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The Hardy Boys #19
The Disappearing Floor
Once again Frank and Joe Hardy take on a puzzling case when their famous detective father asks the boys to assist him in tracking down a notorious jewel thief and his accomplices. The trail leads to the outskirts of the Hardys’ home town and to a weirdly guarded mansion on the old Perth estate. With their pal Chet Morton, the brothers must tackle the mystery of the mansion heir’s sudden death. A disappearing floor, a huge, savage-looking, hound, a galloping ghost, and a college professor’s startling invention are just a few of the strange elements that complicate the boys’ efforts to solve both mysteries.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1940
126 people are currently reading
1299 people want to read
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
740 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
August 11, 2024
Those were the days. I used to get them in hc as gifts. I’d read them under the covers with a flashlight 🔦 or glow stick. Imagine my surprise when I found out there was no Franklin W Dixon, just a host of ghost writers putting out those mysteries under his name. But it didn’t matter, did it? So long as the stories remained great fun.
May 10, 2023
The Disappearing Floor was the 19th novel in the original Hardy Boys series. It was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by John Button from an outline by Edna Stratemeyer Squier and published in 1940 by Grosset & Dunlap. Stratemeyer's other daughter, Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, oversaw the revision of the first 38 books in the series from 1959-'73, and some of the books were completely rewritten while others were merely edited and simplified. The Disappearing Floor was one of the ones that was in that first category; James Duncan Lawrence wrote a totally different story that was published in 1964 with the same title and cover as the later editions of Button's book. I read the 1964 book, which was 176 pages long with 20 chapters, and then the original, which had 218 pages in 25 chapters. Both stories have a mad-scientist character who lives in a house with rooms that go up and down as elevators, bank robbers who hide their gems and cash in a cave to hide it from Joe and Frank's father, Fenton, the famous private investigator who's on the trail of the gang, and a few other things in common, like cruel and ongoing humiliation of Chet for being overweight. In 1964 Callie and Iola are so scatter-brained that they can't remember where they found a valuable gem, but the story isn't terrible despite some unbelievable occurrences. Usually, I like the older stories the best (especially those written by the great Leslie McFarlane), but this time I thought the reboot was superior. The second one is silly, but the original is just so bad it's almost incomprehensible. Joe and Frank and Chet get on a train to go on a camping trip, step off into a forest, fall into a cave when the forest floor disappears, find a huge bag of cash, and their father walks up greet them. They decide to bribe the crazy but brilliant scientist to like them enough to let them search his house for criminals (who are named Pudge, Runt, Spike, Weeping Sam, etc.), so they go to the airport and fly to a city that's big enough to have a store that sells books he might like. They handcuff him and tie him up for his own good so they can search the house. The house catches on fire, but he shoots the flames with an electric beam he's invented that puts out fire. He's also invented a freeze-ray that paralyzes people, but they wake up a few days later feeling refreshed. I could go on, but there's no point. I've read close to a hundred Hardy Boys books, and there's no doubt that the original of this one is the worst. It just doesn't have the feel of the Hardys at all.
May 10, 2023
The Disappearing Floor was the 19th novel in the original Hardy Boys series. It was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by John Button from an outline by Edna Stratemeyer Squier and published in 1940 by Grosset & Dunlap. Stratemeyer's other daughter, Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, oversaw the revision of the first 38 books in the series from 1959-'73, and some of the books were completely rewritten while others were merely edited and simplified. The Disappearing Floor was one of the ones that was in that first category; James Duncan Lawrence wrote a totally different story that was published in 1964 with the same title and cover as the later editions of Button's book. I read the 1964 book, which was 176 pages long with 20 chapters, and then the original, which had 218 pages in 25 chapters. Both stories have a mad-scientist character who lives in a house with rooms that go up and down as elevators, bank robbers who hide their gems and cash in a cave to hide it from Joe and Frank's father, Fenton, the famous private investigator who's on the trail of the gang, and a few other things in common, like cruel and ongoing humiliation of Chet for being overweight. In 1964 Callie and Iola are so scatter-brained that they can't remember where they found a valuable gem, but the story isn't terrible despite some unbelievable occurrences. Usually, I like the older stories the best (especially those written by the great Leslie McFarlane), but this time I thought the reboot was superior. The second one is silly, but the original is just so bad it's almost incomprehensible. Joe and Frank and Chet get on a train to go on a camping trip, step off into a forest, fall into a cave when the forest floor disappears, find a huge bag of cash, and their father walks up greet them. They decide to bribe the crazy but brilliant scientist to like them enough to let them search his house for criminals (who are named Pudge, Runt, Spike, Weeping Sam, etc.), so they go to the airport and fly to a city that's big enough to have a store that sells books he might like. They handcuff him and tie him up for his own good so they can search the house. The house catches on fire, but he shoots the flames with an electric beam he's invented that puts out fire. He's also invented a freeze-ray that paralyzes people, but they wake up a few days later feeling refreshed. I could go on, but there's no point. I've read close to a hundred Hardy Boys books, and there's no doubt that the original of this one is the worst. It just doesn't have the feel of the Hardys at all.
September 30, 2011
This story was so hokie that only a kid could enjoy it, but since I was a kid when I read it, I did.
June 27, 2021
This Hardy Boy Mystery was unique and well delivered. The story made me laugh and surprised me a few times. One quote I found humorous was made by Joe on page 22 as he was joking with Chet, "Just threaten to sit on [the crooks] that'll be enough of a scare." There were other quirky remarks as well like, "We'll I'll be a moldy dog biscuit." (pg 44) and "What's Joe doing down there?" "Maybe he met a mermaid." (pg 64) (He was actually being drowned.) The intense excitement kept me in suspense until the end. One of the better mysteries in the series up to this point.
December 18, 2018
I recently watched a TV interview where Nancy Drew / Hardy Boys aficionado Jennifer Fisher was asked why she thought this detective book series has endured as a worldwide smash hit since the 1930’s. Jennifer’s response was immediate:
“The characters are fun, adventurous and bold.”
As I watched the interview, fondly recalling my own Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew reading adventures I resonated with Jennifer’s affection for this series of detective stories. My own journey began when I was nine or ten years old and continued at a brisk pace until I was in my early teens. When my own sons were young I read many of the same books over again, realizing at that time how much I enjoyed these books as an adult. Just over a year ago, I read Nancy Drew #1 “The Secret Of The Old Clock” and was pleased to discover that this story was every bit as good as I remember it being when I was a kid.
It was then I decided I would regularly insert a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book into my reading list.
This time it was Hardy Boys #19 “The Disappearing Floor.”
For those who might be unfamiliar with the general premise of the Hardy Boys mystery series, it all starts with their father, Fenton Hardy, a man who once enjoyed an illustrious career as a detective in the New York Police Department. Fenton eventually retires from the force, deciding to leave the pressures of the big city and moves to Bayport, New York with his wife Laura, sons Frank and Joe, as well as his unmarried sister Gertrude. It is amidst the tranquility of the city of Bayport (located on Barmet Bay) that Fenton decides to open his own private detective agency. He is free to choose his clients and cases, and naturally selects those with the greatest consequence and intrigue. Fenton Hardy’s cases are generally of a high profile nature, often those affecting international events.
Fenton Hardy was widely respected and well-known as a NYPD Detective, but it is when he begins his private practice that his star as an investigator shines brightest. At the time of the Hardy Boys novels, Fenton is considered the ablest private investigator in all of the United States and one of a handful of the very best in the world.
