Publication date inferred from list of titles at back of book which concludes with: The Strange Message in the Parchment which was published in 1977.
Book has a yellow spine with a picture printed directly on the boards. The back cover features an advertisement for The Nancy Drew cookbook. Endpapers have multiple black and white pictures and there are six plain illustrations.
"9518"--Spine.
The crash -- Suspicious message -- Spooky grounds -- Newspaper clue -- Alligator attack -- Exciting evening -- False information -- Doubing workmen -- Jungle threat -- Disastrous fire -- Off the market -- Frustrated thief -- Eerie inspection -- Outsmarting a liar -- Stolen car -- Misfit shoes -- Tear gas --- A ruse works -- The mansion's secret -- Countdown