What do you think?
Rate this book
Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers #8
Top Ten Ways to Die
ATAC BRIEFING FOR AGENTS FRANK AND JOE HARDY
MISSION:
Someone is suspected of trying to murder young rock star Madison vee. You must stop her killer before her killer stops her.
LOCATION:
Los Angeles, CA.
POTENTIAL VICTIMS:
Aside from Ms. Vee, any number of crew members, fans, and friends.
SUSPECTS:
Her agent, jealous relatives...Ms. Vee has no shortage of possible hidden enemies ready to pounce. Keep your ears to the ground.
THIS MISSION REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
THIS MESSAGE WILL BE ERASED IN FIVE SECONDS.
MISSION:
Someone is suspected of trying to murder young rock star Madison vee. You must stop her killer before her killer stops her.
LOCATION:
Los Angeles, CA.
POTENTIAL VICTIMS:
Aside from Ms. Vee, any number of crew members, fans, and friends.
SUSPECTS:
Her agent, jealous relatives...Ms. Vee has no shortage of possible hidden enemies ready to pounce. Keep your ears to the ground.
THIS MISSION REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
THIS MESSAGE WILL BE ERASED IN FIVE SECONDS.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
20 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
737 books992 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 11, 2020
This book is about 2 students who are in high school (Joe and Frank Hardy). their mission is to find out who is trying murder a young rock star Madison Vee in Los Angeles, California.
I liked the book because the main characters are doing something dangerous to help someone out (putting others before you). I didn't like the book because it left a little too much cliffhangers in it.
I would recommend the book to people who are in to mystery or young-adult.
I liked the book because the main characters are doing something dangerous to help someone out (putting others before you). I didn't like the book because it left a little too much cliffhangers in it.
I would recommend the book to people who are in to mystery or young-adult.
August 6, 2020
02/06/16
****
23/01/18
*****
****
23/01/18
*****
September 23, 2016
Another fun and engaging mystery, this one involving one of my favorite topics: celebrities.
May 22, 2021
I'm much older than the target audience for this book. I read both The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books as a young adult and even watched the TV series that was made. My guess is that the Undercover Brothers is an attempt to update the series technologically to appeal more to today's young adults.
Frank and Joe Hardy are still high school students in this book. (I believe there is another update to the series that made them college age.) Since this is a YA book, it was fairly simple. (I read somewhere that there is a list of approved vocabulary for books based on age range it is set for--I could see that being the case for this book.)
I remember in the original series of books that you could be 30 books in and have never heard a peep about something before but all of a sudden, the boys were experienced at it or even experts. That idea holds through to some extent in this series too as the boys are given a couple new tech tools that both get used to help solve the mystery. Time will tell if we ever see these pieces of technology again.
I find it odd that Fenton Hardy would not have told his wife that the boys were agents. If she knows, she's doing a good job of hiding it from them. Also, Frank and Joe need to better watch what they say around their parrot if they want to keep their undercover status secret.
This book's theme is that the boys are supposed to keep music sensation Vee Sharp safe after she begins receiving Top Ten Ways To Die death threats. I didn't guess who the culprit was until closer to the reveal. I liked the twist with Aunt Trudy's friend Betty at the end.
Frank and Joe Hardy are still high school students in this book. (I believe there is another update to the series that made them college age.) Since this is a YA book, it was fairly simple. (I read somewhere that there is a list of approved vocabulary for books based on age range it is set for--I could see that being the case for this book.)
I remember in the original series of books that you could be 30 books in and have never heard a peep about something before but all of a sudden, the boys were experienced at it or even experts. That idea holds through to some extent in this series too as the boys are given a couple new tech tools that both get used to help solve the mystery. Time will tell if we ever see these pieces of technology again.
I find it odd that Fenton Hardy would not have told his wife that the boys were agents. If she knows, she's doing a good job of hiding it from them. Also, Frank and Joe need to better watch what they say around their parrot if they want to keep their undercover status secret.
This book's theme is that the boys are supposed to keep music sensation Vee Sharp safe after she begins receiving Top Ten Ways To Die death threats. I didn't guess who the culprit was until closer to the reveal. I liked the twist with Aunt Trudy's friend Betty at the end.
June 16, 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.
May 16, 2024
I read this to my 9 year old son before bed. He really liked it. The plot was OK but the criminal reveal was a bit underwhelming.
