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The Hardy Boys #16
A Figure in Hiding
The two young investigators find themselves involved in a dangerous adventure when a blind peddler delivers a mysterious message.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1937
85 people are currently reading
956 people want to read
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
783 books999 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 90 reviews
May 22, 2017
While still a fun adventure of intrigue and sleuthing where Frank and Joe team up with their father Fenton Hardy to capture a dangerous gang of thieves with the help of Chet as well as Tony and Biff (plus guest appearances by the sweethearts Iola and Callie), this was not one of my son and I's favorite episodes. It did feature a hydrofoil boat (probably a novelty at the time when it was written in the 50s), but it lacked any real danger to the Hardys and kind of borrowed the idea of warnings via mysterious symbols and superstition from the earlier adventure, The Mark on the Door. Hopefully, #17 will be more exciting!
August 4, 2023
A Figure in Hiding was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by Leslie McFarlane and published in 1937 by Grosset & Dunlap as the sixteenth novel in The Hardy Boys series of books for boys. From 1959-'73, the first thirty-eight books in the series were revised under the direction of one of Stratemeyer's daughters. A Figure in Hiding was completely replaced by an entirely new and different novel which was written by James D. Lawrence that appeared in 1965 but had the same cover as the more recent printings of the original iteration, though the interior illustrations were different. Both versions appeared under the house name of Franklin W. Dixon, of course; the earlier version was 212 pages long with 25 chapters and the newer one was 176 pages in 20 chapters. I've just finished reading the two back-to-back. Many of the character names are the same, but they're completely unrelated other than the Hardy family and friends. In the original, the main guest character is a girl named Virginia, a name not used in the revision. The Hardys witness a robbery at a theatre and get pulled into a tale of a bogus doctor scamming people with eye problems with fake treatment and a mystery of who's descended from whom amongst the guest stars. There's a brief but quite racist depiction of a maid on page 78 that's thankfully excised in the newer book, as is a gardener on page 179. It's also a rather sexist story; Virginia is a silly mess. As Chet remarks on page 145: "I never heard such a lot of fuss about a mere girl!" Also, there's an ad section after the end of the story promoting another G&D/Stratemeyer juvenile series, Rick Brant, which asserts that "...girls are all right- in their place!" So, this is one of those rare instances I've found that the older version was significantly improved by the shorter modern version, though I believe it's suited for readers a few years younger than the original. The 1965 novel has quite a few more named characters and has the Hardys investigating a rest camp that's the cover for a plastic surgeon who provides criminals with new faces and identities. It's as action-packed as the original, though it seems more stream-lined and simplistic. (Though I was surprised to find the phrase "cheval-de-frise" on page 86. I enjoyed reading both of them, though I thought the original was a bit below McFarlane's average, and the revision a little above the level of most of the newer books... so I'm rating both with a waffly three stars.
August 4, 2023
A Figure in Hiding was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by Leslie McFarlane and published in 1937 by Grosset & Dunlap as the sixteenth novel in The Hardy Boys series of books for boys. From 1959-'73, the first thirty-eight books in the series were revised under the direction of one of Stratemeyer's daughters. A Figure in Hiding was completely replaced by an entirely new and different novel which was written by James D. Lawrence that appeared in 1965 but had the same cover as the more recent printings of the original iteration, though the interior illustrations were different. Both versions appeared under the house name of Franklin W. Dixon, of course; the earlier version was 212 pages long with 25 chapters and the newer one was 176 pages in 20 chapters. I've just finished reading the two back-to-back. Many of the character names are the same, but they're completely unrelated other than the Hardy family and friends. In the original, the main guest character is a girl named Virginia, a name not used in the revision. The Hardys witness a robbery at a theatre and get pulled into a tale of a bogus doctor scamming people with eye problems with fake treatment and a mystery of who's descended from whom amongst the guest stars. There's a brief but quite racist depiction of a maid on page 78 that's thankfully excised in the newer book, as is a gardener on page 179. It's also a rather sexist story; Virginia is a silly mess. As Chet remarks on page 145: "I never heard such a lot of fuss about a mere girl!" Also, there's an ad section after the end of the story promoting another G&D/Stratemeyer juvenile series, Rick Brant, which asserts that "...girls are all right- in their place!" So, this is one of those rare instances I've found that the older version was significantly improved by the shorter modern version, though I believe it's suited for readers a few years younger than the original. The 1965 novel has quite a few more named characters and has the Hardys investigating a rest camp that's the cover for a plastic surgeon who provides criminals with new faces and identities. It's as action-packed as the original, though it seems more stream-lined and simplistic. (Though I was surprised to find the phrase "cheval-de-frise" on page 86. I enjoyed reading both of them, though I thought the original was a bit below McFarlane's average, and the revision a little above the level of most of the newer books... so I'm rating both with a waffly three stars.
September 27, 2017
In this installment, Frank and Joe Hardy receive a cryptic warning from an informant and are set on the trail of a mysterious medical facility.
When I was a kid my grandparents regularly gifted me Hardy Boys books for my birthday and/or Chanukkah (and this second-hand copy I've just read has an inscription to a boy from his grandmother as well!) I had quite a few of them, but I only read a couple. It may have been because I was more interested in fantastic fiction at the time, or maybe I was "saving" them (even early bibliophiles have to make sure they will always have plenty of books to read.) Or it might have been, as I've (re-?)discovered, that the books simply didn't have enough depth to hold my interest.
The Hardy Boys (and Nancy Drew) books were an assembly-line creation, always the exact same length, which doesn't leave much room for embellishment or you know, character development. It's all action, all the time and the characters, including the Hardys, might as well be just props to move the plot along. We know the brothers like baseball, and their friend Chet might have an eating disorder (and they are kind of mean to him!) but there's not much else and it's hard to feel for them as real people. The book does have a quaint sort of charm, but was too bare-bones to be immersive in any way.
The back cover recommends the series for ages 10-14 but I'd move that bracket down a bit. By the time I was 12 or so I was reading regular books (that were not written specifically for children). I'd say they'd be good for kids who might think reading is boring and need the non-stop action to hook them. Others might find them lacking, as I did.
Addendum: I've just re-read about the history of the Hardy Boys line. I knew that they had been revised over the years to account for changes in social sensibilities, but am also reminded that they were simplified, essentially dumbed-down from the original versions, beginning in 1959 (which would include this 1965 edition.) No doubt I would have enjoyed the original a bit more.
When I was a kid my grandparents regularly gifted me Hardy Boys books for my birthday and/or Chanukkah (and this second-hand copy I've just read has an inscription to a boy from his grandmother as well!) I had quite a few of them, but I only read a couple. It may have been because I was more interested in fantastic fiction at the time, or maybe I was "saving" them (even early bibliophiles have to make sure they will always have plenty of books to read.) Or it might have been, as I've (re-?)discovered, that the books simply didn't have enough depth to hold my interest.
The Hardy Boys (and Nancy Drew) books were an assembly-line creation, always the exact same length, which doesn't leave much room for embellishment or you know, character development. It's all action, all the time and the characters, including the Hardys, might as well be just props to move the plot along. We know the brothers like baseball, and their friend Chet might have an eating disorder (and they are kind of mean to him!) but there's not much else and it's hard to feel for them as real people. The book does have a quaint sort of charm, but was too bare-bones to be immersive in any way.
The back cover recommends the series for ages 10-14 but I'd move that bracket down a bit. By the time I was 12 or so I was reading regular books (that were not written specifically for children). I'd say they'd be good for kids who might think reading is boring and need the non-stop action to hook them. Others might find them lacking, as I did.
Addendum: I've just re-read about the history of the Hardy Boys line. I knew that they had been revised over the years to account for changes in social sensibilities, but am also reminded that they were simplified, essentially dumbed-down from the original versions, beginning in 1959 (which would include this 1965 edition.) No doubt I would have enjoyed the original a bit more.
September 11, 2016
The Hardy Boys and their friend Chet go to watch a movie with the same name as the title of this book. After sitting down in the movie house Chet sees that he is sitting next to his sister. Yuck! My brother was 4 years older than me and used to make me walk a block ahead of him. It had a two-fold purpose. 1. He did not wish his friends to see me with him; and 2. I could save him a quarter by buying his ticket for him. Mine cost twenty-five cents. He could have lead me into a life of crime by doing this to me.
Back to the Hardy Boys. Just after the movie lets out one of the boys sees that it is being help up, and then sees that the thief is getting away, so he pursues him. Too late. The thief got away with $900.00.
That was a fun read from start to finish. what a way to spend a Saturday, reading this book, watering the yard and planting four new plants.
Note: 1937 printing of book.
Back to the Hardy Boys. Just after the movie lets out one of the boys sees that it is being help up, and then sees that the thief is getting away, so he pursues him. Too late. The thief got away with $900.00.
That was a fun read from start to finish. what a way to spend a Saturday, reading this book, watering the yard and planting four new plants.
Note: 1937 printing of book.
February 12, 2024
This is a book from a boys' mystery series and the version I read was the original 1937 text. It was a bit bizarre! A quack Dr. that goes to people's homes and charges them money to perform a fake operation on their eyes to restore sight? Really? How gullible were people in the 1930s? And brave to have one man do surgery alone in their house without anesthesia or helpers. One thing I learned in this book is that coincidences are astounding! Every time there's a person mentioned as being a long-lost relative they will immediately turn up in the story. And of course the boys' dad is too busy meeting someone so the boys have to do all the dangerous detective work....
This seems to be a well-loved series so who am I to pick it apart? Well, I'll try reading another Hardy Boys mystery since I do own the whole series.
Well, I just finished reading the "updated" version on February 11, 2024. I would also give this version 3 stars. Although not as crazy as the original text, it still has its moments. Frank and Joe get bopped in the head so many times while they are chasing after a gang called the "Goggle Gang" who uses a weird eye symbol. The gang has various con games going on unsuspecting people.
This seems to be a well-loved series so who am I to pick it apart? Well, I'll try reading another Hardy Boys mystery since I do own the whole series.
Well, I just finished reading the "updated" version on February 11, 2024. I would also give this version 3 stars. Although not as crazy as the original text, it still has its moments. Frank and Joe get bopped in the head so many times while they are chasing after a gang called the "Goggle Gang" who uses a weird eye symbol. The gang has various con games going on unsuspecting people.
February 15, 2011
I am happy about this book. I gave it a ten out of ten or on this website 5 out of five because i like the Hardy boys. Its for boys who like adventure and like having fun. it gets you into the story like you actually there fighting bad guys, driving a car, getting kidnaped and driving there boat. i gave it a ten out of ten becaus the author is good, he wrote tons of these hardy boys books adventures because he likes people imagining what it is like to be them. ilike this one because of the eye its a secret code and pasage into a the gang and they have to protect it becaues it leads to the crime of the stealing of the idle. this idle has a curse to whoever took it . and the hardy boys who narmes are frank hardy and the brother joe hardy have to find it . these storys are intense.
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March 5, 2024It's been several years since I picked up a Hardy Boys book, but a recent puzzle had me itching to read one again. I actually started What Happened at Midnight first, got about 35 pages in and realized it was a bit too formulaic for what I was wanting. I opted for A Figure in Hiding, which yes, was formulaic because its a Hardy Boys book, but was also more clever and fun to pick up before bed each night. This one is full of happy little accidents that drop multiple mysteries and clues in the laps of the Hardys, which is a bummer because there are really fun elements to these books and they don't need so many coincidences. However, working with what we've got, this one proved to be enjoyable and packed with action at the end. Not necessarily believable action, but it had its moments.
As a kid, I flew through these stories and loved how comfortable and familiar they were. I knew the formula and I embraced it. I loved the way the stories differed in the confines of the formula. And really, this is very common (and good) for kids, espcially for encouraging over practicing reading. These books built my confidence and made me love the mystery genre.
As an adult, I do prefer a bit more variety in my books and am quick to critique plot holes for being overly convenient. Middle grade books for kids shouldn't have plot holes just because kids might not realize they are there. For this reason alone, I've never really pushed my kids to pick up tons of Hardy Boys. We listened to the first several books on audio from our library many years ago, when my two oldest were still quite young, and very much enjoyed the sound effects in the recordings. But I know there are loads better mysteries out there for young readers, and those are the books I'm more likely to recommend to my kids.
Rereading this Hardy boys reminded me that the quality of books isn't necessarily worse now that it used to be. So many times I'm quick to criticize modern books for being silly and simple, but how likely is it for two teenagers to have access to police records, to constantly get knocked unconscious by bad guys who always leave them unharmed and unconcussed, to have every gang of criminals set up shop right in your home town, and to solve crime after crime that baffle not just the police but also your private eye father? Yeah, it's just a different kind of unrealistic. And if it's encouraging reading, it's all good. Kids will eventually see these books for what they are, and in the process they just might fall in love with reading.
As a kid, I flew through these stories and loved how comfortable and familiar they were. I knew the formula and I embraced it. I loved the way the stories differed in the confines of the formula. And really, this is very common (and good) for kids, espcially for encouraging over practicing reading. These books built my confidence and made me love the mystery genre.
As an adult, I do prefer a bit more variety in my books and am quick to critique plot holes for being overly convenient. Middle grade books for kids shouldn't have plot holes just because kids might not realize they are there. For this reason alone, I've never really pushed my kids to pick up tons of Hardy Boys. We listened to the first several books on audio from our library many years ago, when my two oldest were still quite young, and very much enjoyed the sound effects in the recordings. But I know there are loads better mysteries out there for young readers, and those are the books I'm more likely to recommend to my kids.
Rereading this Hardy boys reminded me that the quality of books isn't necessarily worse now that it used to be. So many times I'm quick to criticize modern books for being silly and simple, but how likely is it for two teenagers to have access to police records, to constantly get knocked unconscious by bad guys who always leave them unharmed and unconcussed, to have every gang of criminals set up shop right in your home town, and to solve crime after crime that baffle not just the police but also your private eye father? Yeah, it's just a different kind of unrealistic. And if it's encouraging reading, it's all good. Kids will eventually see these books for what they are, and in the process they just might fall in love with reading.
July 4, 2022
Frank en Joe Hardy gaan vergezeld van hun vriend Chet naar het theater. Als de kassier overvallen wordt zetten de jongens meteen de achtervolging in. Dat is meteen de start van een aantal verhaallijnen die op het einde allemaal samenkomen en op die manier totaal ongeloofwaardig worden. Alhoewel dat voor de jongvolwassen lezers ten tijde dat het geschreven werd misschien helemaal niet zo overkwam.
Eindelijk speelt een meisje eens een belangrijke rol, al bestaat die vooral uit weglopen, labiel en hysterisch zijn.
De samenwerking met Fenton Hary wordt hechter al werkt die ook met een ietwat mysterieuze jonge kerel die een directe concurrent van de Hardy broers lijkt te zijn.
Tante Gertrude wordt steeds meer een parodie van zichzelf en haar rol wordt hoe langer hoe onbeduidender terwijl ze steeds meer in herhalingen valt.
Laura, de moeder van de broers, blijft een persoon op de achtergrond.
Van de vrienden uit de eerste delen is al lang geen sprake meer, behalve Chet dan.
Te druk, te veel, te onwaarschijnlijk en te oppervlakkig maar toch nog altijd goed leesbaar.
Eindelijk speelt een meisje eens een belangrijke rol, al bestaat die vooral uit weglopen, labiel en hysterisch zijn.
De samenwerking met Fenton Hary wordt hechter al werkt die ook met een ietwat mysterieuze jonge kerel die een directe concurrent van de Hardy broers lijkt te zijn.
Tante Gertrude wordt steeds meer een parodie van zichzelf en haar rol wordt hoe langer hoe onbeduidender terwijl ze steeds meer in herhalingen valt.
Laura, de moeder van de broers, blijft een persoon op de achtergrond.
Van de vrienden uit de eerste delen is al lang geen sprake meer, behalve Chet dan.
Te druk, te veel, te onwaarschijnlijk en te oppervlakkig maar toch nog altijd goed leesbaar.
June 3, 2020
As I progress along at mid-life re-reading the 190 Hardy Boys books of my youth, I was pleased to read A Figure in Hiding. It is a great classic Hardy Boys tale, and despite being one of the earliest adventures, has aged well. The Hardys tackle a multi-faceted mystery, that includes vandalism to a speedboat, a wealthy man hiding in fear for his life, a rehabilitation facility where criminals go to have plastic surgery to change their appearance, and a mysterious glass eye that hold a secret radio transmitter, among other challenges. The action is non-stop, the story plausible, Mr. Hardy also makes an appearance, and one can imagine even today such events happening. Any fan of the classic series will enjoy this well-written, interesting and action-filled story!
November 15, 2018
I think that this book was like the others. It was adventurous and exciting in most of the parts. It also had some intense moments!!!! I would recomened this book!!!!!!
March 4, 2021
Reading a Hardy Boy story is like visiting my childhood. I really enjoyed the humor, excitement, and mystery of this book. The overall delivery was well written. 5/5
May 4, 2025
eponymous sentence:
p56: "A figure in hiding!" Joe declared, and Frank added, "Who must be found!"
The key words were banana split.
p56: "A figure in hiding!" Joe declared, and Frank added, "Who must be found!"
The key words were banana split.
January 13, 2018
Things I liked about this book:
- it had Chet in it
- the father and son(s) relationship in being detectives
- plot
- it had Chet in it
- the father and son(s) relationship in being detectives
- plot
August 2, 2021
Review of the Original.
My favorite author PG Wodehouse has a mystery author in one of his novels claim that the only reason the detective in his mystery novels ever solves a crime is because of sheer coincidence. This Hardy Boys book takes this concept to heart. Everything seems to happen randomly in this story as coincidence piles on coincidence. Someone is lured to another city for reasons never explained, someone happens to be someone else's unknown relation as needed by the plot, the boys avoid certain death at random for unexplained reasons and the mystery that opens the book is never solved. There are lots of fun Hardy boys books in the series, but this one is a flop.
Leslie McFarlane is the credited writer but it feels very odd compared to his earlier stories. The next book is understood to be a cowriting credit with John Button who wrote the next several and the strangest of the early Hardy Boys stories. Edna Stratemeyer did the outline of four of the six Hardy Boys books starting with this one and then vanished from the Hardy Boys library forever. Some accounts of the syndicate seem to indicate that Edna was becoming less interested in the writing and just wanted her share of the profits. After she left Leslie McFarlane would return. Could the oddity of the half dozen books starting with this one be credited in no small part to Edna's increasing boredom with the series and hence some very odd outlines and editing?
My favorite author PG Wodehouse has a mystery author in one of his novels claim that the only reason the detective in his mystery novels ever solves a crime is because of sheer coincidence. This Hardy Boys book takes this concept to heart. Everything seems to happen randomly in this story as coincidence piles on coincidence. Someone is lured to another city for reasons never explained, someone happens to be someone else's unknown relation as needed by the plot, the boys avoid certain death at random for unexplained reasons and the mystery that opens the book is never solved. There are lots of fun Hardy boys books in the series, but this one is a flop.
Leslie McFarlane is the credited writer but it feels very odd compared to his earlier stories. The next book is understood to be a cowriting credit with John Button who wrote the next several and the strangest of the early Hardy Boys stories. Edna Stratemeyer did the outline of four of the six Hardy Boys books starting with this one and then vanished from the Hardy Boys library forever. Some accounts of the syndicate seem to indicate that Edna was becoming less interested in the writing and just wanted her share of the profits. After she left Leslie McFarlane would return. Could the oddity of the half dozen books starting with this one be credited in no small part to Edna's increasing boredom with the series and hence some very odd outlines and editing?
September 30, 2022
(Original 1934 Edition) I'm a little torn about this one. Up until the last quarter, this was one of my favorite Hardy Boys adventures. The brothers made some mistakes early on, which led to some self-doubt and reflection. It was refreshing for them to not be perfect. And while this novel did follow the overused formula of the boys working on their father's case, at least in this one it was known up front and not some unbelievable coincidence.
But then, toward the end, a crazy coincidence was introduced. Why this needed to even be part of the story, I can't say. The adventure would have worked just fine without it, and the ridiculousness of it all took me out of an otherwise engaging story. I've read that the original author started to resent publisher interference (forcing trite and formulaic storylines, and requesting dumbed-down prose), and if I understand the timeline correctly, this is about where he had had enough.
So, while I enjoyed most of this book, it was brought down by the unnecessary "twist".
But then, toward the end, a crazy coincidence was introduced. Why this needed to even be part of the story, I can't say. The adventure would have worked just fine without it, and the ridiculousness of it all took me out of an otherwise engaging story. I've read that the original author started to resent publisher interference (forcing trite and formulaic storylines, and requesting dumbed-down prose), and if I understand the timeline correctly, this is about where he had had enough.
So, while I enjoyed most of this book, it was brought down by the unnecessary "twist".
September 9, 2016
This is merely more of the same as the previous books...but, that isn't a bad thing. Fans of this series probably know what to expect; if you're unfamiliar with it, let's just say these books are mysteries with plenty of excitement and adventure, plus squeaky clean content. Though these books may be marketed for kids, adults may enjoy them as well.
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January 14, 2013This book was leisurely paced and suspenseful with a ton of mystery added. The mystery really comes in when the blind peddler gives them the message about the eye and they find it on the boat and later in the book when it starts ticking.
May 20, 2025
Off-topic: I don't understand why GoodReads cannot figure out a way to ensure that two entirely separate juvenile novels that just happen to have the same name and some of the same characters are not lumped together as one book.
Re the 1937 original:
Given the personalities, interpersonal dynamics, and flow of the preceding 15 books, this one immediately takes a weird turn: in Chapter 1 of this book a character (Fred Ware) and concept (Fenton Hardy uses juvenile informers, à la Sherlock Holmes or Fagan) are introduced for the first time in the series; at the same time, Fenton delivers an unprecedentedly disparaging opinion about his sons' intellectual and aesthetic tastes in movies. The vibe, therefore—reinforced by at least three explicit mentions of the boys' feeling inadequate in their father's eyes, despite the fact their solve rate must exceed his—nuzzles closely to 'Does Dad have a new son that he likes better than us?'
It's a dynamic that's brand new to the books and promises briefly to enliven things. Fred Ware is the perfect juvenile detective—he is always there when Fenton needs him; he is utterly cool and collected; he reveals nothing of himself; and he knows the Yankees are going to win the 1937 World Series. Meanwhile, Frank and Joe are their usual half-brained selves who fall down a lot—Joe falls off a fecking 4th story external building ledge for feck's sake—and utter loud exclamations of surprise every time they see a bad guy where they weren't expecting one—usually [THE GUY'S NAME]!
Unfortunately, the oddball thread is quickly dropped and the stupidity of the plotting overwhelms any momentary interest. As others have pointed out, the book contains not one but two miraculous reunions of long-lost family members: the first victim we meet of the chief antagonist's medical fraud happens to be said antagonist's father; the second is the grandmother of the aforementioned Virginia—or is she? The text leads us to guess that one of the bad guys is peddling her as such as just one more fraudulent way to fleece the old lady; for example he proffers two photos, one of the girl as a baby and the other as Virginia looks now. But the former photo could easily have been filched from the lady's belongings during the doctor's 'eye surgery' visit. Only nobody for the last 50 pages of the book—least of all the titular so-called junior detectives—even questions the authenticity of the claim. Seriously?
Even worse and stupidererer, in Chapter 7 Chet is arrested for stealing stolen money from a random Chapter 1 hold-up artist: Fenton Hardy says, AND I FECKING QUOTE, ‘‘As a matter of fact, that’s the very worst part of the whole business. Cordoza insisted on mumbling that the fellow’s name was Chet.’’ Twelve chapters later, Detective Oscar Smuff tells the Hardys, ‘‘Nick Cordoza was well enough to talk this morning, and he talked. He told us all about it ... He tells me that it was a girl who really got the money ... a girl named Virginia Sinder.’’ The text contains zero words explaining away the previous claim that Cordoza had named Chet. It's just forgotten.
