The Scarlet Slipper Mystery is the thirty-second volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was published in 1954 by Grosset & Dunlap and written by Charles S. Strong under the house pseudonym Carolyn Keene

Summary (original edition)

The Scarlet Slipper Mystery sweeps Nancy Drew into a captivating Cold War-era thriller blending the elegance of ballet with international espionage. The story unfolds when Nancy befriends Helga and Henryka Popova, refugee sisters from an unspecified European country who have established a ballet school in River Heights. Their peaceful new life shatters when their studio is vandalized and they begin receiving ominous warnings tied to their signature scarlet ballet slippers.

Nancy’s investigation reveals the sisters’ tragic past—their scientist father disappeared under mysterious circumstances during their escape from their homeland. As Nancy digs deeper, she uncovers a sophisticated spy operation using the ballet school as cover. Coded messages hidden in dance routines, a suspicious art collector probing about the sisters’ background, and a smuggling ring transporting stolen microfilm in costume padding all point to a dangerous conspiracy.

The mystery escalates when one sister is kidnapped, forcing Nancy to decode a series of clues leading to a dramatic waterfront confrontation. In a pulse-pounding sequence, Nancy pursues the villains by speedboat and ultimately discovers the shocking secret concealed within the scarlet slippers themselves—a hidden compartment containing vital information.

This 1954 original stands out in the Nancy Drew series for its timely Cold War themes and sophisticated blend of artistic elegance with international intrigue. The novel showcases Nancy at her most resourceful as she navigates complex political undertones while remaining true to her moral compass. Later revisions softened some of the more intense espionage elements, but this version remains a striking example of how the series incorporated contemporary global tensions into its classic mystery framework. The story also offers rare insight into refugee experiences during this turbulent period in history.

Nancy Drew #32 –The Scarlet Slipper Mystery First Edition Book Identification

Only the first few printings of the first/second year are shown. Printings codes are based on the Farrah Guide, 12th printing. Please refer to the guide for later printings.

Nancy Drew #32 –The Scarlet Slipper Mystery First Edition Dust Jacket Identification

Reference:

• Farah’s Guide to Nancy Drew, 12th printing