The Strange Message in the Parchment

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The Strange Message in the Parchment
The Strange Message in the Parchment.jpg
Author Carolyn Keene
Country United States
Language English
Series Nancy Drew Mystery Stories
Genre Juvenile literature
Publisher Grosset & Dunlap
Publication date
1977
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages180
ISBN 0-448-09554-8
OCLC 2746092
LC Class PZ7 .K23 Nan no. 54
Preceded by The Sky Phantom  
Followed by Mystery of Crocodile Island  

The Strange Message in the Parchment is the fifty-fourth volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1977 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. [1] The actual author was ghostwriter Harriet Stratemeyer Adams.

Plot summary

A sheep farmer receives a mysterious telephone call shortly after he buys a series of pictures painted on parchment. "Decipher the message in the parchment and right a great wrong," the voice says. Puzzled, the owner asks Nancy to help.

With Junie, his daughter, Nancy tracks down a kidnapper and a group of extortionists. Clues weave in and out of several puzzles, two of which are linked with Italy. Is there a connection between the message in the parchment and a boy artist on another farm? And who is responsible for the atmosphere of fear in the neighborhood?

After several harrowing experiences, Nancy begins to tighten the net around a ruthless villain and calls on the assistance of her friends Ned, Burt, Dave, Bess and George to bring his nefarious schemes to a dead end.

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