The Clue of the Screeching Owl

The Hardy Boys #41

by Franklin W. Dixon

When dogs and men suddenly disappear, and strange screams fill the night, fantastic stories of vengeful ghosts are almost believable. It is these strange happenings which bring Frank and Joe Hardy to the Pocono Mountains to help their father's friendsolve the mystery of Black Hollow. But when the Hardy boys and Chet Morton arrive at Captain Thomas Maguire's cabin on the edge of the hollow, he has disappeared. Frank and Joe are determined to find the captain, despite Chet's misgivings after a night of weird and terrifying screams. Strangely, it is a small puppy that discloses a most unusual and surprising set of circumstances, involving a mute boy, an elusive hermit, and a fearless puma trainer.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Adventure, Detective, Middle Grade

177 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

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

[David Allen Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great classic Hardy Boys adventure. The brothers, and Chet travel to the Pocono Mountains of northeast Pennsylvania to assist their father's friend, a retired police captain who has been experiencing troubles around his woodland cabin. When they arrive they find the captain is missing, along with a bunch of pet dogs from the area, and strange noises have been heard from a nearby hollow, extolling a local witch legend. Along the way they come across an old local family whose inheritance has tangled over disagreements, and the local sheriff, aided and abetted by one of the family members who lives in a cabin in the hollow, doesn't take the boys seriously. In the end the boys and Chet survive a harrowing encounter with a puma and the disaffected old family member intent on getting his money to solve the mystery of the missing dogs, save the captain, resolve the mystery of the inheritance and resolve the clue of the screeching owl! This is a well-written, interesting classic Hardys adventure that has aged well and which any fan of the series will well enjoy! The classic cover art is also very well done!

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frank and Joe have dragged Chet along for another mystery, one that involves kidnapped dogs and terrifying screeches - ones that may be the work of a dangerous witch! Dixon will keep young readers on the edge of their seats with another exciting array of twists and perils. Can the Hardy Boys and their pal figure out whether this witch is for real before any more innocent animals go missing?

[Edward Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another convenient mystery in which missing people carve their names into their torches, and suspects have identical twins. More like an episode of Scooby-Doo than a proper mystery, but kids might enjoy it. Plus, shock horror - Chet Morton didn't seem to have a hobby in this book!!!

[Tommy Verhaegen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ongeloofwaardig en tegelijk voorspelbaar, weliswaar een merkwaardige combinatie.
Het boek is wel goed geschreven al is het soms moeilijk te volgen, misschien omdat belangrijke stukken later uit de oringele uitgave weggelaten werden.
De jonge knaapjes op de cover vertonen ook niet veel gelijkenis met de broers die autorijden en privévliegtuigen charteren en zelfs besturen.
Opnieuw te veel van het goede met een stomme jongen, een temmer van poema's, een hermiet, een onvindbare hut die iedereen weet te zijn en dan nog een bende bandieten, verdwijnende honden en nog heel wat meer zaken die een enorme warboel vormen waarin de Hardy broers orde moeten scheppen. Wat hen via het ene gelukkige toeval na het andere ook zonder problemen zal lukken.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Hardy Boy book for my five year old. His rating: a strong five stars. “I really liked Hardy Boys.”

And onto the Viking Symbol Mystery!

[Kelsey Mize · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way off base, spencer. It's basically like scooby doo in novel form; how excellent. No wonder my personality is so wonderful after filling my childhood mind with this junk

[Brett Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great book, full of exciting plot twists and surprises. Ever wanted to read a good mystery? Well, this is the book.

Main Idea

The main idea of this book is that teamwork can get you out of many messes. An example of when this plays true is when, in the beginning of the book, (SPOILERS) in chapter 3, Joe falls into rushing water, and Frank and Chet have to work together to save him. This shows teamwork because Joe is still alive by the end of the book, and if Frank and Chet hadn't worked together, then he would've surely drowned. (END SPOILERS)

Another example of this teamwork is when (SPOILERS), starting on page 119, Frank wakes up, and there's a fire raging through the cabin they are sleeping in. Frank wakes the other two boys up, and they all get blankets, cover themselves with them, and run out of the cabin. When the building finished burning down (there was no use of calling the Fire Department, as they wouldn't have gotten there in time) ashes are't hot, they go in, and work together to find clues. This also shows teamwork because if Frank didn't wake them up, they didn't help each other get out, or if they didn't collaborate to find clues, the former two would mean that most likely, they would die in the raging infernos, and the latter one would mean that likely, they would never figure out who tried to end their lives. (END SPOILERS)

Both of these examples show teamwork and collaboration, as you can see. Therefore, the main idea
of this book is that teamwork can get you out of the worst situations.

[David Ballesteros · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Clue of the Screeching owl was a legendary mystery solved by the two teen brothers Joe and Frank Hardy and their friend Chet. The trio go out to the woods to look for missing dogs from and ancient legend called the hex. Apparently, the hex is back and the Hardy's want to figure out who's behind this. The Hardy's meet people along their quest but eventually find out that they are the people stealing the dogs. In the end, they find the dogs, and give them back to their owners.

[Arwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good Hardy Boys book. Although I prefer to read the versions that are before 1960, when they were all edited and changed. And there are no shiny new Hardy Books, or Nancy Drew book in my collection.

[GIMHANA SANKALPA · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a good book I had read.

[Kevin Findley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the only 5-star rating I've given to a Hardy Boys tale. It's that good.

The book starts out with Frank, Joe and Chet beginning Summer vacation with a drive to meet a friend of Mr. Hardy. Mysterious things have been happening around Captain Maguire's new home in Black Hollow and he has asked for help. Since Fenton Hardy is busy in New Jersey tackling a ring of truck hijackers, he sends the boys.

Frank, Joe and Chet are on their own here; no Aunt Gertrude, Mama Hardy or any of their friends from Bayport. Each character therefore gets more page time than usual, and it makes for a better tale. That's not always the case (pun intended) but with the boys being more isolated, it forces the writer to be better and not rely on a new character walking in with a perfectly timed clue.

Chet gets to show off a number of skills, and even spots a couple of the hijackers before Frank and Joe even suspect them. In many of the books, he winds up accidentally helping out, but here he makes the difference between solving the mystery and going home empty-handed.

A must read for fans of the Hardy Boys, young mystery solver stories, and YA in general.

FIND IT! BUY IT! READ IT!

[ron btdtbttsawio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some of these books when I was 12 years old, so this is a revisit to a younger me. I can see how these stories would appeal to boys. The writing is well done and the plot is engaging enough.

In this book, the Hardy Boys and their friend Chet solve every little mystery including finding a missing dog belonging to a family that lives in the area. All the little details are explained by the end of the story.

Also, a pet peeve of mine, why do people driving a car into a dangerous situation never take the time to turn it around before parking? This makes it easy to leave in a hurry. I see this all the time in tv shows and movies. Well, Frank Hardy is smarter than this and does turn his convertible around and park it for a fast getaway. ..Finally... some one does it right...lol.

I would recommend this book to boys (and girls of course) however there is a level of violence that surprised me. In one chapter, the Hardy boys and Chet are almost murdered by someone setting a fire to the cabin they are sleeping in. They barely escape and even have their hair and eyebrows singed.

[Fred Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I basically learned to read from the Hardy Boys books. I still had them in my attic and was about to get rid of them, but I suddenly got nostalgic and decided to read this one, which I think is the first one I ever got. It's not half bad. The writing is pretty good, with decent vocabulary. The story is fairly interesting, and while the characters aren't very complicated, the values are okay. There aren't any girls in this one, so maybe in another I would find the gender politics frustratingly old-fashioned, but I do see Frank and Joe as decent role models. I'm glad I reread it, and now it can go.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hardy boys and their friend Chet head to Captain Maguire's cabin to help him solve a mystery but when they arrive he isn't there. Searching for the Captain and trying to solve the mystery of strange screams and missing dogs keeps the boys busy. The local people believe the missing man, dogs and sounds are because a witch has cast a spell....an old tail they believe is happening again. As usual the boys aren't sure who they can trust and the local sheriff doesn't know the Hardy's so he's not much help. The boys are on their own but they're up to the task. Using all their skills and with a bit of luck the mystery starts to become a bit clearer.

[Saffron Mavros · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a halloween scare!! A mystery embroiled in witch elements, screeching owls, and disappearing dogs!

A gang selling dogs illegally for medical experiments, and a gang stealing surgical instruments! It was fascinating to see both come together!

The puma was a bit far fetched. Simon was a good character who brought a lot of life to the story, first as a suspected villain, and then as a friend!

The frequent excursions into the Black Hollow (again the name of the location adds a zing to it) and the woods around, added a sense of adventure to the story!

[Adela Bezemer-Cleverley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An honest rating for how much I enjoyed reading this. Why did I read a Hardy Boys mystery in 2026 at the age of 32? Well as someone who devoured Nancy Drew books from the ages of 6-8 (before I started being able to predict the ending in the first few chapters) my experience of the Hardy Boys was seeing the logo in a used bookstore and being disappointed that it wasn’t more Nancy Drew. So I thought I should give them a fair chance and at least read one novel! And you know what, it’s not the worst product of its time and I had fun reading it so there you have it.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was much better than the last one I read. Although I am not familiar with bird calls (because honestly, who is?) the bird calls were the key. The variance in the Donner family helped to keep you on your toes as well as the less than friendly behavior of the police chief. Rest assured the Skippy is safe.

[Rex Libris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The brothers investigate the disappearance of one of their father's friends. Suspicious activity centers are a dark and spooky hollow, from which comes an assortment of screeches and yells. It turns out the hollow is the base of truck hijackers, and of course Frank and Joe thwart their evil plans.

Frank escapes unscathed, but Joe gets the KO 2x. This ups the total count to 49.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ate these up as a kid and usually got them as gifts for birthdays, Christmas and other events. This edition would be quite dated now and I believe they have updated the books. The author was a pseudonym for a plethora of writers who contributed to this series.

[Brentman99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

With another last minute just in time rescue and inexhaustible supply of money, the Boys tackle thieves.

The story has some interesting points and drama as the Boys have a firey encouter, so a young person may be interested.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun romp with the Hardy's and Chet to discover the source of a witch's screaming and a bunch of missing dogs. I love how the mystery that the boys are investigating always intersects with the mystery their father is working on.

[Ethan Hulbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a little uneventful for me. I did like the cabin in the woods though! Good setting.

[Josh Balogh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief trip down nostalgia lane...like many kids the Hardy Boys mystery’s were a staple of my early reading career. This was a fun read.

[Xandiron · Rating 5 out of 5]

It suprised me when They saw a wich.And It suprised me when a person dug a huge hole.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved the book so much i read it lodes of times

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty standard Hardy Boys book. A lot of outdoor action, not much mystery and a case solved with outside intervention.

[Nick121235]

I love these books so much, such a throwback to my childhood.

[Phoebe Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from all the witch stuff, this was a pretty good read! I guessed a few things correctly from the start, and the end was satisfying and action-packed. But MAN, the villain is a creep!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick way read while resting between chores. The 'fat shaming' to the character Chet did not age well

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5