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The Hardy Boys #45
The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge
Frank and Joe Hardy are determined to bring to justice the vicious criminals who kidnapped their detective father while he was investigation sabotage of a road-building project in the Kentucky wilderness. After Mr. Hardy’s escape, the two young sleuths are spurred into action when he mumbles the word “Felix” and they discover a dossier of a notorious ex-convict was stolen from his files. The trail leads them to New York City but ends abruptly in a cemetery! With the new clue of a spiral symbol the boys head to Kentucky as part of a highway construction crew to track down the kidnappers and saboteurs.
177 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1965
84 people are currently reading
786 people want to read
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
734 books991 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 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 27, 2025
This is the 45th book in the original, familiar, blue-bound hardback Hardy Boys series. It was produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, written by Andrew E. Svenson (as Franklin W. Dixon, of course!) and was published in 1966 by Grosset & Dunlap. I first read it almost sixty years ago and was surprised that I remembered it upon re-reading it now. It's a little different than many of the later books in the series (the ones that weren't written by Leslie McFarlane), many of which became overly formulaic, and has some good points and a couple of problems. Frank and Joe assemble all four of their Bayport Irregulars (Chet Morton, Tony Prito, Phil Cohen, and Biff Hooper) for an all-hands-on-deck undercover mission to the wilds of Kentucky where a construction project headed up by Mr. Prito is suffering mysterious delays and suspicious accidents. Mr. Hardy is recovering from injuries sustained in a previous, possibly related case, and is in the hospital with memory problems. Chet's hobby-of-the-volume is shot-putting, which he practices to good effect with a bomb disguised as a road-construction smudge-pot; you used to see those things all the time in 1966. (Smudge-pots, not bombs... in Kentucky, anyway.) Unfortunately, I suspect that Mr. Svenson had never been to Kentucky, which is presented as a wild and untamed wilderness full of uncivilized savage hillbillies and few modern amenities. There's one bus from Bayport to Kentucky, and the only town named is Boonton, which has an airport they reach at one point by hitching a ride on a horse-drawn cart hauling pigs to market along a narrow path. On page 142 it is observed that: "These hill folk tell some awful tall tales." I wasn't convinced by the bear cave, either, but okay. Another drawback is the list of prison slang terms the ex-convicts use to communicate; I suspect it was outdated when they printed it. Altogether it's a shorter and simpler story than the classic books, with a simpler vocabulary and more action with less characterization, designed for the shorter attention spans of the '60s TV generation, and appropriate for a younger audience, as well. It's okay, but I recommend the early books to get a true taste of the Hardys.
May 5, 2022
'The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge' [The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories #45; The Hardy Boys (paperback editions) #8] by Franklin W. Dixon.
Rating: 4.0/5.
Disclaimer:
This was probably my fourth read of this book. The Hardy Boys books are a nostalgic affair. Had it not been for these books, it would have been difficult for me to cultivate my interest in reading and to later expand my reading preferences to include the fantasy and sci-fi genres. So yeah, that's the main reason why you won't find me giving a rating of fewer than 3.5 stars (out of 5) to these Hardy Boys books.
Review:
My last read of the original Hardy Boys books was more than a decade ago. Having returned to these books after such a long gap, I seem to have forgotten almost everything that happens in these books; thus giving me the same experience as that of a first time read.
I remember reading this story first when I borrowed the book from a classmate of mine in my fourth grade. I loved the story back then, and being a Hardy Boys books collector, I wanted to have a copy of my own. I searched for years for a copy of this book and finally came across a used copy over at a street book shop. Gosh, quite some memories are attached with this book!
Anyway, the current re-read went quite well. As expected, I enjoyed the story. I loved that it is fast-paced and full of action. There were a few flaws - the mystery seems fairly simple upon reading now, and there's some gross oversight by the Hardy Brothers, but I'm not going to hold it against a book that was meant to appeal to new readers as well as middle graders. The book might not have as much appeal as it did back then, but it is still an enjoyable read nonetheless.
I also loved how the four other pals of the Hardy Boys came at the forefront of this mystery and had a part to play in their crime-solving adventures. I always used to love when Chet Morton, Biff Hooper, Tony Prito, and Phil Cohen used to play a proactive role in the books; too bad they got sidelined as the series progressed.
Rating: 4.0/5.
Disclaimer:
This was probably my fourth read of this book. The Hardy Boys books are a nostalgic affair. Had it not been for these books, it would have been difficult for me to cultivate my interest in reading and to later expand my reading preferences to include the fantasy and sci-fi genres. So yeah, that's the main reason why you won't find me giving a rating of fewer than 3.5 stars (out of 5) to these Hardy Boys books.
