Street Spies

The Hardy Boys Casefiles #21

by Franklin W. Dixon

The Hardy brothers, Frank and Joe, are back for further adventures in this story.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Young Adult

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Franklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors who were part of a team that wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate (now owned by Simon & Schuster). Dixon was also the writer attributed for the Ted Scott Flying Stories series, published by Grosset & Dunlap.
Canadian author Leslie McFarlane is believed to have written the first sixteen Hardy Boys books, but worked to a detailed plot and character outline for each story. The outlines are believed to have originated with Edward Stratemeyer, with later books outlined by his daughters Edna C. Squier and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. Edward and Harriet also edited all books in the series through the mid-1960s. Other writers of the original books include MacFarlane's wife Amy, John Button, Andrew E. Svenson, and Adams herself; most of the outlines were done by Adams and Svenson. A number of other writers and editors were recruited to revise the outlines and update the texts in line with a more modern sensibility, starting in the late 1950s.
The principal author for the Ted Scott books was John W. Duffield.

Reviews

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first read Hardy Boys, I think I was in class 5, I had such a crush on Frank Hardy. I liked the brainy one over the brawny one and that sums up my first impression of Hardy Boys.
In their late teens, Frank and Joe Hardy take after their detective father Fenton Hardy. Frank is the older of the two and has more breakthroughs in the cases because he is the brainy one. Joe is the younger brother who more often than not is useful when things get hot and they need to fight their way out.
Like Nancy Drew, the books in the The Hardy Boys series re written by ghostwriters under the collective pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon. And yes, the earlier books were better than the latter ones.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a vivid memory of this, among all Hardy Boys books I read in like 4th grade. Because it introduced me to the very idea of riding a bike in a city. I had these memories of Joe Hardy riding through New York traffic that were really appealing. And when I was in my 20s, weaving a bicycle around downtown traffic jams, I would think back to this.

Anyway this book was fine for what it is. I certainly forgot all about how the Casefiles were a grim reboot of the Hardy Boys concept, with Joe's girlfriend having been blown up by a car bomb in the first book. I am not really into it, seems unnecessarily violent!

[Henry Bowring-McDonough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, by Franklin W. Dixon, is the two brothers Joe and Frank Hardy investigating and eventually solving a case of theft between companies. It includes romance, suspicion, betrayal, violence, chases through New York, secrets and lies- all leading up to a grand finale. I would reccomend this book to anyone looking for an action/adventure-packed roller coaster of a book. 5 stars!!

[Daniel Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

So the hardy boys find themselves as bike carriers in New york city. With corporate espionage at stake being shuttled through the carrier service that the boys find themselves working for. It's up to Frank and Joe to save the day.

[Akhil · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good

[Dannuel Delizo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always find computer anomalies terrific! No wonder why I have a computer geek boyfriend. hahahahaha.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. the story reminds me of the spy-kids series :)