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421st out of 2,636 books
—
4,869 voters
The Tower Treasure (The Hardy Boys #1)
A dying criminal confesses that his loot has been secreted "in the tower." Both towers of the looted mansion are searched in vain. It remains for the Hardy boys to make an astonishing discovery that clears up the mystery.
Hardcover, 214 pages
Published
October 1st 1991
by Applewood Books
(first published 1927)
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My thoughts return to Old Mill Elementary School in Wall Township, New Jersey. In the fall of 1976, I was a fifth grader, a fervent Jimmy Carter supporter, and an aspiring detective. I took a short cut home from school through the woods so that I could spend more of my afternoon with Frank and Joe before somebody nagged me about doing my chores or my homework.
There were three channels on television-- and a fourth, only if you positioned the rabbit-ear antennas just right. There was no internet,...more
There were three channels on television-- and a fourth, only if you positioned the rabbit-ear antennas just right. There was no internet,...more
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I'm currently in the process of reading (and with Nancy Drew re-reading) children's mysteries for an upcoming project. As a kid, I read Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys SuperMysteries, but have never spent time with the Hardys on their own.
The Tower Treasure is Frank and Joe's first adventure and the audiobook is well read by Bill Irwin and produced with delightfully campy sound effects. I was surprised by how indistinguishable Frank and Joe are in their first outing, as I remember them having very distin...more
The Tower Treasure is Frank and Joe's first adventure and the audiobook is well read by Bill Irwin and produced with delightfully campy sound effects. I was surprised by how indistinguishable Frank and Joe are in their first outing, as I remember them having very distin...more
Nostalgia. When I was a young man, or younger than a young man, I delved and consumed Hardy Boy books as if they were the best thing ever. I remember that they had a section of these for sale in May Company in the mall. And if the next book in the series wasn't there on the shelf, we were devastated, and needed to bug our parents to come back again and again to get it. Maybe even travel over to another bookstore and hope that they might have it. Bookstores were not everywhere when I was unable t...more
Ah, childhood. When life, as well as the pleasures, were simpler. And one of those simpler pleasures was reading these books about two brother detectives, their friends, and the adventures they had fighting criminals in their fictional hometown of Bayport and elsewhere in the world.
I have to give credit to the library in my grade school for introducing me to their extensive Hardy Boys collection. I used to eagerly await the end of classes to get the chance to borrow a worn book at least once a w...more
I have to give credit to the library in my grade school for introducing me to their extensive Hardy Boys collection. I used to eagerly await the end of classes to get the chance to borrow a worn book at least once a w...more
6 likes · like · see review
Just for a laugh, I decided to read this first installment of the famous Hardy Boys mysteries. As a kid, I had read one or two of the original stories, as well as a handful of the "Hardy Boys Casefiles" series-- the updated, more contemporary adventures of Frank and Joe Hardy (at least for the 1980s)-- but I never fully got into them; now I wish I had. Going back to the first book of the original series, there are certainly lots of anachronisms to laugh at: referring to friends with nicknames li...more
This another series I read as I was younger. I really enjoyed these series too.I also recommend this book the people who love mystery books.These books were also a classic.The Hardy Boys are detectives who help their father on cases who is an attorney. The Hardys are almost hit by a guy driving a stolen car. They find the crashed car later. The thief then goes to Chet's house and steal his hot rod Queen. He then later tries to rob a ticket booth after that attempt fails he robs a tower. He steal...more
I don't know if I can stress how much I enjoyed this series, and others like it as a child. I grew up reading the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, the Bobbsey Twins, Trixie Belden, Cherry Ames, and Tom Swift. Most of these early editions were my mothers', some inherited from her father, saved and put away for her own children, just as I have saved them and put them away for my own. I loved the comraderie and inherent but not overwhelming morality of each story. Most of the bad guys were truly bad, and th...more
Aug 28, 2011
Glenajo
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya,
historical-mystery
This audio edition of the original Hardy Boy #1: The Tower Treasure is an interesting read. Brothers Frank and Joe Hardy are the sons of an attorney that often solves mysteries. Their friend’s car is stolen and they are off to discover the thief when another friend’s father is accused of steeling a treasure.
I loved listening to the story for many reasons, first because my older brother had several of the series that I enjoyed in the 60s. The story was fun and enjoyable still, but the setting cl...more
I loved listening to the story for many reasons, first because my older brother had several of the series that I enjoyed in the 60s. The story was fun and enjoyable still, but the setting cl...more
In Franklin W. Dixon's lifetime, he wrote 58 Hardy Boys novels. This first book in the series, The Tower Treasure, in simply fantastic. Joe and Frank Hardy are teen brothers who have a knack for solving mysteries. A chain of robberies in their hometown, Bayport leaves them a tricky puzzle that is worth 1,000 dollars in cold cash. Their father, Fenton Hardy, is a world famous detective, and inspired the boys to solve cases of their own. In this heart-stopping thriller, the Hardy boys must track d...more
May 05, 2011
Ann
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
k-6,
tween,
1920s,
classics,
high-school,
mystery,
police,
theft,
books-for-boys,
iconic-characters
I honestly can't decide if this the worst book ever or the greatest book ever. I mean, I know it's neither, but I feel like the things I loved about it were also the things I hated. The mystery was mediocre, but I love the book for its quaint language and the fact that it preserves that kind of culture that is lost on modern readers, but I also had a hard time feeling like kids today would enjoy reading the book because it is so antiquated. And the Hardy Boys are so square! Until they decide to...more
My kids really enjoy these books and trying to figure out the mystery. As a parent reading to a child it is very quickly recognized that the books follow a formula of sorts. My one critique of the books is that they are so sexist! Mrs. Hardy is often treated as someone too weak to know what sorts of fiascos her boys are getting into. Another female character in the book is very similarly treated as though if she knew what was going on she'd lose her mind. The women are often not told about what...more
After reading a lot of the graphic novels (and having vague fond memories of the 1970s TV series ;-), I finally decided to try the original prose novel. I suspect this isn't quite it, though; the Wikipedia notes that "Beginning in 1959, the books were extensively revised, largely to eliminate racist stereotypes. The books were also written in a simpler style in an attempt to compete with television." While I'm definitely in favor of eliminating racist stereotypes, I'd be very interested in readi...more
As a kid, I read the whole series. My dad bought us a subscription, so I would get one every month. I can honestly say these books taught me the love of reading. When I got one in the mail, I would tear into it and not be able to put it down. I loved the suspense at the end of each chapter. Even today, the use of a hook will keep you turning the pages. I loved the simple adventures and the cool things the "chums" were able to do. There were boats, cars, and motorcycles, not to mention the cool r...more
Frank and Joe Hardy take on their first case in "The Tower Treasure". The action picks up quickly and doesn't slow down until the end of the book. A series of thefts and robberies are mysteriously related, and while the Hardy's are following that case, they come across the criminals searching for a lost treasure in the lighthouse just out of town.
The characters in this story are very likeable. Since it's a series, the characters are always the same. In this way, a connection is made with the cha...more
The characters in this story are very likeable. Since it's a series, the characters are always the same. In this way, a connection is made with the cha...more
"The Tower Treasure" was good enough to make me want to read other Hardy Boys mysteries as a kid, and by the time the TV series appeared, I'd probably read about a dozen of the stories folllowing the adventures of Frank and Joe. The two brothers retain their Fifties looks and innocence throughout the original series, always solving cases in button-down shirts by dint of patience, observation, contrived timing, and being underestimated by the bad guys.
I liked the Hardy Boys books better than the...more
I liked the Hardy Boys books better than the...more
Perhaps I just can't stand the campy feel of the whole thing. Or the authors repeated strange use of the word "presently." Maybe it's because it's a mystery without much mystery to it. I simply did not enjoy reading it.
There are certain words that have been forcefully expelled from my vocabulary, and I may very well blame this book. "That's just swell" will never be heard from me. "Then, Ched came to talk to them presently." I was in pain. The story isn't even worth mentioning - you've heard it...more
There are certain words that have been forcefully expelled from my vocabulary, and I may very well blame this book. "That's just swell" will never be heard from me. "Then, Ched came to talk to them presently." I was in pain. The story isn't even worth mentioning - you've heard it...more
Joe and Frank Hardy are two young men who enjoy solving mysteries. In the first of a long series of novels, Joe's Friend's Yellow Jalopy is stolen. This leads the boys on a chase to find Chet's car. They run across a thief who, on his deathbed, so to speak, reveals that he has left his treasure in a tower. They try and find the treasure and run into many twists and turns along the way.
This novel was actually a pretty fun read. I must say that the Hardy boys have always been a favorite of mine,...more
This novel was actually a pretty fun read. I must say that the Hardy boys have always been a favorite of mine,...more
Middle child LOVED this book. He's a mystery guy, and this fulfilled his want. Dad and I enjoyed reading it too. The Hardy boys are a pretty great examples of darn nice human beings, so I have no trouble reading to my boys about boys who are polite, treat girls and their parents with respect and do their best to help the folks down on their luck. There were plenty of great characters wrapped in a super mystery form for ages 7 and up. There was the death of one character, but it was handled well...more
Starting out with Frank and Joe trying to track down the thief who stole the beloved yellow “hot rod” of their friend Chet Morton, the Hardy brothers find themselves in the midst of their first real mystery to investigate. The brothers discover the disguise the thief must have used. This leads them to seek help from their father, the famous investigator Fenton Hardy. Fenton and the boys suspect that there may be a connection to the recent robbery at the Tower mansion where the only suspect is t...more
As a fan of Nancy Drew, I figured I should probably give the Hardy Boys series a try by reading the first book.
The writing is just about the same (I believe that's because the author is the same for some of the Nancy Drew books?), so it wasn't too hard to transition from Nancy Drew's perspective to Frank and Joe Hardy's POV. I'm not sure why I don't like it quite as much as the Nancy Drew books, though. Perhaps it's because boys are the main characters, and not an awesome girl sleuth. I might pi...more
The writing is just about the same (I believe that's because the author is the same for some of the Nancy Drew books?), so it wasn't too hard to transition from Nancy Drew's perspective to Frank and Joe Hardy's POV. I'm not sure why I don't like it quite as much as the Nancy Drew books, though. Perhaps it's because boys are the main characters, and not an awesome girl sleuth. I might pi...more
I really enjoyed this book, I read it after hearing a lot of people comparing this series to Nancy Drew, and while I can definitely see a connection and even wonder of some of the same writers wrote both series, I didn't like it as much as Nancy Drew, but this is only the first book.
I am going to judge this book solely on it's own, not any connection to Nancy Drew. I found the book an enjoyable read, everything made sense, all the loose-ends were tied up in the end. One of the reasons I love t...more
I am going to judge this book solely on it's own, not any connection to Nancy Drew. I found the book an enjoyable read, everything made sense, all the loose-ends were tied up in the end. One of the reasons I love t...more
The first canonical Hardy Boys book in the series (which is my favourite series of all time), The Tower Treasure was a bit of a disappointment.
There are two sorts of Hardy Boys mysteries: the ones where they fight a gang and the ones where they try to solve a mystery involving one person. I always preferred the gang ones (cf. The House on the Cliff) because there was more action; the latter books framed the villains in an all too obvious way.
That's probably my biggest quibble with Treasure. Howe...more
There are two sorts of Hardy Boys mysteries: the ones where they fight a gang and the ones where they try to solve a mystery involving one person. I always preferred the gang ones (cf. The House on the Cliff) because there was more action; the latter books framed the villains in an all too obvious way.
That's probably my biggest quibble with Treasure. Howe...more
I was captivated from beginning to end. I enjoyed watching the Hardy boys build on clues given to them by their father Frank Hardy. The Father and son dynamic was exciting to read. I was kept guessing and guessing until the end. The one thing I found interesting was that the boys found it upsetting that one of their friends had to move to a poor town. They were more troubled about their friend living in the poor town than the poverty of the town. Poverty was not the focus of the story, but I fo...more
The first of the Hardy Boys books. The brothers try to solve the mystery of a missing treasure said to be found in a tower near their home. It's full of mystery and intrigue, and quite worth the read.
I love the Hardy Boys. Although this book is rather old--being the first of the Blue-Back series--it's fun to read. The words are harder than most of today's young adult literature, even if the characters are a little stagnant. If you're looking for character development, you're looking in the wrong...more
I love the Hardy Boys. Although this book is rather old--being the first of the Blue-Back series--it's fun to read. The words are harder than most of today's young adult literature, even if the characters are a little stagnant. If you're looking for character development, you're looking in the wrong...more
I loved the Hardy Boys when I was a child. I liked them much more than Nancy Drew, although I read a lot of her mysteries too. But Frank and Joe were my favorite. My dad had a copy on his shelf in his old bedroom at Grandma's house, and I remember how excited I was one vacation when I was old enough to read it for myself. I enjoyed that book so much with its flavor of another time and its illustration of the Hardys in 1930s garb. Most of the books I read in the series were the reworked, "moderni...more
"The Tower Treasure"...Franklin W.Dixon/Various Authors. For my First Hardy Boy's Book, I really enjoyed reading from the brothers stand point on solving mysteries. Overall for Frank and Joe Hardy , For their debut novel it was really great ; with the help from Mr.F Hardy. Usually when I was much younger I would see the Hardy Boys and think "One day I'll read Frank and Joe Hardy.." I would always lean towards Nancy Drew mystery stories. But reading both now I've grown to enjoy The Hardy Boy's my...more
The first in Dixon's mystery series, The Tower Treasure is about two young detectives, Frank and Joe Hardy who investigate the disappearance of several jewels. The thief dies but not before giving the brothers a vague hint at where the stolen items are: an old tower. The suspense builds as the boys are locked in the tower where the loot is hidden. They subsequently escape, and a party's name is cleared. Justice is brought and is described effectively in the story, giving it an unique edge. I lik...more
Another series for kids. In these Frank and Joe Hardy, along with their supporting friends Chet Morton and Biff Hooper set fine examples of what every 50s and 60s youth should imitate.
Slightly privileged with both a car and a wooden speedboat(cleverly named "The Slueth") the boys set off on numerous adventures apprehending assorted nefarious characters.
Poor Chet was usually the one conked on the head and held hostage while the others figured out the mystery and eventually freed him.
If you're ev...more
Slightly privileged with both a car and a wooden speedboat(cleverly named "The Slueth") the boys set off on numerous adventures apprehending assorted nefarious characters.
Poor Chet was usually the one conked on the head and held hostage while the others figured out the mystery and eventually freed him.
If you're ev...more
The Tower Treasure (Hardy Boys #1). Is a pretty good book if I do say so myself. It is a supsenful mystery that after ever chapter, leaves you hanging. I love this plot having a famous detectives sons doing the detective work. I also like that the lead suspect dies just as he is about to confess the pinpoint location of where it is instead of just a very broad location. The author obviously took a lot of time to think this plot and I personally think it is very good. I would definitely reccommen...more
I was a fan of the Three Investigators when I was a kid, so I totally missed the Hardy Boys (not the show, I loved that). I had no idea they dated back to 1927; I read on Wikipedia that the books were re-written in the 50s, which is probably a good thing. But not good enough for me, I did not care for this book. It probably has something to do with my age (42), I'm sure. I didn't see the Goonies until my late 30s and it didn't translate well. I'm sure I would have loved it when I was a kid. I pr...more
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Franklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors (Leslie McFarlane, a Canadian author, being the first) who wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate (now owned by Simon & Schuster). This pseudonym was also used for the Ted Scott Flying Stories series.
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