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The Hardy Boys: Casefiles #116
Acting Up
Investigating sabotage on a movie set in India, the Hardy brothers find themselves outmaneuvering explosives, machetes, and a deadly cobra while trying to figure out who does not want the movie completed. Original.
- GenresMysteryYoung Adult
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1996
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
855 books1,009 followersFranklin 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 5, 2024
'Acting Up' (The Hardy Boys Casefiles #116) by Franklin W. Dixon.
Rating: 5/5.
Disclaimer:
The Hardy Boys books are a nostalgic affair. Had it not been for these books, it would have been difficult for me to cultivate my interest in reading and to later expand my reading preferences to include the fantasy and sci-fi genres. So, yeah, that's the main reason why you would rarely find me giving a rating of fewer than 3.5 stars (out of 5) to these Hardy Boys books.
Review:
As someone who grew up reading and loving the Hardy Boys books, I always wished for a story featuring this dynamic duo set in India. Upon learning that one of the books was titled Bombay Boomerang, my hopes had gone up. Alas, I still remember the day when I, as a kid, picked up that book and read it only to realise the title was a wordplay on 'bomb bay'. Those were the early days of the Internet, and although Wikipedia existed back then, there wasn't much information available on the individual Hardy Boys books. I did my research but had to resign to the fact that there were no Hardy Boys stories set in India.
Over a decade and a half later, while in conversation with an online thrift shop owner a few months back, I came to know of Acting Up, a relatively lesser-known Hardy Boys Casefiles book that is set not merely in India but specifically in the city of Bombay (now known as Mumbai) that lies close to my hometown. And then I knew I had to get this book somehow! Fortunately, after some quick searching and thanks to a lucky break, I was able to get my hands on a decent copy of this book.
Acting Up features the Hardy Boys attempting to investigate multiple sabotage attempts on a Bollywood movie set. It was nice to not only see the Hardy Boys visiting iconic locations like the Sahar International Airport, Marine Drive, Haji Ali Mosque, Taj Mahal Hotel, and many more, but also try local cuisine like masala dosa, samosas, channa bhuna, and a host of other traditional dishes!
The central mystery wasn't unique, as I have seen other Hardy Boys books with a similar plot. But it was engrossing enough for me to devour the book in a single sitting. Let me also take this opportunity to admit that my 5-star rating of this book is totally biased just because it takes place in India—something that I had wished for ever since I first read the Hardy Boys books. Considering how accurate some of the depictions of Bombay were in this book, it has also left me wondering whether the ghostwriter of this story was someone of Indian origin! All in all, despite the repetitive use of the mystery involving a movie set in multiple Hardy Boys books, this book offered a fresh take in terms of the Indian locations and cultural aspects it attempts to explore. As an Indian, this sense of relatability enhanced my experience of reading this book altogether.
Joe Hardy held out the video camera at arm's length and aimed it at his face. It was a new model, with a small color screen attached to the side. He watched himself run his free hand through his blond hair, as if he were a reporter getting ready to go on the air.
He pushed the Record button. "It's four in the morning here in India, and Frank and I have just landed at Bombay's Sahar International Airport," he said.
Rating: 5/5.
Disclaimer:
The Hardy Boys books are a nostalgic affair. Had it not been for these books, it would have been difficult for me to cultivate my interest in reading and to later expand my reading preferences to include the fantasy and sci-fi genres. So, yeah, that's the main reason why you would rarely find me giving a rating of fewer than 3.5 stars (out of 5) to these Hardy Boys books.
Review:
As someone who grew up reading and loving the Hardy Boys books, I always wished for a story featuring this dynamic duo set in India. Upon learning that one of the books was titled Bombay Boomerang, my hopes had gone up. Alas, I still remember the day when I, as a kid, picked up that book and read it only to realise the title was a wordplay on 'bomb bay'. Those were the early days of the Internet, and although Wikipedia existed back then, there wasn't much information available on the individual Hardy Boys books. I did my research but had to resign to the fact that there were no Hardy Boys stories set in India.
Over a decade and a half later, while in conversation with an online thrift shop owner a few months back, I came to know of Acting Up, a relatively lesser-known Hardy Boys Casefiles book that is set not merely in India but specifically in the city of Bombay (now known as Mumbai) that lies close to my hometown. And then I knew I had to get this book somehow! Fortunately, after some quick searching and thanks to a lucky break, I was able to get my hands on a decent copy of this book.
Acting Up features the Hardy Boys attempting to investigate multiple sabotage attempts on a Bollywood movie set. It was nice to not only see the Hardy Boys visiting iconic locations like the Sahar International Airport, Marine Drive, Haji Ali Mosque, Taj Mahal Hotel, and many more, but also try local cuisine like masala dosa, samosas, channa bhuna, and a host of other traditional dishes!
The central mystery wasn't unique, as I have seen other Hardy Boys books with a similar plot. But it was engrossing enough for me to devour the book in a single sitting. Let me also take this opportunity to admit that my 5-star rating of this book is totally biased just because it takes place in India—something that I had wished for ever since I first read the Hardy Boys books. Considering how accurate some of the depictions of Bombay were in this book, it has also left me wondering whether the ghostwriter of this story was someone of Indian origin! All in all, despite the repetitive use of the mystery involving a movie set in multiple Hardy Boys books, this book offered a fresh take in terms of the Indian locations and cultural aspects it attempts to explore. As an Indian, this sense of relatability enhanced my experience of reading this book altogether.
January 25, 2015
Talk about Bollywood. HAHA. They traveled to Asia for an Indian movie set. How sweet.
August 30, 2016
Sorry, Hardy Boys... The Nancy Drew case files are so much better. This was just boring and repetitive. >.<
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews