The Haunted Showboat is the thirty-fifth book in the Nancy Drew mystery series. It was first published in 1957 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. The actual author was ghostwriter Harriet Stratemeyer Adams.

Summary (original edition)

The Haunted Showboat plunges Nancy Drew into a thrilling Mississippi River adventure filled with ghostly legends, sunken treasures, and a sinister plot threatening a historic floating theater.

The mystery begins when Nancy and her friends Bess Marvin and George Fayne travel to New Orleans to visit the Dana girls. Their vacation turns into an investigation when they learn about the River Princess, an antique showboat with a haunted reputation that’s been sabotaged to prevent its restoration. The boat’s owner, a retired riverboat captain, believes someone is deliberately trying to keep the showboat from reopening as a floating theater.

As Nancy investigates, she encounters a web of intrigue: mysterious lights appearing on the abandoned showboat at night, eerie organ music playing from its empty theater, and rumors of a hidden treasure aboard the vessel. The danger escalates when Nancy discovers that a gang of criminals is using the showboat’s ghostly reputation to cover their search for a valuable shipment of pearls that went missing years ago during a Mississippi River heist.

The investigation takes Nancy through the colorful French Quarter, onto treacherous river waters, and into the showboat’s shadowy recesses. She faces life-threatening situations including a near-drowning when trapped in a flooding compartment, a harrowing encounter with alligators in the bayou, and a dramatic final confrontation aboard the showboat during a violent storm.

Published in 1957, this original edition features more intense peril and atmospheric suspense than later revisions. The novel stands out in the series for its evocative Southern Gothic ambiance, blending New Orleans’ vibrant culture with classic mystery elements. Nancy’s quick thinking and bravery shine as she navigates both human villains and the unpredictable forces of nature.

Nancy Drew #35 The Haunted Showboat First Edition Book Identification Guide

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 #35 The Haunted Showboat First Edition Dust Jacket Identification Guide

Reference:

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