It is at this time that Frank, Fenton’s dark-haired eighteen year old eldest son and Joe, the blond-haired seventeen year old son begin to assist their father in his cases. It is Frank and Joe that are The Hardy Boys. From the time they were young they were intrigued by the work of their famous father. They both shared a passion for detective work and their ability was beyond their young years. Their first successful handling of one of their father’s cases was told in Hardy Boys #1 “The Tower Treasure.” There were eighteen more cases before we reach Hardy Boys #19 “The Disappearing Floor.”
In the opening pages of the book, Frank and Joe are cruising down a Bayport Street on a warm August evening, the top of their convertible is down and they are running an errand for their father, who is out of town. Suddenly, they spot a sleek foreign sports car as it speeds by. The car matches the description of a model that their father asked them to look out for, supposedly owned by the notorious jewel thief Noel Strang.
Based on their hunch that the car is owned by Strang, they begin to pursue the black car and soon find themselves following the mystery car outside the Bayport city limits and onto the open highway. They record the license number just as the car lunges forward at high speed. Frank, the driver of the car, accelerates to catch up with their quarry, and as they draw near a sudden plume of thick purplish smoke begins to emit from the lead car’s tail pipe. Frank turn on his headlights but soon finds them useless against the heavy haze surrounding them. He applies the brakes and the car slews to the edge of the pavement. The pursuit is now over, since the fog is too heavy for the brothers to even consider re-entering the highway. As they wait for the smoke to clear, they determine that this was not an “ordinary smoke screen” but rather a combination of smoke and tear gas. Both of their eyes were watering.
Eventually the murk clears and Frank and Joe reenter the highway. After a few miles they see no sign of the sports car, so they decide to turn around and head back for Bayport. About halfway to town they spot a flashlight waving frantically by the roadside and they pull up close enough to see that it is their old pal Chet Morton, a chunky, round faced young man they’ve known since they were kids.
“Joe! Frank! Boy, what a lucky break you two happened along” Chet puffs out. He looked pale, “Just see a ghost?” Frank asks, “I d-d-didn’t see a ghost – but I sure heard one!” Chet replied, then went on to explain how he was on a rock collecting hike earlier that afternoon. He’d stopped for lunch and fell asleep and by the time he woke up it was dark. Luckily, he explained, he had a flashlight and began making his way back to the highway when he stumbled on a funny looking tiled surface that was ten feet square and was inlaid with little colored tiles, nothing else about but trees and shrubs.
Chet continued his tale, “The colored tiles formed a curious pattern resembling a dragon” he explained. He walked toward the surface to take a closer look when suddenly, out of nowhere, cam a horrible bloodcurdling shriek! The terrible shriek continued and Chet began to flee the scene, running as fast as his legs would carry him toward the highway. Once he got there he saw the Hardy Boys he told them.
Upon hearing this report, Frank and Joe begin to convince their fearful friend to retrace his steps. Chet is reluctant, but eventually capitulates to the Hardy Boys urgings to explore the area Chet just visited. They retrace Chet’s steps and are eventually able to locate Chet’s trail. Frank shines his torch on the trampled grass when suddenly a hideous scream breaks the silence of the darkness. The loud scream was followed by a weaker scream, then a hoarse, croaking voice saying, “Th-th-the floor!” It sounded like the gasp of a dying man.
The three boys ran toward the sound and to their amazement, a man was lying face down in the grass. They gently turned him over to reveal he was a big man, balding, with thin sandy colored hair. The boys decide to carry the man to the car where they will drive him to the hospital. They set him on the back seat and the three climb into the front seat of the car.
They drive till they reach the wooded area just outside of Bayport when the passenger revives and sits up. “Please stop the car, I feel woozy. Would you mind if I got out of the car?” Frank allows it and the second the man’s feet touch the pavement he takes on an ugly expression.
“If you boys know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your mouths shut about this!” He snarled. “And I’m warning you – don’t try to follow me!” Satisfied he’d sufficiently frightened the Good Samaritans, he darts off into the darkness of the surrounding trees.
Frank, Joe and Chet decide its best to call it a night. They drop Chet off at his home at a nearby farm then Frank and Joe pay a visit to The Bayport Police Headquarters to report the strange events of the evening. They arrive in time to catch Chief Collig (another perennial Hardy Boys character), they share their story with the chief who says that the police are aware that Noel Strang is a “slick operator” but that the suspected jewel thief is not on the police’s current “wanted” list. They share the license number with the chief and the chief thanks them for stopping by.
The Hardy Boys then go home where they are pleased to see their father. He’s arrived back from his trip and he informs the boys that he’s been retained by a group of insurance underwriters to investigate a series of jewel thefts. Fenton goes on to mention that his clients reported that preliminary investigations have led them to believe that the same gang is responsible for the string of thefts and another odd detail: on every job the guards seem to have lost their memory for a short period of time while the robberies take place. Frank and Joe mention that it is interesting that they too found themselves victims of what they suspected was a gassing. They then shared the story of their earlier pursuit of the car that matched the description of one owned by Noel Strang.
The conversation is interrupted when the phone rings and Joe picks it up:
“Let me speak to Fenton Hardy,” said the curt muffled voice.
“Who’s calling please?” Joe asked.
“None of your business! Just tell him to get on the phone if he wants to learn something important!”
Fenton picks up the phone:
“Another jewel heist is planned.” The caller explains to the senior Hardy. “It’s going to be pulled aboard a yacht named the ‘Wanda.’ She’s due in at East Hampton, Long Island, late tonight or early tomorrow morning. Got that?”
“I have it,” Fenton replies, “But who is this speaking?”
“A friend. And don’t bother trying to trace the call!” The mysterious party at the other end of the line demands – then abruptly hangs up.
Fenton hang up the phone and announces that he’s going to drive down to East Hampton, then places a call to the Suffolk County Police Headquarters on Long Island to report the tip.
Fenton then turns to his sons and suggests that they should restudy the file on Noel Strang in his office filing system. Fenton decides that Strang is one of the few jewel thieves in the country capable of masterminding a series of robberies on such a wide scale. He tells the boys to watch Strang and any associates that may be in the Bayport area, but not to approach them since it might put them on guard.
Fenton then calls one of his top-flight operatives, Sam Radley and asks the man to join him in East Hampton the following day.
Frank and Joe are thrilled…this is a high profile case if there ever was one! Also, now that they are aware that Noel Strang could indeed be the ringmaster, they are more than pleased to remain in Bayport to investigate him further.
Historical detective novelist Kerry Greenwood said that in order to have a great detective story, you need three things: “A crime, a detective and a solution.”
As I finished chapter two of “The Disappearing Floor” I knew I had the first two already, I also knew that the journey to the third element would be one filled with the schemes of thieves, the clues they leave behind and one large puzzle for Frank and Joe Hardy to piece together!
In the end I was so pleased with the twists and turns of this well-crafted story. A wonderful read for “chapter book” adventure seekers of all ages!
“The characters are fun, adventurous and bold.”
As I watched the interview, fondly recalling my own Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew reading adventures I resonated with Jennifer’s affection for this series of detective stories. My own journey began when I was nine or ten years old and continued at a brisk pace until I was in my early teens. When my own sons were young I read many of the same books over again, realizing at that time how much I enjoyed these books as an adult. Just over a year ago, I read Nancy Drew #1 “The Secret Of The Old Clock” and was pleased to discover that this story was every bit as good as I remember it being when I was a kid.
It was then I decided I would regularly insert a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book into my reading list.
This time it was Hardy Boys #19 “The Disappearing Floor.”
For those who might be unfamiliar with the general premise of the Hardy Boys mystery series, it all starts with their father, Fenton Hardy, a man who once enjoyed an illustrious career as a detective in the New York Police Department. Fenton eventually retires from the force, deciding to leave the pressures of the big city and moves to Bayport, New York with his wife Laura, sons Frank and Joe, as well as his unmarried sister Gertrude. It is amidst the tranquility of the city of Bayport (located on Barmet Bay) that Fenton decides to open his own private detective agency. He is free to choose his clients and cases, and naturally selects those with the greatest consequence and intrigue. Fenton Hardy’s cases are generally of a high profile nature, often those affecting international events.
