While the Clock Ticked

The Hardy Boys #11

by Franklin W. Dixon

A banker who has been receiving threatening notes enlists the help of the Hardy boys. Before long, the young sleuths find themselves entangled in the investigation of a notorious band of thieves.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Adventure, Classics, Detective

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

Franklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors who were part of a team that wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate (now owned by Simon & Schuster). Dixon was also the writer attributed for the Ted Scott Flying Stories series, published by Grosset & Dunlap.
Canadian author Leslie McFarlane is believed to have written the first sixteen Hardy Boys books, but worked to a detailed plot and character outline for each story. The outlines are believed to have originated with Edward Stratemeyer, with later books outlined by his daughters Edna C. Squier and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. Edward and Harriet also edited all books in the series through the mid-1960s. Other writers of the original books include MacFarlane's wife Amy, John Button, Andrew E. Svenson, and Adams herself; most of the outlines were done by Adams and Svenson. A number of other writers and editors were recruited to revise the outlines and update the texts in line with a more modern sensibility, starting in the late 1950s.
The principal author for the Ted Scott books was John W. Duffield.

Reviews

[Michael Finocchiaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Hardy Boys mystery with Frank and Joe and lots of help from Chet. They are facing more and more dangerous criminals - smugglers this time - and doing great sleuthing work even with no appearance of Fenton Hardy this time around! A fun and exciting read :)

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the eleventh Hardy Boys mystery novel, first published by Grosset & Dunlap in 1932 and written by the wonderful Leslie McFarlane under the Stratemeyer Syndicate house pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon. The first thirty-eight books in the series were "revised" under the direction of Stratemeyer's daughter Harriet Adams between 1959 and 1973, which resulted in completely different books having the same title and author name. The newer books were, as a rule, shorter, simpler, and suitable for a younger reader than the originals. I've been reading some of the original and newer editions back-to-back to compare them, and, while I still prefer the old novel, this one written by James Buechler and published in 1962 is the best I've found yet of the newer versions. The original book had 213 pages and 24 chapters, and the new one was 174 pages long (with several interior illustrations) and 20 chapters. The plot of this one follows the original plot closely than others I've read, which may account for my opinion. The 1962 novel condenses two criminal gangs into one, exchanges stolen jade for the theft of a stamp collection, and introduces several characters as friends of the Hardys who don't appear in the original. (Though the girlfriends of Frank and Joe, Callie Shaw and Iola Morton, don't get much in the way of character development beyond the fact that we're told that they're both pretty. -sigh-) The Hardy parents are away on vacation at the start of the story, and Aunt Gertrude is looking after them. A banker comes to see Mr. Hardy about some threats he's received, but Frank and Joe convince him to let them take on the case. It's a true locked-room mystery, as threatening notes have been left in a room sealed with a time-lock. The local police are treated with a lot more respect in the revised version, but Aunt Gertrude's role has been shortened and watered-down considerably. The biggest difference (do you need a spoiler warning for a kids' book from ninety years ago? Very well, this is it!) is that in the original, a criminal madman falls to his death from a rooftop, while in the new one he's forgiven and rehabilitated and the Hardys and their pals have a big surprise party. I found both versions to be fun reads but would recommend the original to kids on a more advanced reading level and the more recent to beginners.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the eleventh Hardy Boys mystery novel, first published by Grosset & Dunlap in 1932 and written by the wonderful Leslie McFarlane under the Stratemeyer Syndicate house pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon. The first thirty-eight books in the series were "revised" under the direction of Stratemeyer's daughter Harriet Adams between 1959 and 1973, which resulted in completely different books having the same title and author name. The newer books were, as a rule, shorter, simpler, and suitable for a younger reader than the originals. I've been reading some of the original and newer editions back-to-back to compare them, and, while I still prefer the old novel, this one written by James Buechler and published in 1962 is the best I've found yet of the newer versions. The original book had 213 pages and 24 chapters, and the new one was 174 pages long (with several interior illustrations) and 20 chapters. The plot of this one follows the original plot closely than others I've read, which may account for my opinion. The 1962 novel condenses two criminal gangs into one, exchanges stolen jade for the theft of a stamp collection, and introduces several characters as friends of the Hardys who don't appear in the original. (Though the girlfriends of Frank and Joe, Callie Shaw and Iola Morton, don't get much in the way of character development beyond the fact that we're told that they're both pretty. -sigh-) The Hardy parents are away on vacation at the start of the story, and Aunt Gertrude is looking after them. A banker comes to see Mr. Hardy about some threats he's received, but Frank and Joe convince him to let them take on the case. It's a true locked-room mystery, as threatening notes have been left in a room sealed with a time-lock. The local police are treated with a lot more respect in the revised version, but Aunt Gertrude's role has been shortened and watered-down considerably. The biggest difference (do you need a spoiler warning for a kids' book from ninety years ago? Very well, this is it!) is that in the original, a criminal madman falls to his death from a rooftop, while in the new one he's forgiven and rehabilitated and the Hardys and their pals have a big surprise party. I found both versions to be fun reads but would recommend the original to kids on a more advanced reading level and the more recent to beginners.

[C. (Comment, don't blank click reviews). · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading the old, full stories right from the original year. This eleventh one was published in 1932. It is a mystery by our Canadian, Leslie McFarlane, that was not rewritten for modernization or advancing political etiquette. I support etiquette but those edits bluntly chopped out portions, instead of being deft rewrites. These original novels are the complete, flowing, richer stories with brushstrokes of segue detail. There is no bopping around from punch to crunch, like my generation’s chopped novel versions.

There is a lot of respect for Laura, the Mom and Gertrude Hardy, the flappable Aunt but I can cite some improvements that the series needed. Their girlfriends were hardly visited for so much as a kiss and were not given Nancy Drew’s inclusive, leadership, daring personality on the eleven Hardy Boys cases I have read so far. Most essentially, remarks about anyone’s weight needed to cease. Say once that Chet and Beth are full-figured and then stop saying it. These invaluable friends and fellow sleuths of both series have much more to them that that.

“While The Clock Ticked” is different for being more sinister than usual, something adult mystery readers would appreciate. The red herrings spread around are impressive too. Unlike many straight and narrow stories wherein the evildoers are obvious and blunder into Joe’s and Frank’s path; this novel has a good quantity of secondary personages and moving parts. There is an eccentrically dear stamp-collector, a stamp thief, river thugs, and a banker at the heart of this mystery, who was impersonated. There is a locked room component that was fun to watch the boys work out.

The dénouement shifted back to a character’s past, which I do not believe was for readers to work out, nor could the sleuths, without being given the history.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a man comes to the Hardy home, Frank and Joe are only too happy to offer their detective services in place of their vacationing father. The man just bought a home, and he is receiving threatening notes inside a secret room. Not only does he worry about who is threatening him and why, he is also puzzled by how the notes are getting into the secret room, which only opens on a timer. Meanwhile, the Bayport harbor is being plagued by thieves. Can the Hardy Boys figure out what is happening?

Anyone familiar with the series can guess how parts of the plot will come together, but there is plenty of action and narrow escapes along to way to keep the reader interested. Plus the locked room part of the story proves to be interesting. The characters are thin, but I didn’t notice as a kid, and I still get caught up in the action as an adult. There are some dated references, which isn’t surprising for a book from the 1960’s, but they are minor and most kids probably won’t notice. The action will make kids of all ages glad they read it.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quickie Review

What can I say about this series that hasn't already been said? It's definitely old-school fun, but, that much is obvious.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars (4 stars). I’ve been trying to figure out why I’m not a fan of the Hardy boys. I liked Nancy Drew well enough, but the Hardy boys—I want to love them, but something just feels off or nags me the whole way through the books. Besides the usual complaints of they’re too young and too talented and too privileged, I figured out what actually bothered me: the book style is pretty juvenile. I mean, Frank & Joe are 16 & 17 (and in 1940s time, that means they were like about ready to enter the army). The books have a much more Secret Seven type of juvenile writing. Either Nancy Drew is better done, or it bugs me less since she’s a girl??? I don’t know, I just feel that I expected a lot from the Hardy Boys and while the boys themselves are good enough, their book style just is… off somehow.

Apart from that, I did enjoy the story more than I expected. I like Frank & Joe, as I mentioned before, and their aunt is super. And Chet was such an unsung hero! I hope he shows up more. The other minor/side characters were also interesting. Although I figured out most of what was happening, the mystery was still interesting enough—specially since I couldn’t figure out exactly WHO was involved—and I was kept on my toes because the book just refused to end and kept twisting onwards with a new direction, so I enjoyed that unexpected bit. Overall, the book had a fun vintage flavour and revived my interest in the Hardies—and I loved the unexpected ships/seaside/harbour addition. :)

[Gregsamsa]

This was not at all what I thought it was going to be.

[Jack Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars. It's a good one but not as exciting. Maybe I've seen a similar crime elsewhere in the series? The title is a clue - there's a huge grandfather clock at an important scene which seems to be ignored until later in the book. Don't overlook it! Raymond Dalrymple tries to hire Fenton Hardy but he's out of town as usual and, because Dalrymple is so desperate, he settles for Frank and Joe! He's found footprints and evidence of break-ins at a house he just purchased, the old Purdy place on Willow Road. Can the two boys investigate and get back to him? At the same time there have been a series of jade jewellry thefts from Mr. Applegate, a man we met early in the series, and Captain Stroman who is in command of a freighter in Bayport harbour. Another 'at the same time' is the unauthorized use of Frank and Joe's speedboat, The Sleuth. What does all this mean? Does the fact there's a secret room on the second floor of the Purdy house have anything to do with it? How do threatening notes get into the room if the combination is on a time-release system know only to Dalrymple? I did enjoy the fact that the boys' friend Chet has a major role this time. (Se2024)

[Jennifer Collins]

I read a lot of the Hardy Boys books as a kid--mostly around kindergarten through first grade--and with some of the classic hardbacks still in my possession, I thought it would be fun to dive back in and see how they held up to my adult eye. Honestly, it was a lot of fun in a nostalgic way, and I'll probably revisit the others on my shelves. I was surprised by how Scooby-Doo-ish the story felt and the number of coincidences in this one, so I'm curious if that will carry over to other books. I know I felt as a kid that the 'casefile' books were far more exciting than the originals too, so comparing at this much later date will be interesting.

All told, though, I can see why/how these books had (have?) such a following, and this one was certainly easy to devour!

[Jessaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of Leslie McFarlane's books, and while it was a fun read, it was not as exciting as the others he has written.

A man comes to visit the Hardy Boy's father while he is out of town. He steals into the house and leaves it disgruntled. Then he returns to the house and knocks on the door again. The Hardy Boys let him inside to hear his story but he won't talk to them. Instead he tells them to go out and check the Purdy house if they like to solve mysteries.

In this mystery you will find Frank and Joe tied up in a house along with a clock bomb that is ticking away.

1932 edition

[Andria Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's something to be said for nostalgia. The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew were books I read as a thirteen year old girl. I read this to see if it was still good, and while dated in a lot of ways it was fun but I don't believe I'll read these again. This was one of the last ones I had and many of the situations in the book made me laugh at the utter ridiculousness that the boys get into. And how a lot of their being rescued is by pure luck or chance. Lots of rather dumb decisions in the book here but it was still enjoyable and I do like the artwork. 3 ⭐

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great mystery book for young readers that will keep you glued to every page.

[Carissa (Regency Woman) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When my little friends were reading RL Stine, Nancy Drew, and the Babysitters Club, I was reading the Hardy Boys. They were and still are favorites of mine and this book in particular brings on the nostalgia in waves.

[☮ morgan ☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Look at them closely, gentlemen! Feast your eyes! Do not neglect this opportunity. For the Hardys come, and the Hardys go, but what they're up to, does anybody know?"

Never say Chet isn't a hero.

Also what was that ending? A surprise party?

[Jonathan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is good for people who like to read mystery books and series.

[Jack]

A total page turner!

[Aimee Fuhrman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son read this aloud to me for homeschooling and loved it--he's obsessed with the Hardy boys. As a child, I read all the Nancy Drew mysteries, but this is my first Hardy Boy mystery. Although a formula mystery, it still contains plenty of "surprises" for 7-10 year olds. And I appreciated the moral character of the heroes--no doubt about right and wrong, good and bad here. This story is both kid and mom approved!

[Chet Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a dark room just through off in a corner. You are seconds away from freedom and right when its in your hands you get blind folded and that freedom feeling slips away. This book is an explosive book if you ask me. Literally, can be an explosive book. In this book of the Hardy Boys Frank and Joe decide to help out an old friend that is being threatened. As they try to figure out who these threats are coming from they are twisted and blow like the wind threw this adventure. It all comes down to seconds at their finger tips determining life or death. The way I connected to this book was just all the chaos and twists and turns made me think about all the twists and turns in my life. I like my life to be an adventure and that is how I think of these books so it is a lot of fun for me. If you really like intense and adventurous stories this is absolutely for you. If you are not so adventurous and more reserved then I do not recommend this book for you. Overall, for the adventurous type of people this book is amazing. When I think of adventure, I think Hardy Boys!

[Aaron Lam · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the Clock Ticked was a very interesting book. I enjoyed the excitement and suspense that this book contained. Two brothers try to solve a mystery in their area. They are faced with many challenges that made the book even more enjoyable. Towards the end of the book, the Hardy boys are captured by the gang leader of the thieves. He is about to blow them up when they are saved by a friend. The ending was the most intense part. The unexpected almost always happens. I don't like to read, but when I have to, I enjoy reading mysteries. The words made me feel like I was in the story. The reason I gave it a nine is because the names of the people sometimes got confusing, and I didn't know who was who.

[Edward Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hardy's thwarting of a bunch of jade smugglers (who are stealing Jade in Bayport, USA when China might be a better location for them) almost takes a back burner to them figuring out how a note appeared in the middle of a room. They don't even really catch the thieves, they just figure out they're using some old man's house as their base. This book made little sense to me, and I'm starting to wonder what I ever saw in these books when I was younger.

[Bill Keefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a re-read (and a really quick one, at that!), having read it the first time approximately 48 yrs. ago.

What can one say? Tom and Joe, evil villains, car chases, boat chases, foot races, Chet, Aunt Gertrude, really terrible writing. I loved every minute of it. And it only took about 45 of them to polish this off.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man..it's one of the books that got me started on reading. My dad gave this book to me; it was his when he was a boy. I remember being a youngin' and reading a couple of pages at a time.
I loved this mystery!

[Tacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fabulous friend gave me a 1930s edition. Read it before re-reading my modernized version. Wow! I almost hate to admit I am glad the books were rewritten. Aunt Gertrude always spoke negatively and the boys seem to only communicate with each other through sarcasm and teasing.

[Marium · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I caught the first sight of this book I came to know this was an intresting one because I love the books which have an incomplete title.

I like the time when the hardys were caught by the leader of the gang. I also liked its style of concluding.

Well! it was a nice one.

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

im just going to say right off the bat, but the title ¨While the clock ticked¨ does come into play toward the end of the story. in my opiune the cover picture gives away the ending.this time a like how chet (the hardy boys friend) helps theme bring the smugglers to justis.

[itchy · Rating 5 out of 5]

eponymous-ey sentence:
p20: Frank, with a puzzled expression, read the other threat:
"Death while the clock ticks!"

spelling:
p79: "Well, you haiven't anything on me," the stranger snapped suddenly.

That was a little too close for comfort.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

...Um, Hardy Boys rocked. I mean rock. I think I'm going to start reading these again for the heck of it. Saved my old box of them.

Yes, I read books because of the covers.

[Sasank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had lots of suspense

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the Hardy Boy books helped me with learning deductive and inductive skills. I had to work through logic. Who knew? I enjoyed all these books.