Sorry: I realize I'm holding a children's book to a slightly higher standard of intelligibility than usual, but Jesus Elspeth Christ, have a little dignity, Syndicate.
Re the 1937 original:
Given the personalities, interpersonal dynamics, and flow of the preceding 15 books, this one immediately takes a weird turn: in Chapter 1 of this book a character (Fred Ware) and concept (Fenton Hardy uses juvenile informers, à la Sherlock Holmes or Fagan) are introduced for the first time in the series; at the same time, Fenton delivers an unprecedentedly disparaging opinion about his sons' intellectual and aesthetic tastes in movies. The vibe, therefore—reinforced by at least three explicit mentions of the boys' feeling inadequate in their father's eyes, despite the fact their solve rate must exceed his—nuzzles closely to 'Does Dad have a new son that he likes better than us?'
It's a dynamic that's brand new to the books and promises briefly to enliven things. Fred Ware is the perfect juvenile detective—he is always there when Fenton needs him; he is utterly cool and collected; he reveals nothing of himself; and he knows the Yankees are going to win the 1937 World Series. Meanwhile, Frank and Joe are their usual half-brained selves who fall down a lot—Joe falls off a fecking 4th story external building ledge for feck's sake—and utter loud exclamations of surprise every time they see a bad guy where they weren't expecting one—usually [THE GUY'S NAME]!
Unfortunately, the oddball thread is quickly dropped and the stupidity of the plotting overwhelms any momentary interest. As others have pointed out, the book contains not one but two miraculous reunions of long-lost family members: the first victim we meet of the chief antagonist's medical fraud happens to be said antagonist's father; the second is the grandmother of the aforementioned Virginia—or is she? The text leads us to guess that one of the bad guys is peddling her as such as just one more fraudulent way to fleece the old lady; for example he proffers two photos, one of the girl as a baby and the other as Virginia looks now. But the former photo could easily have been filched from the lady's belongings during the doctor's 'eye surgery' visit. Only nobody for the last 50 pages of the book—least of all the titular so-called junior detectives—even questions the authenticity of the claim. Seriously?
Even worse and stupidererer, in Chapter 7 Chet is arrested for stealing stolen money from a random Chapter 1 hold-up artist: Fenton Hardy says, AND I FECKING QUOTE, ‘‘As a matter of fact, that’s the very worst part of the whole business. Cordoza insisted on mumbling that the fellow’s name was Chet.’’ Twelve chapters later, Detective Oscar Smuff tells the Hardys, ‘‘Nick Cordoza was well enough to talk this morning, and he talked. He told us all about it ... He tells me that it was a girl who really got the money ... a girl named Virginia Sinder.’’ The text contains zero words explaining away the previous claim that Cordoza had named Chet. It's just forgotten.
Sorry: I realize I'm holding a children's book to a slightly higher standard of intelligibility than usual, but Jesus Elspeth Christ, have a little dignity, Syndicate.
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 always gave me the chills. The very idea of a figure in hiding—someone half-seen, lurking, watching—was enough to make me double-check the curtains in my M.P. Birla School hostel room after lights out. Unlike the grander Hardy Boys adventures with planes, boats, and foreign lands, this story’s menace felt intimate. The villain could be just behind a door, or in the shadows of an alley.
The novel pivots around deception—secret identities, false appearances, and that classic Hardy Boys motif of people not being who they seem. As a boy in the early ’90s, this played straight into my thrill-seeking imagination: masks, disguises, and the suspense of unmasking kept me racing through the chapters. But in hindsight, I think it also echoed the adolescent unease of realizing that adulthood itself was a masquerade. Teachers, elders, even friends—everyone seemed to wear different faces depending on the day. Growing up was about learning to read those masks.
Politically, too, the 1990s were full of “figures in hiding”—insurgencies, undercover operations, terrorist threats, and scandals exposed only half in the open. Reading this Hardy Boys mystery against that backdrop, even unknowingly, trained me to see how narratives of secrecy and revelation shape public life. Dixon’s pulp world of hidden figures wasn’t far from the headlines of the time.
But let me not over-academicize my younger self. The boy who sat cross-legged in the library with this orange-spined Hardy Boys volume simply wanted the thrill of discovery. Who was hiding? Why were they hiding? Could two clever teenagers expose the truth while the adults floundered? That question kept me glued to the pages.
Looking back, A Figure in Hiding now feels like a metaphor for the act of reading itself. Books, too, are figures in hiding—secrets folded in pages, waiting for the right reader to uncover them. And maybe that’s why this story lingers: because in every shadowed figure, I saw a mirror of my own growing hunger to read the world as a mystery.
Hardy Boys (Read between 1990 and 1996 in M.P. Birla School library and punctiliously collected and read thereafter.)
This one always gave me the chills. The very idea of a figure in hiding—someone half-seen, lurking, watching—was enough to make me double-check the curtains in my M.P. Birla School hostel room after lights out. Unlike the grander Hardy Boys adventures with planes, boats, and foreign lands, this story’s menace felt intimate. The villain could be just behind a door, or in the shadows of an alley.
The novel pivots around deception—secret identities, false appearances, and that classic Hardy Boys motif of people not being who they seem. As a boy in the early ’90s, this played straight into my thrill-seeking imagination: masks, disguises, and the suspense of unmasking kept me racing through the chapters. But in hindsight, I think it also echoed the adolescent unease of realizing that adulthood itself was a masquerade. Teachers, elders, even friends—everyone seemed to wear different faces depending on the day. Growing up was about learning to read those masks.
Politically, too, the 1990s were full of “figures in hiding”—insurgencies, undercover operations, terrorist threats, and scandals exposed only half in the open. Reading this Hardy Boys mystery against that backdrop, even unknowingly, trained me to see how narratives of secrecy and revelation shape public life. Dixon’s pulp world of hidden figures wasn’t far from the headlines of the time.
But let me not over-academicize my younger self. The boy who sat cross-legged in the library with this orange-spined Hardy Boys volume simply wanted the thrill of discovery. Who was hiding? Why were they hiding? Could two clever teenagers expose the truth while the adults floundered? That question kept me glued to the pages.
Looking back, A Figure in Hiding now feels like a metaphor for the act of reading itself. Books, too, are figures in hiding—secrets folded in pages, waiting for the right reader to uncover them. And maybe that’s why this story lingers: because in every shadowed figure, I saw a mirror of my own growing hunger to read the world as a mystery.
July 21, 2025
I enjoyed this more than some of the recent ones.
Pros:
1. The were a few connections that you could catch throughout, maybe, and they pointed to an explanation.
2. The pace was good through out.
3. There were things that made me want to figure out how they fit in.
4. There was not a single Leaping Lizard in this book. So that trend is over.
Cons:
1. The revised books continue to ridicule Chet. At least he has a job in this book and actually pushes through to do what he was hired to do. I guess my problem is that I actually like Chet's character as a person and they are doing him dirty, especially in these rewrites. I will say that he was treated better in this book. Even though his arc was supposed to be an example of failing, I saw his behavior as as praise worthy. So I liked that aspect of the book because they missed their mark.
2. The boys were bashed unconcious yet again. This isn't a spoiler but a checkbox or square on the HB bingo card. I will note that at least there was one character who had the same thing done happen and they were taken to the hospital for observation in recognition that taking blows to the head that short circuit your brain may not be good for your health.
3. Shockingly, they went off the road with their car. Do you have that square?
Pros:
1. The were a few connections that you could catch throughout, maybe, and they pointed to an explanation.
2. The pace was good through out.
3. There were things that made me want to figure out how they fit in.
4. There was not a single Leaping Lizard in this book. So that trend is over.
Cons:
1. The revised books continue to ridicule Chet. At least he has a job in this book and actually pushes through to do what he was hired to do. I guess my problem is that I actually like Chet's character as a person and they are doing him dirty, especially in these rewrites. I will say that he was treated better in this book. Even though his arc was supposed to be an example of failing, I saw his behavior as as praise worthy. So I liked that aspect of the book because they missed their mark.
2. The boys were bashed unconcious yet again. This isn't a spoiler but a checkbox or square on the HB bingo card. I will note that at least there was one character who had the same thing done happen and they were taken to the hospital for observation in recognition that taking blows to the head that short circuit your brain may not be good for your health.
3. Shockingly, they went off the road with their car. Do you have that square?
October 13, 2017
The book I read is “A Figure In Hiding.” A Figure In Hiding is by the Hardy Boys have a huge series of books. The lexile level for this book is 750L. In the book A Figure in Hiding there is two main character's are Frank and Joe. There are on a mission to find out who did the Jewelry Sina. Then the got into a different mystery with the glass eye. To find out more good read the book.
The setting really impacted Frank and Joe’s discovery’s. They can go to different cities because they have more people to talk to instead of being in one town and the next being an hour away. “Someone dropped a glass eye. p. 10” This dialogue is very important. It is what the story is based off of everything wraps around this glass eye.
I really liked this book it has good action. The book always has good cliffhangers which all good mystery books should have. The ending was unexpected but it was the best part of the book by far. But the book was easy to read for me. The book wasn’t predictable at all. Franklin W. Dixon the author did a good job of spacing everything out and not to give out too many hints. Go read a Figure in Hiding its a awesome book.
The setting really impacted Frank and Joe’s discovery’s. They can go to different cities because they have more people to talk to instead of being in one town and the next being an hour away. “Someone dropped a glass eye. p. 10” This dialogue is very important. It is what the story is based off of everything wraps around this glass eye.
I really liked this book it has good action. The book always has good cliffhangers which all good mystery books should have. The ending was unexpected but it was the best part of the book by far. But the book was easy to read for me. The book wasn’t predictable at all. Franklin W. Dixon the author did a good job of spacing everything out and not to give out too many hints. Go read a Figure in Hiding its a awesome book.
October 2, 2025
A casual trip to the movies embroils the Hardy Boys in their next mystery when they see a hold-up in progress. The robber gets away, unfortunately, and the Hardy boys head to see if their father needs help with his case. He's working on gathering evidence against a gang who is swindling vision-impaired individuals out of their savings with a "miracle cure". But then Chet goes missing and now the Hardy Boys must divide their time between locating their chum and helping their dad. It seems every time they follow one clue...they get caught up in another one from the 'other' case. With the hold-up money still missing, a young woman involuntarily involved, and the evidence against the gang piling up...the boys have their work cut out for them. Peril, plummeting cars, pursuits, and narrow escapes await the Hardy boys as they follow this case to its' satisfying ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Hardy Boys' adventure. It felt a little different than others and I liked how the author interwove the mysteries.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Hardy Boys' adventure. It felt a little different than others and I liked how the author interwove the mysteries.
December 5, 2020
Again the Hardy boys and their father have intertwining mysteries to solve. A stolen idol, a strange glass eye, a home for the rich and infirm, a hydrofoil boat and more make up a figure in hiding. Most of this book takes place close to the Hardy's home in Bayport. Chasing the bad guys, getting bonked on the head and looking for clues Frank and Joe have their work cut out for them in this mystery. Their poor convertible gets crashed more than once. Chet takes a job as a fitness instructor which is a point of humor for his friends. Even Aunt Gertrude gets attacked, bound and gagged trying to thwart a robbery. High adventure and intrigue abound in this tome.
June 28, 2024
This is a slow-moving adventure that several times while reading I had to stop myself and ask what is actually happening. There’s a sort of mystery around a hydrofoil. There’s a missing artifact. There is a health club that might not be on the up and up. There is a gang of crooks who keep showing up and stealing things. And there is a glass eye that the crooks seem to want to get their hands on.
If all of this makes it sound like a lot is happening, that is technically true—but it didn’t feel that way. There just wasn’t a lot of excitement in this novel right through the ending.
If all of this makes it sound like a lot is happening, that is technically true—but it didn’t feel that way. There just wasn’t a lot of excitement in this novel right through the ending.
November 17, 2019
The new fat farm is the cover for a place where felons can get plastic surgery to change their identities. The farm is run by a gang that uses an evil eye to scare people, and the actual glass eyes they have are actually miniature Morse code senders and receivers.
Ever willing to put their noggins on the line, both Frank and Joe get the KO (as do numerous other people!).
Book - 2
Series - 25
Ever willing to put their noggins on the line, both Frank and Joe get the KO (as do numerous other people!).
Book - 2
Series - 25
August 1, 2020
After receiving a mysterious message from a blind peddler, Frank and Joe end up helping their father with the search for a stolen idol - but could the truth and the dangers lurking before them really be connected to the glass eye they found? Dixon keeps young readers guessing with another intriguing tale chock-full of action and close calls! Can the boys figure out the connection between the strange mark of an evil eye popping up around town with their latest case?
April 22, 2023
Frank and Joe Hardy blast around on motorcycles, a speedboat, and a convertible; have a famous detective for a father, a chubby chum named Chet, and regular home-cooked meals.
Their incomprehensible adventures were midcentury white boys’ fantasies, cranked out to order mostly by a reluctant Canadian who needed the money. Definitely not the Franklin W. Dixon who fueled boys’ imaginations as much as did his creations.
They say there is no Santa Claus, either.
Their incomprehensible adventures were midcentury white boys’ fantasies, cranked out to order mostly by a reluctant Canadian who needed the money. Definitely not the Franklin W. Dixon who fueled boys’ imaginations as much as did his creations.
They say there is no Santa Claus, either.
March 3, 2020
I can't remember a Hardy Boys Mystery with this many twists and turns! A great ride with Frank & Joe (with a healthy assist from Chet!). What starts as a simple mission of getting background for their Dad, turns into the hunt for a missing statue, a search for a dangerous gang, and figuring out what to do with the glass eye! Great fun!
January 27, 2023
#16 has the boys looking solve the theft of a jeweled statue, as well as a mystery of the evil eye.
I think the boys suffer what is their fifth concussion/knockout. Tough heads.
There is a neat twist to the ending which makes this book a bit more entertaining than some of the others, so it may appeal more to a 10 year old than other volumes.
I think the boys suffer what is their fifth concussion/knockout. Tough heads.
There is a neat twist to the ending which makes this book a bit more entertaining than some of the others, so it may appeal more to a 10 year old than other volumes.
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