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Thursday, April 8, 2021

NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF

NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF. The Hardy Boys # 59.(1979). Franklin W. Dixon (house pseudonym). 

In this excellent adventure story for kids of all ages with many interesting facets, the boys investigate a supposed werewolf curse affecting the son of a construction contractor. At the same time some of the man’s buildings have been sabotaged, meaning he could go out of business. One of the fellow's employees is a native American who is hoping to find a missing bejeweled axe that belonged to his ancestor. A phosphorescent wolf – shades of Hound of the Baskervilles  -- appears at different times to menace assorted characters. There are many suspenseful and exciting sequences that range from dark forests to isolated mansions to high beams on skyscraper frames. In addition to Frank and Joe Hardy, we have lovable, chubby Chet Morton, who develops a crush on the contractor's pleasingly plump daughter. 

The first 58 books in the Hardy Boys series were published by Grosset and Dunlap, who lost the contract to the Wanderer books division of Simon and Schuster. The series continued in both paperback and hardback format for quite a few years. It was then replaced with The Hardy Boys Case Files, a somewhat edgier series for older readers. When that series wrapped up its run, we had The Hardy Boys, Undercover Brothers, where they became agents and the stories often were turned into trilogies. Currently Frank and Joe still have their own series in "The Hardy Boys Adventures" (as well as a new television program). The cover of Night of the Werewolf is typical for the time as if portrays the boys as looking a little too young and much less tougher and competent than they actually are in the stories. 

Verdict: One of the better of the post-58 books in the series. ***.  

2 comments:

  1. I have read of all these, as well as all the Nancy Drew books too! Did I read somewhere that they were written by the same author? We’re Franklin Dixon and Carolyn Keene the same person?
    - Chris

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  2. No, Mr. Leslie McFarland wrote the original Hardy Boys books and I think it was Margaret Wirt ?? who wrote the original Nancy Drews. Then a great many other writers took over on the rewrites and new stories. There have been dozens!

    When I was a kid I got the Hardy Boys for Xmas and my sister got Nancy Drew, and then we'd switch off, as they were all mysteries and full of action. I have friends who will not admit that they read these books as children, let alone as adults!

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