What do you think?
Rate this book
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #124
The Secret of the Scarlet Hand
Visiting the nation’s capital for a sightseeing vacation, Nancy is alarmed when a priceless Mayan artifact disappears from the Beech Hill museum and finds her only clue in a strange note containing a red handprint.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1995
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,147 books4,006 followersCarolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people- both men and women- over the years. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 29, 2026
I had a lot of fun and I desperately need Alejandro del Rio
September 29, 2022
Plot hole city. The part with the ceremony was legitimately kinda creepy though.
August 18, 2024
So far, of all the Nancy Drew game-based books I’ve read, this one has been the most different from the game. The game is very low action, mostly exploring the museum for clues… the book is the opposite and action packed! Definitely no strange Mayan ceremony in the game. There are a couple extra characters in the book as well. Overall, I enjoyed the book more than the game.
July 5, 2021
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The mystery was solid, with an interesting educational note on how museums obtain foreign pieces for their collections. It really makes you think about consuming smuggled/looted art from an ethical standpoint. We also learn about King Pacal without being constantly overloaded with information about the Maya (such as in the PC game).
Nancy was also true to form. She was intelligent, competent, gutsy, and did a lot of sleuthing on her own. I appreciated too how the other detective in the story wasn't portrayed as an idiot next to her. When Detective Briscoe first meets Nancy, he's very skeptical of her abilities, but as the plot progresses he begins to trust her (rather than the author making him out to be a bad guy for not immediately liking the main character). Too many protagonists fall into Sue category when the author does this, and it was refreshing that it didn't happen here.
There was one really, really weird part that I was grateful didn't make it into the PC game: Nancy goes to a creepy annual party for a bunch of Maya enthusiasts who all wear masks and burlap sacks, where she is drugged via hot chocolate, locked in a garden shed, and almost beaten with a shovel. It was so unexpected that it actually made me laugh.
I do like the ending of the game better, though, with Nancy being trapped in a tomb with a skeleton. There was no mention of The Whisperer at all in the book, and I always liked that story. :( Here she simply tracks down the culprit at the airport and finds the Pacal in his cowboy boot.
Add Joanna/John Riggs to the growing list of gender-bent characters!
Nancy was also true to form. She was intelligent, competent, gutsy, and did a lot of sleuthing on her own. I appreciated too how the other detective in the story wasn't portrayed as an idiot next to her. When Detective Briscoe first meets Nancy, he's very skeptical of her abilities, but as the plot progresses he begins to trust her (rather than the author making him out to be a bad guy for not immediately liking the main character). Too many protagonists fall into Sue category when the author does this, and it was refreshing that it didn't happen here.
There was one really, really weird part that I was grateful didn't make it into the PC game: Nancy goes to a creepy annual party for a bunch of Maya enthusiasts who all wear masks and burlap sacks, where she is drugged via hot chocolate, locked in a garden shed, and almost beaten with a shovel. It was so unexpected that it actually made me laugh.
I do like the ending of the game better, though, with Nancy being trapped in a tomb with a skeleton. There was no mention of The Whisperer at all in the book, and I always liked that story. :( Here she simply tracks down the culprit at the airport and finds the Pacal in his cowboy boot.
Add Joanna/John Riggs to the growing list of gender-bent characters!
June 17, 2021
I can't have super high expectations going into these books, but when they deliver it makes my day. This one was incredible! I loved the atmosphere of the majority of the mystery taking place in a museum, and the idea of having a book surrounded by the mysterious ways of the ancient Mayan people was such a great plotline. The characters were really good in this story as well. Alejandro was a pretty cool character, and having played the PC game inspired by this book, it was pretty fun to read about his character specifically and the larger part he has in this book compared to the game. I didn't really have much of an opinion of Alejandro in the game, but in the book he was great. I also like how the book and game keep the characteristics and personalities of both Henrik and Taylor the same in both. Even though I know the book came out first, this book feels like an extension of the game and I love that! It definitely got me in the mood to go back and play the game again, and in my opinion, any book that leaves me wanting to experience it all over again right away is a keeper.
November 19, 2017
This book stands out from this phase of the series and other stolen art object ND mysteries for the mystery, plot, setting and characters.
January 22, 2019
I love a good cult party.
February 11, 2026
This book is very different from the computer game it was adapted into. And I like the game a lot, but I think I like the book more.
The game involves a lot of phone calls. I think it holds the record for most phone characters in any of the games? And it's extremely easy to get stuck playing phone tag for days on end, even after you've done everything you're supposed to, but the damn dialogue option you need to progress still won't pop up. Whatever. It's fine. It's a perfectly fine game.
But the book is one of the most action-packed in the series I've read to date. The villain makes multiple gruesome death threats to Nancy, there are several chase scenes, there's a creepy cult meeting. The culprit in this book also actively tries to frame multiple people, which is something I don't think Nancy Drew suspects normally do. Throw suspicion off themselves? Sure. Go through multiple complicated steps to maliciously pin the blame on another character? Surprisingly rare. George walks in on what she assumes is the culprit assaulting Nancy, and immediately starts to bum-rush them before Nancy tells her it's fine. Nancy chases down and full body tackles a suspect on two separate occasions. I don't know if she's ever done that before? She should do it more often! It's also very subtle with some clues and rewards the reader for paying attention. Love it when Nancy Drew books do that!
The author does occasionally talk down to the reader. The scene stops dead for characters to define what "dismember" and "persona non grata" mean. This book takes place in Washington, D.C., and George mixes up the Washington Monument with the Jefferson Memorial. (???) This is an excuse for a brief lesson on the subject. This was the clunkiest attempt at a Nancy Drew book trying to be educational that I've ever read.
Which is weird, because some pretty complicated subjects are explored in the book. It not inaccurately depicts the politics in the museum scene. Everyone seems to be cooperating on the surface, but you dig a little deeper and it's petty squabbling all the way down. Everyone in the arts, archaeology, diplomacy, and museum fields are constantly at each other's throats. Scholars look down on the laymen they're supposed to be educating. It's honestly kind of hilarious, and it does ring a little bit true.
I'm pretty sure the computer game was the first time I learned about provenance and repatriation. The book deals with these subjects too, and it does not stop to hold your hand and overexplain. It trusts you to get this. The provenance documents for the missing carving are vital to solving the mystery. Repatriating the artifact to Mexico is brought up early, and even though Nancy doesn't make up her mind until later in the book, you can clock the villain pretty early by how they react to the idea. I don't know if the outcome would have been the same if all the provenance documents had been in order, but you know what, I give this book a lot of credit for handling the discussion as well as it does.
I was of course familiar with Alejandro from the game, but damn. Game Alejandro does not do book Alejandro justice. He's way more active in the book, and more sympathetic. And hotter. Not since Dave from Shadow Ranch has my heart gone pitter patter over an attractive suspect so. Ned is nowhere to be found in this book and is not mentioned at all. And, like, there's something there between Nancy and Alejandro, right? Right? I am ultimately a Nancy and Ned truther, I think, but also Nancy deserves to have more meaningless vacation flings.
I was surprised that Bess wasn't throwing herself at Alejandro, after how embarrassing she was about Jacques in Royal Tower, who was still suspected of possibly attempting to murder Nancy and was obviously interested in another girl. But I guess she respects Nancy's unspoken dibs? A bit uncharacteristically, Bess is most concerned with how little sightseeing she's gotten to do because of Nancy's unexpected mystery. I mean, Bess is allowed to have other character traits, besides boys and food. It's a little jarring, but still nice when a writer decides to expand her interests a little.
Again, I like the game this book was based on a lot. But besides the original classics, this might be the first book-turned-game I'd recommend reading. I was really pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was, and how well the social commentary holds up.
The game involves a lot of phone calls. I think it holds the record for most phone characters in any of the games? And it's extremely easy to get stuck playing phone tag for days on end, even after you've done everything you're supposed to, but the damn dialogue option you need to progress still won't pop up. Whatever. It's fine. It's a perfectly fine game.
But the book is one of the most action-packed in the series I've read to date. The villain makes multiple gruesome death threats to Nancy, there are several chase scenes, there's a creepy cult meeting. The culprit in this book also actively tries to frame multiple people, which is something I don't think Nancy Drew suspects normally do. Throw suspicion off themselves? Sure. Go through multiple complicated steps to maliciously pin the blame on another character? Surprisingly rare. George walks in on what she assumes is the culprit assaulting Nancy, and immediately starts to bum-rush them before Nancy tells her it's fine. Nancy chases down and full body tackles a suspect on two separate occasions. I don't know if she's ever done that before? She should do it more often! It's also very subtle with some clues and rewards the reader for paying attention. Love it when Nancy Drew books do that!
The author does occasionally talk down to the reader. The scene stops dead for characters to define what "dismember" and "persona non grata" mean. This book takes place in Washington, D.C., and George mixes up the Washington Monument with the Jefferson Memorial. (???) This is an excuse for a brief lesson on the subject. This was the clunkiest attempt at a Nancy Drew book trying to be educational that I've ever read.
Which is weird, because some pretty complicated subjects are explored in the book. It not inaccurately depicts the politics in the museum scene. Everyone seems to be cooperating on the surface, but you dig a little deeper and it's petty squabbling all the way down. Everyone in the arts, archaeology, diplomacy, and museum fields are constantly at each other's throats. Scholars look down on the laymen they're supposed to be educating. It's honestly kind of hilarious, and it does ring a little bit true.
I'm pretty sure the computer game was the first time I learned about provenance and repatriation. The book deals with these subjects too, and it does not stop to hold your hand and overexplain. It trusts you to get this. The provenance documents for the missing carving are vital to solving the mystery. Repatriating the artifact to Mexico is brought up early, and even though Nancy doesn't make up her mind until later in the book, you can clock the villain pretty early by how they react to the idea. I don't know if the outcome would have been the same if all the provenance documents had been in order, but you know what, I give this book a lot of credit for handling the discussion as well as it does.
I was of course familiar with Alejandro from the game, but damn. Game Alejandro does not do book Alejandro justice. He's way more active in the book, and more sympathetic. And hotter. Not since Dave from Shadow Ranch has my heart gone pitter patter over an attractive suspect so. Ned is nowhere to be found in this book and is not mentioned at all. And, like, there's something there between Nancy and Alejandro, right? Right? I am ultimately a Nancy and Ned truther, I think, but also Nancy deserves to have more meaningless vacation flings.
I was surprised that Bess wasn't throwing herself at Alejandro, after how embarrassing she was about Jacques in Royal Tower, who was still suspected of possibly attempting to murder Nancy and was obviously interested in another girl. But I guess she respects Nancy's unspoken dibs? A bit uncharacteristically, Bess is most concerned with how little sightseeing she's gotten to do because of Nancy's unexpected mystery. I mean, Bess is allowed to have other character traits, besides boys and food. It's a little jarring, but still nice when a writer decides to expand her interests a little.
Again, I like the game this book was based on a lot. But besides the original classics, this might be the first book-turned-game I'd recommend reading. I was really pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was, and how well the social commentary holds up.
January 9, 2022
This book surprised me! I don't expect a lot from the pacing of these youth mysteries, but this one kept me going. Its a fun museum mystery that leads Nancy into some crazy danger, but it doesn't get too bonkers. The cast is great, with characters like Alejandro actually feeling like a fleshed out person contributing to the story rather than just there for plot purposes.
Spooky and fun, I'd recommend giving it a read.
Spooky and fun, I'd recommend giving it a read.
May 5, 2017
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
November 18, 2022
Nancy Drew has nothing on MaryKate and Ashley.
February 7, 2016
My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.
http://spreadthewordnevada.org/
Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.
I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.
June 20, 2023
Enjoyed this one. The Washington DC setting was fun and the theft of a Mayan artifact made for an interesting mystery. Good read.
July 30, 2024
The game removed the most dramatic scene! And I can see why, for multiple reasons, but... still. Otherwise, I think the streamlining for the game gave this title a bit of clarity that works well.
January 1, 2016
FIRST NANCY DREW BOOK I EVER READ IN 4th GRADE.
November 19, 2018
These books are bad, but oh so good.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews