Walkthrough – MHM

This walkthrough for Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion (2000) (MHM) is listed by the game triggers, or logic flags. It is generally in the order of gameplay since the order of player choices can vary from game to game. Playing on the junior detective or senior detective level does not affect the triggers. The culprit is not spoiled on this page. The BOLDED items are required to complete the game. Have a specific question? Click here to see the Trigger List by topic!

There is an in-game clock. The time can be seen on Nancy’s bedroom alarm clock, as well as the pocket watch in the user interface, at the lower-left corner of the screen. Each character has different hours of availability, with three of them listing their schedule in the dining room. Here is the complete schedule:

• Louis – available from noon to 5pm (after you have met the others)
• Rose – available from 6am to 10pm
• Charlie – available from 8am to 5pm
• Abby – available from 8am to 3pm, and 6pm to 10pm

Full Walkthrough:

1. Opening slides, Main Menu, choose New Game
2. Choose difficulty level
3. Opening introduction letter – triggered by choosing the difficulty level 
4. Read the tapestry – this triggers Nancy’s audible comments on all future Chinese symbols related to this poem.
5. Explore the room – notice the bed footboard design, the bedpost (stuck), the dragon table near the fireplace, dragon statue on the mantle (Note the Chinese symbol for “daughters“, Nancy will audible speak this after reading the tapestry.)
6. Unlock suitcase – requires using the modern key in your inventory.
7. Read your diary – entries will be added as you discover information.
8. Notice your alarm clock by the bed. (Clicking “Cancel” will let you back out.)
9. Leave the room and explore the halls: see ventilation grate, dumb waiter door.
10. Knock on the door by the mirror to talk to Abby (if before 3:00pm. Abby is gone from 3-6pm).
11. Abby excuses herself to prepare for the evening.
12. Take the narrow stairs down to the first-level halls.
13. Enter the double doors into the dining room.
14. Talk to Rose about the renovations (Rose is available from 6am to 10pm).
15. Receive first task to solve the wood tile inlay puzzle right behind her on the floor.
16. Solve wood tile inlay puzzle (triggered by the first conversation with Rose).
17. Talk to Rose about finishing the wood tile inlay, receive a new task to chip away the paint from the ceiling upstairs.
18. Ask Rose how she met Abby, then about what Abby is planning for tonight.
19. Explore dining room: see renovation work on the table, alcove with a magazine.
20. Look at the cabinet: find the clipboard with everyone’s schedule, paper in a drawer with Chinese symbol for “fire“. (Nancy will say this out loud if she read the tapestry.)
21. Leave the dining room and enter the door to the right of the stained glass door.
22. Step into the basement.
23. Meet Charlie.
24. Explore basement saloon: see book on drinks on the bar, open piano bench to find the Chinese symbol for “river” (Nancy will say it out loud if she read the tapestry), notice the piano keys, the piano compartment is stuck, newspaper, old theater flyer.
25. Enter the grand foyer by returning upstairs to the first floor, and turn right to go through the stained glass door.
26. Explore the foyer: notice the floor design of the phoenix, the phoenix banister posts (one is missing an eye), see sitting area (ghostly motion on the left chair is triggered by the first approach to the chairs), the pictures above the chairs, the stained glass window above the main doors, the scaffolding.
27. Find the paint scraper on the floor under the scaffolding, move the paint tray to pick it up.
28. To the right of the sitting area, left of the grandfather clock, enter through the door to the parlor.
29. Explore the parlor: see roses in the vase, phoenix side table, book on Subterranean San Francisco, cupboard with fire extinguisher, curtains in alcove (hear ghostly sounds as the curtains flutter with an invisible force, triggered by the first approach to the alcove), a box of old papers across from the fireplace, writing desk with two letters in the left drawer, notice phone.
30. Enter double doors to the library.
31. Meet Louis (if it is between 12:15pm and 5:00pm, and you have met the other characters.) Be sure to ask him “Do you think Charlie is doing a good job?” before you talk to him about the accidents. If he excuses himself, try talking to him again.
32. (If Louis is gone, explore the desk: see the book on chess, and use the laptop. Solve the maze puzzle to gain access. Tip: click M on your keyboard to see a small map in the dialogue box. When in the laptop, see the file cabinet icon and see the passwords list.)
33. Explore library: bookshelf with horse statue and the piano book, green book on the box to the left of the desk featuring the illustrations of the firebird, bookshelf to the left of the desk – move books to find a fireplace tile, bookshelf with a picture frame and the book on music notes, blue book on the box about Legends of San Francisco, the Mah Jong tiles with the Chinese symbol for “four” (Nancy will say this out loud if she read the tapestry), the fireplace with 3 missing tiles and a stuck lever.
34. Back in the parlor, use the phone on the desk to call Bess and George. Be sure to say you “…met the resident handyman, Charlie.”
35. Call Hannah Gruen at your Home number. Be sure to say “I met Rose’s handyman. He seems nice.” and then choose “Has Rose said anything about him and the accidents?” (This is triggered by meeting Charlie and then Louis.)
36. Leave library and parlor.
37. Take the staircase on the left to go upstairs.
38. Hear the ghostly “I see you” voice and see the female portrait blink (triggered by the first walk up these stairs from the lower level)
39. At the top of the stairs, enter the hall to the right to find the ladder – ladder availability is triggered by talking to Rose about finishing the wood tile inlay puzzle.
40. Use the paint scraper on the ceiling, discover a locked trap door.
41. Head downstairs and talk to Rose about your discovery, receive task to fix the dumbwaiter in the hall.
42. Talk to Rose about the papers in the parlor, how she found Charlie, how she knows Louis, and Lizzie Applegate (triggered by reading the book on legends).
43. Head upstairs to knock on Abby’s door. (Make sure it is not 3-6pm.)
44. Abby will tell you the spirits wish to speak with you and to meet her in the basement.
45. Séance scene: triggered by talking to Rose, then Louis, then Abby again when each person is available, before changing the clock to the next day.
46. Arrive back in your room, hear a ghostly whoosh.
47. Use the paint scraper on the bedpost – get a desk key.
48. Instead of going to bed by changing the clock, immediately leave the room.
49. Walk out to the hall, hear a woman crying and try to find where the noise is coming from (ventilation, which is screwed on tight). See ghostly shadow in the hallway ahead before getting close to the ventilation.
50. Head downstairs, enter the basement, and examine the table – find the smoke machine and pick up the cassette tape.
51. Examine the toolbox at Charlie’s work station – take the screwdriver.
52. Examine the old cash register on the bar – press the button on the far right to open the drawer. Take the key to the attic.
53. Close cash drawer by clicking on the spider web.
54. Examine fireplace – the grate is stuck.
55. Leave the basement – before climbing the stairs, you’ll see the door close – someone was spying on you!
56. Enter the dining room and snoop Rose’s space.
57. See the two papers on home insurance, Louis’s letter, the to-do list.
58. Step over to the alcove for an extra fright – the lights flicker, candles are lit, and whispering is heard.
59. Leave the dining room and go upstairs to return to the ladder.
60. Use the long, skeleton key that you found in the cash register in the basement to unlock the trap door.
61. Explore attic – triggered by using skeleton key. See newspapers, old diary, Mysterious Storybook.
62. Get fireplace tile by the bottles on the barrel.
63. Get crowbar from tool crate.
64. Get iron from the trunk next to the doll head.
65. See locked writing desk.
66. Use short desk key to unlock desk. (The key from your bed post.)
67. Examine desk contents – see picture of Lizzie Applegate, letter from E. Valdez, The Bandit’s Treasure cast list.
68. See paper in desk cubby with the Chinese symbol for “beginning.“
69. See music sheet – notice the lower torn section, and notice the highlighted notes at the top: BEGAG.
70. Leave the attic through the trap door, the rope handle breaks.
71. Use the crowbar to pry open the trapdoor.
72. Now in the hall, walk forward and hear a ghostly moan.
73. Use the screwdriver on the ventilation grate on the wall – on the four screws in each corner.
74. See the speaker.
75. Head downstairs to the lower hall.
76. Open the door to the dumbwaiter and tie the iron onto the rope.
77. Go upstairs to open the upper floor dumbwaiter – take the fireplace tile.
78. Notice the Chinese symbol for “eye.“
