The Penny Nichols Mystery Stories
by Mildred A. Wirt


The Penny Nichols series was originally published from 1936 to 1939 by the Goldsmith Publishing Company.  The series was written by Mildred Wirt Benson under the pseudonym of Joan Clark.  The series consists of four titles:

  1. Penny Nichols Finds a Clue, 1936 
  2. Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key, 1936 ===(YOU GET THIS ONE)
  3. Penny Nichols and the Black Imp, 1936
  4. Penny Nichols and the Knob Hill Mystery, 1939

Penny Nichols is the daughter of Christopher Nichols, a successful detective.  Mr. Nichols often scoffs at Penny's ideas, but when Penny is proved to be right, Mr. Nichols has to admit that Penny has the makings of a good detective.  Penny's best friend is Susan Altman, and Susan usually accompanies Penny in her adventures.

  

The Boards

The series was likely in print for several years after the initial publication of the final volume.  The books were bound in solid blue, red, and orange-red bindings as well as a yellow patterned binding with a blue spine.  The yellow patterned bindings have good quality paper while the others have poor quality paper that has become brittle.