The Rocky Road to Revenge

The Hardy Boys #151

by Franklin W. Dixon

While on a trip to a resort in the Rocky Mountains, Joe and Frank witness a strange green light in the sky, which is followed by three kidnappings that may be the work of aliens or some very human criminals

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Adventure

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Franklin 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.

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Hardy books are quality reads for middle readers. I read this to my 10 year old son, and he found it suspenseful and interesting. I appreciate that the plot has mature concepts of kidnapping, greed, alien abductions, but leaves out foul language, sex and graphic violence. It lets middle readers experience a grown up story at a level to match their innocence. It’s a smart choice, especially for boy readers.

[Ethan Hulbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent digest, nothing amazing, nothing bad. It was very solid but not exactly outstanding.

Enjoyed the UFO stuff at first but like... Joe seriously considering aliens as a culprit for so much of the book? Come on.

How the book handles the explanation of the mysterious lightning is certainly interesting. Not sure if I'm a fan, but it's a take that I didn't see coming at all.

I loved Stella.