79. Close the dumbwaiter and head downstairs and make your way to the parlor.
80. In the parlor, step towards the phoenix side table ahead of you to see the head move. Head towards the library door. Stop to notice the roses – which are now dead.
81. Enter the library.
82. Place the three fireplace tiles on the mantle.
83. Pull the phoenix lever and enter the hidden room behind the bookcase.
84. Take the lantern.
85. See the painting with the Chinese symbol for “child.“
86. Notice the moveable brick and painting slider peephole.
87. Use the lever to open the bookcase and leave the hidden room.
88. If it is before 8am, head down to the basement. If you are in the foyer about to step through the stained-glass door to the lower halls, you will see a human shadow pass behind the door.
89. Play the piano keys BEGAG to open the panel.
90. Take the torn sheet.
91. Use crowbar on fireplace grate, use lantern to light the path.
92. Explore the hideout – see the two-way mirror looking into the saloon, read the postcard, take the floppy disk, book on El Diablo, notice the Chinese takeout box and symbol for “king.“
93. Leave the hideout and enter the halls.
94. Go to the library (make sure it is before noon).
95. Snoop the desk: see book on chess, and use the diskette on the laptop. Solve the maze puzzle to unlock it.
96. View all the computer applications.
97. Note the laptop login is: username “Louis,” and password “Antiques” for the future to re-login.
98. Click on the diskette icon to read Charlie’s research.
99. Leave the laptop and enter the parlor.
100. Call Bess and George and tell them “I found a secret room in the basement and it looks like someone is living there.”
101. Call Hannah Gruen and tell her “This house is full of surprises. I found a secret room in the basement where someone has been living.”
102. Leave the parlor and return to the attic, open up the desk.
103. Click on the music sheet and the lower portion up close, use your inventory portion, and match it to this paper.
104. Note the words “find Diego on stairs.”
105. Leave attic and head to the top of the stairs outside the hall into the grand foyer.
106. Step up to the banister and rotate the individual balusters to spell DIEGO (then the balusters will rotate to read “Diego coins false floor”).
107. Peek inside the secret compartment and take the gold pendant.
108. Read the letter.
109. Return to your bedroom and change the clock to 8:00 am.
110. As you leave the bedroom, someone slips an envelope under your door. Read the threatening note inside it. SAVE GAME HERE FOR TESTING
111. Talk to Abby – tell her “I found out how you rigged the séance table with the projector…”
112. Be sure to talk to Abby about Charlie – ask “What kind of person is Charlie?” and “…if he lives around here?”
113. Tell Abby you heard a woman crying in the hallway.
114. Go to the dining room and talk to Rose about the dead roses and then the speaker in the vent. You can also talk to her about Louis and if she has seen any rainbow designs in the house.
115. Head down to the basement to talk to Charlie – he comments on the séance.
116. Tell Charlie you found his diskette, then ask any follow-up questions about his research, such as the gold robbery. You can gossip about Abby – how does he like working for her? 
117. Tell Charlie “Charlie, I know your secret…” (Is this available AFTER confronting Abby? No, still not available at this point.)
118. Return to your room and change the clock to 3pm.
119. Enter Abby’s room – but keep an eye on the clock to leave before 6pm.
120. Snoop Abby’s room: see the book on her side table that has a story of Lizzie Applegate, notice the book on fortune-telling on the writing table, open the drawer to find the incense with the symbol for “moon“, the bookshelf with the book on Chinese Zodiac (be sure to note the order of the animals), open the picture frame window, open the trunk to notice the dead roses and book on illusion.
121. Look closer at the shelves with Abby’s sound system. Open the jewelry box and take the spider pendant. Use the pendant to open the wardrobe.
122. In the wardrobe, notice the monitors on the top shelf with camera footage of the hallways, play the sound effect buttons on the middle shelf and insert the cassette tape into the player. Press the play button to hear part of the séance recording.
123. Return the spider pendant to the jewelry box and leave Abby’s room.
124. Make your way to the parlor.
125. There is a fire! Immediately turn to the corner cabinet to retrieve the fire extinguisher. Step over to the box on fire and use the extinguisher on it.
126. Talk to Rose about the fire. Ask “Excuse me for prying, but why did you spend so much money to insure the house against fire?”
127. Go to the basement to talk to Charlie about the fireplace.
128. Return to the parlor and examine the burnt box. Notice the pieces of paper and you may recognize them as Rose’s letters from the desk! The valuable papers (the phone company list) is no longer here in the box.
129. Return to the desk and open the drawer to find Rose’s letters missing. Perhaps these were used to start the fire?
130. Enter the library and talk to Louis. Ask him about the fireplace screen.
131. Leave the library and return upstairs – if you listen closely, you can hear Rose and Abby in a room arguing about the fire and collecting the insurance money.
132. Return to your room and open your suitcase with your key. Take a look at your diary notes. Change the clock to 11am.
133. Leave your room and knock on Abby’s door to talk to her about the fire. And 2nd confrontation?
134. Make your way to the library. Pull the lever to enter the hidden room behind the fireplace.
135. Peep through the painting peephole and spy on Louis. He put a book in his briefcase!
136. Once Louis leaves the library, exit the hidden room and snoop his briefcase. (If you haven’t found the briefcase combination, it can be found on Louis’s laptop under the key icon.)
137. Step up to the briefcase and scroll the dials on the left side to show 4653 and on the right side 4868.
138. Snoop the briefcase: there is a 30-second real-world timer for when Louis comes back. If you start by reading the book about Gum Bo Fu, the timer stops and you’ll be able to view the newspaper clipping of your past case, the magazine article that is circled, Louis’s business card, and a letter of appraisal. 
139. Leave the library and make a phone call in the parlor to your friend Emily Foxworth. Ask her if she knows what Gum Bo Fu is. (While on the phone call, you may hear the sound of two doors opening and closing.) Emily suggests talking to everyone in the house about this, while she asks her friends.
140. Ask Charlie, Rose, Abby and then Louis what ‘Gum Bo Fu’ means, changing the clock in your bedroom to be sure to catch everyone when they are available. When asking Louis, be sure to lie to him and say “I read about it in a magazine.”
141. Return to Rose in the dining room. She will let you know that everyone will be attending the winter festival and Charlie is studying for finals, so you’ll have the house to yourself for a while. Rose mentions that a letter came for you and is in your room. She also removed a tapestry for cleaning.
142. Go to your room and find the letter on the chair, to the left of your suitcases. It’s from Emily! Notice the meaning of Gum Bo Fu, and the symbol for “gold.”
143. Look towards your bed and examine the wall paneling to the right where the tapestry once was. Notice the Chinese Zodiac animals are buttons to press.
144. Solve the Chinese Zodiac puzzle. Recall the order of animals from Abby’s book, or from Emily: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Boar (pig).
145. There is a safe in the wall! The dial is marked by Chinese Hanzi symbols, which match the symbols for the poem tapestry elements. Enter the combination of symbols in this order: child, beginning, daughters, four, eye, fire, moon, king, river, gold. The safe opens!
146. Explore the safe: read the will, the two love letters, the marriage certificate, and the jewelry box.
147. Use the gold pendant on the pyramid to unlock the puzzles.
148. Solve the Moon-Sun Flip puzzle.
149. Solve the phoenix slider puzzle.
150. Take the ruby.
151. Head down to the foyer (if taking the path towards the main staircase, at the top of the stairs you will hear maniacal laughter.)
152. Place the ruby in the eye of the phoenix head on the banister. (Make sure it is daytime.)
153. Use your crowbar on the phoenix design that is pointed out to you.
154. A cinematic plays out. When you take control again, go up the stairs to your right and walk across to where the chandelier rope is tethered. Untie the rope three times to drop it on the culprit.
155. The End

If any of the above is incorrect, needs revisions, or if I am missing something, please let me know in the comments below! My goal is to collect the most accurate and thorough information to better help all Nancy Drew game players!

Additional Credit and Thanks:

Huw Miller of Nancy Drew Walkthroughs on YouTube

The Nancy Drew Games Fan community on Facebook

adv_veo on YouTube