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The Hardy Boys Casefiles #29
Thick as Thieves
Frank and Joe pursue a thief who has stolen priceless gems from an exhibit at the Bayport Museum.
150 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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148 people want to read
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
784 books1,001 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 12, 2025
Chief Collig, police chief in Bayport asks Frank and Joe Hardy to guard the Star of Ishtar - a large sapphire. But when they arrive at the museum, an arrogant bully named Renner who claims to work for the insurance company stops them. Renner even insults Collig and Bayport. They enter the museum anyway, only to discover the gem missing. Frank spots the thief, recognizing Charity. He is unable to stop her at the museum and she escapes by hangglider.
Frank returns to the museum and he and Joe chase after Charity tracking her to a barn. She gets away in a plane but Joe finds a clue, a partial order receipt for an airline ticket.
The next morning, the two brothers fly to San Diego. In the airport, Joe is mistaken for the criminal The Kid. He attends a meeting of criminals given by The Director. Joe is unsure what to do but before he can talk to Frank he's kidnapped by the Real The Kid. The real kid takes Joe to the San Diego zoo, and into the 2-person air trams that travel 75-80 feet above ground. The Real Kid threatens to kill Joe but Joe manages to push out the Real Kid instead.
Frank observes this and thinks it's Joe who fell to his death. When he sees the scars on the Real Kid's face he realizes it's not Joe.
Joe and Frank are briefly reunited. Joe says that Charity was at the criminal meeting and she didn't betray him. They agree Joe will go to the next meeting that night and Frank will follow and observe.
The criminals are split into two groups. Joe is sent with the group getting on boats to head towards the Naval Yard to rob it. Frank gets caught and the Director sentences him to die.
Joe sees Frank get shot and dropped in the water of San Diego Bay off the edge of a pier. Joe is upset but helpless. He vows vengeance on Chavo, the man who shot Frank.
Meanwhile Frank isn't dead and Chavo is an undercover Mexican cop. He thinks the endgame of the Director's plan will be a robbery in Tijuana.
Chavo and Frank head to the Navy Yard to warn them about the planned theft - but no one believes them. By the time Captain Hammond realizes his base is storing poison gas - it's too late, the thieves are successful. The Navy shoots at the boats of the thieves as they leave. One rubber raft is hit but the other escapes. However, the men from the second boat get on a cabin cruiser EXCEPT Joe.
Frank watches in horror as the boat with his brother on it blows-up a few minutes later.
Unknown to Frank Joe is rescued by Charity in a speedboat. But then that boat is hit by the cabin cruiser.
Joe gets to a barge that the criminals are using to transport guns and gas masks.
Frank is being held hostage in the hold by the criminals.
Joe doesn't know this and seals the hatch on the hold - opps.
Frank and Chavo get free, knock out their captors, then try to get out of the hold. Because of Joe's actions it takes awhile - again, opps. Now outnumbered - Frank and Chavo steal a boat and escape.
In the pilothouse of the barge Joe runs into two criminals. He's handed a flare gun. Joe is tempted to use it to blow up Chavo, having no idea Frank is on the same small boat, but he fires ahead of the boat instead.
They finally get to the Gold Beach island where the criminals plan on knocking everyone out with poison gas and robbing the place blind.
The Director is revealed to be the manager of the casino.
Frank and Joe are finally reunited, with Joe briefly hugging Frank.
It takes awhile and several jumps of jurisdiction and characters betraying each other but the Director and all the criminals are caught. Charity is caught but escapes. The Hardys get the Star of Ishtar back. And Renner was behind the theft of the Star of Ishtar.
I loved this Casefiles book. Lots of action. Brief angst with the boys each thinking the other was dead. It could have used an epilog with the Hardys discussing just what happened. Overall, one of the best Casefiles books.
Frank returns to the museum and he and Joe chase after Charity tracking her to a barn. She gets away in a plane but Joe finds a clue, a partial order receipt for an airline ticket.
The next morning, the two brothers fly to San Diego. In the airport, Joe is mistaken for the criminal The Kid. He attends a meeting of criminals given by The Director. Joe is unsure what to do but before he can talk to Frank he's kidnapped by the Real The Kid. The real kid takes Joe to the San Diego zoo, and into the 2-person air trams that travel 75-80 feet above ground. The Real Kid threatens to kill Joe but Joe manages to push out the Real Kid instead.
Frank observes this and thinks it's Joe who fell to his death. When he sees the scars on the Real Kid's face he realizes it's not Joe.
Joe and Frank are briefly reunited. Joe says that Charity was at the criminal meeting and she didn't betray him. They agree Joe will go to the next meeting that night and Frank will follow and observe.
The criminals are split into two groups. Joe is sent with the group getting on boats to head towards the Naval Yard to rob it. Frank gets caught and the Director sentences him to die.
Joe sees Frank get shot and dropped in the water of San Diego Bay off the edge of a pier. Joe is upset but helpless. He vows vengeance on Chavo, the man who shot Frank.
Meanwhile Frank isn't dead and Chavo is an undercover Mexican cop. He thinks the endgame of the Director's plan will be a robbery in Tijuana.
Chavo and Frank head to the Navy Yard to warn them about the planned theft - but no one believes them. By the time Captain Hammond realizes his base is storing poison gas - it's too late, the thieves are successful. The Navy shoots at the boats of the thieves as they leave. One rubber raft is hit but the other escapes. However, the men from the second boat get on a cabin cruiser EXCEPT Joe.
Frank watches in horror as the boat with his brother on it blows-up a few minutes later.
Unknown to Frank Joe is rescued by Charity in a speedboat. But then that boat is hit by the cabin cruiser.
Joe gets to a barge that the criminals are using to transport guns and gas masks.
Frank is being held hostage in the hold by the criminals.
Joe doesn't know this and seals the hatch on the hold - opps.
Frank and Chavo get free, knock out their captors, then try to get out of the hold. Because of Joe's actions it takes awhile - again, opps. Now outnumbered - Frank and Chavo steal a boat and escape.
In the pilothouse of the barge Joe runs into two criminals. He's handed a flare gun. Joe is tempted to use it to blow up Chavo, having no idea Frank is on the same small boat, but he fires ahead of the boat instead.
They finally get to the Gold Beach island where the criminals plan on knocking everyone out with poison gas and robbing the place blind.
The Director is revealed to be the manager of the casino.
Frank and Joe are finally reunited, with Joe briefly hugging Frank.
It takes awhile and several jumps of jurisdiction and characters betraying each other but the Director and all the criminals are caught. Charity is caught but escapes. The Hardys get the Star of Ishtar back. And Renner was behind the theft of the Star of Ishtar.
I loved this Casefiles book. Lots of action. Brief angst with the boys each thinking the other was dead. It could have used an epilog with the Hardys discussing just what happened. Overall, one of the best Casefiles books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2019
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.
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.
June 28, 2018
It's been awhile since I've picked up a Hardy Boys book, and I'm glad I got a chance to get into them.
#29 Thick As Thieves is one of the best Hardy Boys books I've ever read. It was full of action scenes and brotherly love, the thing I love to read about the most in a Hardy Boys book.
When Frank and Joe were separated, I loved how they thought each other was dead and how they wanted to take revenge for each other.
I can't wait to pick up more Hardy Boys Casefiles.
I would recommend it to Hardy Boys fans.
#29 Thick As Thieves is one of the best Hardy Boys books I've ever read. It was full of action scenes and brotherly love, the thing I love to read about the most in a Hardy Boys book.
When Frank and Joe were separated, I loved how they thought each other was dead and how they wanted to take revenge for each other.
I can't wait to pick up more Hardy Boys Casefiles.
I would recommend it to Hardy Boys fans.
July 19, 2014
"CHARITY" was the enemy.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews