The Secret of the Island Treasure

The Hardy Boys #100

by Franklin W. Dixon

The Hardy Boys return to the Tower Mansion, the scene of their very first case, for a vacation/treasure hunt. They are going to participate in the search for a valuable ancient treasure. But as the digging begins, so do the accidents. Someone is after the treasure and will stop at nothing to get it.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Young Adult, Adventure, Childrens, Thriller, Classics

151 pages, Paperback

First published February 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

[Chris Townsend]

I recently re-read the first novel in this series after forty years and somehow in that process, I discovered this as a sort of direct sequel to it. Decided to pick it up and was fairly entertained. It's just a story about a treasure hunt with shenanigans, but you can read it in one setting.

[Kevin Findley]

This was the 100th Hardy Boys tale and it was not your typical novel. Ninety percent of the book took place on a small island in Barmet Bay and the usual mystery was replaced by a hunt for pirate treasure.

What made it interesting is that the first mystery novel (The Tower Treasure) directly led to this one. Previous adventures are rarely mentioned and this was a real treat, especially for a guy who grew up reading the original books.

Find it, read it, enjoy it!

Update: 11 Aug 25 - Reread with my youngest son and enjoyed it as much now as then.

[Ethan Hulbert]

The first Hardy Boys published in the 1990s and the 100th Hardy Boys book overall. Wow! I really appreciate they did a little commemorative thing here, returning back to the Tower Treasure tower. It was a really sweet and enjoyable read. Crazy how far these books have come.

How is Hurd Applegate still alive???

[Tony]

It’s only appropriate that the landmark 100th book in the Hardy Boys series is my 100th book of 2024.

[Amelia]

3.5

[Frank]

I was at a local thrift store recently and purchased several of the Hardy Boy "digests" for 50 cents each. This afternoon, I read one of them #100: "The Secret of the Island Treasure." I was pleasantly surprised by this one and quite enjoyed it. It was a sequel of sorts to "The Tower Treasure" and included an appearance by Hurd Applegate from "Treasure." The story starts with the boys visiting Applegate who had sold the Tower mansion to convert into condos! Well some workmen were working in one of the towers and discovered a hidden room which was originally Applegate's father's office. In the room, a treasure map is discovered leading to a treasure supposedly on "Granite Cay", an island in Barmet Bay. The Boys along with Chet accompany a group to find the treasure. Along the way there were several perils including Joe getting stuck in quicksand, a booby trapped treasure pit, etc. Overall, I would give this one a mild recommendation. I thought the writing was above average and the story definitely kept your interest. This is the first "digest" I have read in some time and I did miss some of the nostalgia of the OT Hardys. In this one the boys are driving a van instead of their coupe or motorcycles and even though the adventure was on the bay, the Sleuth was nowhere to be seen. The book was written in 1990 and included references to things such as video tapes... just not the same as an old short-wave. But still, quite enjoyable!

[The Curious Reader]

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.

[Adam]

This is a Hardy Boys book. And I gave it two stars because unintentional humor is still humor.

[Jamie]

I couldn't get enough of these books when I was in grade school. They were fast, easy reads that were full of adventure and mystery.

[Fae]

i want to read the book's of Hardy boys

[Anish Johnson]

Not the best, but teaches you a lot about being an archaeologist, I had a feeling that Kingsley was behind the accidents although Damien was a total shocker