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Hardy Boys Adventures #19
Dungeons & Detectives
Brother detectives Frank and Joe search a hidden castle for clues to help them find a missing comic book in the nineteenth book in the thrilling Hardy Boys Adventures series.
Frank and Joe have been hanging out at Sir Robert’s Comic Kingdom, the local comic and gaming shop, and got the exclusive invite to this year’s Halloween costume ball at Bayport’s one and only castle. Sir Robert plans to use the big event to unveil his most prized possession, a super rare comic that is rumored to contain a map to buried treasure.
Sir Robert agrees to show his store regulars—who now include Frank and Joe—a sneak preview of the comic before the party. But when he goes to unlock the fireproof casing, he finds the book is gone.
It will take all of Frank and Joe’s recently acquired LARPing skills to solve this case. Anything can happen in a castle full of dungeons and deception. Can the Hardy boys keep up?
Frank and Joe have been hanging out at Sir Robert’s Comic Kingdom, the local comic and gaming shop, and got the exclusive invite to this year’s Halloween costume ball at Bayport’s one and only castle. Sir Robert plans to use the big event to unveil his most prized possession, a super rare comic that is rumored to contain a map to buried treasure.
Sir Robert agrees to show his store regulars—who now include Frank and Joe—a sneak preview of the comic before the party. But when he goes to unlock the fireproof casing, he finds the book is gone.
It will take all of Frank and Joe’s recently acquired LARPing skills to solve this case. Anything can happen in a castle full of dungeons and deception. Can the Hardy boys keep up?
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2019
40 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
1,486 books981 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 29, 2022
now, I recognize that I am not in the target audience for this, and to be fair, overall it had a fun mystery. but I can honestly say I don't think a book has ever made me physically cringe quite as much as this one. it really felt like the author did the bare minimum of research on ttrpgs and their slang and everyone involved was like "yeah, that's good enough".
"wow! somebody must have critted their slight-of-hand check to break in here with all this security!"
like NO DENNIS. PEOPLE DON'T SAY THAT OUT LOUD. (sidenote, i have no idea how to spell critted... crit-ed... crit'd... help i listened to the audiobook)
anyhow it was a fun halloween-y time, so there's that. 3 stars from me.
"wow! somebody must have critted their slight-of-hand check to break in here with all this security!"
like NO DENNIS. PEOPLE DON'T SAY THAT OUT LOUD. (sidenote, i have no idea how to spell critted... crit-ed... crit'd... help i listened to the audiobook)
anyhow it was a fun halloween-y time, so there's that. 3 stars from me.
March 23, 2020
thoroughly enjoyed, even if it was for a younger audience XDD
September 4, 2024
These Hardy Boys books have been around for years. I enjoyed listening to it. Young detectives solving crimes and going on mysterious adventures.
October 27, 2019
Okay, I'll be upfront with anyone reading this review: I want to give this book 5 Stars. The mystery itself -- and the length of the book -- is excellent. But it is also obvious that either the ghostwriter of this book is the same as the one who wrote A Nancy Drew Christmas or someone at Simon & Schuster is okaying the politicization of its series geared for 8-12 year olds. And that's not cool.
Let's face it, kids today are probably more savvy about things than when I was a kid in the 1970s, including politics. Sure, we knew about President Richard Nixon and Watergate, but we were far more interested -- in my opinion -- in being kids and doing things that kids do. And books for middle readers dealt with things kids wanted to read about: action, adventure, mystery, cars, fantasy, first love, and "issues" like divorce or remarriage or changing schools or . . . you get the idea.
I don't know of many -- or any, for that matter -- kids ages eight to 12 who are into the whole facts vs. alternative facts debate that is going on now, or whether truth is truth. I believe kids today who read the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew read them for the same reason kids did in previous decades: lots of action, a decent mystery, and the bad guys getting taken away in the end. For one paragraph (beginning on page 80), I was taken out of the story and it colored the way I read the rest of the book. Let kids be kids; they've got many years ahead of them to be adults.
Let's face it, kids today are probably more savvy about things than when I was a kid in the 1970s, including politics. Sure, we knew about President Richard Nixon and Watergate, but we were far more interested -- in my opinion -- in being kids and doing things that kids do. And books for middle readers dealt with things kids wanted to read about: action, adventure, mystery, cars, fantasy, first love, and "issues" like divorce or remarriage or changing schools or . . . you get the idea.
I don't know of many -- or any, for that matter -- kids ages eight to 12 who are into the whole facts vs. alternative facts debate that is going on now, or whether truth is truth. I believe kids today who read the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew read them for the same reason kids did in previous decades: lots of action, a decent mystery, and the bad guys getting taken away in the end. For one paragraph (beginning on page 80), I was taken out of the story and it colored the way I read the rest of the book. Let kids be kids; they've got many years ahead of them to be adults.
January 10, 2021
Meh. Not really sure how I feel about these modern Hardy Boys books. I'll give a couple more a try and see if they're any better. Narrator is great though.
July 8, 2021
I don't know why my library only seems to have these as audiobooks, but as with the Nancy Drew Diaries series, the narrator is really good—he even manages to pull off completely different voices when he's narrating for Frank vs Joe without going over the top, which is very impressive.
Anyways, this is a really fun, solid read! I love the idea of Frank being super into tabletop gaming and LARPing, and the use of D&D (or rather, Serpents and Sabers) lore and jargon was really enjoyable.
Highlights for me include
*Lucky (animal sidekicks are hard to do without being overly cheesy and cutesy, and I thought his role in the story was perfect)
*Charlene dressing up as Nancy Drew (who canonically exists in this universe)
*Facts being facts (I heard the lines that went something along the lines of "the thing about facts is they're always facts, you can't make up alternatives" and I was like "oh no they didn't" and then I heard "it doesn't matter if you're a comic store owner or the president of the United States" and I was like "oh yes they DID". maybe they will give George Fayne a canon girlfriend one of these days after all)
*Very cheesy and OTT dialogue delivered without a shred of irony—a staple in Hardy Boys literature
*Trying to figure out who's scamming whom with Robert's ridiculous scamming schemes
*Percy and Max, arguably better at running the business than Sir Robert
I love mystery, always have, and lately, I've been both disappointed in and disheartened by the gritty, psychological thrillers that currently dominate the adult side of the genre—the world's just too awful for that much hopelessness. I'm also getting really sick of the "they murdered everyone because they were cRaZy!!!" motive, which is both harmful and boring. So while these books are aimed at a much younger audience than myself (and for that I will forgive many an obvious plot or corny line), I genuinely enjoy them. Sometimes you just need a fun romp with a guaranteed happy ending where love and friendship save the day.
Anyways, this is a really fun, solid read! I love the idea of Frank being super into tabletop gaming and LARPing, and the use of D&D (or rather, Serpents and Sabers) lore and jargon was really enjoyable.
Highlights for me include
*Lucky (animal sidekicks are hard to do without being overly cheesy and cutesy, and I thought his role in the story was perfect)
*Charlene dressing up as Nancy Drew (who canonically exists in this universe)
*Facts being facts (I heard the lines that went something along the lines of "the thing about facts is they're always facts, you can't make up alternatives" and I was like "oh no they didn't" and then I heard "it doesn't matter if you're a comic store owner or the president of the United States" and I was like "oh yes they DID". maybe they will give George Fayne a canon girlfriend one of these days after all)
*Very cheesy and OTT dialogue delivered without a shred of irony—a staple in Hardy Boys literature
*Trying to figure out who's scamming whom with Robert's ridiculous scamming schemes
*Percy and Max, arguably better at running the business than Sir Robert
I love mystery, always have, and lately, I've been both disappointed in and disheartened by the gritty, psychological thrillers that currently dominate the adult side of the genre—the world's just too awful for that much hopelessness. I'm also getting really sick of the "they murdered everyone because they were cRaZy!!!" motive, which is both harmful and boring. So while these books are aimed at a much younger audience than myself (and for that I will forgive many an obvious plot or corny line), I genuinely enjoy them. Sometimes you just need a fun romp with a guaranteed happy ending where love and friendship save the day.
September 9, 2025
Hardy Boys Adventures, Book 19: Dungeons & Detectives is something of an anomaly among Hardy Boys books. Up until now, every one of them I've read, be they part of the original flagship Hardy Boys series, or this new Hardy Boys Adventures series, have all been fewer than 200 pages. Hell, 2 of the Hardy Boys Adventures books have held the title of shortest book I've read in 2025: Hardy Boys Adventures, Book 4: Into Thin Air (109 pages) and Hardy Boys Adventures, Book 14: Attack of the Bayport Beast (106 pages.) Dungeons & Detectives just barely passes the 200-page threshold, at 208 pages long. Yes, it is the longest Hardy Boys book I've come across so far. (Of course, it is nowhere near being among the longest overall books I've read in all the years I've been on Goodreads, but I digress.)
I recently read Hardy Boys Adventures, Book 17: The Gray Hunter's Revenge. In my review of it, I noted that it was a fitting book to read at this time of year, with Halloween approaching, because it took place in a haunted house. The same could be said of Dungeons & Detectives, the climax of which takes place at a Halloween party in a castle. I really liked this book.
I recently read Hardy Boys Adventures, Book 17: The Gray Hunter's Revenge. In my review of it, I noted that it was a fitting book to read at this time of year, with Halloween approaching, because it took place in a haunted house. The same could be said of Dungeons & Detectives, the climax of which takes place at a Halloween party in a castle. I really liked this book.
August 16, 2023
I've always loved the Hardy Boys. This one was a good story for boys and young teens. Clean. I've seen mixed reviews about other books in the series being too violent or creepy. This one was not, gratefully.
November 6, 2019
This new Hardy Boys series started off well enough, but the last few books have not been terribly good. This one certainly makes up for it. An all around great mystery geared toward preteens.
November 8, 2019
this book was a fun romp into a genre i no longer read. the dialogue felt natural and my predictions about the characters and endings were mostly wrong! it's always nice to be surprised.
September 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and I think that mystery lovers would LOVE to read this.
July 6, 2025
Lots of cosplaying in this one, and racing for their life in a crazy maze this one was intersting!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2025
i love a good costumed ball also theres actual murder in this one..tragic partnership...
October 23, 2019
Good entry, they're getting better.
Looks like the ghostwriter behind this one really got the spirit of the Hardy boys. My only complaint was that their chums didn't have a part, particularly the regulars, Chet, Biff, and Tony. But over a, it was a pretty good addition to the series.
Looks like the ghostwriter behind this one really got the spirit of the Hardy boys. My only complaint was that their chums didn't have a part, particularly the regulars, Chet, Biff, and Tony. But over a, it was a pretty good addition to the series.
July 10, 2022
Fun, albeit predictable. Good voice acting. Great for children.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews