The Mystery at Lilac Inn
A teenage detective is called into action when a priceless inheritance—a collection of valuable jewels—disappears under mysterious circumstances. During a lunch stop at a quaint inn, she unexpectedly reconnects with a childhood friend who is about to receive the jewels, only to learn that they have vanished. Although initial suspicion falls on the friend’s guardian for her careless handling of the inheritance, the sleuth quickly uncovers inconsistencies in various eyewitness accounts and begins gathering clues from the inn’s staff and local residents. Her inquiries reveal that a seemingly unqualified job applicant, who had once sought employment and whose background does not match her sudden appearance of wealth, may be involved. As she follows the trail—questioning inn employees, a wary waiter, and even local merchants who note the suspect’s extravagant purchases—the detective discovers that the woman’s financial resources inexplicably exceed her modest means. Clues lead her to a disreputable section of town, where she tracks down hints of her whereabouts through delivery records and employment references. The investigation soon takes a dangerous turn when the detective is ambushed and kidnapped by a group of conspirators connected to the suspect. Held prisoner aboard a small motorboat during a violent storm on a fast-flowing river, she endures a harrowing ordeal. During the frantic journey, her captors quarrel over distributing their illicit gains and reveal alarming details about the theft. They boast of having pawned part of the jewel collection, while also disputing the exact nature of their crime—details that point to a carefully planned heist. Despite being bound and gagged, the resourceful detective seizes a moment of distraction and manages to loosen her bonds. In a tense and desperate escape amid the storm’s fury, she calls out for help. Her cries eventually lead rescuers to her, and the motorboat is recovered by authorities. Under the supervision of a naval officer and a yacht captain, a search of the boat’s cabin reveals a hidden compartment ingeniously concealed behind a faux clock face. Inside, the bulk of the missing jewels is discovered, confirming her suspicions about the true criminal mastermind. It turns out that the suspect—the previously shunned job applicant with an inexplicable surge of wealth—and her accomplices had orchestrated the theft using misleading maneuvers, including a premeditated diversion during a car accident and an illegal visit to a bank vault. Their plan unraveled when the detective’s persistence led to the recovery of the concealed jewels and eventual arrest of all involved. With the stolen inheritance recovered, the guardian who had borne the brunt of suspicion is exonerated, and the community, along with her own family, recognizes the detective’s remarkable skill and perseverance. In the aftermath, a celebratory gathering is held at the inn where personal milestones—a forthcoming wedding and the promise of a secure future—are announced, happily concluding the turbulent case.
By Carolyn Keene · First published 1963 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Juvenile Literature · 25 chapters
Contents
- A Chance Meeting
- Rising to an Occasion
- A Queer Girl
- About the Crandall Jewels
- At Lilac Inn
- Accusations
- Damaging Rumors
- Mrs. Willoughby's Call
- Nancy Investigates
- An Encounter
- A Trip to the Inn
- A New Discovery
- A Surprise
- New Information
- What Mr. Drew Learned
- The Stranger
- A Crisis
- During the Storm
- In the Storeroom
- A Prisoner
- Down the River
- Sinking
- Captured
- The Search
- Nancy's Reward