Review:
My last read of the original Hardy Boys books was more than a decade ago. Having returned to these books after such a long gap, I seem to have forgotten almost everything that happens in these books; thus giving me the same experience as that of a first time read.
I remember reading this story first when I borrowed the book from a classmate of mine in my fourth grade. I loved the story back then, and being a Hardy Boys books collector, I wanted to have a copy of my own. I searched for years for a copy of this book and finally came across a used copy over at a street book shop. Gosh, quite some memories are attached with this book!
Anyway, the current re-read went quite well. As expected, I enjoyed the story. I loved that it is fast-paced and full of action. There were a few flaws - the mystery seems fairly simple upon reading now, and there's some gross oversight by the Hardy Brothers, but I'm not going to hold it against a book that was meant to appeal to new readers as well as middle graders. The book might not have as much appeal as it did back then, but it is still an enjoyable read nonetheless.
I also loved how the four other pals of the Hardy Boys came at the forefront of this mystery and had a part to play in their crime-solving adventures. I always used to love when Chet Morton, Biff Hooper, Tony Prito, and Phil Cohen used to play a proactive role in the books; too bad they got sidelined as the series progressed.
November 3, 2018
One of the best I’ve read that isn’t wrote by Leslie Mcfarlane, I was really surprised with how much suspense and action their was. One of the best Hardy Boys books I’ve read...
February 16, 2022
My first English version of Hardy Boys, it's actually not as hard as I thought before. The mysteries are dangerous and terrified. I couldn't figure out at all.
July 8, 2019
It was fun to read Hardy boys!
February 2, 2023
In deze "nieuwe Hardy's"serie zijn de broers Hardy flink jonger geworden. Zo zelfs dat het idee van de akties die ze ondernemen op basis van de coverfoto heel onwaarschijnlijk worden. Toch ligt dat gewoon bij de tekenstijl van de cover en niet bij de tekst in het boek. De Hardy's verouderen niet doorheen de reeks.
De spiraalbrug uit de titel bestaat echt maar of de criminelen er echt wel in zouden kunnen wonen zonder doodsbang te worden door de tonnen aarde boven hen valt te betwijfelen. Evenals de laatste scene die letterlijk ongelooflijk is.
Tot die bewuste scènes is er weinig verandering wat de algemen setting en het verloop van het verhaal betreft. De spanning wordt van bij het begin opgevbouwd en dan langzaam opgedreven. Enkele humoristishe passages moeten er voor waken de de spanning voor de climax niet to hoog oploopt.
De spiraalbrug uit de titel bestaat echt maar of de criminelen er echt wel in zouden kunnen wonen zonder doodsbang te worden door de tonnen aarde boven hen valt te betwijfelen. Evenals de laatste scene die letterlijk ongelooflijk is.
Tot die bewuste scènes is er weinig verandering wat de algemen setting en het verloop van het verhaal betreft. De spanning wordt van bij het begin opgevbouwd en dan langzaam opgedreven. Enkele humoristishe passages moeten er voor waken de de spanning voor de climax niet to hoog oploopt.
October 28, 2021
The book that this book review is about is The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge, by Franklin W. Dixon. The lexile level of this book is 720L. A summary of this book is that Frank and Joe Hardy’s dad, Fenton Hardy, went to Kentucky to investigate a suspected sabotage on a part of a road being built by Prito Construction Company in the wilderness, but he disappeared only to be found by Sam Radley, his assistant, in Boonton, gravely ill and delirious. Fenton’s private pilot, Jack Wayne, flew the ill Fenton Hardy and Sam Radley back to Bayport’s Hospital. When Fenton is in the hospital Joe and Frank put a tape recorder to record anything he might say that might help them. In the hospital after the tape almost got stolen, they heard Fenton mumble the word Felix. After a wild goose chase, the Hardys come up with a plan with their friends to go to Kentucky and use fake names to join the work crew. While at Kentucky they spied on the workers and heard some con language, so they called Sam Radley on a transmitter and he translated the words. Frank and Joe deduced that the word that Fenton mumbled on tape was actually helix and was the gang’s password after Mike Shannon talked to Frank thinking he was part of the gang. After that they decided to hide in the nearby forest and leave Chet to work at the worksite. Soon after that they find the gang’s hideout, but Joe and Chet get captured by the gang. Joe and Chet found out that the baron didn’t want Mr. Prito to finish the road job because of the natural gas wells by the bridge and he wanted to later buy the land. Then Frank came up with a quick plan to rescue Chet and Joe. After Frank had freed Joe and Chet they left the hideout and went to the woods to see the baron’s men held at bay by police officers along with Tony, Willy Teeple, and Robert Angan. The police arrested the gang and Tony explained how he called up the police to search the road construction site. After that all of the boys flew back to Bayport and the Hardy boys talked to their father, who was now feeling better, and he explained his story. Then they decided that the mystery was solved.
