developed by [[Josh Schwartz]] and [[Stephanie Savage]], this series stars [[Kennedy McMann]] as Nancy Drew, with co-stars including [[Leah Lewis]] as George and [[Scott Wolf]] as Carson Drew. This series revolves around Nancy as she heads off to college, only to have to stay back for another year after finding herself the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Like other adaptations of the character, it has received mixed reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/nancy-drew-2019/season-1|title=Nancy Drew: Season 1|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/nancy_drew/s01|title=Nancy Drew: Season 1 (2019)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref>

Much like fellow CW series ''[[Riverdale (American TV series)|Riverdale]]'', the adaptation features serialized, [[soap opera]]-esque storylines. In addition to including more mature elements such as [[Sexual intercourse|sex]] and [[violence]], the series relies on [[supernatural]] elements, such as [[ghost]]s and [[extrasensory perception]]. In addition, it greatly diverges from several of the source material's formula (e.g. race and personality changes of the main characters; Nancy, Bess, and George not being friends; Ned/"Nick" is a former criminal and an older, secret boyfriend), location (e.g. the main setting being the fictional seaside town of Horseshoe Bay, Maine,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlasofwonders.com/2019/10/nancy-drew-the-claw-location-where-horseshoe-bay-filmed.html|title=Where is Nancy Drew filmed? The Claw restaurant location in Horseshoe Bay|website=Atlas of Wonders|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref> instead of the fictional Midwestern city of River Heights), and background (e.g., Carson Drew is not Nancy's biological father, Nancy's adoptive mother dying when she was an older teenager instead of a child).

=== Failed TV attempts ===
In March 1957, [[CBS]] greenlit a pilot for a television series based on the books for the [[1957–58 United States network television schedule|1957–58 television season]], which was produced by ''[[Private Secretary (TV series)|Private Secretary]]'' writer Arthur Hoffe.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 10, 1957 |title=TV-Radio Production Centres |url=https://archive.org/details/variety206-1957-04/page/n137/mode/2up?q=%22Nancy+Drew%22 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |pages=38}}</ref> At that time, it was reported that [[Robin Morgan]] and [[Natalie Trundy]] were under consideration for the role of Nancy.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ewald |first=William |date=March 9, 1957 |title=Emcee March Set for Lead in Comedy-Detective Series |work=San Luis Obispo County Telegram-Tribune |pages=9}}</ref> However, by late May, 17-year-old former [[RKO]] contract actress Jan Norris was cast in the role of Nancy.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krug |first=Karl |date=May 20, 1957 |title=Stadium Show Gets New Star |work=[[Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph]] |pages=16}}</ref><ref name="ForgottenTV">{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2024 |title=Jan Norris, Nancy Drew? |url=https://www.patreon.com/posts/jan-norris-nancy-117245024?l=es |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=ForgottenTV |publisher=[[Patreon]]}}</ref> CBS initially did not make a decision on the project for the fall schedule, instead opting to roll it to midseason or the [[1958–59 United States network television schedule|1958–59 season]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 22, 1957 |title=CBS' Hibernating Pilots |url=https://archive.org/details/variety206-1957-05/page/n253/mode/2up?q=%22Nancy+Drew%22 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |pages=29}}</ref> An initial pilot was produced in April,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=183 Film Properties Up for Film Sponsors|magazine=Billboard|date=13 April 1957|volume=69|issue=13|page=26|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KiAEAAAAMBAJ&q=nancy+drew&pg=PA26|access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> though the network was reportedly unsatisfied with the results and replaced Hoffe with ''[[Mama (American TV series)|Mama]]'' producer Carol Irwin.<ref name="Sep57">{{Cite news |date=September 4, 1957 |title=Inside Stuff—Radio-TV |url=https://archive.org/details/variety208-1957-09/page/n45/mode/2up?q=%22Nancy+Drew%22 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |pages=46}}</ref> A new pilot pilot from Irwin was produced and directed by [[Don Richardson (director)|Don Richardson]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Ted |title=Main Street |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mlTmcpYHWIQC&q=%22Nancy%20Drew%22%20%22CBS%22 |work=Radio Daily-television Daily |date=1957 |pages=4}}</ref> Under Irwin, scripts were being written, but by September, CBS had lost the rights to the books and the project was abandoned.<ref name="Sep57" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 1, 1958 |title=Best Laid Plans of CBS Go Awry in Projecting Shows Year Ahead |url=https://archive.org/details/variety212-1958-10/page/n19/mode/2up?q=%22Nancy+Drew%22 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |pages=21}}</ref>

In the 2010s and early 2020s, the pilot was believed to have been produced by [[Desilu]] based on the Warner Bros. films, and star [[Roberta Shore]] as Nancy, [[Tim Considine]] as Ned Nickerson, and [[Frankie Thomas| Frankie Thomas, Jr.]] as Carson Drew.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHsjAwAAQBAJ&q=nancy+drew+1957&pg=PA203 |title=Encyclopedia of Television Pilots, 1937–2012 – Vincent Terrace – Google Books |date=2013-02-26 |isbn=9780786474455 |access-date=2014-07-16|last1=Terrace |first1=Vincent |publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers }}</ref> However, this conflicts with contemporary reports. Considine and Shore were both under contract to ''[[The Mickey Mouse Club]]'' — where Considine had portrayed Frank Hardy in a [[Hardy Boys (Mickey Mouse Club serial)|serial based on ''The Hardy Boys'' books]] — and Thomas had retired in 1955.<ref name="ForgottenTV" />

