The Strange Message In The Parchment, Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, number 54 in the series. Author: Carolyn Keene. 180 pages. Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap, no 9554.  The book is copyright 1977 and published in 1977.  Library of Congress Catalog Card 76-14298, ISBN 0-448-09554-8.

Synopsis: Nancy Drew is drawn into one of her more atmospheric mysteries when a distressed sheep farmer sends her a piece of parchment bearing a strange, hand‑drawn message. The cryptic illustration seems to depict a girl in danger, and Nancy quickly realizes it may be connected to a long‑buried crime involving kidnapping, extortion, and a family forced into silence. As she investigates, she uncovers clues hidden in rural Pennsylvania farmland, unsettling warnings meant to drive her away, and a network of people who know far more than they’re willing to admit.

The deeper Nancy digs, the clearer it becomes that the parchment is both a plea for help and a map to the truth. Working with Bess, George, and Ned, she pieces together the history of a young woman who vanished years earlier and the powerful forces that kept the case unsolved. The mystery culminates in a tense confrontation that reveals the meaning of the parchment and exposes the culprits behind the long‑concealed crime. 

Condition: the book is in overall excellent condition.  It has a name written on the inside of the front cover.  The inside pages are in great shape, and the spine and binding are tight. (see photos)