The Secret of Skeleton Reef

The Hardy Boys #144

by Franklin W. Dixon

While searching for sunken treasure off the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, the Hardys stumble upon a young woman washed up on the beach and expose a deadly secret lying in the waters off the island, an explosive mystery that could get them both killed.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Adventure, Young Adult

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

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

[David Allen Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the more "modern" Hardy Boys books written in the mid 1990s, The Secret of Skeleton Reed is one of the better ones. Frankly some of the later paperback stories aren't all that good, but this one is an exception. The Hardy Boys are on vacation in St Lucia and become involved with the mystery of a young woman washed up on the beach half-drowned and a rough crew salvaging a pirate treasure. The adventure is plausible, modern, fast-paced and interesting. The only missing elements are none of the Hardys' regular friends nor their father is mentioned or involved in the story. Altogether any fan of the traditional hardback series will enjoy this story and young people today will be able to relate. Like many of the later paperback books, this one is printed without illustrations on poor quality paper that has already started to age. But the story itself is a really good one, and I am sorry that this title is no longer in print, like almost all of the later paperbacks. If you enjoy the Hardys find a copy of this great adventure!

[Karis Anna-Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly solid mystery! I really like Jamal as a character (though you'd think he'd learn to stop going on vacation with the Hardys), he strikes a good balance between being smart and capable in his own right without there being a too-many-detectives-in-the-kitchen situation. The tropical setting was really cool, and all the different treasure-hunting characters were interesting and colorful. Fun!

[Ethan Hulbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't bad but wasn't exactly memorable. Even the travel couldn't totally save this one.

The secret was totally out of left field and too science-y to really fit with the rest of the book. The culprits were kinda just picked at random. Skeleton Reef wasn't really a part of the story. Just kinda bizarre, one thing happened then another, the boys didn't do much detecting.

[Adam Balshan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars [Mystery]
I can't remember the exact Hardy Boys book I read as a young adult, and since plot summaries are so scarce, this was my best guess. It was a great mystery novel, including (I believe) a search for underwater doubloons and (I am certain) a plot twist of a certain ship expending more fuel because a submerged smuggling vessel was docking with it to hitch a ride.