In October 1989, Canadian production company [[Nelvana]] began filming for a 13-episode Nancy Drew television series called ''Nancy Drew and Daughter'' for [[USA Network]]. [[Margot Kidder]] was cast as an adult Nancy Drew, and her daughter, Maggie McGuane, was cast as Nancy's daughter. However, Kidder was seriously injured during filming of the first episode when the brakes failed on the car she was driving. The pilot was not finished, and the series was cancelled.<ref>Canadian Press (1990).</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Schneider|first=Karen|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20108706,00.html|title=Comeback Kidder|work=People|access-date=March 13, 2016|archive-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310064737/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20108706,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In October 2015, CBS announced it would be developing a new series based on an older version of Nancy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nancy-drew-tv-series-works-829326|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|title='Nancy Drew' TV Series In the Works at CBS|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 5, 2015|access-date=May 15, 2016}}</ref> In January 2016, CBS ordered a pilot under the working title ''Drew'', and that the character would be a non-Caucasian New York City police detective in her thirties.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wagmeister |first=Elizabeth |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/cbs-nancy-drew-diverse-pilot-order-1201683223/ |title=CBS Orders Drama Pilot for 'Drew', Diverse & Modern Take on Nancy Drew |work=Variety |date=January 19, 2016 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323233040/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/cbs-nancy-drew-diverse-pilot-order-1201683223/ |archive-date=March 23, 2016 }}</ref> The pilot, written by [[Joan Rater]] and [[Tony Phelan]], revolved around Nancy investigating the death of Bess Marvin, and reentering the NYPD after taking leave.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lulla|url=http://season-zero.com/drew-cbs-pilot-preview-nancy-is-back-older-and-more-boring-than-ever/|title=Drew (CBS) pilot preview: Nancy is back, older, smarter, sexier and more boring than ever! – Season Zero|work=Season-zero.com|date=March 3, 2016|access-date=March 13, 2016|archive-date=March 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309232228/http://season-zero.com/drew-cbs-pilot-preview-nancy-is-back-older-and-more-boring-than-ever/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Sarah Shahi]] was cast as Nancy Drew, with [[Vanessa Ferlito]] as [[George Fayne]], [[Anthony Edwards (actor)|Anthony Edwards]] as Carson Drew, [[Steve Kazee]] as [[Ned Nickerson]], and [[Debra Monk]] as Hannah Gruen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/anthony-edwards-cast-nancy-drew-pilot-cbs-1201708438/|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title='Drew': Anthony Edwards To Co-Star In CBS' Nancy Drew Pilot|date=February 24, 2016|access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/drew-vanessa-ferlito-cast-cbs-nancy-drew-pilot-1201710162/ |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title='Drew': Vanessa Ferlito To Co-Star In CBS Nancy Drew Pilot |date=February 26, 2016 |access-date=February 26, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227114050/http://deadline.com/2016/02/drew-vanessa-ferlito-cast-cbs-nancy-drew-pilot-1201710162/ |archive-date=February 27, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hibberd|first=James|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/02/29/sarah-shahi-nancy-drew|title=Sarah Shahi cast as Nancy Drew in CBS reboot|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 29, 2016|access-date=March 13, 2016|archive-date=March 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301211047/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/02/29/sarah-shahi-nancy-drew|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/drew-steve-kazee-cast-cbs-nancy-drew-pilot-1201711827/ |title='Drew': Steve Kazee To Co-Star In CBS' Nancy Drew Pilot |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=February 29, 2016 |access-date=February 29, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302075636/http://deadline.com/2016/02/drew-steve-kazee-cast-cbs-nancy-drew-pilot-1201711827/ |archive-date=March 2, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Gruen">{{cite web|last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/nancy-drew-debra-monk-cast-hannah-cbs-pilot-1201716662/ |title='Drew' Pilot: Debra Monk Cast As Hannah For CBS |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 8, 2016 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312011257/http://deadline.com/2016/03/nancy-drew-debra-monk-cast-hannah-cbs-pilot-1201716662/ |archive-date=March 12, 2016 }}</ref> The pilot was shot in location in New York City during March 2016, and was directed by [[James Strong (director)|James Strong]].<ref name="Gruen" /><ref>{{cite web|author=Lulla|url=http://season-zero.com/pilotseason-2016-by-the-cities/|title=#PilotSeason 2016 by the Cities – Season Zero|work=Season-zero.com|access-date=March 13, 2016|archive-date=March 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309080328/http://season-zero.com/pilotseason-2016-by-the-cities/|url-status=dead}}</ref> During this time, Phelan and Rater had another pilot, ''[[Doubt (American TV series)|Doubt]]'', which many television reporters often placed in competition for a series order with ''Drew''. On May 14, 2016, it was announced that CBS decided to order ''Doubt'', and pass on the ''Drew'' pilot, so CBS Studios could shop it to other networks for series consideration, though none did.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/drew-pilot-dead-cbs-shopped-1201756288/|title='Drew' Pilot Not Going Forward at CBS, Being Shopped Elsewhere|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 14, 2016|access-date=May 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/14/cbs-nancy-drew|title=CBS ditches Nancy Drew reboot plan|last=Hibberd|first=James|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=May 14, 2016|access-date=May 15, 2016|archive-date=May 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514231047/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/14/cbs-nancy-drew|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://screencrush.com/cbs-passes-nancy-drew-too-female-what/|title=CBS Passes on 'Nancy Drew' Series Because It's 'Too Female'|last=Hayes|first=Britt|work=Screen Crush|date=May 15, 2016|access-date=May 15, 2016}}</ref>

