Frank and Joe Hardy (The Hardy Boys)

Uncategorized

Created by Franklin W. Dixon
House pseudonym of Stratemeyer Syndicate(1862-1930)

 

World-renowned private detective, and former ace NYPD sleuth FENTON HARDY seemed to always be off somewhere working on some important case, so that left his two teenage sons, FRANK and JOE HARDY, to watch over things in Bayport, a thriving town on the north-eastern seaboard. Fortunately, for generations of adolescents, they share their dad’s zeal for bringing criminals to justice, and they’ve exercised it for decades now, as everything from amateur sleuths doing “favors” for friends to assignments from the U.S. government. You can sneer all you want. This was — and is — pulp for kids, and I’ll bet a lot of us were prepped for Marlowe, Spade et al, by this stuff.

And it looks like they’re still being prepped. Originally created in 1927 by Edward Stratemeyer, (whose New Jersey-based Stratemeyer Syndicate, founded way back in 1906, was also responsible for The Bobbsey Twins, and nouveau-feminist icon Nancy Drew, as well as Tom Swift, The Rover Boys and dozens of others. But the Hardy Boys, written by Franlin W. Dixon, remain the all-time best-selling series of books for boys, with well over 300 titles published, including three series of paperback books. They’ve also begat television series, games, toys, comics, records, jigsaw puzzles, coloring books and more merchandise than you can shake a stick at.

Of course, there was no Franklin W. Dixon. Not really. He was merely a house name for a long, long string of rotating authors working for the syndicate, a kind of literary sweatshop, working from supplied plot outlines, and following some strict guidelines: — low death rates, as many action verbs as possible and a ban on kissing. Supposedly, Edward Stratemeyer discreetly scheduled his appointments so writers would not bump into or recognize one other.

In fact, although the syndicate took credit for the house name of Dixon, the actual writer of the first sixteen novels (for a flat rate of a eighty-five — and later a hundred — bucks apiece) was Canadian novelist Leslie McFarlane, who named Dixon after two of his brothers, Frank and Wilmot, who was also known as Dick (hence, both the W. and the Dixon). McFarlane also wrote the first four Dana Girls titles as “Carolyn Keene,” the Stratemeyer house pseudonym that had already been used for the Nancy Drew series.

Not that the books were high literature to begin with, but starting in 1959, the first thirty-eight stories were revised and “abridged” (as in gutted, bowlderized, bleached of colour and otherwise white-washed) much to the dismay of long-time Hardy fans. Revisions ranged from slight tinkering to, in some cases, completely new stories. Perhaps it was all well-intentioned, but it was basically literary castration.

The stories were reduced in length, had out-of-date prose updated (“roadsters” became “cars,” “chums” became “friends,” stuff like that) and had racial stereotypes (okay, maybe those should go) removed. But the slam-bang action and danger-packed, thrill-a-minute atmosphere of the original stories was also too often replaced by annoyingly cautious, overly polite, non-offensive prose. Hey, these were supposed to be pulp!

Even at the wee age of twelve or so, back at the dawn of time (early seventies), my and my pals were outraged when we discovered that the old dust-coverless “brown” editions our older brothers and cousins passed down to us and the new, blue-spined editions we received as birthday or Christmas gifts often had very little to do with each other.

The subsequent, toned-down versions were certainly read — all the boys in my Grade Six class at St. Stephen’s were in a rush to read them all — but it was the older, brown editions (many actually written by Canadian author McFarlane, though we didn’t know it at the time) that were much sought after and passed around.

But, whether you read the originals, or the new, good-for-you revisions, or ended up like me reading a mixture of the two, you probably can look back with fond memories to the crotchety rantings of mother-figure/spinster Aunt Gertrude; Chet Morton, the boy’s plump, good-natured, constantly-eating best friend, his sister Iola, Joe’s occasional romantic interest (who unexpectedly and rather inexplicably gets blown to smithereens in The Hardy Boys Casefiles #1: Dead On Target in 1987!); Callie Shaw, Frank’s girlfriend, Chief Ezra Collig, Chief of the Bayport PD, and other favorites.

And on it goes. In 2005 the boys were re-imagined and re-introduced to yet another generation of young readers as “Undercover Brothers,” special undercover operatives for a clandestine American government agency called ATAC (American Tenns Against Crime) in a new series of books and manga-style graphic novels.

Stratemeyer began his career writing dime novels, and actually wrote several of them under the name of Jim Bowie (well, Jim wasn’t using it, having been killed at the Alamo and all…). Upon his death, his daughter took over his company.

MRS. DIXON CLOCKS IN

  • If anyone deserves the title of the “real” Franklin W. Dixon, it’s Leslie McFarlane, a Canadian writer who churned out 19 or 20 of the books, including the pivotal first sixteen, which set the tone and style for all that followed. He’s even the one who came up with the Franklin W. Dixon pen name, naming the pseudonym after a few of his relatives. But one novel, The Phanton Freighter, the twenty-sixth in the series, wasn’t written by McFarlane.
    As Brian Busy of The Dusty Bookshelf tells it, “It was written by his wife, Amy. It stands alone as the only novel ever written by wife Amy. One story is that Leslie was away on a fishing trip when the outline came in. Could that be true? In a 19 July 1946 letter to the Stratemeyer Syndicate, which commissioned the novel, Amy writes: “Was interrupted in the middle of the job by a dental operation that meant the loss of 22 teeth at one fell swoop.”
    Adds Busby, “Whose teeth isn’t clear.”

UNDER OATH

  • “Critics of contemporary children’s literature would never describe Frank and Joe Hardy as quirky characters, but compared with their peers in the series fiction of the time, they were exactly that.”
    — Booklist

NOVELS

 

  • THE ORIGINAL 58 (HARDCOVERS)
    All credited to Franklin W. Dixon, although the actual authors, when known are listed below. In 1959, Grosset & Dunlap began re-writing the books, “updating” them.
  • Hardy Boys #1: The Tower Treasure (1927; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1959 by Harriet S. Adams
  • Hardy Boys #2: The House On The Cliff (1927; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1959 by Harriet S. Adams
  • Hardy Boys #3: The Secret Of The Old Mill (1927; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1962 Alistair Hunter
  • Hardy Boys #4: The Missing Chums (1928; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1962 James Buechler
  • Hardy Boys #5: Hunting For Hidden Gold (1928; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1963 Alistair Hunter
  • Hardy Boys #6: The Shore Road Mystery (1928; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1964 David Grambs
  • Hardy Boys #7: The Secret Of The Caves (1929; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1965 Andrew E. Svenson
  • Hardy Boys #8: The Mystery Of Cabin Island (1929; by Leslie McFarlane) Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1966 Anne Shultes
  • Hardy Boys #9: The Great Airport Mystery (1930; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1965 by James D. Lawrence
  • Hardy Boys #10: What Happened At Midnight (1931; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1967 by Tom Mulvey
  • Hardy Boys #11: While The Clock Ticked (1932; by Leslie McFarlane) | .Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1962 by James Buechler
  • Hardy Boys #12: Footprints Under The Window (1933; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1965 David Grambs
  • Hardy Boys #13: The Mark On The Door (1934; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1967 by Tom Mulvey
  • Hardy Boys #14: The Hidden Harbor Mystery (1935; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1961 by James Buechler
  • Hardy Boys #15: The Sinister Sign Post (1936; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1967 by Tom Mulvey
  • Hardy Boys #16: A Figure In Hiding (1937; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1964 by James D. Lawrence
  • Hardy Boys #17: The Secret Warning (1938; by John Button) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1964 by James D. Lawrence
  • Hardy Boys #18: The Twisted Claw (1939; by John Button) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1967 by Tom Mulvey
  • Hardy Boys #19: The Disappearing Floor (1940; by John Button) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1964 by James D. Lawrence
  • Hardy Boys #20: The Mystery Of The Flying Express (1941; by John Button) | .Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1970 by Vincent Buranelli
  • Hardy Boys #21: The Clue Of The Broken Blade (1942; by John Button) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1970 by Richard Deming
  • Hardy Boys #22 The Flickering Torch Mystery (1943; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Vincent Buranelli
  • Hardy Boys #23: The Melted Coins (1944; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1970 by Andrew E. Svenson
  • Hardy Boys #24: The Short-Wave Mystery (1945; by Leslie McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1968 by Patricia Doll (story) and David Grambs (manuscript)
  • Hardy Boys #25: The Secret Panel (1946; by Harriet S. Adams) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #26 The Phantom Freighter (1947; by Amy McFarlane) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #27: The Secret Of Skull Mountain (1948; by George Waller Jr.) | Buy this moon
    Rewritten in 1966 by David Grambs
  • Hardy Boys #28: The Sign Of The Crooked Arrow (1949; by Andrew E. Svenson) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #29: The Secret Of The Lost Tunnel (1950; by Andrew E. Svenson) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1968 by David Grambs, June Dunn and Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #30: The Wailing Siren Mystery (1951; by Andrew E. Svenson) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #31: The Secret Of Wildcat Swamp (1952; by William Dougherty) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #32: The Crisscross Shadow (1953; by Richard Cohen) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #33: The Yellow Feather Mystery (1954; by William Dougherty) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #34: The Hooded Hawk Mystery (1954; by Charles S. Strong) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #35: The Clue In The Embers (1955; by John Almquist) | Buy this books
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #36: The Secret Of Pirate’s Hill (1956; by John Almquist) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #37: The Ghost At Skeleton Rock (1957; by James Duncan Lawrence) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #38: The Mystery At Devil’s Paw (1959; by James Duncan Lawrence) | Buy this book
    Rewritten in 1971 by Priscilla Baker-Carr
  • Hardy Boys #39: The Mystery Of The Chinese Junk (1960; by James Duncan Lawrence) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #40: Mystery Of The Desert Giant (1961; by James Buechler) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #41: The Clue Of The Screeching Owl (1962: by James Buechler) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #42: The Viking Symbol Mystery (1963; by Alistair M. Hunter) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #43: The Mystery Of The Aztec Warrior (1964; by Harriet S. Adams) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #44: The Haunted Fort (1965; by David Grambs) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #45: The Mystery Of The Spiral Bridge (1966; by Andrew E. Svenson) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #46: The Secret Agent On Flight 101 (1967; by Tom Mulvey) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #47: Mystery Of The Whale Tattoo (1968; by Jerrold Mundis) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #48: The Arctic Patrol Mystery (1969; by Andrew Svenson) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #49: The Bombay Boomerang (1970; Vincent Buranelli) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #50: Danger On Vampire Trail (1971; by Andrew Svenson) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #51: The Masked Monkey (1972; by Vincent Buranelli) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #52: The Shattered Helmet (1973; by Andrew Svenson) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #53: The Clue Of The Hissing Serpent (1974; by Andrew Svenson) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #54: The Mysterious Caravan (1975; by Andrew Svenson) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #55: The Witchmaster’s Key (1976; by Vincent Buranelli) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #56: The Jungle Pyramid (1977; by Vincent Buranelli) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #57: The Firebird Rocket (1978; by Vincent Buranelli) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #58: The Sting Of The Scorpion (1979; by | ) | Buy this book
  • THE PAPERBACKS (1979-2005)
    The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew switched publishers in 1979, moving to Simon & Schuster, who picked up where Grosset & Dunlap left off, but for the first time releasing the books in paperback. In 1985, Simon & Schuster bought the Stratemeyer Syndicate out.
  • Hardy Boys #59: Night Of the Werewolf (1979; by James Duncan Lawrence; first paperback edition)
  • Hardy Boys #60: Mystery Of The Samurai Sword (1979; by James Duncan Lawrence)
  • Hardy Boys #61: The Pentagon Spy (1980; by Vincent Buranelli)
  • Hardy Boys #62: The Apeman’s Secret (1980; by James Duncan Lawrence)
  • Hardy Boys #63: The Mummy Case (1980; by Vincent Buranelli)
  • Hardy Boys #64: Mystery Of Smugglers Cove (1980; by Vincent Buranelli)
  • Hardy Boys #65: The Stone Idol (1981; by Vincent Buranelli)
  • Hardy Boys #66: The Vanishing Thieves (1981; by Richard Deming)
  • Hardy Boys #67: The Outlaw’s Silver (1981; by Jim Lawrence)
  • Hardy Boys #68: The Submarine Caper (1981; by Conrad Fuchs)
    Retitled “Deadly Chase”(1986)
  • Hardy Boys #69: The Four-Headed Dragon (1981; by Laurence Swinburne)
  • Hardy Boys #70: The Infinity Clue (1981; by Karl Herr III)
    Kerr was Stratemeyer’s great-grandson.
  • Hardy Boys #71: Track Of The Zombie (1982; by Vincent Buranelli)
  • Hardy Boys #72: The Voodoo Plot (1982; by Karl Herr III)
  • Hardy Boys #73: The Billion Dollar Ransom (1982; by Laurence Swinburne)
  • Hardy Boys #74: Tic-Tac-Terror (1982; by Jim Lawrence)
  • Hardy Boys #75: Trapped At Sea (1982; by Vincent Buranelli)
  • Hardy Boys #76: Game Plan For Disaster (1982; by Laurence Swinburne)
  • Hardy Boys #77: The Crimson Flame (1983; by Vincent Buranelli)
  • Hardy Boys #78: Cave-In (1983; AKA Cave-In!; by Karl Herr III)
  • Hardy Boys #79: Sky Sabotage (1983)
  • Hardy Boys #80: The Roaring River Mystery (1984; by Karl Herr III)
  • Hardy Boys #81: The Demon’s Den (1984)
  • Hardy Boys #82: The Blackwing Puzzle (1984)
  • Hardy Boys #83: The Swamp Monster (1985; by Neal Barrett Jr.)
  • Hardy Boys #84: Revenge Of The Desert Phantom (1985)
  • Hardy Boys #85: The Skyfire Puzzle (1985; by Neal Barrett Jr.)
  • Hardy Boys #86: The Mystery Of The Silver Star (1987)
