In Self-Defense

The Hardy Boys Casefiles #45

by Franklin W. Dixon

Frank and Joe Hardy investigate when danger threatens Bayport's new self-defense school and find themselves up against a ruthless real-estate developer out to buy the building in which the school is located.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

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

[Readaholic Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery but not as good as Nancy Drew.

[Jason Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a pretty good book I would rate it a four out of five stars because it always kept the story exciting. The book starts out with the hardy brother trying to figure out who committing all of these crimes at a self defense center. To find out who's committing all the crimes they must find clues and get their hands dirty. I would recommend this book to 6th through 9th graders because its a pretty easy book to read and its an interesting book to read. Do you think the hardy boys will figure out who's doing the crime or will they fail.

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a young adult book, this has some good pacing, and good variety of events. For an older series, this book relates to people in a reasonable way, and I'd be happy to let my kid read it.

The cover is hilarious.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

thrilling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book lots of action.

[grundoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems it might lead to a better story when on home turf, with more regulars.

[Dannuel Delizo · Rating 3 out of 5]

essentials. always.