Web Site Search

Link to Ask Us page
Beyond Nancy Drew: A Guide to Girls' Literature

Girl Detectives: Mysteries for Girls

  • Betty Gordon: This 15 volume Stratemeyer Syndicate series was marketed under the Alice B. Emerson pseudonym. Published by Cupples & Leon between 1920 and 1932, the stories follow the adventures of female sleuth Betty Gordon and her friends.
    • Betty Gordon at Bramble Farm, or, The Mystery of a Nobody. New York: Cupples & Leon Co., 1920. (E #19808)
    • Betty Gordon in Washington : or, Strange Adventures in a Great City. New York: Cupples & Leon Co., 1920. (E #19723).
  • Kay Tracey Mysteries: A clone series based on Nancy Drew, Kay Tracey debuted in 1934. The Kay Tracey books had a fairly long life, lasting for 18 volumes and numerous reprints. Patricia Craig and Mary Cadogan, authors of The Lady Investigates: Women Detectives and Spies in Fiction considered the Kay Tracey books to be: "formula-writing at its most flaccid." The basic formula involved Kay, a 16-year-old who lives in a small town called Brantwood. When not attending high school, she solves mysteries with the help of her best friends, twin sisters named Wilma and Betty. Special Collections has two titles in this series, both attributed to Frances K. Judd, though The Strange Echo was actually written by Mildred Wirt.
    • The Green Cameo Mystery. New York: Cupples & Leon Co., 1936. (E #20123)
    • The Strange Echo. New York: Cupples & Leon Co., 1934. (E #20124)
Book jacket: Beverly Gray's Career
  • Beverly Gray: The Beverly Gray series consists of 26 volumes published between 1934 and 1955. The series consists of two types of books: in the first, Beverly goes to college. The later books send Beverly to various exotic and interesting locations, where she has adventures and solves mysteries. The series is published under the name Clair Blank. The following titles were published by Grosset & Dunlap between 1934 and 1940.
    • Beverly Gray, Freshman. (E #20125)
    • Beverly Gray's Career. (E #20284)
    • Beverly Gray in the Orient. (E #20117).
    • Beverly Gray on a Treasure Hunt. (E 12mo #6242)
    • Beverly Gray, Reporter. (E 12mo #6234)
  • Trixie Belden: This 39 volume series chronicles the sleuthing endeavors and girlhood escapades of Trixie Belden, sandy-haired detective and tomboy. With her close friends, Honey, Jim, and brothers Mart and Brian, Trixie takes on criminals of every kind. Creator Julie Campbell penned the first six mysteries before passing on her series to other ghostwriters under the name Kathryn Kenny. The series ran from 1948 through 1986. Search the online catalog for a full listing of the many Trixie Belden titles held in Special Collections.
  • Robin Kane: Robin Kane is an energetic thirteen-year-old who relies on her curiosity and bravery to solve mysteries with the help of a few other "meddling kids." The following titles were published by the Whitman Publishing Company in 1966 and 1967.
    • Hill, Eileen. The Candle Shop Mystery. (E #20278)
    • Hill, Eileen. Robin Kane: The Mystery of Glengary Castle. (E #20277)
    • Hill, Eileen. The Mystery of the Phantom. (E #20276)
    • Hill, Eileen. The Mystery of the Blue Pelican. (E#20275)
  • North, Grace May, 1876. The Seven Sleuths' Club. Mystery and adventure series for girls. New York: A. L. Burt Co., 1928. (E 12mo #6162) Aptly named Merry Lee, president of the S.S.C., leads students of "Miss Demorest's school for select young ladies" in various adventures. Originally called the Sunnyside Club (for their town), then the "Spread Sunshine Club," they become the Seven Sleuth's Club after learning about the boys' Conan Doyle Club.
  • Chandler, Ruth Forbes. Middle Island Mystery. London: Abelard-Schuman, 1961. ??.. (E #20095) Twelve year old Sarah spends summer on an island in Maine, baby-sitting to earn enough money for a new dog for her brother. Though her job isn't easy, she has a few thrilling experiences, including exploring the secret of Middle Island's spooky old house.
Book jacket: Spice Island Mystery
  • Stone, Alan. The Tollivers and the Mystery of the Old Jalopy. The Tolliver adventure series; 3. Cleveland: World Pub. Co., 1967. (E #20279) The Tollivers are a middle-class African-American family who solve mysteries together.
  • Cavanna, Betty. Spice Island Mystery. New York: Morrow, 1969. (E #20538) A runner-up for the Edgar Allen Poe Award in 1970. After finishing college in New England, a young woman returns to her home on the island of Granada. She works as a librarian, reconnects with people from her past, and becomes entangled in a real estate scam.