  • Hardy Boys #87: Program For Destruction (1987)
  • Hardy Boys #88: Tricky Business (1988)
  • Hardy Boys #89: The Sky Blue Frame (1988)
  • Hardy Boys #90: Danger On The Diamond (1988)
  • Hardy Boys #91: Shield Of Fear (1988)
  • Hardy Boys #92: The Shadow Killers (1988)
  • Hardy Boys #93: The Serpent’s Tooth Mystery (1988)
  • Hardy Boys #94: Breakdown In Axeblade (1989)
  • Hardy Boys #95: Danger On The Air (1989; Christopher Lampton)
  • Hardy Boys #96: Wipeout (1989)
  • Hardy Boys #97: Cast Of Criminals (1989)
  • Hardy Boys #98: Spark Of Suspicion (1989)
  • Hardy Boys #99: Dungeon Of Doom (1989; Christopher Lampton)
  • Hardy Boys #100: The Secret Of The Island Treasure (1990; Christopher Lampton)
  • Hardy Boys #101: The Money Hunt (1990)
  • Hardy Boys #102: Terminal Shock (1990; Christopher Lampton)
  • Hardy Boys #103: The Million-Dollar Nightmare (1990)
  • Hardy Boys #104: Tricks Of The Trade (1990)
  • Hardy Boys #105: The Smoke Screen Mystery (1990)
  • Hardy Boys #106: Attack Of The Video Villains (1991; Christopher Lampton)
  • Hardy Boys #107: Panic On Gull Island (1991)
  • Hardy Boys #108: Fear On Wheels (1991)
  • Hardy Boys #109: The Prime-Time Crime (1991; Christopher Lampton)
  • Hardy Boys #110: The Secret Of Sigma Seven (1991; Christopher Lampton)
  • Hardy Boys #111: Three-Ring Terror (1991)
  • Hardy Boys #112: The Demolition Mission (1992)
  • Hardy Boys #113: Radical Moves (1992)
  • Hardy Boys #114: The Case Of The Counterfeit Criminals (1992)
  • Hardy Boys #115: Sabotage At Sports City (1992)
  • Hardy Boys #116: Rock ‘n Roll Renegades (1992; Christopher Lampton)
  • Hardy Boys #117: The Baseball Conspiracy (1992)
  • Hardy Boys #118: Danger In The Fourth Dimension (1993)
  • Hardy Boys #119: Trouble At Coyote Canyon (1993)
  • Hardy Boys #120: The Case Of The Cosmic Kidnapping (1993; by Christopher Lampton)
  • Hardy Boys #121: The Mystery In The Old Mine (1993)
  • Hardy Boys #122: Carnival Of Crime (1993)
  • Hardy Boys #123: The Robot’s Revenge (1993)
  • Hardy Boys #124: Mystery With A Dangerous Beat (1994; by Frances Lantz)
  • Hardy Boys #125: Mystery On Makatunk Island (1994)
  • Hardy Boys #126: Racing To Disaster (1994)
  • Hardy Boys #127: Reel Thrills (1994)
  • Hardy Boys #128: Day Of The Dinosaur (1994)
  • Hardy Boys #129: The Treasure At Dolphin Bay (1994)
  • Hardy Boys #130: Sidetracked To Danger (1995)
  • Hardy Boys #131: Crusade Of The Flaming Sword (1995)
  • Hardy Boys #132: Maximum Challenge (1995)
  • Hardy Boys #133: Crime In The Kennel (1995)
  • Hardy Boys #134: Cross-Country Crime (1995)
  • Hardy Boys #135: The Hypersonic Secret (1995)
  • Hardy Boys #136: The Cold Cash Caper (1996)
  • Hardy Boys #137: High-Speed Showdown (1996)
  • Hardy Boys #138: The Alaskan Adventure (1996)
  • Hardy Boys #139: The Search For The Snow Leopard (1996)
  • Hardy Boys #140: Slam Dunk Sabotage (1996)
  • Hardy Boys #141: The Desert Thieves (1996)
  • Hardy Boys #142: Lost In Gator Swamp (1997)
  • Hardy Boys #143: The Giant Rat of Sumatra (1997)
  • Hardy Boys #144: The Secret of Skeleton Reef (1997)
  • Hardy Boys #145: Terror at High Tide (1997)
  • Hardy Boys #146: The Mark of the Blue Tattoo (1997)
  • Hardy Boys #147: Trial And Terror (1997)
  • Hardy Boys #148. The Ice-Cold Case (1998)
  • Hardy Boys #149. The Chase for the Mystery Twister (1998)
  • Hardy Boys #150. The Crisscross Crime (1998)
  • Hardy Boys #151. The Rocky Road to Revenge (1998)
  • Hardy Boys #152: Danger in the Extreme (1998)
  • Hardy Boys #153: Eye on Crime (1998)
  • Hardy Boys #154: The Caribbean Cruise Caper (1999)
  • Hardy Boys #155: The Hunt for the Four Brothers (1999)
  • Hardy Boys #156: A Will to Survive (1999)
  • Hardy Boys #157: The Lure of the Italian Treasure (1999)
  • Hardy Boys #158: The London Deception (1999)
  • Hardy Boys #159: Daredevils (1999)
  • Hardy Boys #160: A Game Called Chaos (2000; by Stephen D. Sullivan)
  • Hardy Boys #161: Training for Trouble (2000)
  • Hardy Boys #162: The End of the Trail (2000; by Christopher Lampton)
  • Hardy Boys #163: The Spy That Never Lies (2000; by Stephen D. Sullivan) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #164: Skin and Bones (2000)
  • Hardy Boys #165: Crime in the Cards (2001; by Stephen D. Sullivan)
  • Hardy Boys #166: Past and Present Danger (2001)
  • Hardy Boys #167: Trouble Times Two (2001)
  • Hardy Boys #168: The Castle Conundrum (2001)
  • Hardy Boys #169: Ghost of a Chance (2001)
  • Hardy Boys #170: Kickoff to Danger (2001)
  • Hardy Boys #171: The Test Case (2002)
  • Hardy Boys #172: Trouble in Warp Space (2002; by Stephen D. Sullivan)
  • Hardy Boys #173: Speed Times Five (2002; by Stephen D. Sullivan)
  • Hardy Boys #174: Hide and Sneak (2002)
  • Hardy Boys #175: Trick or Trouble (2002; by Stephen D. Sullivan)
  • Hardy Boys #176: In Plane Sight (2002; by Stephen D. Sullivan)
  • Hardy Boys #177: The Case of the Physic’s Vision (2003; by George Edward Stanley)
  • Hardy Boys #178: The Mystery of the Black Rhino (2003; by George Edward Stanley)
  • Hardy Boys #179: Passport To Danger (2003)
  • Hardy Boys #180: Typhoon Island (2003; by Stephen D. Sullivan)
  • Hardy Boys #181: Double Jeopardy (2003)
  • Hardy Boys #182: The Secret of The Soldier’s Gold (2003; by George Edward Stanley)
  • Hardy Boys #183: Warehouse Rumble (2004; by Stephen D. Sullivan)
  • Hardy Boys #184: The Dangerous Transmission (2004)
  • Hardy Boys #185: Wreck and Roll (2004) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #186: Hidden Mountain (2004) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #187: No Way Out (2004) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #188: Farming Fear (2004; by Stephen D. Sullivan) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #189: One False Step (2004; by George Edward Stanley) | Buy this book
  • Hardy Boys #190: Motocross Madness (2005; by Stephen D. Sullivan) | Buy this book
  • NANCY DREW & THE HARDY BOYS: BE A DETECTIVE MYSTERY STORIES (1984-85)
    A “choose your own adventure” type series, credited to Carolyn Keene and Franklin W. Dixon.
  • Be A Detective Mystery Stories #1: The Secret Of The Knight’s Sword (1984)
  • Be A Detective Mystery Stories #2: Danger On Ice (1984)
  • Be A Detective Mystery Stories #3: The Feathered Serpent (1984)
  • Be A Detective Mystery Stories #4: Secret Cargo (1984)
  • Be A Detective Mystery Stories #5: The Alaskan Mystery (1985)
  • Be A Detective Mystery Stories #6: The Missing Money Mystery (1985 )
  • Be A Detective Mystery Stories #7: Jungle Of Evil (Never published)
  • Be A Detective Mystery Stories #8: Ticket To Intrigue (Never published)
  • THE HARDY BOY CASEFILES (1987-98)
    In April 1987, Simon & Schuster released the first two Casefilesand they continue to release a new title regularly every other month.
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #1: Dead On Target (1987)
    Iola gets blown to smithereens in this story. Huh?
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #2: Evil, Inc. (1987)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #3: Cult Of Crime (1987)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #4: The Lazarus Plot (1987)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #5: Edge Of Destruction (1987)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #6: The Crowning Of Terror (1987)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #7: Deathgame (1987)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #8: See No Evil (1987)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #9: The Genius Thieves (1987)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #10: Hostages Of Hate (1987)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #11: Brother Against Brother (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #12: Perfect Getaway (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #13: The Borgia Dagger (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #14: Too Many Traitors (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #15: Blood Relations (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #16: Line Of Fire (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #17: The Number File (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #18: A Killing In The Market (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #19: Nightmare In Angle City (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #20: Witness To Murder (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #21: Street Spies (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #22: Double Exposure (1988)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #23: Disaster For Hire (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #24: Scene Of The Crime (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #25: The Borderline Case (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #26: Trouble In The Pipeline (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #27: Nowhere To Run (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #28: Countdown To Terror (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #29: Thick As Thieves (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #30: The Deadliest Dare (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #31: Without A Trace (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #32: Blood Money (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #33: Collision Course (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #34: Final Cut (1989)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #35: The Dead Season (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #36: Running On Empty (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #37: Danger Zone (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #38: Diplomatic Deceit (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #39: Flesh And Blood (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #40: Fright Wave (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #41: Highway Robbery (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #42: The Last Laugh (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #43: Strategic Moves (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #44: Castle Fear (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #45: In Self-Defense (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #46: Foul Play (1990)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #47: Flight Into Danger (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #48: Rock ‘N’ Revenge (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #49: Dirty Deeds (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #50: Power Play (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #51: Choke Hold (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #52: Uncivil War (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #53: Web Of Horror (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #54: Deep Trouble (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #55: Beyond The Law (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #56: Height Of Danger (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #57: Terror On Track (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #58: Spiked! (1991)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #59: Open Season (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #60: Deadfall (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #61: Grave Danger (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #62: Final Gambit (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #63: Cold Sweat (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #64: Endangered Species (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #65: No Mercy (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #66: The Phoenix Equation (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #67: Lethal Cargo (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #68: Rough Riding (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #69: Mayhem In Motion (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #70: Rigged For Revenge (1992)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #71: Real Horror (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #72: Screamers (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #73: Bad Rap (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #74: Road Pirates (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #75: No Way Out (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #76: Tagged For Terror (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #77: Survival Run (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #78: The Pacific Conspiracy (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #79: Danger Unlimted (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #80: Dead Of Night (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #81: Sheer Terror (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #82: Poisoned Paradise (1993)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #83: Toxic Revenge (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #84: False Alarm (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #85: Winner Take All (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #86: Virtual Villainy (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #87: Dead Man In Deadwood (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #88: Inferno Of Fear (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #89: Darkness Falls (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #90: Deadly Engagement (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #91: Hot Wheels (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #92: Sabotage At Sea (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #93: Mission: Mayhem (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #94: A Taste For Terror (1994)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #95: Illegal Procedure (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #96: Against All Odds (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #97: Pure Evil (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #98: Murder By Magic (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #99: Frame-Up (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #100: True Thriller (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #101: Peak Of Danger (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #102: Wrong Side Of The Law (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #103: Campaign Of Crime (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #104: Wild Wheels (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #105: Law Of The Jungle (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #106: Shock Jock (1995)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #107: Fast Break (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #108: Blown Away (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #109: Moment Of Truth (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #110: Bad Chemistry (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #111: Competitive Edge (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #112: Cliff-Hanger (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #113: Sky High (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #114: Clean Sweep (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #115: Cave Trap (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #116: Acting Up (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #117: Blood Sport (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #118: The Last Leap (1996)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #119: The Emperor’s Shield (1997)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #120: Survival of the Fittest (1997)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #121: Absolute Zero (1997)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #122: River Rats (1997)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #123: High Wire Act (1997)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #124: The Viking’s Revenge (1997)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #125: Stress Point (1997)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #126: Fire In The Sky (1997)
  • Hardy Boys Casefile #127: Dead In The Water (1998)
  • THE NANCY DREW-HARDY BOYS SUPER MYSTERIES (1988-98)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #1: Double Crossing (1988) | Buy this book
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #2: A Crime For Christmas (1988)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #3: Shock Waves (1988)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #4: Dangerous Games (1989)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #5: The Last Resort (1989)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #6: The Paris Connection (1990)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #7: Buried In Time (1990)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #8: Mystery Train (1990)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #9: Best Of Enemies (1991)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #10: High Survival (1991)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #11: New Year’s Evil (1991)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #12: Tour Of Danger (1992)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #13: Spies And Lies (1992)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #14: Tropic Of Fear (1992)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #15: Courting Disaster (1993)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #16: Hits And Misses (1993)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #17: Evil In Amsterdam (1993)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #18: Desperate Measures (1994)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #19: Passport To Danger (1994)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #20: Hollywood Horror (1994)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #21: Copper Canyon Conspiracy (1994)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #22: Danger Down Under (1995)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #23: Dead On Arrival (1995)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #24: Target For Terror (1995)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #25: Secrets Of The Nile (1995)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #26: A Question Of Guilt (1996)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #27: Islands Of Guilt (1996)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #28: Murder On The Fourth Of July (1996)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #29: High Stakes (1996)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #30: Nightmare In New Orleans (1997)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #31: Out Of Control (1997)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #32: Exhibition Of Evil (1997)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #33: At All Costs (1997)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #34: Royal Revenge (1997)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #35: Operation Titanic (1998)
  • The Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mysteries #36: Process of Elimination (1998)
  • THE HARDY BOYS AND TOM SWIFT ULRA THRILLERS (1992-93)
  • Hardy Boys and Tom Swift Ultra Thrillers #1: Time Bomb (1992)
  • Hardy Boys and Tom Swift Ultra Thrillers #2: The Alien Factor (1993)
  • FRANK & JOE HARDY: THE CLUES BROTHERS (1997-2000)
    Aimed at younger readers. The publisher promised a new book every other month, but the series was cancelled in 2000.
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #1: The Gross Ghost Mystery (1997 )
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #2: The Karate Clue (1997)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #3: First Day Worst Day (1997)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #4: Jump Shot Detectives (1998)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #5: Dinosaur Disaster (1998)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #6: Who Took the Book? (1998)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #7: The Abracadabra Case (1998)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #8: The Doggone Detectives (1998)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #9: The Pumped-Up Pizza Problem (1998)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #10: The Walking Snowman (1999)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #11: The Monster in the Lake (1999)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #12: King for a Da (1999)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #13: Pirates Ahoy! (1999)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #14: All Eyes on First Prize (1999)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #15: Slip, Slide, and Slap Shot (1999)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #16: The Fish-Faced Mask of Mystery (2000)
  • Frank & Joe Hardy: The Clues Brothers #17 The Bike Race Ruckus (2000)
  • UNDERCOVER BROTHERS (2005-11)
  • Undercover Brothers #1: Extreme Danger (2005) | Buy this book
  • Undercover Brothers #2: Running on Fumes (2005) | Buy this book
  • Undercover Brothers #3: Boardwalk Bust (2005) | Buy this book
  • Undercover Brothers #4: Thrill Ride (2005) | Buy this book
  • Undercover Brothers #5: Rocky Road (2005) | Buy this book
  • Undercover Brothers #6: Burned (2005) | Buy this book
  • Undercover Brothers #7: Operation: Survival (2005)
  • Undercover Brothers #8: Top Ten Ways to Die (2006)
  • Undercover Brothers #9: Martial Law (2006)
  • Undercover Brothers #10: Blown Away (2006)
  • Undercover Brothers #11: Hurricane Joe (2006) | Buy this book
  • Undercover Brothers #12: Trouble in Paradise (2006)
  • Undercover Brothers #13: The Mummy’s Curse (2006)
  • Undercover Brothers #14: Hazed (2007)
  • Undercover Brothers #15: Death And Diamonds (2007)
  • Undercover Brothers #16: Bayport Buccaneers (2007)
  • Undercover Brothers #17: Murder At The Mall (2007)
  • Undercover Brothers #18: Pushed (2007)
  • Undercover Brothers #19: Foul Play (2007)
  • Undercover Brothers #20: Feeding Frenzy (2008)
  • Undercover Brothers #21: Comic Con Artist (2008)
  • Undercover Brothers #22: Deprivation House (2008) | Buy this book
  • Undercover Brothers #23: House Arrest (2008) | Buy this book
  • Undercover Brothers #24: Murder House (2008)
  • Undercover Brothers #25: Double Trouble (2008)
  • Undercover Brothers #26: Missing Double (2009)
  • Undercover Brothers #27: Double Deception (2009)
  • Undercover Brothers #28: Galaxy X (2009; Galaxy X trilogy)
  • Undercover Brothers #29: X-plosion (2009; Galaxy X trilogy)
  • Undercover Brothers #30: The X-Factor (2009; Galaxy X trilogy)
  • Undercover Brothers #31: Killer Mission (2010; Killer Mystery trilogy)
  • Undercover Brothers #32: Private Killer (2010; Killer Mystery trilogy)
  • Undercover Brothers #33: Killer Connections (2010; Killer Mystery trilogy)
  • (Undercover Brothers #34: The Children of the Lost (2010; Lost Mystery trilogy)
  • Undercover Brothers #35: Lost Brother (2010; Lost Mystery trilogy)
  • Undercover Brothers #36: Forever Lost (2011)
  • Undercover Brothers #37: Movie Menace (2011; Deathstalker Trilogy)
  • Undercover Brothers #38: Movie Mission (2011; Deathstalker Trilogy)
  • Undercover Brothers #38: Movie Mayhem (2011; Deathstalker Trilogy)
    Possibly not published
  • UNDERCOVER BROTHERS SUPER MYSTERIES (2006-08)
  • Super Mystery #1: Wanted (2006)
  • Super Mystery #2. Kidnapped At The Casino (2007)
  • Super Mystery #3. Haunted (2008)
  • THE NANCY DREW AND THE HARDY BOOKS SUPER MYSTERY (2007-12)
  • The Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery #1: Terror on Tour (2007)
  • The Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery #2: Danger Overseas (2008)
  • The Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery #3: Club Dread (2009)
  • The Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery #4: Gold Medal Murder (2010)
  • The Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery #5: Bonfire Masquerade (2011)
  • The Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery #6: Stage Fright (2012)
  • THE HARDY BOYS SECRET FILES (2010-15)
    Frank is eight and Joe is seven, in this series aimed at younger readers.
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #1: Trouble at the Arcade (2010)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #2: The Missing Mitt (2010)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #3: Mystery Map (2010)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #4: Hopping Mad (2010)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #5: A Monster of a Mystery (2011)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #6: The Bicycle Thief (2011)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #7: The Disappearing Dog (2011)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #8: Sports Sabotage (2012)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #9: The Great Coaster Caper (2012)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #10: A Rockin’ Mystery (2012)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #11: Robot Rumble (2013)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #12: Lights, Camera…Zombies! (2013)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #13: Balloon Blow-Up (2013)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #14: Fossil Frenzy 2014)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #15: Ship of Secrets (2014)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #16: Camping Chaos (2014)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #17: The Great Escape (2015)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #18: Medieval Upheaval (2015)
  • The Hardy Boys Secret Files #10: The Race Is On (2015)
  • THE HARDY BOYS ADVENTURES (2013–)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #1: Secret of the Red Arrow (2013)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #2: Mystery of the Phantom Heist (2013)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #3: The Vanishing Game (2013)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #4: Into Thin Air (2013)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #5: Peril at Granite Peak (2014)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #6: The Battle of Bayport (2014)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #7: Shadows at Predator Reef
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #8: Deception on the Set (2015; by Michael Anthony Steele)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #9: The Curse of the Ancient Emerald
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #10: Tunnel of Secrets (2015)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #11: 11: Showdown at Widow Creek (2016; by Michael Anthony Steele)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #12: The Madman of Black Bear Mountain
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #13: Bound for Danger
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #14: Attack of the Bayport Beast (2017; by Michael Anthony Steele)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #15: A Con Artist in Paris (2017)
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #16: Stolen Identity (2018; by Michael Anthony Steele) | Buy this book | Buy the audio | Kindle it!
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #17: The Gray Hunter’s Revenge (2018) | Buy this book | Buy the audio | Kindle it!
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #18: The Disappearance (2019) | Buy this book | Buy the audio | Kindle it!
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #19: Dungeons & Detectives (2019) | Buy this book | Buy the audio | Kindle it!
  • The Hardy Boys Adventures #20: Return to Black Bear Mountain (2020)
  • THE HARDY BOYS CLUE BOOK (2016–)
    These are  sorta “choose your own adventure” books aimed at younger readers. Frank and Joe are still in Bayport Elementary
  • The Hardy Boys Clue Book #1: The Video Game Bandit (2016)
  • The Hardy Boys Clue Book #2: The Missing Playbook
  • The Hardy Boys Clue Book #3: Water-Ski Wipeout
  • The Hardy Boys Clue Book #4: Talent Show Tricks (2016)
  • The Hardy Boys Clue Book #5: Scavenger Hunt Heist (2017)
  • The Hardy Boys Clue Book #6: A Skateboard Cat-astrophe (2017)
  • The Hardy Boys Clue Book #7: The Pirate Ghost (2018) | Buy this book | Kindle it!
  • The Hardy Boys Clue Book #8: The Time Warp Wonder (2018) | Buy this book | Kindle it!
  • The Hardy Boys Clue Book #9: Who Let the Frogs Out? (2019) | Buy this book | Kindle it!
  • The Hardy Boys Clue Book #10: The Great Pumpkin Smash (2019) | Buy this book | Kindle it!
  • The Hardy Boys Clue Book #11: Bug-napped! (2020)