Something that propelled action in this book is on page 78 when Frank and Joe were packing their bags to Kentucky, Aunt Gertrude said “‘Do you have your heavy sweaters?’ Miss Hardy asked with an air of authority. ‘Kentucky isn’t Miami, you know.’... He reached in the closet and pulled out two heavy wool sweaters which he and Joe hurriedly packed.” Then later in the book on pages 117-120 “As he and Frank started to turn, the two men leaped on them! Each boy was dealt a heavy blow on the head. The Hardys reeled backward, unconscious, and tumbled into the torrent… Tony began. He had gone to the Hardys’ bunkhouse shortly after the two had left, and from the doorway, had seen Bond Deemer searching through the brothers’ belongings. ‘Deemer didn’t notice me. He exploded when he found your heavy sweaters!’ Tony said. ‘They had your name labels.’” If Joe and Frank would have not forgotten to take the labels off their sweaters, they probably would not have been knocked unconscious and almost drowned. They might have also not found a shack with Fenton’s stolen briefcase and a gas well near the gang’s hideout that the gang was using. They might have not solved the mystery if Frank and Joe remembered to remove their name labels on their sweaters. Something else that propelled action is on page 94 when Frank and Joe called Radley called Sam Radly on a transmitter to translate some con language they heard the gang using, “He made sure no one was looking, then ducked underneath, turned on the transmitter, and called Radley in Bayport… Radley translated the words which Joe carefully memorized: pair of bins - binoculars oiler - soft-soaper half stamp - a tramp clobby join - a gambling house long nit - a lookout man bath in the canal - drown bice - two-year prison term baron - convict profiting in prison” and on pages 101-102 “Joe turned on his flashlight and laid it on the ground. Then, as Sam dictated, he jotted down: cop a heel - to run tin star - country sheriff torch man - safecracker cheeser - a safe easy to open layabout - loafer arkitnay - shut up big note - a wealthy man bindlestiff - hobo in the bing - solitary finger man - informer equalizer - gun.” Radley translating these words to the Hardys, which helped Frank and Joe make the gang believe they are part of the gang. Like on pages 108-109 “Deemer stood silhouetted in the doorway, a gun in his hand. He tiptoed over to look at Frank and Joe, who feigned sleep. Joe sat up, as if alarmed… ‘I thought-er-you’d both gone into the woods and gotten lost. It’s dangerous there, especially at night.’ Frank, too, sat up and put on a sleepy act. ‘Mr. Deemer, do you usually carry that equalizer?’ Joe asked. Frank turned on his brother and snapped, ‘Arkitnay!’ Deemer almost dropped the gun and his eyes bugged. He opened his mouth to speak, then evidently thought better of it. Without a word he stalked off to his own trailer.” In this situation, knowing some of the con language helped Joe and Frank make Mr. Deemer believe they were part of the gang. If they didn’t know the con language, they might have been shot.
Overall this book was pretty good. I recommend this book if you like surprises because a lot of surprising things happen in this book. For example in the beginning of this book Mortimer Prince told where to find Milo Matlack, which ended in Matlack being dead in a graveyard, but later at the end of the book the Hardys found out Mortimer was the baron of the gang they had been trailing. There are many more surprises in this book. This book had some different words like “feigned,” “reeled,” and “plodding,” But the words were easy to understand what they meant based on what happened in the book and what the characters said.
Something that propelled action in this book is on page 78 when Frank and Joe were packing their bags to Kentucky, Aunt Gertrude said “‘Do you have your heavy sweaters?’ Miss Hardy asked with an air of authority. ‘Kentucky isn’t Miami, you know.’... He reached in the closet and pulled out two heavy wool sweaters which he and Joe hurriedly packed.” Then later in the book on pages 117-120 “As he and Frank started to turn, the two men leaped on them! Each boy was dealt a heavy blow on the head. The Hardys reeled backward, unconscious, and tumbled into the torrent… Tony began. He had gone to the Hardys’ bunkhouse shortly after the two had left, and from the doorway, had seen Bond Deemer searching through the brothers’ belongings. ‘Deemer didn’t notice me. He exploded when he found your heavy sweaters!’ Tony said. ‘They had your name labels.’” If Joe and Frank would have not forgotten to take the labels off their sweaters, they probably would not have been knocked unconscious and almost drowned. They might have also not found a shack with Fenton’s stolen briefcase and a gas well near the gang’s hideout that the gang was using. They might have not solved the mystery if Frank and Joe remembered to remove their name labels on their sweaters. Something else that propelled action is on page 94 when Frank and Joe called Radley called Sam Radly on a transmitter to translate some con language they heard the gang using, “He made sure no one was looking, then ducked underneath, turned on the transmitter, and called Radley in Bayport… Radley translated the words which Joe carefully memorized: pair of bins - binoculars oiler - soft-soaper half stamp - a tramp clobby join - a gambling house long nit - a lookout man bath in the canal - drown bice - two-year prison term baron - convict profiting in prison” and on pages 101-102 “Joe turned on his flashlight and laid it on the ground. Then, as Sam dictated, he jotted down: cop a heel - to run tin star - country sheriff torch man - safecracker cheeser - a safe easy to open layabout - loafer arkitnay - shut up big note - a wealthy man bindlestiff - hobo in the bing - solitary finger man - informer equalizer - gun.” Radley translating these words to the Hardys, which helped Frank and Joe make the gang believe they are part of the gang. Like on pages 108-109 “Deemer stood silhouetted in the doorway, a gun in his hand. He tiptoed over to look at Frank and Joe, who feigned sleep. Joe sat up, as if alarmed… ‘I thought-er-you’d both gone into the woods and gotten lost. It’s dangerous there, especially at night.’ Frank, too, sat up and put on a sleepy act. ‘Mr. Deemer, do you usually carry that equalizer?’ Joe asked. Frank turned on his brother and snapped, ‘Arkitnay!’ Deemer almost dropped the gun and his eyes bugged. He opened his mouth to speak, then evidently thought better of it. Without a word he stalked off to his own trailer.” In this situation, knowing some of the con language helped Joe and Frank make Mr. Deemer believe they were part of the gang. If they didn’t know the con language, they might have been shot.
Overall this book was pretty good. I recommend this book if you like surprises because a lot of surprising things happen in this book. For example in the beginning of this book Mortimer Prince told where to find Milo Matlack, which ended in Matlack being dead in a graveyard, but later at the end of the book the Hardys found out Mortimer was the baron of the gang they had been trailing. There are many more surprises in this book. This book had some different words like “feigned,” “reeled,” and “plodding,” But the words were easy to understand what they meant based on what happened in the book and what the characters said.
February 5, 2016
In this book of the Hardy Boys series it is a continuation of the previous book (#44 The Haunted Fort). It starts with a brief recap telling that Fenton Hardy was working on a case and was injured. So now his sons must pick up where he left off in the investigation of a mob jeopardizing Mr. Prito's company.
This book had many different plot twists in it, and I enjoyed the storyline very much. I found it to be one my favorite books in the series. The author was able to make all the scenes very vivid and intense.
When you read this book you will be taken on a journey of: several near death experiences, close calls, and an exciting triumph over unlikely odds.
This book had many different plot twists in it, and I enjoyed the storyline very much. I found it to be one my favorite books in the series. The author was able to make all the scenes very vivid and intense.
When you read this book you will be taken on a journey of: several near death experiences, close calls, and an exciting triumph over unlikely odds.
July 29, 2011
The classic boy detectives by Frank Dixon--I read ALL of them in my younger years, one I ran out of Nancy Drew books. The Hardy Boys, Frank and Joe, are brother amateur detectives, aspiring to follow in their father's footsteps.
February 15, 2011
Read in 2005.
June 11, 2011
I think the Hardy Boy books helped me with learning deductive and inductive skills. I had to work through logic. Who knew? I enjoyed all these books.
May 23, 2012
read when I was 10 through 13
October 30, 2016
More mystery, more excitement, more fun.