Fenton Hardy was widely respected and well-known as a NYPD Detective, but it is when he begins his private practice that his star as an investigator shines brightest. At the time of the Hardy Boys novels, Fenton is considered the ablest private investigator in all of the United States and one of a handful of the very best in the world.
It is at this time that Frank, Fenton’s dark-haired eighteen year old eldest son and Joe, the blond-haired seventeen year old son begin to assist their father in his cases. It is Frank and Joe that are The Hardy Boys. From the time they were young they were intrigued by the work of their famous father. They both shared a passion for detective work and their ability was beyond their young years. Their first successful handling of one of their father’s cases was told in Hardy Boys #1 “The Tower Treasure.” There were eighteen more cases before we reach Hardy Boys #19 “The Disappearing Floor.”
In the opening pages of the book, Frank and Joe are cruising down a Bayport Street on a warm August evening, the top of their convertible is down and they are running an errand for their father, who is out of town. Suddenly, they spot a sleek foreign sports car as it speeds by. The car matches the description of a model that their father asked them to look out for, supposedly owned by the notorious jewel thief Noel Strang.
Based on their hunch that the car is owned by Strang, they begin to pursue the black car and soon find themselves following the mystery car outside the Bayport city limits and onto the open highway. They record the license number just as the car lunges forward at high speed. Frank, the driver of the car, accelerates to catch up with their quarry, and as they draw near a sudden plume of thick purplish smoke begins to emit from the lead car’s tail pipe. Frank turn on his headlights but soon finds them useless against the heavy haze surrounding them. He applies the brakes and the car slews to the edge of the pavement. The pursuit is now over, since the fog is too heavy for the brothers to even consider re-entering the highway. As they wait for the smoke to clear, they determine that this was not an “ordinary smoke screen” but rather a combination of smoke and tear gas. Both of their eyes were watering.
Eventually the murk clears and Frank and Joe reenter the highway. After a few miles they see no sign of the sports car, so they decide to turn around and head back for Bayport. About halfway to town they spot a flashlight waving frantically by the roadside and they pull up close enough to see that it is their old pal Chet Morton, a chunky, round faced young man they’ve known since they were kids.
“Joe! Frank! Boy, what a lucky break you two happened along” Chet puffs out. He looked pale, “Just see a ghost?” Frank asks, “I d-d-didn’t see a ghost – but I sure heard one!” Chet replied, then went on to explain how he was on a rock collecting hike earlier that afternoon. He’d stopped for lunch and fell asleep and by the time he woke up it was dark. Luckily, he explained, he had a flashlight and began making his way back to the highway when he stumbled on a funny looking tiled surface that was ten feet square and was inlaid with little colored tiles, nothing else about but trees and shrubs.
Chet continued his tale, “The colored tiles formed a curious pattern resembling a dragon” he explained. He walked toward the surface to take a closer look when suddenly, out of nowhere, cam a horrible bloodcurdling shriek! The terrible shriek continued and Chet began to flee the scene, running as fast as his legs would carry him toward the highway. Once he got there he saw the Hardy Boys he told them.
Upon hearing this report, Frank and Joe begin to convince their fearful friend to retrace his steps. Chet is reluctant, but eventually capitulates to the Hardy Boys urgings to explore the area Chet just visited. They retrace Chet’s steps and are eventually able to locate Chet’s trail. Frank shines his torch on the trampled grass when suddenly a hideous scream breaks the silence of the darkness. The loud scream was followed by a weaker scream, then a hoarse, croaking voice saying, “Th-th-the floor!” It sounded like the gasp of a dying man.
The three boys ran toward the sound and to their amazement, a man was lying face down in the grass. They gently turned him over to reveal he was a big man, balding, with thin sandy colored hair. The boys decide to carry the man to the car where they will drive him to the hospital. They set him on the back seat and the three climb into the front seat of the car.
They drive till they reach the wooded area just outside of Bayport when the passenger revives and sits up. “Please stop the car, I feel woozy. Would you mind if I got out of the car?” Frank allows it and the second the man’s feet touch the pavement he takes on an ugly expression.
“If you boys know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your mouths shut about this!” He snarled. “And I’m warning you – don’t try to follow me!” Satisfied he’d sufficiently frightened the Good Samaritans, he darts off into the darkness of the surrounding trees.
Frank, Joe and Chet decide its best to call it a night. They drop Chet off at his home at a nearby farm then Frank and Joe pay a visit to The Bayport Police Headquarters to report the strange events of the evening. They arrive in time to catch Chief Collig (another perennial Hardy Boys character), they share their story with the chief who says that the police are aware that Noel Strang is a “slick operator” but that the suspected jewel thief is not on the police’s current “wanted” list. They share the license number with the chief and the chief thanks them for stopping by.
The Hardy Boys then go home where they are pleased to see their father. He’s arrived back from his trip and he informs the boys that he’s been retained by a group of insurance underwriters to investigate a series of jewel thefts. Fenton goes on to mention that his clients reported that preliminary investigations have led them to believe that the same gang is responsible for the string of thefts and another odd detail: on every job the guards seem to have lost their memory for a short period of time while the robberies take place. Frank and Joe mention that it is interesting that they too found themselves victims of what they suspected was a gassing. They then shared the story of their earlier pursuit of the car that matched the description of one owned by Noel Strang.
The conversation is interrupted when the phone rings and Joe picks it up:
“Let me speak to Fenton Hardy,” said the curt muffled voice.
“Who’s calling please?” Joe asked.
“None of your business! Just tell him to get on the phone if he wants to learn something important!”
Fenton picks up the phone:
“Another jewel heist is planned.” The caller explains to the senior Hardy. “It’s going to be pulled aboard a yacht named the ‘Wanda.’ She’s due in at East Hampton, Long Island, late tonight or early tomorrow morning. Got that?”
“I have it,” Fenton replies, “But who is this speaking?”
“A friend. And don’t bother trying to trace the call!” The mysterious party at the other end of the line demands – then abruptly hangs up.
Fenton hang up the phone and announces that he’s going to drive down to East Hampton, then places a call to the Suffolk County Police Headquarters on Long Island to report the tip.
Fenton then turns to his sons and suggests that they should restudy the file on Noel Strang in his office filing system. Fenton decides that Strang is one of the few jewel thieves in the country capable of masterminding a series of robberies on such a wide scale. He tells the boys to watch Strang and any associates that may be in the Bayport area, but not to approach them since it might put them on guard.
Fenton then calls one of his top-flight operatives, Sam Radley and asks the man to join him in East Hampton the following day.
Frank and Joe are thrilled…this is a high profile case if there ever was one! Also, now that they are aware that Noel Strang could indeed be the ringmaster, they are more than pleased to remain in Bayport to investigate him further.
Historical detective novelist Kerry Greenwood said that in order to have a great detective story, you need three things: “A crime, a detective and a solution.”
As I finished chapter two of “The Disappearing Floor” I knew I had the first two already, I also knew that the journey to the third element would be one filled with the schemes of thieves, the clues they leave behind and one large puzzle for Frank and Joe Hardy to piece together!
In the end I was so pleased with the twists and turns of this well-crafted story. A wonderful read for “chapter book” adventure seekers of all ages!
Read
March 17, 2012author: Franklin W Dixon
date published: 1940
genre: mystery
This story all started with the Hardy boys driving in a car venturing into the dark. In that ride they ended up finding one of the people on one of their dads files (their dad is a detective and they are detectives also. They ended up losing him so the climax was basically just trying to find him in which they did sometimes but they just couldn't get a hold of him. The setting of this story was in a small town in the old days. They never get a hold of him until the end when they have to go through tunnels and survive traps.
