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Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers #37
The Deathstalker Trilogy Book 1, . Movie Menace
Frank and Joe Hardy are assigned to pose as extras on the set of the new forthcoming teen movie, 'Deathstalker'. The star, a young girl named Anya, believes that someone is out to get her and she's got proof! Someone tried to burn down her trailer! The undercover brothers need to get to the bottom of the arson.
Paperback
First published July 1, 2011
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
824 books1,008 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 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 6, 2021
Hmm, I think I liked this more when i read it the first time, but still can't wait to read the second 2, and once again, why exactly are criminals soo heartless, I mean people can get hurt, and why are fans sooo obsessed over movies, get a life people
December 30, 2012
Undercover Brothers is a joke series, but...
Anyway, for those who might not know, this is the third iteration of the famous teen detectives, following the classic blue hardcover originals which is what most people are familiar with (and the later Digests which follows the same continuity), as well as the spinoff Casefiles which had Frank and Joe solving grittier, more high stakes crimes. I wasn’t too sure when the Casefiles and then the Digests were cancelled so Frank and Joe could get another update with this series, but I think I actually ended up liking most of the changes that were made.
For one, the aim here is for a lighter tone for more of a teen than children’s audience, so this is the first series that’s in first person point of view with chapters alternating between Frank and Joe telling the story rather than the third person narration of the previous two series. The two now work for ATAC (American Tens Against Crime), which has a sort of spy feel to it, down to various gadgets and dossiers compiled on the Hardy’s suspects that are interspersed through the story. While not all of these changes are entirely popular and this is certainly a different reading experience than before, I actually prefer the writing in this version - I mean, where in the Casefiles or Digests can I get dialogue like this?
Yeah.
Another recent development is that starting with #22 the books have come in trilogies, with the first book of a three part miniseries introducing the crime and the Hardys solving smaller parts of the overall mystery in each of the first two books before the crime is ultimately solved in the third. Which is good, because this book was a quick nineteen chapters without much room to fully develop the crime, so letting the Hardys catch a guy in every book but leaving the overall mystery to progress over three books is a smart way to go.
As for the actual story though, Movie Menace isn’t the Hardys at their best. There are a couple of glaring inconsistencies, like Frank and Joe meaning to stay undercover and hiding their extracurricular activities from their mom and AuntGertrude Trudy, but then Frank’s cover turns out is as the boyfriend of a soon to be famous movie actress. At a comic book convention with lots of press. How that’ll work out I gotta see. And the point of Frank’s cover is so he can protect the actress, except half the time he’s with Joe trying to solve the crime and there’s really no protecting going on. Otherwise, maybe because of the trilogy format, or maybe because I’ve been spoiled by the books of the two previous series being much longer with way more suspect and plot development, somehow I don’t feel like I got a full mystery here.
Still, these books are a quick, fun, and welcome break from a young adult landscape that's mostly populated by paranormal romances and dystopians. Really can’t go wrong with The Hardy Boys there.
Note: My review of the Deathstalker trilogy continues with Movie Mission...
“This is crazy!” Frank’s voice broke through my focus. He sounded freaked out. Nerdy older brothers usually do when their studly, fearless younger brothers are doing something gutsy.
Anyway, for those who might not know, this is the third iteration of the famous teen detectives, following the classic blue hardcover originals which is what most people are familiar with (and the later Digests which follows the same continuity), as well as the spinoff Casefiles which had Frank and Joe solving grittier, more high stakes crimes. I wasn’t too sure when the Casefiles and then the Digests were cancelled so Frank and Joe could get another update with this series, but I think I actually ended up liking most of the changes that were made.
For one, the aim here is for a lighter tone for more of a teen than children’s audience, so this is the first series that’s in first person point of view with chapters alternating between Frank and Joe telling the story rather than the third person narration of the previous two series. The two now work for ATAC (American Tens Against Crime), which has a sort of spy feel to it, down to various gadgets and dossiers compiled on the Hardy’s suspects that are interspersed through the story. While not all of these changes are entirely popular and this is certainly a different reading experience than before, I actually prefer the writing in this version - I mean, where in the Casefiles or Digests can I get dialogue like this?
“LARPing?” Frank looked confused.
“Live-action role play,” I said. “That’s when people dress up and act out their roles as fantasy characters and stuff.”
“Oh. You mean like historical re-enactments of the Battle of Gettysburg?” Frank asked.
Yes, leave it to my brother to make a nerdy activity sound even nerdier.
Yeah.
Another recent development is that starting with #22 the books have come in trilogies, with the first book of a three part miniseries introducing the crime and the Hardys solving smaller parts of the overall mystery in each of the first two books before the crime is ultimately solved in the third. Which is good, because this book was a quick nineteen chapters without much room to fully develop the crime, so letting the Hardys catch a guy in every book but leaving the overall mystery to progress over three books is a smart way to go.
As for the actual story though, Movie Menace isn’t the Hardys at their best. There are a couple of glaring inconsistencies, like Frank and Joe meaning to stay undercover and hiding their extracurricular activities from their mom and Aunt
Still, these books are a quick, fun, and welcome break from a young adult landscape that's mostly populated by paranormal romances and dystopians. Really can’t go wrong with The Hardy Boys there.
Note: My review of the Deathstalker trilogy continues with Movie Mission...
June 16, 2019
When I first read Hardy Boys, I think I was in class 5, I had such a crush on Frank Hardy. I liked the brainy one over the brawny one and that sums up my first impression of Hardy Boys.
In their late teens, Frank and Joe Hardy take after their detective father Fenton Hardy. Frank is the older of the two and has more breakthroughs in the cases because he is the brainy one. Joe is the younger brother who more often than not is useful when things get hot and they need to fight their way out.
Like Nancy Drew, the books in the The Hardy Boys series re written by ghostwriters under the collective pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon. And yes, the earlier books were better than the latter ones.
In their late teens, Frank and Joe Hardy take after their detective father Fenton Hardy. Frank is the older of the two and has more breakthroughs in the cases because he is the brainy one. Joe is the younger brother who more often than not is useful when things get hot and they need to fight their way out.
Like Nancy Drew, the books in the The Hardy Boys series re written by ghostwriters under the collective pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon. And yes, the earlier books were better than the latter ones.
February 8, 2025
3.5 rounded up. Although the NERVE of the HARDY BOYS to call other people nerds and dweebs is ASTONISHING.
September 12, 2016
Not a lot of investigating. Stumbled upon the person involved at the convention. The flop flop in narrative is at times difficult and bothersome.
June 7, 2011
I cannot wait til Movie Mission comes out
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews