Mystery

Frank and Joe Hardy encounter a dangerous stranger who’s stolen a friend’s boat. They recover the boat and discover a submarine. How did one of those get into the waters around Bayport, and does it have anything to do with the mysterious note that the Hardys receive warning them to beware of the mark on the door?

This is a Hardy Boys book—of course it does. The usual thoroughly implausible adventures ensue for the boys, this time in Mexico as they track down a mysterious gang. I liked that the Hardys’ plane showed up in this one (after just reading The Ghost at Skeleton Rock, which also features the plane) and amused myself by imagining the man on the cover of this book as Clint Eastwood in the Dollars trilogy. The story did move quickly, but there were a few obviously didactic passages, and the portrayal of the Mexican characters danced close to stereotype. Not as terrible as it could have been, but not my favourite. ( )

Frank and Joe spot a submarine off the coast of Maine. A man from the area appears to have been taken hostage by this vessel. In the meantime, Fenton Hardy is heading to Mexico to investigate an international criminal. Joe, Frank, and their friend go along, knowing that a similar submarine has been spotted off Mexican waters. They discover several area kidnappings. There's probably too much coincidence and too much access to the inner workings of crimes for the series to really be believable, but it's still a fun and adventure-filled read. I think that even today, upper elementary and younger middle school readers will find much to enjoy, even if it was written before the age of cell phones which would certainly add an entirely different twist on this read. ( )

66. The Mark on the Door, by Franklin W. Dixon [a Hardy Boys book] (read in 1940) This is the only Hardy Boys book I read. I had access to no other, else I would have read more of them. ( )

This is a very good book. Frank and Joe spot a submarine in the lake that is there illigaly. When they dicide to investigate, it brings them to Mexico. When in Mexico the boys run into a big group of Mexicans who everyone in the village is scared of. While investigating they get captured by the group.

I LOVE this book!!!!!! ( )