The theme of this story was to never give up on what you are doing. this is the theme because the Hardy boys were knocked unconscious a few times and pulled through in still wanting the criminal. They never gave up when they were sent letters that they should go away from this case or else. They have a history of successful cases and they know how to eventually find the criminal in the end and get all of the glory.
I really enjoyed reading this book because I am a lover of Crime and finding clues. I think audiences with a liking of crime, investigation, a little bit of brutal scenes, and a lot of nail biting scenes where the case in the mystery can go either way. This book is a lot like the others I have read. I have read a lot of books from this author and he has never failed in writing a good mystery. He knows how to make you get on the edge of your seat and skip ahead to see what is going to happen but he gives specific details so you don't want to miss a thing either.
pg 103- " Maybe that's what Jack Wayne's message meant!". This quote gave me more interest in the story because I was assuming the same thing that the Hardy boys were when they said that. This also shows that the writing style was really mainly to keep the reader interested in what will happen next and what the detectives will do to solve the rest of this baffling case. It also gave me the sense that they were on to something and that their hopes were getting higher on finding the criminal.
I am related to the two young detectives in this story a lot. We are related becuase we both make the same predictions on what to do next and what will happen next in the case. We also both never really have our minds set on one person to think is the guy. We are both open minded and talented case solvers. This book affected me by always making me rethink and know that there must be a solution. It has promoted me to never give up on what I am doing even if I am just doing a math problem for all I care. the main part of this story that I enjoyed was when the Hardy's took the enemy by surprise at the end and the enemy did not even see them coming. I just love it when the bad guys think they are unstoppable and suddenly the tables turn and they have no way out.
date published: 1940
genre: mystery
This story all started with the Hardy boys driving in a car venturing into the dark. In that ride they ended up finding one of the people on one of their dads files (their dad is a detective and they are detectives also. They ended up losing him so the climax was basically just trying to find him in which they did sometimes but they just couldn't get a hold of him. The setting of this story was in a small town in the old days. They never get a hold of him until the end when they have to go through tunnels and survive traps.
The theme of this story was to never give up on what you are doing. this is the theme because the Hardy boys were knocked unconscious a few times and pulled through in still wanting the criminal. They never gave up when they were sent letters that they should go away from this case or else. They have a history of successful cases and they know how to eventually find the criminal in the end and get all of the glory.
I really enjoyed reading this book because I am a lover of Crime and finding clues. I think audiences with a liking of crime, investigation, a little bit of brutal scenes, and a lot of nail biting scenes where the case in the mystery can go either way. This book is a lot like the others I have read. I have read a lot of books from this author and he has never failed in writing a good mystery. He knows how to make you get on the edge of your seat and skip ahead to see what is going to happen but he gives specific details so you don't want to miss a thing either.
pg 103- " Maybe that's what Jack Wayne's message meant!". This quote gave me more interest in the story because I was assuming the same thing that the Hardy boys were when they said that. This also shows that the writing style was really mainly to keep the reader interested in what will happen next and what the detectives will do to solve the rest of this baffling case. It also gave me the sense that they were on to something and that their hopes were getting higher on finding the criminal.
I am related to the two young detectives in this story a lot. We are related becuase we both make the same predictions on what to do next and what will happen next in the case. We also both never really have our minds set on one person to think is the guy. We are both open minded and talented case solvers. This book affected me by always making me rethink and know that there must be a solution. It has promoted me to never give up on what I am doing even if I am just doing a math problem for all I care. the main part of this story that I enjoyed was when the Hardy's took the enemy by surprise at the end and the enemy did not even see them coming. I just love it when the bad guys think they are unstoppable and suddenly the tables turn and they have no way out.
March 27, 2019
One of my favorite of the classic Hardy Boys tales, The Disappearing Floor has it all: a mystery in an abandoned old mansion with a moving floor; a mis-used eccentric inventor; an interloping figure dressed as a "ghost;" thuggish jewel thieves; and adventure on water and land. Great tie-ins with Mr. Hardy and the Hardy's friends are throughout the story. The Disappearing Floor has everything in it that made the classic Hardy Boys so enjoyable to read-- fast-paced action; an interesting and plausible story; and the wonderful settings of an old house, the Bay and adventures in car and on foot. Despite the story's age (originally written in the 1930s) except for some anachronisms such as "telegrams" this is a story that could be written and enjoyed today. If you like the classic Hardy Boys, The Disappearing Floor is one of the best!
October 10, 2016
The edition I read was as old as dirt...but it was still great fun!
August 9, 2025
Frank and Joe Hardy and their best bud Chet are headed to the woods for a little camping trip. Just by chance there is a scorched envelope in their first night's fire pit with the name "Harry Tanwick" on it and a hundred dollar bill inside. [Will the mystery in this story have anything to do with Harry or the envelope? Not a whole lot. Sorry, if that spoils things too much.] Then...that night Frank wakes to find someone rummaging about their campsite [Maybe looking for the envelope? That's never made clear.] When the boys give chase, they manage to crash down into a cave. Where they find a sack of money....and, of all people, Fenton Hardy. Who just happens to be hanging out in the very cave near their campsite and who is hunting bank robbers. Fenton enlists the boys' help in checking out the cave and finding out all they can about the men who seem to use it as a meeting place. Winds up that it's the hide-out for Beeson (a big bank robber) and his gang. Before we know it, Frank and Joe are hot on the trail which leads to a creepy old house where a crazy scientist lives and the robbers (for reasons known to themselves) take a fancy to the house. Fenton Hardy posts guards; the boys get caught and escape just in time to rescue their dad, get the guards to round up the baddies, bring the crazy scientist (who apparently has amnesia or something) back to his senses, and save the day.
This is one of the Hardy Boy Books that I have the fondest memories of. But I have to say that all of my nostalgia is for the revised text version--which is one of the first Hardy Boys books I read--and the 1977 episode on the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. Neither of which bears much resemblance to this absolutely crazy original story. Is there a weird house with crazy rooms that aren't quite what they seem and a scientist? Sure. But...the Stratemeyer ghost writer who penned the original story also gave us bank robbers, two murders of bank employees, a cave with crazy rooms that aren't quite what they seem as well, hidden money and jewels, a tough guy gang leader who masquerades as an Indian prince in a weird cult for no apparent reason other than he can, a taxi driver who tries to drown Frank and Joe in his taxi, and an apparently insane scientist who has come up with ways to put fire out by electrical "vibrations" and, instead of the standard death ray, a ray gun device that can put people into deep-freeze. Oh...and we have world-renowned detective Fenton Hardy attacked, knocked out, tied up, given the deep-freeze treatment, and rescued more times by his boys than you can shake a stick at. Given his performance in this outing one has to wonder how he makes a living as a detective.
