House on cliff had a secret passage, read in '86 - '88

[Amy]

I did a book report on this book when I was a kid, and I can't remember the author or the title. I made a model of the house for my book report, so that was what stood out to me -- the house on the cliffs. I think the discovery of secret passages or one passage in the walls was a big part of the advancement of the plot. I remember the author had other books I'd read and it surprised me that it was the same person. The main character was a girl, but I think there were two young people (both girls?) in the story. I'm pretty sure it was in New England, and that the cliffs were overlooking the sea. It seems to me that it was not a modern story, or at least not set in the 80s when I read it. There was something they were trying to figure out, but I'm afraid I can't remember much more. I liked it and the other books by the author, and I was hoping to read with my middle school daughter and thought this book or author might be a good choice. I had a suspicion that it was Lois Lowry, but I've looked over her books and didn't see anything like it. There's lots of books we could choose, but for a few years I've been asking myself what WAS that book with the house and the secret passage.... Any help would be appreciated. :)

[Jerry]

I know you said that the main character was a girl, but in reading your description of the book I'm reminded of the Hardy Boys and the House on the Cliff.

[Jerry]

Looking up similar books, I came across The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene. It is the second book of the Nancy Drew series.

[Amy]

I'm 99% sure it wasn't Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys, because I never got into those series. But I will happily pick them up and check them out to make sure. I feel like the name wasn't something obvious, and the larger parts of the plot (family conflict or tragic circumstances) have escaped my memories.

[Rainbowheart]

The Cliff House Mystery?

Unmysterious mystery, this story is centered around a blind boy kidnapped by his grandmother, who is trying to make her son-in-law appear irresponsible in the eyes of her daughter, the boy's mother. Assisted by Mollie O'Neal, who is next door baby-sitting, he decides to fool the grandmother by hiding in a secret room which they have conveniently discovered. For added, but irrelevant, excitement a brief appearance is made by an elderly gentleman who was responsible for an old, unsolved murder, and who comes to the secret room to collect his loot. Just why the boy can't leave the house with Molly, or how the grandmother intends to explain the situation to the mother, is the most mysterious part of a contrived, unimaginative adventure.

[Chelsea]

Could it be The House of Dies Drear? (I'm on the app and can't figure out how to link, sorry) The main character is a boy but it has a house on cliffs, a creepy caretaker that lives in a cave, and secret passages that have some connection to the underground railroad.

[Capn]

I was going to offer The Island of Adventure and The Castle of Adventure, as I believe both take place on cliff-top houses (or a castle, in the case of the latter). Both are by Enid Blyton, and are republished regularly.

Link for Chelsea's response: The House of Dies Drear
Links for Jerry's responses (already ruled out): The Hidden Staircase & The House on the Cliff