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The Hardy Boys Casefiles #4
The Lazarus Plot
Murder is the newest branch of science
Camped out in the Maine woods, the Hardy boys get a real jolt when they glimpse Joe's old girlfriend, Iola Morton. Can it really be the same girl who was blown to bits before their eyes by a terrorist bomb? Frantically searching for her, Frank and Joe are trapped in the lair of the most diabolical team of scientists ever assembled.
Twisting technology to their own ends, the criminals create perfect replicas of the brothers. Now the survival of a top-secret government intelligence organization is at stake. Frank and Joe must discover the bizarre truth about Iola and face their doubles alone - before the scientists unleash one final, deadly experiment.
Camped out in the Maine woods, the Hardy boys get a real jolt when they glimpse Joe's old girlfriend, Iola Morton. Can it really be the same girl who was blown to bits before their eyes by a terrorist bomb? Frantically searching for her, Frank and Joe are trapped in the lair of the most diabolical team of scientists ever assembled.
Twisting technology to their own ends, the criminals create perfect replicas of the brothers. Now the survival of a top-secret government intelligence organization is at stake. Frank and Joe must discover the bizarre truth about Iola and face their doubles alone - before the scientists unleash one final, deadly experiment.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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301 people want to read
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
761 books994 followersFranklin 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 1, 2021
Though I've been reading quite a bit of Nancy Drew lately, I hadn't read much Hardy Boys in a while until today...but, I'm glad I tried this one! An intense story worthy of a television serial, this one kept me gripped!
November 4, 2014
In my mid-teens I got a library card for the first time. By this point in time I had read a LOT of the 'classic' teen mystery series, starting with the Boxcar Children and the Bobbsey Twins (good luck finding *those* anymore), Encyclopedia Brown and of course the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. Of those, the Hardy boys were my favorite and so you can perhaps imagine my delight to find out that Franklin W. Dixon was still around and kicking and putting out new mysteries to read!
I didn't even mind that these stories were like a decade old by the time I got around to reading them. I was basically exactly what I wanted, the classic mystery-solving teens premise given some extra punch for the nineties with an actual overarching plotline and villains, some ramped up violence (they KILLED a significant character in the *first* novel!) AND some mysterious shadowy government agents both aiding and hindering the protagonists. Suffice it to say this blew my young mind. I would certainly read through them again (I could knock out at least one a day before) if I didn't fear that they wouldn't hold up in either the literary or temporal sense. They've probably aged badly. The fact that the library didn't have all of the series also meant that certain plotlines never got resolved, but even reading them in a scattered order they were a rollicking ride that I have fond memories of reading.
This particular book in the series is the one that sticks with me the most for a lot of reasons. It was a major mindfreak on my first readthrough, as it teased you with the idea that maybe characters could survive apparent death through the wonders of modern (for 1991) medicine and then, throwing in multiple twists that were just about as mindblowing... for young me. Where before mysteries would be relatively straightforward: you follow the clues and eventually catch up to the villain who then explains it all, this one kept you guessing and even left some questions UNanswered. It also really plays with the ideas of personal identity both in terms of what one thinks of oneself and how others view you, and the ethics of using medical science to do evil acts.
Now, I'm probably lavishing too much praise on this book, but I cannot understate the value it had in young me's life, all the new concepts it introduced to me which would later be explored in more esteemed works. I don't think its a stretch to attribute this book with beginning my interest in the Sci-fi genre which I eventually transitioned over to from Mysteries (though I can still never resist a *good* mystery story).
So I rate this one highly purely on the fact that it has stuck in my mind for so long and elicits such a fond feeling of remembrance. If I ever go back and reread it I'll revise my opinion as needed.
I didn't even mind that these stories were like a decade old by the time I got around to reading them. I was basically exactly what I wanted, the classic mystery-solving teens premise given some extra punch for the nineties with an actual overarching plotline and villains, some ramped up violence (they KILLED a significant character in the *first* novel!) AND some mysterious shadowy government agents both aiding and hindering the protagonists. Suffice it to say this blew my young mind. I would certainly read through them again (I could knock out at least one a day before) if I didn't fear that they wouldn't hold up in either the literary or temporal sense. They've probably aged badly. The fact that the library didn't have all of the series also meant that certain plotlines never got resolved, but even reading them in a scattered order they were a rollicking ride that I have fond memories of reading.
This particular book in the series is the one that sticks with me the most for a lot of reasons. It was a major mindfreak on my first readthrough, as it teased you with the idea that maybe characters could survive apparent death through the wonders of modern (for 1991) medicine and then, throwing in multiple twists that were just about as mindblowing... for young me. Where before mysteries would be relatively straightforward: you follow the clues and eventually catch up to the villain who then explains it all, this one kept you guessing and even left some questions UNanswered. It also really plays with the ideas of personal identity both in terms of what one thinks of oneself and how others view you, and the ethics of using medical science to do evil acts.
Now, I'm probably lavishing too much praise on this book, but I cannot understate the value it had in young me's life, all the new concepts it introduced to me which would later be explored in more esteemed works. I don't think its a stretch to attribute this book with beginning my interest in the Sci-fi genre which I eventually transitioned over to from Mysteries (though I can still never resist a *good* mystery story).
So I rate this one highly purely on the fact that it has stuck in my mind for so long and elicits such a fond feeling of remembrance. If I ever go back and reread it I'll revise my opinion as needed.
November 16, 2015
So, first review ever. (CONTAINS SPOILERS.)
These books are so short that I can finish about three in one day. But with that being said, I grew up with the Hardy Boys so I'm still a fan to this day. I read Dead on Target and was absolutely devastated when I read that Iola died, especially after I saw how awful Joe was doing. So when I read the summary for this book and saw that Iola WAS alive, I was ecstatic, reading it in just an hour or so. Of course, it wasn't actually her, but Joe has faith that she's still alive, so I'll keep on reading until I'm proved otherwise. The Hardy Boys still entertain me, 15 years after originally starting them.
These books are so short that I can finish about three in one day. But with that being said, I grew up with the Hardy Boys so I'm still a fan to this day. I read Dead on Target and was absolutely devastated when I read that Iola died, especially after I saw how awful Joe was doing. So when I read the summary for this book and saw that Iola WAS alive, I was ecstatic, reading it in just an hour or so. Of course, it wasn't actually her, but Joe has faith that she's still alive, so I'll keep on reading until I'm proved otherwise. The Hardy Boys still entertain me, 15 years after originally starting them.
April 11, 2011
When I was still schooling, I tried to read all of the Hardy Boys books. I didn't come close to finishing the whole series, and by now I had already forgot most of the content of those that I had read. But I do recall how much I loved reading each and every one of them.
March 5, 2022
I was probably too young to read this (I was under 10 at the time) and the mad scientist tropes were a bit much. However, I still remember some of its lines, and the concept still creeps me out. Which I suppose shows it worked.
June 11, 2019
Was the first book I read in the hardy boys casefiles. The plot was interesting and the idea of the duplicate hardys was great
June 25, 2018
I normally love everything I read, and I did enjoy this book. I personally believe that though this book was an eye catcher, it didn’t make a lot of sense. I found myself going back and finding what I missed. This book also seemed like they were trying for it to be realistic, yet in an unrealistic way. This book was okay, but not one of my favorites...
December 18, 2025
Uhhhhhhhhh…what just happened? Everyone has an evil twin including Joe’s dead girlfriend, they face off against a quite literal Nazi and a former KGB guy, they leave it open ended if Iola is really dead or not, and then the brothers shake hands??? Like, holy trauma Batman and they don’t even HUG?!?!?!?!?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2020
Read the complete collection of adventures and case-files in the 90s. Still have most of them in the study bookshelf. A collection every kid should have.
November 17, 2022
Frank and Joe are noticeably different characters in this, which is an interesting change. Mostly that's really downplayed.
December 16, 2024
It was a fun, quick read.
June 6, 2019
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.
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.
June 8, 2024
The plot is as good as they come, but for me the focal point was the appearance of "Iola Morton". For the first time we get a real glimpse of the rage that drives Joe and his itching desire to put the ruthless killers of his girlfriend to justice. Gone is merry hero we knew, replaced by this cold, dark avenger. And, credit to the author, that was one hell of a plot twist. Heck, I actually believed Iola had survived the bomb blast in Dead On Target and was in hiding all this time... at least until the big revelation that she was fake.
May 1, 2020
Frank and Joe have spotted Iola out in the forest...and yet, they were sure she was dead - which means that an investigation is imminent, leading the boys to a crazy experiment that could very well have the Hardy Boys taken out of the picture permanently! Dixon gives fans a strangely science fiction entry that will likely leave fans more baffled than anything.
July 18, 2014
IM SO BORED THAT I'M ALREADY DONE READING THE FIRST 10 BOOKS. BLOODY ELL?! SO, LOLA MORTON WAS ALIVE AGAIN? WTF! THIS BOOK IS THE FATHER OF ALL CLICHES! BUT YEAH, MIND YOU, THIS BOOK IS OLDER THAN MOI!
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September 20, 2007Dixon, Franklin W.
December 23, 2012
For being so short this book has some neat twists... Want to read the other Hardy Boys stories (so many), imagine how well i'd do on my reading challenge :)
February 26, 2016
This one was a bit hard to swallow. An organization which can fully makeover someone to look and sound exactly like you and then program their minds to know and act like you.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews