The Sign of the Twisted Candles

infobox Book |
name = The Sign of the Twisted Candles
title_orig =
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image_caption =
author = Carolyn Keene
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = Nancy Drew Mystery Stories
genre = Mystery novel
publisher = Grosset & Dunlap
release_date = 1933
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages =
isbn = NA
preceded_by =
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The Sign of the Twisted Candles is the ninth book in the "Nancy Drew" mystery series by Carolyn Keene.

Plot summary

While solving the mystery of an old man's disappearing fortune, Nancy both starts and ends a family feud and reveals the identity of an orphan of unknown parentage. The second of three novels by ghostwriter Walter Karig, this focuses on Nancy encountering a 100 year old man at "The Sign of the Twisted Candles," a roadside Inn and restaurant. Nancy, Bess and George seek afternoon tea there while waiting out a storm; Nancy's roadster has "wet engine." They encounter Asa Sidney, celebrating his 100th birthday, and the pathetic maid/waitress, mistreated by her parents, Frank and Emma Jemmit.

Nancy discovers that Mr. Sidney is an elderly relative of Bess and George, and her willingness to communicate with him launches a family feud upon his death a few days later--and leaves her chumless, as the cousins refuse to associate with Nancy. Carol is named as the major benefactress, and Nancy must prove that Frank and Emma Jemmit have misappropriated property. Relatives of Mr. Sidney and his wife fight over the money, getting in on the action. Nancy also must discover why Asa was interested in the young woman. . . .

While investigating, Nancy is reunited with her friends, and later, in the climax, is nearly killed by being pushed from a ladder against a tower window (illustrated in the original 1933 edition). Carol's true identity is discovered, as are a number of inventions awaiting patent from Sidney, and securities. The family feud is resolved due to Nancy's discoveries.

The 1968 version has a famous cover, showing a flip-haired Nancy near a candle with Asa in the background. It changes character names, modernizes, condenses, and simplifies the vocabulary of the story.

The 1950 (second art) version of the cover was used for half of the endpaper used from 1953 to 1959 (known as Digger endpaper). Bill Gillies' original cover art shows Nancy as a busty sweater girl, watching Frank Semitt dig, through a window. The endpapers show the digging man, while Nancy (in art adapted from The Secret of Red Gate Farm) hides behind a tree and watches.