March 3, 2018
I took a few hours and read Spiral Bridge last night. This volume had my name and date (1966) inscribed on the front endpaper so I must have purchased this when it was first published that year. I believe by 1966 (I was 16 then) I had lost interest in the Hardy Boys and moved on to other books and authors such as Edgar Rice Burroughs but I must have still bought the Hardys as new books came out. I think Spiral Bridge may have been the last I bought as a youngster (although I now have a complete collection up until the digests started). I don't think I had ever read this one (as is the case with most of the later books) so reading the monthly Spotlite Books is an incentive to read some of these. Anyway, I thought "Spiral Bridge" was quite a good story. Unlike "Jungle Pyramid" the interior artwork was very good and I really like the cover as well. I thought the plot had a lot of similarities to "Wildcat Swamp" with the boys' getting involved with a gang whose motives are not as they seem. As usual, Chet's interest (this time shot-putting) played a key role in saving the day towards the end of the book. And of course Chet always having food on hand helped as well. Early on in the book, the boys catch one of the gang who was trying to retrieve a nylon rope he had left tied to the Hardy house when he earlier broke into their attic – (the thief must have really cared for that rope – risking capture to get it back!). Joe decides the rope might come in handy so keeps it and takes it with him on their adventure at the bridge in Kentucky. Of course the rope did turn out to be useful at the end. The Hardys are always prepared! They also carried a waterproof flashlight and a portable shortwave set that they used to communicate with Sam Radley back in Bayport. This came in handy when Radley was able to dictate to them some prison slang that the boys used to make it look like they were jailbirds. I didn't know they put teens in the big house! Overall, an enjoyable Hardy story!
June 19, 2025
4.5 stars
Wow this was a good one! The last HB I read (The Mystery of the Haunted Fort) was a bit of a clunker, so I'm very glad this one made up for it. The Spiral Bridge keeps you guessing up until almost the very end, then throws in some wild twists that leave you on your head. Normally secret hideouts end up weird and unlikely, but the explanation of this one actually made sense somewhat and wasn't *too* unbelievable. LOTS of danger for our boys, and it was nice that the whole friend group got involved this time - even Phil Cohen got to help out with the sleuthing.
I had a guess early on about one of the characters and the end proved me right. 😇
Bonus points for being set mostly in my found-home-state, Kentucky! 🩵
The only thing I didn't like was that it wrapped everything up too quickly.
Wow this was a good one! The last HB I read (The Mystery of the Haunted Fort) was a bit of a clunker, so I'm very glad this one made up for it. The Spiral Bridge keeps you guessing up until almost the very end, then throws in some wild twists that leave you on your head. Normally secret hideouts end up weird and unlikely, but the explanation of this one actually made sense somewhat and wasn't *too* unbelievable. LOTS of danger for our boys, and it was nice that the whole friend group got involved this time - even Phil Cohen got to help out with the sleuthing.
I had a guess early on about one of the characters and the end proved me right. 😇
Bonus points for being set mostly in my found-home-state, Kentucky! 🩵
The only thing I didn't like was that it wrapped everything up too quickly.
December 16, 2020
I’m a die-hard Nancy Drew fan, but I don’t really care for Hardy Boys mysteries. However, the title and plot synopsis of this volume were so intriguing that I decided to give it a read. And it was indeed worth it. This book draws you in with a captivating plot and a twisting storyline. It’s very fast-paced (probably even more fast-paced than Nancy Drew mysteries) and filled with both suspense and action. I liked that the boys and their four comrades were each given specific tasks in the story, rather than all six overshadowing one another. And as usual, I enjoyed how Joe’s impulsive nature contrasted with his brother Frank’s more cautious manner. All in all, I think any Hardy Boys fan would love this installment. 5 out of 5 stars.
January 23, 2021
Fenton Hardy is on a case for Joe and Frank's friend Tony's father when he is attacked and captured. He escapes and finds his way home but is very sick in the hospital with amnesia. The boys want to find out what happened so they go to Kentucky to join the work force with Prito Construction company at the construction sight of the new bridge. Accidents have been happening throughout construction causing Tony Prito's father a lot of worry. Tony and a few other friends go with Joe and Frank to try to get the inside scoop and solve the mystery. As Mr. Hardy gets better the boys are on the case. Which guys are part of the gang causing damage to the bridge over and over again? Which guys can they trust?
February 5, 2024
A pretty typical entry in the series. Frank and Joe were not at their best, however. Despite the assistance of Chet, Tony, Biff, and Phil, the fellows seemed to miss a lot of obvious clues. The ending was good, but kind of easy to see.
I believe that whoever may have written under the Dixon pen name this time had little previous experience with the Hardys and their adventures. Too many cliches and not enough detecting.
Still, a decent read, and recommended for fans of the Hardys; especially if you happen to be reading the book to a younger child as a bedtime story.
Find it. Buy it. Read it!
I believe that whoever may have written under the Dixon pen name this time had little previous experience with the Hardys and their adventures. Too many cliches and not enough detecting.
Still, a decent read, and recommended for fans of the Hardys; especially if you happen to be reading the book to a younger child as a bedtime story.
Find it. Buy it. Read it!
April 5, 2024
Other than ending up finding a treasure, that most Hardy boys' books are based on, the other plot is usually a gang of criminals involved in chasing a treasure!
This book was unique in that regard! It was finally uncovering a plot that solved the mystery of Mr. Hardy's kidnappers and Mr. Prito's saboteurs. The gang of criminals were hardened felons, dangerous. Till the very end, it was difficult to deduce who was in on the mystery and who was not! Angan, as a character was versatile and amazing!
The Baron was an amazing plot twist. Unexpected! And really really interesting! Loved reading this book!
This book was unique in that regard! It was finally uncovering a plot that solved the mystery of Mr. Hardy's kidnappers and Mr. Prito's saboteurs. The gang of criminals were hardened felons, dangerous. Till the very end, it was difficult to deduce who was in on the mystery and who was not! Angan, as a character was versatile and amazing!
The Baron was an amazing plot twist. Unexpected! And really really interesting! Loved reading this book!
May 1, 2020
After their father is rescued and begins recovering from his recent investigation, the Hardy Boys take up the case with their pals - they're going to get to the bottom of whoever is trying to stop Tony's father from finishing his latest architecture project before its too late! Dixon brings fans another fun and twisting adventure sure to keep fans on their toes. Why is someone trying to stop the bridge from being built, and can the boys figure it out before they become the next victims of this deadly sabotage?
November 21, 2023
One Hardy boys fan ranked this as one of their top three favorite books in the series, along with The Sting of the Scorpion. Since that’s my favorite one that I’ve read so far, I was intrigued by this book. I still prefer The Sting of the Scorpion but this one was almost as good. What I liked about both books is that the whole entourage was involved in solving the mystery.We also see how strong the Hardy’s friendships with the other boys are, as they save each others lives multiple times in the book.
May 17, 2025
Down in Kentucky someone is sabotaging a construction project being run by Tony Prito's dad. The book gets the title from the natural rock formation where the baddies hang out.
The best part of the book is where the boys try to ingratiate themselves in the gang by offing Biff Hooper. They act like they are nocking him out so he falls into the river unconscious and drowns. Meanwhile the baddies, who are onto the boys, knock them out so they fall into the river to hopefully drown.
As a result, Frank and Joe each get KO, so the count after 45 books is up to 56.
The best part of the book is where the boys try to ingratiate themselves in the gang by offing Biff Hooper. They act like they are nocking him out so he falls into the river unconscious and drowns. Meanwhile the baddies, who are onto the boys, knock them out so they fall into the river to hopefully drown.
As a result, Frank and Joe each get KO, so the count after 45 books is up to 56.
August 20, 2019
So I more or less learned to read from these books. I'm reading through my massive collection as I prepare to purge, and it's an interesting experience. I'm finding the books fairly entertaining; I'm impressed with the writing (the vocabulary is more sophisticated than you'd find in YA books today). I also keep thinking that these books offered me a model of masculinity (good looks, good manners, omnicompetence) that of course I never attained.
June 5, 2018
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.
October 22, 2021
I read this series as a kid. This one I found in my parents’ home and decided to take a trip down memory lane. A nice, simple story that provided a distraction. These books sure took a lot longer to read at age 8 vs now!
February 4, 2023
This is the first time I give a 'Hardy Boys' story 5 stars. Obviously, this is not a literary treasure but the narrative kept me hooked from the very beginning, as did the different settings, and I was pleasantly surprised by the plot twist at the end, when the 'bad one' was revealed.
June 11, 2023
This is one Hardy Boy book that I don't remember ever reading when I was young, and I'm pretty sure that I read them all.
The story has some interesting moments, so I young reader may enjoy it.
These books are a fairly quick read, so they may appeal to a young reader.
The story has some interesting moments, so I young reader may enjoy it.
These books are a fairly quick read, so they may appeal to a young reader.
January 6, 2024
With their father hurt and suffering from amnesia, the boys and all of their friends head to Kentucky to avenge Mr. Hardy and find out who is sabotaging a bridge construction and why! Lots of twists and turns in this fun adventure, which also sees the boys on a side trip to New York.
February 16, 2018
Action! Excitement! Adventure! This was another good one. Fenton Hardy is so useless.
March 2, 2020
Top 10 Hardy Boys.
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