The Hidden Staircase, Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, number 2 in the series. Author: Carolyn Keene. Hardcover, 206 pages. Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap, copyright 1930 and printed in the USA in 1953. 

Condition: The book is in overall good minus condition. There is a slight minor crack of the seam between the spine and pages at the front (but no loose pages), a name and address written on a page at the front, and minor yellowing of the pages due to age. See photos.

The dust jacket is in poor condition with wear and tears at the top and bottom, and it has been taped to the book. See photos.

Synopsis: First published April 28, 1930 • Original text by Mildred Wirt Benson under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew is drawn into a baffling mystery when the elderly Turnbull sisters seek her help in uncovering the strange happenings at their isolated mansion. Ghostly appearances, mysterious noises, and the disappearance of personal belongings have convinced the sisters that their home is haunted. To make matters worse, a sinister man named Nathan Gombet threatens Nancy’s father, Carson Drew, over a disputed real estate transaction. As Nancy investigates, she discovers that the supposedly supernatural events may have a very human explanation—and that her father’s safety is at stake.

Determined to uncover the truth, Nancy follows a trail of clues that leads her into Gombet’s house, where she discovers a secret staircase and a network of underground passages connecting the mansion to the surrounding property. Her investigation soon places her in grave danger, as she encounters a mysterious servant, hidden rooms, and a desperate criminal scheme. With courage and resourcefulness, Nancy must unravel the secrets of the hidden passageway, expose the culprit behind the haunting, and rescue her kidnapped father before it is too late.