The potential victim of repeated attempts on her life seemed indifferent to the near misses that many times almost cost her life - didn’t seem realistic but my son didn’t mention it. Very little concern was shown for the one murder victim in the book … oh well … the show must go on!
I prefer the OG Hardy Boys and their chums.
The potential victim of repeated attempts on her life seemed indifferent to the near misses that many times almost cost her life - didn’t seem realistic but my son didn’t mention it. Very little concern was shown for the one murder victim in the book … oh well … the show must go on!
I prefer the OG Hardy Boys and their chums.
July 8, 2023
this was so nostalgic!! i reread this specific hardy boys book so much when i was younger. ofc now i can see the "faults" and inferior writing etc now that i'm older, but i still very much enjoyed it! joe girl <3
July 14, 2022
As a reader, my first novela.. Superb experience.. Exciting story.
November 22, 2019
I like a good mystery. The Hardy boys don't disappoint. twists and suspense. I can't wait to read more adventures about Joe and Frank.
October 16, 2013
This book was great. I liked how it was not a mystery the whole time, especially when they were shooting the music video . Before Vee Sharp started shooting, she got a note from what the crew thought was a fan. It was named "top ten ways to die". They were all death threats. one of these fans are trying to kill her. Throughout the story these death threats came into action. Like when they were filming the part where Vee was in a fish bowl as a mermaid, the sealing fell on top of the fish bowl. One of the death threats was drowning. luckily Joe Hardy cut the glass with a pen. At the last seen they shot the last death threat came into action. Falling. While Vee was on the hardest she fell. But Joe caught her . Then they saw this short guy T-mix , Vee's song writer, running. Joe realized that he was the person who sent Vee the death notes. So they chased after him. After a bout 5 miles of driving he fell into a pool. After that they caught him. Everything went back to normal.
May 7, 2010
This is definatly one of the best Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers books made. The other ones are good but this has something that grasped my attention. Maybe it was because I loved Aunt Trudy's part... maybe it was because Joe was head over heals or maybe it was just because I liked the motorcycles... who knows? I don't. I've read so many mystery books though I could easily deduce who was trying to kill Vee after a while. I would have done a few things differently to take the reader in the wrong direction on who was trying to kill her so that it came as sort of a surprize when they figured out who it was. I also liked it that Vee had some depth she wasn't just skin deep.
June 28, 2012
Aunt Trudy. Awesome character. It's because of her that the ending was so perfect. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters in these books.
I can't believe that Frank and Joe actually ended up in jail. It's a good thing Vee likes them so much, otherwise they would have had a hard time getting out, even with their dad's help.
And yes, Joe, you should have seen that coming! As soon as Frank said he wouldn't tease you at the end, you should have known he had a backup plan. Playback!
I can't believe that Frank and Joe actually ended up in jail. It's a good thing Vee likes them so much, otherwise they would have had a hard time getting out, even with their dad's help.
And yes, Joe, you should have seen that coming! As soon as Frank said he wouldn't tease you at the end, you should have known he had a backup plan. Playback!
October 7, 2015
This book is about these two boys named Frank and Joe. These two boys work for an agency called ATAC. In this book the boys are protecting this pop star named Vee Sharp from someone who is trying to kill her. I loved this book it really had me wondering who was the attempted killer. I was surprise at the end of the story on how it ended. To me this was a great book and i would recommend this book to anyone who like mystery.
February 2, 2012
The boys, Jaron, especially has picking up Hardy Boy books for our read aloud books. This one was a little cheesy. Okay, most Hardy Boys are a lot cheesy, but it had some good suspense in it that made the boys excited to read it.
July 9, 2011
awesome!! serious page turner
March 11, 2012
this book was great
Read
January 16, 2013the best atac mission book
October 18, 2015
Hardy boys are working for their dad. He sends them on undercover jobs. Their mom and aunt don't know their real jobs. They solve mystery of ATM thieves.
Read
September 6, 2014Favourite book of all times
May 24, 2016
169 pages
April 18, 2013
Top quality books, especially for my age at the time of reading. Lels had: 8/10
July 17, 2014
Best book so far. I wonder if joe will keep in touch with Vee Sharp.
Want to read
April 24, 2018i didn't read it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews