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The Hardy Boys #36

The Secret of Pirates' Hill

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In a series of hair-raising adventures both on land and undersea the teen-age brother detectives pit their wits against some of the most ruthless criminals they have ever encountered. It all starts when Frank and Joe are skin diving just for fun and the thrill of exploring the undersea world. Suddenly, deep in the waters that flow near the foot of Pirates' Hill, a mysterious skin diver fires a spear through Frank's air hose.

From this moment on, danger is never far away. The very lives of the boys are at stake as they, with the help of their pals Chet Morton and Tony Prito, uncover a mystery involving an old Spanish cannon and a fabulous sunken treasure. Again, Franklin W. Dixon has woven a suspense-filled story that will thrill his many fans.

213 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1956

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About the author

Franklin W. Dixon

784 books1,001 followers
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.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Profile Image for Craig.
6,631 reviews184 followers
March 4, 2023
The first Hardy Boys books appeared in 1927 and have continued to current times in one form or another. Between 1959 and 1973, the first 38 books in the series were revised or updated under the direction of the daughter of Edward Stratmeyer, whose syndicate produced the originals as well as many hundreds of other books for young readers in the last century. Most of the early original Hardys were written by Leslie McFarlane under the Franklin W. Dixon house pseudonym, but this one was written by John Almquist and appeared in 1956. It was revised by Priscilla Baker-Carr and her version appeared in 1972. I read the series as a child in the mid-1960s, and now, in -my- mid-60s, have been re-reading some of them, the original and revised versions back-to-back, for the fun of comparison. I've read the original followed by the revision up to now, but this time I read the shortened version first. The 1956 edition has 213 pages in 25 chapters, and the 1972 has 178 pages and 20 chapters. Some of the re-boots are entirely new stories, but this one has just been shortened, with descriptions and bits of humor and character excised. The Hardys are charged with finding an ancient Spanish cannon, which leads to a quest for lost pirate treasure. Their pal Chet Morton is along for most of the ride, and secondary chum Tony Prito helps out. Frank's girlfriend Callie Shaw appears, as does Chet's sister Iola, who is Joe's girlfriend. Aunt Gertrude plays a big part, especially in the original, and we learn she's in charge of the local historical society. One thing I noticed in the original (which was deleted by Ms. Baker-Carr) is a Freudian innuendo from a character named Gorman directed to Iola and Callie in which he offers: "I'll be glad to give you girls cannon instruction any time you say." I'm surprised that made it past the Grosset & Dunlap editors! On the other hand, the 1972 edition has an interior illustration of Iola on the beach wearing a two-piece swimsuit, which Edward Stratemeyer would surely never have countenanced. It's a fun if implausible story; I'd say the revision would perhaps be appropriate for an age eight to ten and the original for an eleven to thirteen range. I'll give the original a four and the revision a two to get an average average. (One amusing thing is that both covers show skin-diving Hardys being menaced by sea creatures, a shark on the original and by a stingray on the second, but no such scenes appear in either version.)
Profile Image for Craig.
6,631 reviews184 followers
March 4, 2023
The first Hardy Boys books appeared in 1927 and have continued to current times in one form or another. Between 1959 and 1973, the first 38 books in the series were revised or updated under the direction of the daughter of Edward Stratmeyer, whose syndicate produced the originals as well as many hundreds of other books for young readers in the last century. Most of the early original Hardys were written by Leslie McFarlane under the Franklin W. Dixon house pseudonym, but this one was written by John Almquist and appeared in 1956. It was revised by Priscilla Baker-Carr and her version appeared in 1972. I read the series as a child in the mid-1960s, and now, in -my- mid-60s, have been re-reading some of them, the original and revised versions back-to-back, for the fun of comparison. I've read the original followed by the revision up to now, but this time I read the shortened version first. The 1956 edition has 213 pages in 25 chapters, and the 1972 has 178 pages and 20 chapters. Some of the re-boots are entirely new stories, but this one has just been shortened, with descriptions and bits of humor and character excised. The Hardys are charged with finding an ancient Spanish cannon, which leads to a quest for lost pirate treasure. Their pal Chet Morton is along for most of the ride, and secondary chum Tony Prito helps out. Frank's girlfriend Callie Shaw appears, as does Chet's sister Iola, who is Joe's girlfriend. Aunt Gertrude plays a big part, especially in the original, and we learn she's in charge of the local historical society. One thing I noticed in the original (which was deleted by Ms. Baker-Carr) is a Freudian innuendo from a character named Gorman directed to Iola and Callie in which he offers: "I'll be glad to give you girls cannon instruction any time you say." I'm surprised that made it past the Grosset & Dunlap editors! On the other hand, the 1972 edition has an interior illustration of Iola on the beach wearing a two-piece swimsuit, which Edward Stratemeyer would surely never have countenanced. It's a fun if implausible story; I'd say the revision would perhaps be appropriate for an age eight to ten and the original for an eleven to thirteen range. I'll give the original a four and the revision a two to get an average average. (One amusing thing is that both covers show skin-diving Hardys being menaced by sea creatures, a shark on the original and by a stingray on the second, but no such scenes appear in either version.)
Profile Image for Mikayla.
1,219 reviews
January 19, 2021
Hardy Boys are my fun reads. I never go into them expecting a whole lot. This was a fun once read. I enjoyed the mystery. Not their best, but not too bad.