In October 2017, Phelan and Rater brought a redeveloped pilot to [[NBC]], where the plot now revolved around a middle-aged Nancy who wrote her adventures into novels has to team up with her former friends to solve a murder mystery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nancy-drew-reboot-being-redeveloped-at-nbc-1049293|title='Nancy Drew' Reboot Being Redeveloped at NBC|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 16, 2017|access-date=October 17, 2017}}</ref><ref name="DrewNBC">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/nancy-drew-tv-series-nbc-tony-phelan-joan-rater-dan-jinks-1202189328/|title='Nancy Drew' TV Series In Works At NBC From Tony Phelan, Joan Rater & Dan Jinks|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=October 16, 2017|access-date=October 17, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/nancy-drew-tv-series-nbc-1202591278/|title=NBC to Redevelop 'Nancy Drew' Reboot Series|last=Otterson|first=Joe|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 16, 2017|access-date=October 17, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nancy-drew-reboot-being-redeveloped-at-nbc-1049293|title='Nancy Drew' Reboot Being Redeveloped at NBC |website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=16 October 2017|access-date=Sep 27, 2020}}</ref> However, the redeveloped plot never made it to pilot at the network, and Phelan and Rater have since left CBS Studios.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/greys-anatomy-showrunners-tony-phelan-joan-rater-move-deal-universal-tv-1130248|title=Former 'Grey's Anatomy' Showrunners Move Overall Deal to Universal TV (Exclusive)|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 27, 2018|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref>

== Other media ==
=== Video games ===
{{main|List of Nancy Drew video games{{!}}List of ''Nancy Drew'' video games}}
Computer games publisher [[HeR Interactive]] began publishing an [[adventure game]] series based on the character in 1998. The games follow the popular "point-and-click format" with players playing as Nancy and using their mouse to move around a [[Virtual reality|virtual environment]] to talk to suspects, pick up clues, solve puzzles, and eventually solve the crime.<ref name="Szadkowski 2009">Szadkowski (2009).</ref> Many of the games are either directly or loosely adapted from novels in the various series, while some others are new storylines created by the company.

The series is generally designed for [[Personal computer|PC]]. The earliest releases were solely compatible with [[Microsoft Windows]] while later releases are also compatible with [[Mac OS]]. Some of the games have been ported to other systems, such as the Nintendo [[Wii]] and [[Game Boy Advance]], and one was released on [[Interactive film|Interactive DVD]]. The games are aimed at a family audience, with the suggestion of "ages 10 and up"; most of the games have the [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]] rating of [[Entertainment Software Rating Board#Ratings|E]], though ''[[Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge|Shadow at the Water's Edge]]'' and ''[[Nancy Drew: The Captive Curse|The Captive Curse]]'' are rated [[Entertainment Software Rating Board#Ratings|E10+]]. [[Lani Minella]] voiced the Nancy character for thirty-two games from Her Interactive from 1998 until 2015. After the release of ''[[Nancy Drew: Sea of Darkness|Sea of Darkness]]'', the company announced that Minella would not be returning to the series. She was replaced with Brittany Cox beginning with the release of ''Midnight in Salem'' in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title = January LETTER FROM HER INTERACTIVE – Her Interactive|url = http://www.herinteractive.com/about-us/news/January-letter-from-her-interactive/|website = Her Interactive|access-date = 2015-10-21}}</ref>

The games and company overall have received recognition throughout its history for being a pioneer in female gaming, and have been dubbed into several different languages internationally.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=March 2010 | title = Games of the Year|magazine=PC Gamer|publisher=Future Games|issue=198|page=65}}</ref><ref name="Fox" /><ref>[https://www.herinteractive.com/ Nancy Drew Interactive Games]. Retrieved March 20, 2017, Herinteractive.com</ref> Her Interactive has also released two adventure game/[[Puzzle video game#Hidden object game|hidden object]] hybrid games ''[[Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses|Lights, Camera, Curses]]'' (2008) and ''[[Nancy Drew Dossier: Resorting to Danger|Resorting to Danger]]'' (2009) under the ''Nancy Drew Dossier'' series.<ref>Bella (2009).</ref> The [[iOS]] game ''Nancy Drew: Codes & Clues'' was released in May 2016, designed for younger audiences to develop skills in computer programming.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nancy Drew: Codes & Clues |url=https://www.herinteractive.com/nancy-drew-codes-clues |website=HeR Interactive |access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref>

In addition to the games created by Her Interactive, [[Majesco Entertainment]] and Gorilla Systems Co. have released ''Nancy Drew: Deadly Secret of Olde World Park'' (2007) and ''Nancy Drew: The Mystery of the Clue Bender Society'' (2008) for the [[Nintendo DS]].<ref>TurboNuts (2007).</ref><ref>Musser (2007).</ref><ref>Szadkowski (2008).</ref> THQ has also released two games for the Nintendo DS, ''Nancy Drew: The Hidden Staircase'' (2008) and ''Nancy Drew: The Model Mysteries'' (2010).<ref>Brown (2009).</ref>

=== Comics and graphic novels ===

[[Papercutz (publisher)|Papercutz]] and [[Dynamite Entertainment]] had both published authorized ''Nancy Drew'' comics and graphic novels.

'''List of ''Nancy Drew'' comics and graphic novels published by Papercutz'''

{| class="wikitable"
! Title !! Author(s) !! Illustrator !! Year(s) of Publication !!  Notes
|-
| '''''[[Nancy Drew: Girl Detective]]''''' || [[Stefan Petrucha]] || Sho Murase || 2005-2010 || The twenty-one volume graphic novel series combines new plots and elements from the original mystery novels. The last two volumes feature Nancy Drew solving cases with [[The Dana Girls|the Dana girls]], the protagonists of another mystery novel series also written under the pseudonym of Carolyn Keene.
|-
| '''''[[Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew]]''''' || Sarah Kinney, Stefan Petrucha || [[Stan Goldberg]] || 2012 || A three-issue comic adaptation of ''Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew''. 
|}

The Papercutz adaptations are no longer in print while Dynamite Entertainment released five ''Nancy Drew'' graphic novels, four of which are unique plots that [[Crossover (fiction)|crossover]] with ''[[The Hardy Boys]]''.

'''List of ''Nancy Drew'' graphic novels published by Dynamite Entertainment'''

{| class="wikitable"
! Title !! Author !! Illustrator !! Year of Publication !!  Notes
|-
| '''''Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie'''''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07666HJRM|last=Del Col|first=Anthony|publisher=[[Dynamite Entertainment]]|title=''Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie''|date=November 15, 2017}}</ref> || [[Anthony Del Col]] || [[Werther Dell'Edera]] || 2017 || The six-issue series is a hardboiled noir take on the title characters, and finds Nancy Drew as a femme fatale-esque character helping Frank and Joe Hardy clear their names in the murder of their father, Fenton Hardy.
|-
| '''''Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom'''''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LHKL4MS|last=Thompson|first=Kelly|publisher=[[Dynamite Entertainment]]|title=''Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom''|date=March 20, 2019}}</ref> || [[Kelly Thompson]] || Jenn St-Onge || 2018 || The five-issue series follows Nancy Drew as she returns to Bayport after receiving a mysterious letter. She reunites with her friends-Bess Marvin, George Fayne, and Frank and Joe Hardy-to solve the murders of women, the clues pointing to a club called The Palace of Wisdom. Helping in the investigation is Pete Vega, a young Black man who had sent Nancy the letter because his mother, Mariana, is one of the victims. When Bayport's racist police refused to investigate Mariana's death, Pete hopes Nancy will close the case and help bring closure for all the victims' loved ones.
|-
| '''''Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Missing Adults'''''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q2HKKP9|last=Wilson|first=Scott Bryan|publisher=[[Dynamite Entertainment]]|title=''Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Missing Adults''|date=October 23, 2019}}</ref> || Scott Bryan Wilson || Bob Solanovic || 2019 || Similar to ''Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew'', the eponymous sleuths are depicted as children as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of their parents and teachers.
|-
| '''''Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Death of Nancy Drew'''''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SWKMY7W|last=Del Col|first=Anthony|publisher=[[Dynamite Entertainment]]|title=''Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Death of Nancy Drew''|date=May 12, 2021}}</ref> || Anthony Del Col || Joe Eisma || 2020 || In this six-issue sequel to ''Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie'', the girl detective has successfully proven the Hardy brothers innocent of patricide. On the other hand, Nancy herself is forced to stage her own murder when someone makes an attempt on her life. Returning the favor, Frank and Joe aid their friend in identifying who wants her dead.
|-
| '''''Nancy Drew Omnibus Vol. 1'''''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SWNWJR8|last=Petrucha|first=Stefan|publisher=[[Dynamite Entertainment]]|title=''Nancy Drew Omnibus Vol. 1''|date=October 12, 2022}}</ref> || Stefan Petrucha || Sho Murase || 2021 || A graphic novel containing the first three volumes of the comic series originally published by Papercutz. It remains unknown whether the rest of the Papercutz series will be reissued, and the omnibus is the first Dynamite Entertainment-published ''Nancy Drew'' graphic novel not to crossover with ''The Hardy Boys''.
|}

=== Musicals ===

In 2018, Jeremy Desmon and Jeff Thomson were commissioned to compose ''Nancy Drew: The Musical'', a planned theatrical reboot set in the future, depicting the eponymous sleuth as having married her boyfriend, Ned Nickerson, and having a family with him. Now a mother and a grandmother, the elderly Nancy Drew has been estranged from her daughter Diana Nickerson and granddaughter Nancy Nickerson. A chance to mend fences arises when all three generations of Drew women go on a cruise and solve a mystery together.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Desmon|first1=Jeremy|last2=Thomson|first2=Jeff|title=''New Musicals''|date=2018|publisher=We Write Musicals|url=https://www.wewritemusicals.com/newmusicals}}</ref>

In 2023, it was announced that another musical adaptation titled ''Nancy Drew and the Mystery at Spotlight Manor'' is being made. The piece is set to feature original music composed by [[Alan Menken]] and [[Nell Benjamin]], a book by [[Sarah Kernochan]], with [[James Lapine]] directing.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Margaret|title=All-Star ''Nancy Drew'' Stage Musical in Development|date=May 11, 2023|publisher=[[Playbill]]|url=https://playbill.com/article/all-star-nancy-drew-stage-musical-in-development}}</ref>

As of 2025, there have been no further updates regarding the two planned ''Nancy Drew'' musicals.

