| 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful  Ho Hum, By This review is from: The Short-Wave Mystery (Hardy Boys, Book 24) (Hardcover) Up to this book in the series, each of the stories was relatively consistent. Even when the stories were weak, they still had a measure of interest. However, this story is the weakest yet in the series. There are some problems with the way the story was written, and the entire premise is not fully exploited.Chet Morton, the Frank and Joe Hardy's best friend, has started yet another hobby. This time he is into taxidermy. Chet convinces the brothers to attend an auction at the Elias Batter Estate. Elias was well-known for his abilities as a taxidermist, and Chet is hoping to purchase samples of his work. No sooner does the trio arrive at the auction when they encounter a station wagon roaring away from the auction and someone yelling "Stop, thief." The two Hardys jump into their car to give pursuit, leaving Chet with his auction purchases. The boys finally lose the car after encountering a deer that was hit by the escaping car. The Hardy Boys have... Read more 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful  Out Of The Golden Age, By Scott Thiel (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Short-Wave Mystery (Hardy Boys, Book 24) (Hardcover) This book continues the feel of the series that had been present since The Mark On The Door of 1934. After this volume however, the writing style would change. McFarlane wrote the original version of the book during his second stint with the Syndicate. I think the Syndicate had other ideas and let him finish The Melted Coins and World War II end before letting the hammer fall. In 1945 when the war ended this book was published then the heat was put on the author to bring the Hardy's into the scientific age. Like any of us at work, when change is implemented, we react with negativity. McFarlane at this point I feel became uninterested in the series and wrote his worst book to date only to be surpassed in 1947 by The Phantom Freighter. The book was medicore by Hardy Boys standards but subpar by McFarlane standards. Taxidermy becomes the sub plot and fingerprinting is performed for the first time in the series with this volume. The child like innocence held in the earlier volumes is... Read more 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful McFarlane in decline, By This review is from: The Short-Wave Mystery (Hardy Boys, Book 24) (Hardcover) McFarlane wrote the original version of the book during his second stint with the Syndicate. I think the Syndacate had other ideas and let McFarlane finish The Melted Coins and World War II end before letting the hammer fall. In 1945 when the war ended this book was published then the heat was put on the author to bring the Hardy's into the scientific age. Like any of us at work, when change is implemented, we react with negativity. McFarlane at this point I feel became uninterested in the series and wrote his worst book to date only to be surpassed in 1947 by The Phantom Freighter. The book was average by the sets standards but sub par by McFarlane's standards. The revision was not much worse. Taxidermy become the sub plot and fingerprinting is performed for the first time in the series in this volume. The child like innocence held in the earlier volumes is now gone. ORIGINAL Rated C+ Revision: Rated C |
| 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful  EXCELLENT BOOK!, By A Customer This review is from: The Clue of the Screeching Owl (Hardy Boys, Book 41) (Hardcover) Among the higher volumes, after #37, this books ranks as Number #1. In fact, although not the best book in the set, it ranks among the best. I loved the setting in this one. The Hardys camped on the edge of a Hollow. The chance for mischief ever present throughout the story. Brilliant. 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful  What Secrets in Black Hollow?, By This review is from: The Clue of the Screeching Owl (Hardy Boys, Book 41) (Paperback) Frank and Joe Hardy and their best friend Chet Morton travel to the Pocono Mountains to visit Captain Thomas Maquire. Captain Maquire wrote to Fenton Hardy, the boys' father, to tell him about strange noises and missing pets in Black Hollow, an area adjacent to where Captain Maquire lives. The boys had to investigate in their father's place because he is working on a hijacking mystery with the New Jersey state police involving missile components.When the boys arrive at Captain Maquire's cabin they discover he is missing. The boys are unable to gain the attention of the local police, and are stymied further when Walter Donner, who seems to live in Black Hollow, makes the boys appear to be incompetent tenderfeet in the wilderness. But the boys know something is going on in Black Hollow. There are strange noises at night, and what sounds like cries. The boys observe early in the mystery that Walter Donner bears an incredible likeness to Colonel Thunder, an... Read more 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful Mystery in the Pocono Mountains, By HardyBoys.us (Long Island USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Clue of the Screeching Owl (Hardy Boys, Book 41) (Hardcover) Frank, Joe and their pal, Chet, are in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountain country to visit a family friend who lives next to spooky "Black Hollow". When he turns up missing, it's up to the Boys to find him and solve the mysterious goings-on in Black Hollow.The action in this book is almost non-stop and this story ranks among the best of the later tales. A "must read" for all Hardy Boys fans. |
