# Strange Happenings explained — The Hidden Staircase

> Chapter companion for The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene.

## What happens

Nancy visits Abigail Rowen and meets Rosemary Turnbull, who describes mysterious events at her old stone mansion, including strange noises, shadows, missing items, and music, leading Nancy to agree to investigate.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mystery and the Supernatural

Rosemary Turnbull recounts strange noises, shadows, missing items, and music, suggesting a haunting or unexplained phenomena.

### Courage and Resourcefulness

Nancy agrees to investigate the mysterious events at The Mansion despite the unsettling details.

### Family and Heritage

Rosemary is reluctant to sell The Mansion because it has been in the Turnbull family for decades.

## Character check-ins

### Nancy Drew

Visits Abigail Rowen and agrees to investigate the strange happenings at The Mansion.

### Abigail Rowen

Nancy visits her cottage; she introduces Nancy to Rosemary Turnbull and encourages Nancy to help.

### Rosemary Turnbull

Describes the mysterious events at The Mansion and asks for Nancy's help.

### Carson Drew

Mentioned briefly at the luncheon table with Nancy.

## Key lines

> I believe I’ll call on Abigail Rowen this afternoon

Nancy decides to visit Abigail Rowen.

_Nancy expresses her intention to visit Abigail._

> Well, I hardly know how to tell you. It seems I’m living in a haunted house.

Rosemary hesitantly reveals that she believes her house is haunted.

_Rosemary introduces the central mystery of the chapter._

> I’ll do my best to solve the mystery, but I’m not in the least confident. I have a suspicion that your ghost isn’t going to be very easy to capture.

Nancy promises to help but acknowledges the challenge ahead.

_Nancy commits to investigating the strange events._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/v-strange-happenings
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters