The Triple Hoax

The Triple Hoax represents the 57th installment in the Nancy Drew Mystery Series. Released in 1979, it marked the first Nancy Drew paperback published by Simon & Schuster under their Wanderer imprint, with authorship attributed to ghostwriter Harriet Stratemeyer. Subsequent editions were issued featuring refreshed cover art under both the Wanderer and Minstrel labels. In 2005, Grosset & Dunlap produced a reprint in a distinctive yellow hardcover "glossy flashlight" format. The initial release contained six interior illustrations created by Ruth Sanderson, which were excluded from later editions except for the glossy hardcover version.

Plot summary

In The Triple Hoax, Nancy teams up with Aunt Eloise, Bess, and George as they journey to New York to help a friend in need. During their visit, they attend a show by the Hoaxters, a magician troupe famous for borrowing and returning spectators' handbags and wallets—Nancy grows suspicious of possible deceit.

Their pursuit of the truth takes them from New York to Mexico City, where Nancy is assigned to find a missing youngster, and then onward to Los Angeles, where the Hoaxters intimidate them in an effort to halt their investigation.

Book covers

There are three primary cover designs associated with The Triple Hoax:

The original 1979 cover, illustrated by Ruth Sanderson and featuring model Lisa (Kauffman) Tharp, was utilized for the first eight printings under the Wanderer imprint as well as the Scholastic edition. A 1986 cover by Garin Baker appeared on the ninth Wanderer printing, while Linda Thomas's artwork from 1989 was used for two printings released by Minstrel.