But...if you're a kid, you'll probably enjoy the non-stop action and the ways the boys get the better of the adults. iI you're an adult looking for unintentional humor, a lot of action, and don't mind the weird, over-stuffed plot, then this could be for you as well. If you're looking for a mystery to solve yourself, then I'm afraid that's a non-starter. As soon as Fenton Hardy shows up the first time, you know who the bad guys are. The only real mystery is whether the mad scientist is a willing participant in their plots. Still, and enjoyable day's read, though not quite as strong as I would have liked. ★★ and 3/4 (for original text only; rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
This is one of the Hardy Boy Books that I have the fondest memories of. But I have to say that all of my nostalgia is for the revised text version--which is one of the first Hardy Boys books I read--and the 1977 episode on the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. Neither of which bears much resemblance to this absolutely crazy original story. Is there a weird house with crazy rooms that aren't quite what they seem and a scientist? Sure. But...the Stratemeyer ghost writer who penned the original story also gave us bank robbers, two murders of bank employees, a cave with crazy rooms that aren't quite what they seem as well, hidden money and jewels, a tough guy gang leader who masquerades as an Indian prince in a weird cult for no apparent reason other than he can, a taxi driver who tries to drown Frank and Joe in his taxi, and an apparently insane scientist who has come up with ways to put fire out by electrical "vibrations" and, instead of the standard death ray, a ray gun device that can put people into deep-freeze. Oh...and we have world-renowned detective Fenton Hardy attacked, knocked out, tied up, given the deep-freeze treatment, and rescued more times by his boys than you can shake a stick at. Given his performance in this outing one has to wonder how he makes a living as a detective.
But...if you're a kid, you'll probably enjoy the non-stop action and the ways the boys get the better of the adults. iI you're an adult looking for unintentional humor, a lot of action, and don't mind the weird, over-stuffed plot, then this could be for you as well. If you're looking for a mystery to solve yourself, then I'm afraid that's a non-starter. As soon as Fenton Hardy shows up the first time, you know who the bad guys are. The only real mystery is whether the mad scientist is a willing participant in their plots. Still, and enjoyable day's read, though not quite as strong as I would have liked. ★★ and 3/4 (for original text only; rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
July 9, 2022
De schrijvers achter het pseudoniem Franklin W. Dixon bezondigen zich nog al wel eens aan het bouwen van een overcomplexe plot waarin ze genoeg verhaallijnen bij mekaar brengen voor een hele reeks boeken. Dat komt dan de geloofwaardigheid niet ten goede. Er gebeurt te veel en het hangt compleet van toevalligheden aan mekaar.
In dit verhaal breekt de schrijver alle records en het wordt dan ook gewoon belachelijk. Plus dat de verhaallijn op zich ook al totaal idioot is.
De jogens gaan op vakantie en vallen in een put boven op de verborgen buit van een stel bankrovers. In die grot zitten geheime gangen, geheime ingangen en geheime panelen. Ze raken slaags met de boeven maar ontsnappen met een deel van de buit. Als ze die terug naar de bank brengen worden ze door een plots opduikende menigte haast gelyncht als bankovervallers.
Ze commanderen de politie. Ze vechten met blote hanen met een stel ontsnapte tijgers.
En dan komt het toppunt: een spookhuis dat vol onmogelijke elektrische snufjes zit en eigendom is van een gekke professor, een kruising tussen Frankenstein en losgeslagen automatiseringsfilms met robots jaren 60.
Mensen worden op enkele minuten bevroren en ontdooid. De grot met geld bevat tientallen pakken met buit van overallen met tonnen goud en juwelen....
Te gek om los te lopen en helemaal niet meer spannend.
In dit verhaal breekt de schrijver alle records en het wordt dan ook gewoon belachelijk. Plus dat de verhaallijn op zich ook al totaal idioot is.
De jogens gaan op vakantie en vallen in een put boven op de verborgen buit van een stel bankrovers. In die grot zitten geheime gangen, geheime ingangen en geheime panelen. Ze raken slaags met de boeven maar ontsnappen met een deel van de buit. Als ze die terug naar de bank brengen worden ze door een plots opduikende menigte haast gelyncht als bankovervallers.
Ze commanderen de politie. Ze vechten met blote hanen met een stel ontsnapte tijgers.
En dan komt het toppunt: een spookhuis dat vol onmogelijke elektrische snufjes zit en eigendom is van een gekke professor, een kruising tussen Frankenstein en losgeslagen automatiseringsfilms met robots jaren 60.
Mensen worden op enkele minuten bevroren en ontdooid. De grot met geld bevat tientallen pakken met buit van overallen met tonnen goud en juwelen....
Te gek om los te lopen en helemaal niet meer spannend.
December 28, 2024
Very book because me like book 🤩
May 9, 2025
eponymous sentence:
p66: "...The boss gave you all the dope--about the disappearing floor--"
And now we have ray guns.
p66: "...The boss gave you all the dope--about the disappearing floor--"
And now we have ray guns.
December 3, 2025
1940 edition. A lot of action if you can believe it. They fought a tiger, sheesh.
August 12, 2020
I had high expectations for this book after seeing the cover.When I ordered it on Amazon and finally got,I didn’t read it due to lack of time.During these tough times,I got to read this nineteenth addition.And the book really did come close to my expectations and became one of the better entries.The plot,which I must say is admittedly creative,but somewhat muddled up.The supporting characters were really great especially the “ghost”,who was absolutely nonpareil.The setting of this mystery and the way they are described feel out of pages and lively though not as great as in the sixth book.It was really nice to see Aunt Gertrude and Laura Hardy,especially the latter(who’s often sidelined)do some great help.The drama at the Old Man Perth’s estate was clearly imaginative and constructive.The villains are the only ones who make this book falter down since their characterisations feel unoriginal.Above all those,this book is still one of the coolest book.It’s the third best of the series.A 4.7 star-rating would do good.
June 16, 2024
Oh my, I can't even begin to tell you what's wrong with this book. Sloppy plot? Bizarre? Sci-Fi in a non-Sci-Fi book? Or too many coincidences to make anything at all believable? But since this is an old series book, and I love series books, I gave it 3 stars. I didn't have the heart to go any lower.
The Hardy Boys are going camping when they meet some rough men in the woods and in a cave. Then they meet their famous private detective father, Fenton Hardy, in the woods. He's hot on the trail of bank robbers. They later find this mansion, home of a crazy scientist, and of course, the bad guys are there too. Even when they go to Erie and then hop a plane for Columbia 2 hours away, they meet the same villains in the woods. The title is intriguing but the so-called disappearing floor doesn't figure into it until nearly the end of the book. And was it really disappearing?
Edit:
I re-read this book in June 2024. While I agree with my original review above, I probably would have given it 4 stars this time, purely for the entertainment it provided. It's still every bit as kooky and the coincidences are beyond normal. Their oh so famous father, Fenton Hardy, spends a lot of time sending his sons investigating while he's doing? And I'm pretty sure that someone frozen solid by an ice machine for a couple hours is not going to thaw out and be fine in a couple minutes. Someone had a weird dream then wrote this book.
The Hardy Boys are going camping when they meet some rough men in the woods and in a cave. Then they meet their famous private detective father, Fenton Hardy, in the woods. He's hot on the trail of bank robbers. They later find this mansion, home of a crazy scientist, and of course, the bad guys are there too. Even when they go to Erie and then hop a plane for Columbia 2 hours away, they meet the same villains in the woods. The title is intriguing but the so-called disappearing floor doesn't figure into it until nearly the end of the book. And was it really disappearing?
Edit:
I re-read this book in June 2024. While I agree with my original review above, I probably would have given it 4 stars this time, purely for the entertainment it provided. It's still every bit as kooky and the coincidences are beyond normal. Their oh so famous father, Fenton Hardy, spends a lot of time sending his sons investigating while he's doing? And I'm pretty sure that someone frozen solid by an ice machine for a couple hours is not going to thaw out and be fine in a couple minutes. Someone had a weird dream then wrote this book.
August 13, 2021
Original Edition.
Known as the worst of the original Hardy Boys series, this novel lives up to that billing. It is lacking many things one of which is sense. Oddly at points it feels like a Tom Swift book that Victor Appleton might have written during a bad trip. There are lots of bizarre and unexplained inventions that stop just short of magic. I'm also reading the Three Investigators series and one of the complaints about some of the later books is that they start moving into 'true' magic. Fortunately the Hardy will move back towards something resembling reality in the near future,
As I've mentioned before we are in a run of books written by a fairly eccentric John Button and in some of these he is 'aided' by the plotting of Edward's daughter Edna who was becoming less interested in working on the series or at the syndicate. Fans of the bizarre will appreciate this book at any rate.