== Merchandising ==
A number of Nancy Drew products have been licensed over the years, primarily in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

=== Dolls ===
In 1967 [[Alexander Doll Company|Madame Alexander]] produced a Nancy Drew doll. The doll carried binoculars and camera and was available in two outfits: with a plaid coat or a dress and short jacket. [[Harriet Adams]] disapproved of the doll's design, believing Nancy's face to be too childish, but the doll was marketed nonetheless. Various Nancy Drew coloring, activity, and puzzle books have also been published, as has a Nancy Drew puzzle. A Nancy Drew Halloween costume and a Nancy Drew lunchbox were produced in the 1970s as television show tie-ins.<ref>Plunkett-Powell (1993), 158–167.</ref>

=== Board games ===

In 1957, [[Parker Brothers]] released ''The Nancy Drew Mystery Game'', an authorized board game in which two to four players compete to locate the titular girl detective's current whereabouts as she investigates a case.

As of 2022, Canadian games manufacturer [[Outset Media]], in partnership with Simon & Schuster, had also released authorized ''Nancy Drew'' board games and jigsaw puzzles.

A 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle shows a gallery of ''Nancy Drew'' book covers when completed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Nancy Drew'' 1000 Piece|publisher=[[Outset Media]]|url=https://outsetmedia.com/products/nancy-drew-1000-piece}}</ref>

''Nancy Drew Collector'' is a card game set at a premiere auction of ''Nancy Drew'' novels. To play the game, two to four participants must answer "Yes" or "No" questions, each outbidding the others on their favourite ''Nancy Drew'' books.<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Nancy Drew Collector''|date=2020|publisher=[[Outset Media]]|url=https://outsetmedia.com/products/nancy-drew-collector}}</ref>

''Nancy Drew Mysteries Board Game'' requires deduction skills and is played similarly to the British-made ''[[Cluedo]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022|title=''Nancy Drew Mysteries Board Game''|publisher=[[Outset Media]]|url=https://outsetmedia.com/products/nancy-drew-mysteries}}</ref> With thirty-five possible solutions, the objective of the game is for three to six players to deduce the following:
* Which mystery needs solving
* Who is the ''Nancy Drew'' character in trouble
* What tool has been used in the investigation
* Which of the suspects has committed the crime
* What crime has been committed

== Cultural impact ==
According to commentators, the cultural impact of Nancy Drew has been enormous.<ref>Among critics making this claim are Billman, Caprio, Dyer and Romalov, Inness, Kismaric and Heiferman, Macleod, Mason, Nash, Plunkett-Powell, and Rehak.</ref> The immediate success of the series led directly to the creation of numerous other girls' mysteries series, such as [[The Dana Girls]] mystery stories and the [[Kay Tracey]] mystery stories,<ref>Rehak (2006), 162.</ref> and the phenomenal sales of the character Edward Stratemeyer feared was "too flip" encouraged publishers to market many other girls' mystery series, such as the [[Judy Bolton Series]], and to request authors of series such as the [[Cherry Ames]] Nurse Stories to incorporate mystery elements into their works.<ref>Billman (1986), 8.</ref> The ''Nancy Drew Mystery Stories'' series and other girls' series books faced criticism for the formulaic nature of their plots and the poor quality of the actual books.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Rose and Joseph Pagnani Collection of Girls' Series Books|url=https://hdl.handle.net/1903.1/46104|website=University of Maryland Archival Collections|hdl=1903.1/46104}}</ref>

Many prominent and successful women cite Nancy Drew as an early formative influence whose character encouraged them to take on unconventional roles, including [[U.S. Supreme Court]] Justices [[Sandra Day O'Connor]], [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]], and [[Sonia Sotomayor]];<ref>Weiss (2009).</ref> TV personalities [[Oprah Winfrey]] and [[Barbara Walters]]; singers [[Barbra Streisand]] and [[Beverly Sills]];<ref name="Shulman">Shulman (2007).</ref> mystery authors [[Sara Paretsky]] and [[Nancy Pickard]]; scholar [[Carolyn Heilbrun]]; actresses [[Ellen Barkin]] and [[Emma Roberts]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nancydrewsleuth.com/PRESSKIT-Factoids2.pdf|title=NANCY DREW CLUES|website=Nancydrewsleuth.com|access-date=2022-03-24}}</ref> former [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary Rodham Clinton]]; former [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] [[Laura Bush]];<ref name= "Burrell" /> and former president of the [[National Organization for Women]] [[Karen DeCrow]].<ref>Rehak (2006), xii.</ref> When the first Nancy Drew conference was held, at the [[University of Iowa]], in 1993, conference organizers received a flood of calls from women who "all had stories to tell about how instrumental Nancy had been in their lives, and about how she had inspired, comforted, entertained them through their childhoods, and, for a surprising number of women, well into adulthood."<ref>Nancy Tillman Romalov, quoted in Knowlton (1995), 21.</ref>

Nancy Drew's popularity continues unabated: In 2002, the first Nancy Drew book published, ''[[The Secret of the Old Clock]]'', alone sold 150,000 copies,<ref name="Eveld">Eveld (2004).</ref> good enough for top-50 ranking in children's books,<ref>Strauss (2004).</ref> and other books in the series sold over 100,000 copies each.<ref>Leibrock (2004).</ref> Sales of the hardcover volumes of the original Nancy Drew series alone has surpassed sales of [[Agatha Christie]] titles,<ref>Paretsky (1991), i.</ref> and newer titles in the [[Girl Detective]] series have reached ''[[The New York Times]]'' bestseller lists.<ref name= "Eveld" /> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' ranked her seventeenth on its list of "The Top 20 Heroes" ahead of [[Batman]], explaining that Drew is the "first female hero embraced by most little girls{{nbsp}}... [Nancy lives] in an endless summer of never-ending adventures and unlimited potential." The magazine goes on to cite ''[[Scooby-Doo]]''{{'}}s [[Velma Dinkley]] as well as [[Veronica Mars (character)|Veronica Mars]] as Nancy Drew's "copycat descendants".<ref name="EW" />

Many [[feminist]] critics have pondered the reason for the character's iconic status. Nancy's car, and her skill in driving and repairing it, are often cited. Melanie Rehak points to Nancy's famous blue roadster (now a blue [[hybrid electric vehicle|hybrid]]) as a symbol of "ultimate freedom and independence".<ref name= "Shulman" /> Not only does Nancy have the freedom to go where she pleases (a freedom other, similar characters such as [[The Dana Girls]] do not have), but she is also able to change a tire and fix a flawed distributor, prompting Paretsky to argue that in "a nation where car mechanics still mock or brush off complaints by women Nancy remains a significant role model."<ref>Paretsky (1991), ii.</ref>

Nancy is also treated with respect: her decisions are rarely questioned and she is trusted by those around her. Male authority figures believe her statements, and neither her father nor Hannah Gruen, the motherly housekeeper, "place{{nbsp}}... restrictions on her comings and goings."<ref>Paretsky (1991), iii.</ref> Nancy's father not only imposes no restrictions on his daughter, but trusts her with both her own car and his gun (in the original version of ''[[The Hidden Staircase]]'' [1930]), asks her advice on a frequent basis, and accedes to all her requests. Some critics, such as Betsy Caprio and Ilana Nash, argue that Nancy's relationship with her continually approving father is satisfying to girl readers because it allows them to vicariously experience a fulfilled [[Electra complex]].<ref>Caprio (1992); Nash (2006), passim.</ref>

Unlike other girl detectives, Nancy does not go to school (for reasons that are never explained, but assuming because she has finished), and she thus has complete autonomy. Similar characters, such as [[Kay Tracey]], do go to school, and not only lose a degree of independence but also of authority. The fact of a character's being a school-girl reminds "the reader, however fleetingly, of the prosaic realities of high-school existence, which rarely includes high adventures or an authoritative voice in the world of adults."<ref>Macleod (1995), 33.</ref>

Some see in Nancy's adventures a mythic quality. Nancy often explores secret passages, prompting [[Nancy Pickard]] to argue that Nancy Drew is a figure equivalent to the ancient Sumerian deity [[Inanna]] and that Nancy's "journeys into the 'underground{{'"}} are, in psychological terms, explorations of the unconscious.<ref>Pickard (1991), iii.</ref> Nancy is a heroic figure, undertaking her adventures not for the sake of adventure alone, but in order to help others, particularly the disadvantaged. For this reason, Nancy Drew has been called the modern embodiment of the character of "Good Deeds" in [[Everyman]].<ref>Lundin (2003), 123.</ref>

In the end, many critics<ref>See also Mason (1995), 49; Nash (2006), 29–30; O'Rourke (2004).</ref> agree that at least part of Nancy Drew's popularity depends on the way in which the books and the character combine sometimes contradictory values, with Kathleen Chamberlain writing in ''The Secrets of Nancy Drew'', "For over 60 years, the Nancy Drew series has told readers that they can have the benefits of both dependence and independence without the drawbacks, that they can help the disadvantaged and remain successful capitalists, that they can be both elitist and democratic, that they can be both child and adult, and that they can be both 'liberated' women and Daddy's little girls."<ref>Chamberlain (1994), 3.</ref> As another critic puts it, "Nancy Drew 'solved' the contradiction of competing discourses about American womanhood by entertaining them all."<ref>Siegel (1997), 171.</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Children and Young Adult Literature|Books}}
* [[The Hardy Boys]]
* [[Judy Bolton Series|Judy Bolton]]
* [[Trixie Belden]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
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  | first = Geoffrey
  | title = The Ghost of Nancy Drew
  | work = Books at Iowa
  | date = April 1989
  | url = http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/bai/lapin.htm
  | access-date = March 15, 2009
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141130144517/http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/bai/lapin.htm
  | archive-date = November 30, 2014
  | url-status = dead
}}
* {{cite news
 |last         = Leibrock
 |first        = Rachel
 |title        = Redrawing Nancy Drew for a New Age
 |work         = The (MA) Standard-Times
 |date         = March 13, 2004
 |url          = http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/03-04/03-13-04/c01lo548.htm
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20090618080505/http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/03-04/03-13-04/c01lo548.htm
 |url-status   = dead
 |archive-date = June 18, 2009
}}
* {{cite news
  | last = Leigh Brown
  | first = Patricia
  | title = Nancy Drew: '90s role model
  | work = St. Petersburg (FL) Times
  | pages = 1D
  | date = April 25, 1993
}}
* {{cite web
  | last = Literarture
  | title = Nancy Drew: The Dust Jacket Collection
  | year = 2009
  | url = http://www.literarture.net/catalogue/view/1
  | access-date = April 6, 2009
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090415225151/http://www.literarture.net/catalogue/view/1
  | archive-date = April 15, 2009
  | url-status = usurped
}}
* {{cite journal
  | last = Lundin
  | first = Anne H
  | title = Everygirl's Good Deeds: The Heroics of Nancy Drew
  | journal = The Lion and the Unicorn
  | volume = 27
  | issue = 1
  | pages = 120–130
  | date = January 2003
  | doi = 10.1353/uni.2003.0005
  | s2cid = 144347118
}}
* {{cite book | title = American Childhood: Essays on children's literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries | last = Macleod | first = Anne Scott | year = 1995 | publisher = University of Georgia Press | isbn = 0-8203-1803-5 | url = https://archive.org/details/americanchildhoo0000macl | url-access = registration }}
* {{cite book | title = The Girl Sleuth | last = Mason | first = Bobbie Ann |edition=Second | year = 1995 | publisher = University of Georgia Press | isbn = 0-8203-1739-X | ref = Mason
}}
* {{cite magazine
  | last = McClintock
  | first = Pamela
  | title = Trio clues in to "Drew" sequel
  | magazine = Variety
  | date = March 21, 2007
  | url = https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/trio-clues-in-to-drew-sequel-1117961594/
  | access-date = March 18, 2009
}}
* {{cite book | title = Sandra Day O'Connor: Justice in the Balance | last = McFeatters | first = Ann Carey | year = 2005 | publisher = UNM Press | isbn = 0-8263-3218-8 | url = https://archive.org/details/sandradayoconnor00mcfe }}
* {{cite book | title = That's funny, you don't look like a teacher!: interrogating images and identity in popular culture | last = Mitchell | first = Claudia |author2=Sandra Weber | year = 1995 | publisher = Routledge | isbn = 0-7507-0413-6 
}}
* {{cite web
  | last = Musser
  | first = Cody
  | title = New Nancy Drew: The Deadly Secret of Olde World Park Media
  | date = July 13, 2007
  | url = http://www.modojo.com/news/20070713/1059/e3_2007_new_nancy_drew_the_deadly_secret_of_olde_world_park_media/
  | access-date = March 16, 2009
  | archive-date = February 11, 2010
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100211081435/http://modojo.com/news/20070713/1059/e3_2007_new_nancy_drew_the_deadly_secret_of_olde_world_park_media/
  | url-status = dead
}}
* {{cite book | title = American Sweethearts: Teenage Girls in Twentieth-Century Popular Culture | last = Nash | first = Ilana | year = 2006 | publisher = Indiana University Press | isbn = 0-253-21802-0 
}}
* {{cite magazine
  | last = O'Rourke
  | first = Meghan
  | title = Nancy Drew's Father
  | magazine = The New Yorker
  | date = November 8, 2004
  | url = https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/11/08/041108crat_atlarge
}}
* {{cite book | title = Introduction to "The Secret of the Old Clock" | last = Paretsky | first = Sara | year = 1991 | publisher = Applewood Books | isbn = 1-55709-155-2 
}}
* {{cite book | title = Nancy Drew and Company: Culture, Gender, and Girls' Series | last = Parry | first = Sally | editor1-first = Inness | editor1-last = Sherrie | year = 1997 | publisher = Popular Press 1 | isbn = 0-87972-736-5 | url = https://archive.org/details/nancydrewcompany00sher | url-access = registration }}
* {{cite book | title = Introduction to "The Hidden Staircase" | last = Pickard | first = Nancy | year = 1991 | publisher = Applewood Books | isbn = 1-55709-156-0 
}}
* {{cite book | title = Evaluation of Multilingual and Multi-modal Information Retrieval: 7th Workshop of the Cross-Language Evaluation Forum, CLEF 2006, Alicante, Spain, September 20–22, 2006, Revised Selected Papers |editor1-first=Carol |editor1-last=Peters |editor2-first=Paul |editor2-last=Clough |editor3-first=Fredric C. |editor3-last=Gey |editor4-first=Jussi |editor4-last=Karlgren |editor5-last=Magnini | year = 2007 | publisher = Springer | isbn = 978-3-540-74998-1 |editor5-first=Bernardo
}}
* {{cite book | title = The Nancy Drew Scrapbook: 60 years of America's favorite teenage sleuth | last = Plunkett-Powell | first = Karen | year = 1993 | publisher = St. Martin's Press | isbn = 0-312-09881-2 | ref = Plunkett-Powell
}}
* {{cite book | title = Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her | last = Rehak | first = Melanie | year = 2006 | publisher = Harvest | isbn = 0-15-603056-X | ref = Rehak
}}
* {{cite web
  | last = Shangraw Fox
  | first = Lea
  | title = Around the World With Nancy Drew
  | url = http://www.nancydrewworld.com/
  | access-date = March 15, 2009
}}
* {{cite news
  | last = Shulman
  | first = Polly
  | title = Spunky Nancy Drew faces her hardest case: Hollywood
  | work = The New York Times
  | date = May 6, 2007
  | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/movies/moviesspecial/06shul.html
  | access-date = March 18, 2009
}}
* {{cite journal
  | last = Skjønsberg
  | first = Kari
  | title = Nancy, a.k.a. Kitty, Susanne, Alice—in Norway and Other European Countries
  | journal = The Lion and the Unicorn
  | volume = 18
  | issue = 1
  | pages = 70–77
  | date = June 1994
  | issn = 0147-2593
  | doi = 10.1353/uni.0.0327
  | s2cid = 142996117
}}
* "Sleuths Go Graphic" (March 10, 2008). ''The Hindu (English) (Madras, India)''. Accessed through Access World News on May 19, 2009.
* {{cite news
  | last = Springen
  | first = Karen
  |author2=Susannah Meadows
  | title = Nancy's Still Nice
  | work = Newsweek
  | date = February 16, 2005
}}
* {{cite thesis
  | first = Jennifer
  | last = Stowe
  | title = The Visual Rewriting of Nancy Drew
  | type = Master's
  | publisher = University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  | date = April 1999
  | url = http://ils.unc.edu/MSpapers/backup_pdf/stowe.pdf
  | access-date = March 15, 2009
}}
* {{cite news
  | last = Strauss
  | first = Gary
  | title = Nancy Drew dusts off 'musty appeal' for new readers
  | work = USA Today
  | date = January 15, 2004
  | url = https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2004-01-15-nancy-drew_x.htm
}}
* {{cite news
  | last = Szadkowski
  | first = Joseph
  | title = ROMper ROOM: Kids tell own tales with V-Tech system
  | work = The Washington Times
  | date = August 17, 2008
  | url = http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/17/kids-tell-own-tales-with-v-tech-system/?page=3
  | access-date = April 6, 2009
}}
* {{cite news
  | last = Szadkowski
  | first = Joseph
  | author-mask = 2
  | title = Nancy's success no mystery
  | work = The Washington Times
  | page = M18
  | date = February 1, 2009
}}
* {{cite magazine
  | title = The Top 20 Heroes
  | magazine = Entertainment Weekly
  | volume = 1041
  | page = 36
  | date = April 3, 2009
}}
* {{cite news
  | last = Torrance
  | first = Kelly Jane
  | title = Independent Nancy Drew, feminist heroine before her time
  | work = The Washington Times
  | pages = D01
  | date = June 15, 2007
}}
* {{cite web
  | last = TurboNuts
  | title = Nancy Drew makes her debut on Nintendo DS
  | publisher = TurboNuts
  | date = February 7, 2007
  | url = http://www.turbonuts.com/general/nancy-drew-makes-her-debut-on-nintendo-ds/
  | access-date = March 16, 2009
  | archive-date = October 6, 2011
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111006171256/http://www.turbonuts.com/general/nancy-drew-makes-her-debut-on-nintendo-ds/
  | url-status = dead
}}
* {{cite news
  | last = Weiss
  | first = Debra Cassens
  | title = Switch from Nancy Drew to Perry Mason Laid Path for Sotomayor
  | work = ABA Journal
  | date = May 15, 2009
  | url = http://www.abajournal.com/news/switch_from_nancy_drew_to_perry_mason_laid_path_for_sotomayor/
  | access-date = May 26, 2009
}}
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{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.nancydrewworld.com Nancy Drew Around The World]—Information on international Nancy Drew editions
* [http://www.series-books.com/nancydrew/nancydrew.html Series-Books.com Nancy Drew Page]—Information on the books in the ''Nancy Drew'' series
* [http://nancydrew.info Nancy Drew Unofficial Home Page]—Information on the books and cover art in the ''Nancy Drew'' series
* [https://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/islandora/object/ui%3Amwb Mildred Wirt Benson Collection]

{{Nancy Drew}}
{{Baby Boomer Series}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Drew, Nancy}}
[[Category:Nancy Drew| ]]
[[Category:Book series introduced in 1930]]
[[Category:Child characters in literature]]
[[Category:Teenage characters in film]]
[[Category:Literary characters introduced in 1930]]
[[Category:Juvenile series|Nancy Drew]]
[[Category:Nancy Drew characters]]
[[Category:Series of children's books|Nancy Drew]]
[[Category:Fictional amateur detectives]]
[[Category:Female characters in literature]]
[[Category:Works published under a pseudonym]]
[[Category:Young adult mystery fiction]]
[[Category:Fictional female amateur detectives]]