2021>> I didn't actually intend to re-read this. I just picked it up for fun, and I enjoyed it. It was very... random, but I still liked it.
Profile Image for Lauren Schultz.
237 reviews27 followers
April 6, 2016
The Secret of Pirates Hill is your typical rollicking Hardy Boys adventure novel, with one notable and fantastic addition - a scene where Aunt Gertrude steps in and saves her nephews by repeatedly whacking the villain with an antique cutlass! Prim and disapproving Aunt Gertrude is usually relegated to the Hardy home, where she habitually bakes pies and plies Frank, Joe and their friends with hearty sandwiches for lunch and roasts for dinner. She is always saving a few extra slices of pie or pieces of cobbler for their overweight buddy Chet, who is consequently her biggest fan. But in this novel, Gertrude Hardy is given a shocking amount of personal identity!

Ms. Hardy has recently been elected as President of the Bayport Historical Society, so apparently she does get out of the house more often than just for afternoon tea with the other "maiden ladies" in the neighborhood. When Frank and Joe get brained by a thief with a tire iron, knocked unconscious and go tumbling down the basement stairs of the Bayport Historical Society, Aunt Gertrude comes rushing in to see what has caused such a ruckus. Then, despite having no weapons training (of which we are aware), she proceeds to pick up the cutlass and really give it to the hardened motorcycle-driving badass ex-con who has broken in to steal their ancient weapons collection. She manages to force the thief to ditch the loot, perform first aid on her nephews and take the lead when the police show up on the scene to question witnesses. The final triumph for Gertrude is that her bravery is honored by the Historical Society, whose members vote to present her with the cutlass as a trophy.

In the typical fashion of the fast-paced Hardy Boys novels, all these events take place within one or two short chapters. Yet that is one or two more chapters than female characters are usually given in the Hardy Boys novels, so I think it's a pretty notable instance. Not to mention hilarious.
Profile Image for Jason.
2,402 reviews14 followers
January 7, 2023
I liked the history of artillery in this one, as well as Aunt Gertrude's gumption! It dawned on my while reading this that Mrs. Hardy is a bit of a ditz. I mean she's married to a world famous private investigator, and her sons are both accomplished detectives in their own right, and none of that has rubbed off on her. She has apparently managed to escape absorbing any knowledge or forethought that her husband or sons exhibit. Book after book, she pu,ll soe bone head move that just shouldn't happen!
Profile Image for Stef Rozitis.
1,743 reviews85 followers
July 1, 2022
Not sure why I read this. Maybe for old time's sake? Maybe for the laughable masculinities? Maybe for the accidentally (or are they?) homoerotic moments.

There were cannons and good-looking boys gazing at them, and people being tied up in their bathers and "a handsome strapping man in his early forties" handcuffing people and fast cars...and girls cooking them lunch (vomit).

Yeah. For some reason these are still around.
Profile Image for The Voracious Bibliophile.
323 reviews23 followers
August 26, 2019
Okay, so these books are not nearly as magical as they were when I first read them as a child but is anything as magical as childhood? Also, I’m realizing for the first time that I had a major crush on both Frank and Joe Hardy, mainly Joe because he’s blonde and need I say more? Anyway, these books will always hold a special place in my heart and I’ll love you forever, Joe Hardy. ❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for Happy Super Derek.
16 reviews
February 21, 2025
Good they get like 250000 dollar at the end and they just gave it away to Tony Prito 😡😡😡 otherwise the book is good👍
Profile Image for Preetam Chatterjee.
7,534 reviews380 followers
September 10, 2025
#Binge Reviewing My Past Reads: Hardy Boys

(Read between 1990 and 1996 in M.P. Birla School library and punctiliously collected and read thereafter.)

The Secret of Pirates’ Hill by Franklin W. Dixon takes Frank and Joe Hardy into a tale steeped in legends of buried treasure, maritime secrets, and the ever-present shadow of danger. I first pulled this book from the M.P. Birla School library shelves sometime in the early ’90s, and it immediately stood out.

The title alone had a siren call: pirates, hills, hidden secrets—everything a young mystery reader could want. Revisiting it years later, as part of my collected set, only confirmed its place as one of the more atmospheric Hardy Boys adventures.

The story begins with rumours of treasure hidden near Pirates’ Hill, and from the start, Dixon anchors the plot in equal measures of folklore and investigation. Frank and Joe navigate layers of myth and fact, using their intelligence to separate genuine clues from distractions planted by both history and villains. The hill itself, with its caves, concealed passages, and the aura of forgotten pirate lore, becomes almost a character in its own right—looming, mysterious, and treacherous.

The pacing is tight and engaging: danger-filled encounters alternate with careful deduction, and each chapter keeps the reader balanced between suspense and revelation. Dixon’s great trick here is blending the romantic allure of pirate treasure with the grounded methods of detective work. Frank and Joe never lose their rational approach, even when the clues seem fantastical. That balance—myth meeting method—makes this installment distinct.

Villains lurk throughout, greedy and ruthless, using the pirate mythos to conceal their schemes. The Hardy brothers, as always, respond with courage and loyalty, standing firmly by their principles. Dixon’s prose is brisk yet evocative, painting vivid scenes of stormy landscapes, dim caves, and tense pursuits by both land and water.

The atmosphere keeps the reader firmly anchored in suspense while allowing imagination to roam through images of long-forgotten pirate chests.

For me, The Secret of Pirates’ Hill carries a particular nostalgia. I can still picture myself in the school library, tugging the book from its shelf, and the instant thrill of stepping into a pirate-haunted world through the Hardys’ eyes. Dixon’s ability to make folklore feel real, while grounding it in the boys’ keen intellect, made the experience immersive in a way that never quite leaves you, even decades later.

In conclusion, The Secret of Pirates’ Hill is vintage Hardy Boys: suspenseful, atmospheric, and driven by both intellect and adventure. It remains one of those installments where mystery and myth converge, offering readers both the thrill of discovery and the reassurance that reason and courage always prevail.
Profile Image for Kevin Findley.
Author 14 books12 followers
January 30, 2023
A good example of the series. The boys get involved in searching for an antique cannon which turns into a dive into the history of Bayport. This not only helps them find it, but also help their father resolve a case involving stock fraud. While the two cases intertwining is a standard part of the series, it felt a little more forced here than in other adventures.

While Mr. Hardy barely made an appearance, we did get to see into Aunt Gertrude's personal life as President of the Bayport Historical Society. Just in time to hand the boys a clue that eventually cracks open both cases.

Chet and Tony both make an appearance, but Chet is basically relegated to being a hostage and Tony a water-taxi driver. Not the best use for them, but at least Tony gets a new boat out of the situation.

Probably better for younger readers, but still worth your time and dollars.

Find it. Buy it. Read it!
635 reviews2 followers
May 7, 2023
This story was fairly entertaining, though a bit confusing at times.

The Hardy Boys fun starts with an encounter under water that sees a diver firing a spear gun at them. They survive and after getting home, are immersed in another mystery. This time, they are looking for an old cannon. The interesting part is that the interest in the cannon doesn't become clear until much later in the book, which was a nice twist.

Interesting to note that the Boys are stilling getting knocked out, rendered unconsciously on a regular basis. That can't be healthy as they likely had multiple concussions across several books. But just something I noticed. Maybe because we are much more aware of the impact of concussions today.

Overall, the book was an interesting read. I think the audience would need to be a bit older, likely over 10, to pick up on all the characters. Other than that, I didn't find anything that a child wouldn't like.
Profile Image for Priyadarshni Palanikumar.
197 reviews13 followers
February 2, 2018
Oh, I don't know, I'm such a Nancy Drew girl. This was my first (to my recollection) Hardy Boys book.

The two brothers are contacted by a man who wants them to find an antique cannon. His intentions with the cannon, his demeanour, his secrecy all stink of suspicion, and the boys have a hard time following up with the client and the other suspects.

Okay, I have given this book my lowest rating as yet. I had a few concerns about it.

1. Some terms are relatively British for a book set in Florida, USA.
2. I spotted some glaring mistakes like ignored injuries (which had only been inflicted minutes before).
3. The plot was too complex (this must be an attribute to only this mystery; I will still try out other books in the series)
1,860 reviews8 followers
August 14, 2021
It seems like more than one person is searching for a lost cannon. The Hardy boys have been asked to help Mr. Bowden to find the cannon but can he be trusted? The Hardy's are skeptical. They don't know who to trust and they sure have a few enemies as they are forced into dangerous situations. They are shot at while scuba diving. They're spied on and followed. Aunt Gertrude is responsible for swords at the museum but people are after those as well. Are the swords and cannons related in some way? The Hardy's try to solve the mystery while not knowing who they can trust. They enlist the help of friends Tony Pitro and Chet Morton who are more than willing to aid in the investigation. The boys all end up in trouble.
Profile Image for Tanya.
482 reviews14 followers
March 7, 2026
I liked these books better when I was younger. Now, not so much. Started out good, then downhill. There's not many breaks between scenes, different locations or different parts of the story, so you have to reread to get your bearing of where you're at in the story. And my goodness, they really should not have made it out of a couple of situations. This was definitely written in the 1950s.

2 stars because I did finish the book, but sadly, I wasn't into the story. And didn't care at the end who did what. And I got confused about all the bad guys. Cannot recommend.
Profile Image for David Allen Hines.
430 reviews58 followers
June 12, 2018
Anyone who loves the classic Hardy Boys tales will enjoy The Secret of Pirates Hill! A fast-paced adventure seeking a lost seashore cannon sought by a mysterious stranger is a good solid read. Some parts of the story, like most of the classic Hardy tales, are not aging well--such as the use of telegrams--which might baffle younger readers today, but this is a good classic Hardy Boys story that anyone who enjoys the original series will find a good read!
Profile Image for Phoebe Hinkle.
Author 7 books33 followers
May 22, 2024
A weird premise, some dumb stuff, and an anticlimactic ending, but overall a pretty good story! Pirate cannons, yay! It's cool that you learn stuff reading Hardy Boys and I LOVED all the infodumps on cannons, lol. And it's my firm belief that Mr. Hardy has a book on just about everything in his study. 😆
(As a side note the cover has NOTHING to do with the story. Rather disappointing, actually.)
Profile Image for Rex Libris.
1,348 reviews3 followers
March 9, 2024
The boys are tasked with finding an old Spanish cannon buried in the dunes just outside of Bayport. All of the competing parties in search of this cannon want it because it will lead to a sunken treasure ship.

This is a particularly hazardous case for Frank and Joe. Each get the KO three times! This ups the total count to an even 50, over the span of the first 36 books.
Profile Image for Saffron Mavros.
558 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2024
A search for the Demiculverin and an ancient treasure!!!

The characters were a bit unimpressionable. The search for a cannon seems too far fetched. Imagine digging up random places to find the cannon!

The position of cannon and the shot, and it landing right at the spot of an ancient treasure, seemed a bit far fetched. Basically, a relatively good story had a very anticlimactic end!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
197 reviews4 followers
April 3, 2025
I’m thirty six years old so it’s only appropriate my thirty sixth book of the year would be the thirty sixth book in the Hardy Boys series. Coincidentally, my thirty sixth book last year was another Hardy Boys book. I enjoyed that one too but fortunately this time I didn’t have a relative die while reading the book.
Profile Image for Jack.
410 reviews14 followers
June 5, 2018
Ate these up as a kid and usually got them as gifts for birthdays, Christmas and other events. This edition would be quite dated now and I believe they have updated the books. The author was a pseudonym for a plethora of writers who contributed to this series.
Profile Image for Andrea.
1,835 reviews23 followers
July 24, 2018
It started with an attempted murder underwater and ended with treasure. What’s not to love? ... All the body shaming comments about Chet. It is kind of expected considering the time it was written. But there weren’t as many uncomfortable points as I expected.
Profile Image for Edward Davies.
Author 3 books34 followers
September 27, 2018
A combined total of no less than six head injuries in this, not to mention other injuries, this was actually one of the better Hardy Boys stories with a criminal plot that kind of made sense, though why the criminal would employ the Hardy's is anybody's guess.
38 reviews
June 2, 2019
This book is excellent for any child who loves a great mystery. It is filled with suspense and a little bit of action which makes the book spectacular and thrilling to read. I would recommend this book who enjoys a great mystery
Profile Image for Phil.
2,148 reviews23 followers
December 13, 2025
Vintage reads can be so soothing in a strange way. Such as, regular meals and picnics, notes left for family member to let them know where you are going and helpful adults to unravel any perplexing clues.
Profile Image for Chris.
26 reviews5 followers
June 26, 2017
Good one

It was a great story there were many characters lots of action. Lots of typos in the text however were disappointing in kindle
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews

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