Known as the worst of the original Hardy Boys series, this novel lives up to that billing. It is lacking many things one of which is sense. Oddly at points it feels like a Tom Swift book that Victor Appleton might have written during a bad trip. There are lots of bizarre and unexplained inventions that stop just short of magic. I'm also reading the Three Investigators series and one of the complaints about some of the later books is that they start moving into 'true' magic. Fortunately the Hardy will move back towards something resembling reality in the near future,
As I've mentioned before we are in a run of books written by a fairly eccentric John Button and in some of these he is 'aided' by the plotting of Edward's daughter Edna who was becoming less interested in working on the series or at the syndicate. Fans of the bizarre will appreciate this book at any rate.
May 1, 2020
Mr. Hardy has asked Frank and Joe to keep their eyes out for thieves across Bayport that may be using the town to hide their stolen jewellery - but could this case really be connected to the apparently old haunted mansion on the outskirts of town? Dixon will keep fans guessing with another exciting tale chalk full of secrets and dangers. Can the boys figure out how the jewel thieves are having their way, or is Bayport just the beginning for these nefarious burglars?
March 16, 2020
A jewel thief gang makes its headquarters in a mysterious mansion where a bedroom floor has a tendency to disappear. The Hardy's capture them.
After a relatively calm couple of books, the battering of brains is renewed. Joe gets the KO with a stool to the head. Joe also gets pulled under water and passes out due to lack of oxygen, but that does not count as concussive injury.
The beat down count:
This book: 1
Series total: 26
After a relatively calm couple of books, the battering of brains is renewed. Joe gets the KO with a stool to the head. Joe also gets pulled under water and passes out due to lack of oxygen, but that does not count as concussive injury.
The beat down count:
This book: 1
Series total: 26
February 7, 2020
The Disappearing Floor- Franklin W. Dixon- Mystery/Suspense- Series
The Disappearing Floor is a suspenseful crime thriller about the famous brothers, Frank and Joe Hardy. They are renowned youth detectives in this story along with their dear friend, Chet Morton. The boys embark on different "cases" throughout the series and in this specific story, it takes place in the middle of the woods while the threesome is searching through the town's forest. They are driving their classic, oversized, orange, vintage van along the abandoned roads when they see an intriguing sight. A larger size house set back a way off the road. Neither of the 3 had seen or heard of this house before, but being detectives, they decided to investigate further. As they drove close to the infrastructure, something seemed off. An already especially eerie evening had caused the boys to have mixed emotions about this place. As they veered deeper along the drive, they saw instances of flashed lights. Without giving away too much of the story, they realize that the house has a haunting upon it. They come back in various instances throughout the book to investigate further. The more times they come back, the more suspicious their visits become, and they realize they have a mystery on their hands. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I have all of the Hardy Boys. There's honestly nothing that I didn't enjoy about the book. It's very well organized and set up in such a way that it keeps you on the edge of your seat. It keeps you wanting to come back for more. It's almost like every other page leaves you with a cliff hanger. There's never a low or boring point in the book. This book really held my attention because I enjoy suspenseful book and storylines that just generally make you think and come up with possible events. The author, Franklin W. Dixon, is also a pseudonym, which only adds to the eerie mysteriousness of the already intense stories. Each and every book is completely different from the one before, but they add to each other. If you have read previous books in the series, you will have what some might call, an advantage. So, while it is not an essential series, it is helpful to have read various other novels from this author. It will be worth your time. The inspiring and intriguing themes continue to draw me in, and I can only imagine that they will do the same for you!
The Disappearing Floor is a suspenseful crime thriller about the famous brothers, Frank and Joe Hardy. They are renowned youth detectives in this story along with their dear friend, Chet Morton. The boys embark on different "cases" throughout the series and in this specific story, it takes place in the middle of the woods while the threesome is searching through the town's forest. They are driving their classic, oversized, orange, vintage van along the abandoned roads when they see an intriguing sight. A larger size house set back a way off the road. Neither of the 3 had seen or heard of this house before, but being detectives, they decided to investigate further. As they drove close to the infrastructure, something seemed off. An already especially eerie evening had caused the boys to have mixed emotions about this place. As they veered deeper along the drive, they saw instances of flashed lights. Without giving away too much of the story, they realize that the house has a haunting upon it. They come back in various instances throughout the book to investigate further. The more times they come back, the more suspicious their visits become, and they realize they have a mystery on their hands. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I have all of the Hardy Boys. There's honestly nothing that I didn't enjoy about the book. It's very well organized and set up in such a way that it keeps you on the edge of your seat. It keeps you wanting to come back for more. It's almost like every other page leaves you with a cliff hanger. There's never a low or boring point in the book. This book really held my attention because I enjoy suspenseful book and storylines that just generally make you think and come up with possible events. The author, Franklin W. Dixon, is also a pseudonym, which only adds to the eerie mysteriousness of the already intense stories. Each and every book is completely different from the one before, but they add to each other. If you have read previous books in the series, you will have what some might call, an advantage. So, while it is not an essential series, it is helpful to have read various other novels from this author. It will be worth your time. The inspiring and intriguing themes continue to draw me in, and I can only imagine that they will do the same for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 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.)
This one had the perfect mix of the eerie and the absurd—a disappearing floor! Even the title felt like a dare. What kind of place could trick you into thinking the ground beneath you had vanished? For a 12-year-old me, crouched on the steps of M.P. Birla’s library with the Hardy Boys in hand, it was irresistible. I remember my palms sweating, imagining myself sprinting down a hallway only to plunge into nothingness.
The novel itself leaned into technological trickery—secret mechanisms, hidden passages, and criminal masterminds with gadgets before gadgets were cool. In the 1990s, when my school had just started introducing computer labs and “futuristic” meant 3.5-inch floppy disks, the disappearing floor was a metaphor for how technology could both dazzle and destabilize.
Looking back now, it also reads like a parable of adolescence. One moment you think you’re standing on solid ground—childhood routines, certainties, friendships—and suddenly the floor gives way. Exams loom, expectations shift, and the future demands a leap into the unknown. That sense of instability, of the ground itself betraying you, was captured perfectly in this pulp contraption of a plot.
Culturally, too, the book mirrors its era. Mid-20th-century America was obsessed with science both as a miracle and a menace: atomic energy, espionage, and Cold War laboratories. Smuggled into a Hardy Boys mystery for young readers, those anxieties became puzzles, traps, and vanishing floors. For me in Calcutta, the geopolitics didn’t register—but the thrill of the uncanny did.
What lingers most is the mood: that delicious mix of curiosity and dread when the ordinary world suddenly reveals its hidden mechanics. In life, as in literature, the ground isn’t always as firm as it seems. Sometimes, it disappears—and the adventure begins only when you learn how to land.
Hardy Boys (Read between 1990 and 1996 in M.P. Birla School library and punctiliously collected and read thereafter.)
This one had the perfect mix of the eerie and the absurd—a disappearing floor! Even the title felt like a dare. What kind of place could trick you into thinking the ground beneath you had vanished? For a 12-year-old me, crouched on the steps of M.P. Birla’s library with the Hardy Boys in hand, it was irresistible. I remember my palms sweating, imagining myself sprinting down a hallway only to plunge into nothingness.
The novel itself leaned into technological trickery—secret mechanisms, hidden passages, and criminal masterminds with gadgets before gadgets were cool. In the 1990s, when my school had just started introducing computer labs and “futuristic” meant 3.5-inch floppy disks, the disappearing floor was a metaphor for how technology could both dazzle and destabilize.
Looking back now, it also reads like a parable of adolescence. One moment you think you’re standing on solid ground—childhood routines, certainties, friendships—and suddenly the floor gives way. Exams loom, expectations shift, and the future demands a leap into the unknown. That sense of instability, of the ground itself betraying you, was captured perfectly in this pulp contraption of a plot.
Culturally, too, the book mirrors its era. Mid-20th-century America was obsessed with science both as a miracle and a menace: atomic energy, espionage, and Cold War laboratories. Smuggled into a Hardy Boys mystery for young readers, those anxieties became puzzles, traps, and vanishing floors. For me in Calcutta, the geopolitics didn’t register—but the thrill of the uncanny did.
What lingers most is the mood: that delicious mix of curiosity and dread when the ordinary world suddenly reveals its hidden mechanics. In life, as in literature, the ground isn’t always as firm as it seems. Sometimes, it disappears—and the adventure begins only when you learn how to land.
September 9, 2019
The Hardy Boys were always my favourite books growing up, and I still read them from time to time. I have read that this one is notorious among fans for the absurdity of the plot and much else, so I had to re-read it to find out for myself.
Wow. This is something else. I recommend reading it for the unintentional humour, if nothing else. The plot is ludicrous, the events so random that you think maybe the author is playing a joke on the reader by not even attempting to set anything up. It's like they just picked events out of a hat and pasted them together.
One thing I noticed in this volume is how every single time Chet is mentioned, they make sure to point out he is overweight. This is common in the series, but usually they mention Chet as being "hefty" or "plump" once or twice and then let it go. Not in this one. Every time he's mentioned it is with adjectives reminding us he's fat. Frank and Joe seem to be awfully hard on him, too. More-so than their usual good natured teasing. I half expected them to start telling Chet "shut the f@@@ up you fat f***" every time he opened his mouth.
That being said, the story is still fun. I think this was one of the spookier books in the series that I loved as a kid. The plot sure moves fast, even if it makes no sense and there is no logic to any of it.
I highly recommend reading this for adults who are fans of the series because I think you'll laugh out loud at the absurdity of some (much) of it. Kids would probably be enthralled by the story, too. It's a fun read, for various reasons.
Wow. This is something else. I recommend reading it for the unintentional humour, if nothing else. The plot is ludicrous, the events so random that you think maybe the author is playing a joke on the reader by not even attempting to set anything up. It's like they just picked events out of a hat and pasted them together.
One thing I noticed in this volume is how every single time Chet is mentioned, they make sure to point out he is overweight. This is common in the series, but usually they mention Chet as being "hefty" or "plump" once or twice and then let it go. Not in this one. Every time he's mentioned it is with adjectives reminding us he's fat. Frank and Joe seem to be awfully hard on him, too. More-so than their usual good natured teasing. I half expected them to start telling Chet "shut the f@@@ up you fat f***" every time he opened his mouth.
That being said, the story is still fun. I think this was one of the spookier books in the series that I loved as a kid. The plot sure moves fast, even if it makes no sense and there is no logic to any of it.
I highly recommend reading this for adults who are fans of the series because I think you'll laugh out loud at the absurdity of some (much) of it. Kids would probably be enthralled by the story, too. It's a fun read, for various reasons.
April 6, 2018
The book The Disappearing Floor by Franklin W. Dixon is a book about three boys that are searching for a group of bank robbers that have stolen a lot of money. When they first ran into the robbers it was on a camping trip. A man walked past the boy's campsite when Frank and Joe Hardy were cooking. They went after him with Chet in the rear but fell into a trap that sent them plummeting down about 15 feet. They find stolen money and somehow have to get out of wherever they are.
I liked all of the adventures that the boy's went on throughout the story because the stories were interesting and sound fun to experience. I disliked the fact the all of the adventures were either really short or they weren't detailed that much. Also, a lot of the things that happened in the book were confusing. If I were the author, I would provide more detail in the story and make it less confusing.
I would recommend this book to people who like crime solving because this book has a lot to do with crime and detectives. It also lets the reader try to figure out who the bank robbers are. I think that people who like books in a series would like these books because they are part of a big series. I would also recommend this to people who like adventuring because they are always on an adventure in the book.
I liked all of the adventures that the boy's went on throughout the story because the stories were interesting and sound fun to experience. I disliked the fact the all of the adventures were either really short or they weren't detailed that much. Also, a lot of the things that happened in the book were confusing. If I were the author, I would provide more detail in the story and make it less confusing.
I would recommend this book to people who like crime solving because this book has a lot to do with crime and detectives. It also lets the reader try to figure out who the bank robbers are. I think that people who like books in a series would like these books because they are part of a big series. I would also recommend this to people who like adventuring because they are always on an adventure in the book.
Read
March 20, 2020The book that I read was The Disappearing Floor by Franklin W. Dixon. In the book the Hardy boys' friend Chet Morton found a floor in the middle of the woods and went to explore it with the Hardy boys. And then later they find a mansion by the floor and try to explore it at night but they see a ghost figure looking at them in the woods and later vanishes once they try and chase it. Later the Hardy boys and Chet find out that the mansion has a disappearing floor and they think that’s where the owner of the mansion fell and died.
The theme of this story is to never give up on what you are doing. This is the theme because the Hardy boys were beat to stuff and still didn’t give up trying to catch the criminals. Also they were knocked unconscious a couple times and still didn’t give up. And at the end the Hardy boys catch the criminals and they are sent somewhere else. That’s why I chose the theme to never give up on what you are doing.
I didn’t like this book that much because in some parts I didn’t understand the story and I could predict what was coming up in the story. I also didn’t really like the book because I didn’t like the story line and it wasn’t that interesting of a story. It was an easy book to read because there weren't any hard words and it was a short story. Those are the reasons why I didn’t really like the book The Disappearing floor.
The theme of this story is to never give up on what you are doing. This is the theme because the Hardy boys were beat to stuff and still didn’t give up trying to catch the criminals. Also they were knocked unconscious a couple times and still didn’t give up. And at the end the Hardy boys catch the criminals and they are sent somewhere else. That’s why I chose the theme to never give up on what you are doing.
I didn’t like this book that much because in some parts I didn’t understand the story and I could predict what was coming up in the story. I also didn’t really like the book because I didn’t like the story line and it wasn’t that interesting of a story. It was an easy book to read because there weren't any hard words and it was a short story. Those are the reasons why I didn’t really like the book The Disappearing floor.
December 17, 2018
The Disappearing Floor is a book written by Franklin W. Dixon. The lexile level is 750. The main characters are the Hardy boys, and their main objective is solving mysteries. Their friends lost the amasyth. It is a rare and purple stone. It was stolen by someone and they are trying to find out who. The friends were showing the Hardy boys and when they went to the barn that was on fire and the stone was gone. They saw the stealer go away in a cab. They followed that cab to a fair by the beach. The Hardy boys were following the thief through the trap door, but they got stuck and left the door open.
The setting of the book is that the Hardy boys go to many different places to try and find the jewel thief and the amasyth. Because of that, they end up in a whole bunch of conflict. One place they go to in in the barn. Because they went to the barn, the thief stole the amasyth and drove off in the taxi cab. They go to get their boat to pick up their friend, and because they did that, the boat flipped over and they had to be saved.
The Disappearing floor is a good book i like it because of all the advenchers the Hardy Boys have. The book is confusing in some parts of the book like when they talk about daypart it sounds like a araport but it is not. The book was easy like reading wisa and it was harder in understanding. The book was not predictable skepta that i know that they will kech the bad guys. I like the ending ever mucha my favorite part was when the Hardy Boys grove off after the guy ate the begging of the book and there car stated to smoke.
