Nancy Drew visits her cousin in Virginia hoping to locate a missing stained-glass window.

A magazine article offering a large reward to anyone who can find a missing medieval stained-glass window intrigues Nancy. She asks Bess and George to join her on a search in Charlottesville, Virginia. Before the three friends leave River Heights, their adversary tries to get them to postpone the trip. But no luck. Nancy is determined to carry through her plans. During the girls' investigation of old southern mansions, they encounter a ghost who turns the tables and makes them disappear. Eerie sounds come from a beautiful estate that is surrounded by a high brick wall. Why will the owner allow no one to enter?

Nancy's Aunt Eloise, aware of her niece's current interest in learning horseback riding stunts, sends her a second-hand golden bracelet bearing charms of horses in all five gaits; a sixth charm is missing. Coincidentally, the Sims Circus, former employer of Nancy's equestrian instructor, is coming to town. Nancy investigates the link between the unhappy circus star, young aerialist, Lolita, and her bracelet. Lolita is the adopted daughter of the acting manager, Ringmaster Kroon, and his wife. Pietro, the young, handsome clown, tells Nancy Lolita has the missing charm from her bracelet. Nancy's regular appearances at the circus, and her detective reputation brings the ire of Kroon. When a bareback rider is injured, Nancy is asked to join the show as her replacement.

Nancy finds herself in danger when she tries to solve the mystery of the old inn, believed to be jinxed.

Read the original Nancy Drew mystery! The Secret of the Old Clock is the mystery that began it all for America's favorite teenaged slueth. The accidental rescue of a little girl who lives with her two great-aunts leads to an adventurous search for a missing will.

Farah's Guide 12th printing has 556 pages, lists 2745 printings of Nancy Drew between 1930 and 1979, including prices on each book and dust jacket. It contains more than 135 photos of the authors and illustrators, models used for the covers, Nancy Drew collectibles and the oddest items associated with the series. For example, the Guide includes a photo of the ledger page used by Mildred Benson to record her sale of the first Nancy Drew story, a copy of the contract between Benson and the Syndicate for Volume #5, copies of letters between Harriet Adams and Mildred Benson, and between Walter Karig and Mildred Benson, and reproduces the earliest known published article mentioning the series (from 1931), among other great Drewobilia. The Guide includes biographies of Drew writers Mildred Wirt Benson, Walter Karig, Nancy Axelrad, Charles Strong, Margaret Scherf, Alma Sasse, George Waller, illustrators Bill Gillies and Rudy Nappi, and more. The front cover is, well shall we say modestly, a masterpiece.