OTHER BOOKS

  • The Hardy Boys Detective Handbook (1959; by Dominick A. Spina) | Buy this book
    Revised 1972 edition by William F. Flynn.
  • A Hardy Boys Handbook: Seven Stories Of Survival (1980; by Franklin W. Dixon, with Sheila Link) | Buy this book
  • The Hardy Boys Ghost Stories (1984) | Buy this book
  • Nancy Drew And The Hardy Boys Campfire Stories (1984; by Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene) | Buy this book
  • Nancy Drew And The Hardy Boys Super Sleuths (1981; by Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene)
  • Nancy Drew And The Hardy Boys Super Sleuths #2 (1985; by Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene)

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

 

  • FOUR COLOR COMICS
    (1942-62, Dell)
    Writer: (for Hardy Boys): Unknown
    Art (for Hardy Boys): Dan Spiegle

    • “Walt Disney’s The Hardy Boys #1” (December 1956, #760)
    • “Walt Disney’s The Hardy Boys #2: The Secret of the Old Mill” (August 1957, #830)
    • “Walt Disney’s The Hardy Boys #3: The Mystery of Ghost Farm” (January 1958, #887)
    • “Walt Disney’s The Hardy Boys #4: The Mystery of the Caves” (January 1959, #964)
  • THE HARDY BOYS
    (1970-71, Gold Key)
    Four issues
  • THE HARDY BOYS: UNDERCOVER BROTHERS
    (2005-10, Papercutz)
    20 issues
    Writers: Scott Lobdell
    Art: Daniel Rendon, Paulo Henrique

    • Undercover Brothers #1: The Ocean of Osyria (2005) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #2: Identity Theft (2005) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #3: Mad House (2005) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #4: Malled (2006) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #5: Sea You, Sea Me (2006) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #6: Hyde & Shriek (2006) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #7: The Opposite Numbers (2006) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #8: Board To Death (2007) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #9: To Die Or Not To Die (2007) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #10: A Hardy Day’s Night (2007) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #11: Abracadeath (2008) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #12: Dude Ranch O’ Death! (2008) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #13: The Deadliest Stunt (2008) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #14: Haley Danelle’s Top Eight (2008) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #15: Live Free, Die Hardy! (2008) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #16: Shhhhhh! (2009) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #17: Word Up! (2009) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #18: D.A.N.G.E.R. Spells the Hangman (2009) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #19: Chaos at 30,000 Feet! (2009) | Buy this book
    • Undercover Brothers #20: Deadly Strategy (2010) | Buy this book
  • THE HARDY BOYS: UNDERCOVER BROTHERS: THE NEW CASE FILES
    (2010–2011, Papercutz)

    • Undercover Brothers: The New Case Files #1: Crawling with Zombies (October 26, 2010)
    • Undercover Brothers: The New Case Files #1: Break-Up! (March 2011)
    • Nancy Drew: Girl Detective: The New Case Files #3: Together With The Hardy Boys (August 2011)
      This book is listed as number three in a Nancy Drew series, but is also the third story in this Hardy Boys graphic novel series and concludes the story begun in The Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers: The New Case Files #1 and #2, and Nancy Drew: Girl Detective: The New Case Files #1 and #2)
  • NANCY DREW AND THE HARDY BOYS: THE BIG LIE | Buy this book | Kindle/ComiXology it!
    (2017, Dynamite Entertainment)
    6 issues
    Written by Anthony Del Col
    Art by Werther Dell’Edera
    Frank and Joe are accused of murdering their father; Nancy steps in. Stratemeyer gone noir?
  • NANCY DREW & THE HARDY BOYS: THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING ADULTS | Buy this book | Kindle/ComiXology it!
    (2019, Dynamite Entertainment)
    Written by Scott Bryan Wilson
    Art by Bob Solanovic
    Nancy Drew teams up with Frank and Joe in this YA graphic novel to solve their biggest case ever: Where have all the grown-ups gone?
  • NANCY DREW & THE HARDY BOYS: THE DEATH OF NANCY DREW | Buy his book | Kindle/ComiXology it!
    (2020-21, Dynamite Entertainment)
    6 issues
    Written by Anthony Del Col
    Art by Joe Eisma
    Nancy? Dead? Frank and Joe definitely have their work cut out for them in this one.

TELEVISION

  • THE HARDY BOYS | Buy this DVD
    (1950; ABC)
    Two serials produced by Walt Disney and originally aired as part of The Mickey Mouse Club
    Based on characters created by Franklin W. Dixon
    Teleplays by Jackson Gillis
    Directors: Charles Haas, Robert Springsteen
    Produced by Bill Walsh
    Executive Producer: Walt Disney
    Starring Tim Considine as FRANK HARDY
    and Tommy Kirk as JOE HARDY
    With Russ Conway as Fenton Hardy
    Sarah Selby as Aunt Gertrude
    Carole Ann Campbell as Iola Morton
    Also starring Donald MacDonald, Florenz Ames, Bob Foulk, Arthur Shields, Charles Cane, Frances Morris, Dan Sturkie, Bill Henry, John Baer, Hugh Sander, Bob Amsberry, Andy Clyde, Yvonne Lime

    • “The Mystery Of The Applegate Treasure” | Buy this DVD
      (September 21, 1956 -February 1, 1957)
      20-part serial
      Based on “The Tower Treasure” by Franklin W. Dixon
    • “The Mystery Of Ghost Farm”
      (September 13, 1957-December 20, 1957)
      15-part serial
  • THE HARDY BOYS: THE MYSTERY OF THE CHINESE JUNK
    (1967, CBS)
    1 60-minute episode
    Original airdate: September 8, 1967
    Based on characters created by Franklin W. Dixon
    Series suggested by Ronald Dunas
    Written by Richard Murphy
    Directed by Larry Peerce
    Produced by Ronald Dunas, Richard Murphy and Larry Peerce
    Starring Richard Gates as FRANK HARDY
    and Tim Matheson as JOE HARDY
    Also starring Portia Nelson, Ricky Helman, Jan-Michael Vincent, Stephen Jahn, Brian Fong, Richard Anderson, Edward Andrews, Teri Garr
  • THE HARDY BOYS
    (1969-71, ABC)
    Animated
    34 30-minute episodes
    Directed by Hal Sutherland
    Produced by Lou Scheimer & Norm Prescott
    A Filmation Production
    Starring Byron Kane as the voices of Frank Hardy/Fenton Hardy/Peter Jones
    and Dal McKennon as the voices of Joe Hardy/Chubby Morton
    Also starring Jane Webb as the voices of Wanda Kay Breckenridge/Aunt Gertrude
  • THE HARDY BOYS/NANCY DREW MYSTERIES
    (1977-79; ABC)
    60 minute episodes
    Based on characters created by Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene
    Developed for television by Glen A. Larson
    Writers: Michael Sloan, Lee Sheldon, Christopher Crowe
    Executive Producer: Glen A. Larson
    Starring Parker Stevenson as FRANK HARDY
    and Shaun Cassidy as JOE HARDY
    Also starring Edith Atwater as Gertrude Hardy
    Lisa Eilbacher as Callie Shaw
    Ed Gilbert as Fenton Hardy
    and Jack Kelly as Harry Hammond
    Guest stars: Mark Harmon, Bob Crane, Rick Nelson, Jamie Lee Curtis

    • SEASON ONE | Buy the DVD
    • “The Mystery of the Haunted House”
    • “The Mystery of Witches’ Hollow”
    • “The Disappearing Floor”
    • “The Flickering Torch Mystery”
    • “The Mystery of the Flying Courier”
    • “The Mystery of the African Safari”
    • Wipe Out”
    • “The Creatures Who Came On Sunday”
    • “The Secret of the Jade Kwan Yin”
    • SEASON TWO |  Buy the DVD
    • “Acapulco Spies”
    • “The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula”
    • “The Mystery of the Silent Scream”
    • “The Mystery of King Tut’s Tomb”
    • “Oh Say Can You Sing”
    • “The Mystery of the Hollywood Phantom”
    • “The House on Possessed Hill”
    • “Sole Survivor”
    • “Voodoo Doll”
    • “Mystery on the Avalanche Express”
    • “The Strange Fate of Flight 608”
    • “Death Surf”
    • “Campus Terror”
    • SEASON THREE | Buy the DVD
    • “Assault on the Tower”
    • “Search for Atlantis”
    • “Dangerous Waters”
    • “Life on the Line”
    • “Scorpion’s Sting”
    • “Defection to Paradise”
    • “Gameplan”
    • “Arson and Old Lace”
    • “The Last Kiss of Summer”
  • THE HARDY BOYS | Buy the DVD
    (1995; syndicated)
    13 30-minute episodes
    Based on characters created by Franklin W. Dixon
    Writers: Dave Cole, Jeffrey Frohner, David Shore, Bill Taub
    Directors: Ron Oliver, Jon Cassar, Clay Borris, Eleanor Lindo
    Starring Colin Gray as FRANK HARDY
    and Paul Popowich as JOE HARDY
    Also starring Fiona Highet, Tracy Ryan, Eric Fink, Ellen-Ray Hennessy, Waneta Storms, Julie du Page, Ken Samuels, Pascal Demolon, Luis Marqués, Jean-François Pages, Peter Hudson, Catriona MacColl, Julien Maurel

    • “All That Glitters” (September 23, 1995)
    • “Jazzman” (September 30, 1995)
    • “A Perfect Stranger” (October 7, 1995)
    • “Say Cheese” (October 14, 1995)
    • “Smart Drugs” (October 21, 1995)
    • “Telling Lies” (October 28, 1995)
    • “The Debt Collectors” (November 4, 1995)
    • “The Curse” (November 11, 1995)
    • “R.I.P.” (November 18, 1995)
    • “Play Ball” (November 25, 1995)
    • “Lovebirds” (December 2, 1995)
    • “The Last Laugh” (December 2, 1995)
    • “No Dice” (December 2, 1995)
      This little-seen Canadian production took a more light-hearted look at Frank and Joe all grown up. Or at least a bit. Frank is a reporter, but Joe’s still in college, apparently majoring in hacking. Dad’s in Europe, leaving the boys to run the house. Not as bad as it sounds, and Tracy Ryan shows up in a couple of episodes as Nancy Drew. As some horrified Puritains discovered, Frank and Joe are indeed adults now, dating girls and everything.

ALSO OF INTEREST

  • The House on the Point (2002; by Benjamin Hoff) | Buy this book
    Hoff, a lifetime fan of Franklin W. Dixon and the Hardy Boys, was apparently appalled by the way the series had been turned into bland, vanilla pap and decided to write a “real” Hardy Boys novel, capturing the flavour of the “original 58.” I’m not sure how he got away with it, legally, but old-time fans of the ‘Boys won’t be disappointed.
  • Mystery Box (2003; by Gordon McAlpine) | Buy this book
    What if Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene were hanging around 1920s Paris with Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Stein, while Frank Hardy was there looking for his lost brother Joe?

REFERENCE

  

  • McFarlane, Leslie,
    Ghost of the Hardy Boys: The Writer Behind the World’s Most Famous Boy Detectives | Buy this book  | Kindle it!
    Methuen, 1976.
    Reprint: David R. Godine, 2022
    The real Franklin W. Dixon speaks up. Reprinted in 2022, with a new intro by Marilyn S. Greenwald, the author of The Secret of the Hardy Boys.
  • Zuckerman, Ed,
    “The Great Hardy Boys Whodunit”
    September 9, 1976, Rolling Stone
  • Billman, Carol,
    The Secret of the Stratemeyer Syndicate: Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys and the Million Dollar Fiction Factory | Buy this book
    New York, New York: Ungar Publishing Company, 1986.
    Ambitious first stab at the Stratemeyer story, though at times infuriating, as it cleaves far too closely to the corporate line. There are gaps in the story you could drive a speedster through. For instance, Raymond Chandler is cited several times in the book, but Leslie McFarlane and Mildred A. Wirt, the people who actually wrote the first Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books, are not. WTF?
  • Cornelius, Michael G., editor,
    The Boy Detectives: Essays on the Hardy Boys and Others | Buy this book | Kindle it!
    McFarland & Company, 2010.
    A long-overdue look at BOYS’ detective series.
  • Greenwald, Marilyn S.,
    The Secret of the Hardy Boys: Leslie McFarlane & the Stratemeyer Syndicate | Buy this book
    Ohio: Ohio University Press, 2004.
    The biography of Leslie McFarlane, originally a journalist from northern Ontario, who penned the first 16 books of the famous Hardy Boys series under the pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon, while dreaming of writing the Great Canadian novel.

FURTHER INVESTIGATION

  • The Unofficial Hardy Boys Home Page
    Bob Finnan’s tribute to everyone’s favourite Bayporters. Make no mistake — Rev. Bob’s a true believer.
  • The Stratemeyer Syndicate on Keeline.com
    James Keeline’s informative site details the history of the syndicate, and also lists (in convenient pdf format) the many ghostwriters of the various series. As its author himself freely admits, it “is not the only one to (offer this information)…and you can see others on the Links page, but it will contain some information which is not available elsewhere”
  • The Hardy Boys: The Final Chapter
    Excellent and frank 1998 assessment from The Washington Post of The Hardy Boys and Leslie McFarlane by staff writer Gene Weingarten. After all the sneering, he reluctantly admits that “McFarlane made you turn the page” and that “If you are a good writer, you cannot hide it forever, no matter how hard you try. It’s like trying to stifle a sneeze.
  • “Ghost of the Hardy Boys by Leslie McFarlane”
    James M. Reasoner takes a peek. (June 2022, Rough Edges)
  • Kiddie Pulp
    Get ’em while they’re young. A suggested reading list.
Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith, with a tip of the hat to R.W.’s Finnan’s late, great Unofficial Hardy Boys Home Page, with much gratitude. And thanks to Steve Bridge for the hot lead on a great site.

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