The setting of the book is that the Hardy boys go to many different places to try and find the jewel thief and the amasyth. Because of that, they end up in a whole bunch of conflict. One place they go to in in the barn. Because they went to the barn, the thief stole the amasyth and drove off in the taxi cab. They go to get their boat to pick up their friend, and because they did that, the boat flipped over and they had to be saved.
The Disappearing floor is a good book i like it because of all the advenchers the Hardy Boys have. The book is confusing in some parts of the book like when they talk about daypart it sounds like a araport but it is not. The book was easy like reading wisa and it was harder in understanding. The book was not predictable skepta that i know that they will kech the bad guys. I like the ending ever mucha my favorite part was when the Hardy Boys grove off after the guy ate the begging of the book and there car stated to smoke.
December 7, 2020
The Hardy's are involved in a mystery near home at the Perth Estate, an old, abandoned mansion on the outskirts of Bayport. Again Mr. Fenton Hardy's investigation ties into Joe and Franks. When their father asks them to look out for a Mr. Stang the boys end up getting warned to abandon their inquiries. When the same few faces keep turning up around town and they all have something to do with jewels the Hardy's start to put their clues together to figure out what is going on, even though no crime has even been committed....yet.
Jewel thieves, amethyst stones, ghosts and a disappearing floor are all part of this tome. Amateur rock collecting gets Chet involved. The boys' pilot friend Jack ends up hurt after trying to help solve the case. Mr. Hardy is sent on wild goose chases. A very strange case of a jewelry delivery that goes awry has the boys and the police scratching their heads trying to figure out how it happened. Nothing makes sense, it seems impossible to solve. Only the Hardy boys' tenacity can lead to the truth.
Jewel thieves, amethyst stones, ghosts and a disappearing floor are all part of this tome. Amateur rock collecting gets Chet involved. The boys' pilot friend Jack ends up hurt after trying to help solve the case. Mr. Hardy is sent on wild goose chases. A very strange case of a jewelry delivery that goes awry has the boys and the police scratching their heads trying to figure out how it happened. Nothing makes sense, it seems impossible to solve. Only the Hardy boys' tenacity can lead to the truth.
May 22, 2018
The book I read was called The Disappearing Floor by Franklin W. Dixon. The lexile level is 750L. The Hardy boys yet deal with another mystery. They have to figure out why these jewel thefts are going on. They get tips and ideas that the mastermind is in their hometown Bayport. They figure out where they are located in the Bayport area. They end up having many encounters with the mastermind and his henchmen. They have a couple jewel thefts happen throughout this book. One is in Bayport and one is in Chicago. At the end when they finally catch the mastermind and his henchmen. They explain how and what happend at/during the jewel thefts.
The theme of this book is: even if you think your not gonna get caught you eventually will. Most criminals in this book and in real life think that they will never be caught but almost all the time they get caught. The mastermind throughout this book does more than one jewel theft/robbery because he didn’t get caught the first time. So he did it again. But the second time he did it he was caught. When the Hardy boys go to the masterminds house for the last time in the book. The Hardy boys figure out a lot of things about the house that explains a lot about the mysteries. They figure out that there is an underground tunnel system that the criminals use a lot to go to certain places in or around the house. Also in the house there is a floor that “disappears”. There is a lever or secret thing you have to press to make the floor move. When the floor reaches the ground it leads into the underground tunnel system. The mastermind has done more robberies than explained in the book but it brings it up. So the mastermind obviously has done more than a couple robberies. He knows what he is doing. But no one ever looked deep enough into the mysteries to figure out what they did and how they did it. So they got lazy. So that was the perfect chance for the Hardy boys to do their job. Eventually they caught them, so the hardy boys yet solved another mystery.
This book is one of the best books I have ever read. Some points in the book had a little to many things going on at once. The book wasn’t too easy but it wasn’t too hard. Some parts of the book can sort of make you think, how can that happen? My favorite part of the book was when they finally caught the mastermind and his henchmen. The author (Franklin W. Dixon) likes to keep the reader keep on reading. He also likes to add a lot of suspense throughout this whole book. I would recommend this book to most people. Throughout the whole book it is interesting and exciting which a lot of people like to read. Overall this book is a good, exciting, action packed, and suspenseful book.
The theme of this book is: even if you think your not gonna get caught you eventually will. Most criminals in this book and in real life think that they will never be caught but almost all the time they get caught. The mastermind throughout this book does more than one jewel theft/robbery because he didn’t get caught the first time. So he did it again. But the second time he did it he was caught. When the Hardy boys go to the masterminds house for the last time in the book. The Hardy boys figure out a lot of things about the house that explains a lot about the mysteries. They figure out that there is an underground tunnel system that the criminals use a lot to go to certain places in or around the house. Also in the house there is a floor that “disappears”. There is a lever or secret thing you have to press to make the floor move. When the floor reaches the ground it leads into the underground tunnel system. The mastermind has done more robberies than explained in the book but it brings it up. So the mastermind obviously has done more than a couple robberies. He knows what he is doing. But no one ever looked deep enough into the mysteries to figure out what they did and how they did it. So they got lazy. So that was the perfect chance for the Hardy boys to do their job. Eventually they caught them, so the hardy boys yet solved another mystery.
This book is one of the best books I have ever read. Some points in the book had a little to many things going on at once. The book wasn’t too easy but it wasn’t too hard. Some parts of the book can sort of make you think, how can that happen? My favorite part of the book was when they finally caught the mastermind and his henchmen. The author (Franklin W. Dixon) likes to keep the reader keep on reading. He also likes to add a lot of suspense throughout this whole book. I would recommend this book to most people. Throughout the whole book it is interesting and exciting which a lot of people like to read. Overall this book is a good, exciting, action packed, and suspenseful book.
February 12, 2025
Everyone's favorite male teenaged detectives stumble into a mystery surrounding an ancient death that may just have produced a ghost. Unfortunately, the title of the book gives away a good chunk of the solution to this ancient crime, but the possibility of the ghost still serves to liven up their investigation into some jewel robberies which are made possible because the security guards keep blanking out and losing track of time.
This novel reads faster than many of the books in the series, and contains a lot of exotic elements that keep it interesting. There is the aforementioned ghost, a secret passage, and even a touch of science fiction. There are also appearances by the friendly secondary cast of family and friends.
This novel reads faster than many of the books in the series, and contains a lot of exotic elements that keep it interesting. There is the aforementioned ghost, a secret passage, and even a touch of science fiction. There are also appearances by the friendly secondary cast of family and friends.
June 21, 2023
Franklin W. Dixon inspires you in such a way that you feel like you are in the story. It is also adventure,fantasy and of course mystery.Adventure because it has things like jewel thieves,secret tunnel and two boys +etc. fantasy because it has things like ghosts, disappearing floors and objects magnetized to the wall. mystery because of old mansions and so so much more. hardy boys and many other mystery books. the hardy boys make you feel what is going to happen next and it makes you feel very happy . finished in 3 days easily. and it is very entertaining as you read it slowly takes over your mind.
October 7, 2025
This was a weird one with enjoyable narrative but the story itself was flawed. There were strange unbelievable aspects to the story with science fictiony elements mixed in. also as with early footballers, I fear that the Hardys are due for short life spans because of CTE. With as many times as they are knocked unconscious in a year, there's likely to be no other outcome. This book also returned to calling Chet fat repeatedly.
However even with all of those aspects somehow enjoyed the book. Escapism for the win.
it should be noted that I read the revised version of the story. apparently the original published version was much more nonsensical than this version is.
However even with all of those aspects somehow enjoyed the book. Escapism for the win.
it should be noted that I read the revised version of the story. apparently the original published version was much more nonsensical than this version is.
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