The Hidden Harbor Mystery (Hardy Boys #14) [Hardcover]

Franklin W. Dixon (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

The fourteenth book in the Hardy Boys series, originally published in 1935. In this book, the Hardy Boys head South to settle a feud.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Franklin W. Dixon was the pseudonym devised by Edward Stratemeyer for the author of a series of mystery books he was developing which became the Hardy Boys series. The first book, The Tower Treasure, originally published in 1927, was written by Leslie MacFarlane who went on to write 19 more, including #2 through #16. In all, there are 58 titles in the original Hardy Boys Mysteries series published between 1927 and 1979 written by 17 different men and women. Many of the books were later revised, adding another four "Franklin W. Dixons" to the total.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap; New edition edition (June 1, 1935)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0448089149
• ISBN-13: 978-0448089140
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( D ) > Dixon, Franklin W.
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Series > Mystery & Detective > Hardy Boys
  • #81 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Boys & Men > Fiction

More About the Author

Franklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors (Leslie McFarlane, a Canadian author being the first) who wrote The Hardy Boys novels.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Hardy Boys Head South, June 28, 2003

By 

HardyBoys.us (Long Island USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hidden Harbor Mystery (Hardy Boys, Book 14) (Hardcover)

This review concerns the original 1935 edition.
The Hardy Boys and their pal Chet head to the deep South and become involved in an old fued between the Rand and Blackstone families.
Modern readers are likely to have their sensibilities offended by the racial sterotypes in this book which cast African-Americans and Southerners in a particularly negative light.
Stereotypes aside, this isn't a bad adventure although it certainly doesn't rank among the best in the series.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Alligators and a Hidden Harbor, May 4, 2005

By 

Lonnie E. Holder "The Review's the Thing" (Columbus, Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hidden Harbor Mystery (Hardy Boys #14) (Hardcover)

The fourteenth Hardy Boys mystery has a more classic flavor to it. This mystery is set in and around the coastal town of Larchmont, Georgia. The boys start out trying to help a man accused of libel, and end up getting involved in a hidden treasure, secret passages, mysterious characters, and a monster. Of course, there is also the central mystery of the hidden harbor.

Bart Worth is the publisher of the Larchmont Record, a newspaper. Bart wrote a story about Samuel Blackstone. The story was carefully written and completely factual. However, after the story was set in type, remembering that this story was updated in 1961 and computer publishing was many years in future, someone added a rumor that the Blackstone fortune was obtained from smuggling. Samuel Blackstone was in the process of suing Bart for libel, and Bart was requesting help from the Hardys to either find the person responsible for changing the article, or find information about the Blackstone family to prove that they had started their fortune based on smuggling.

The boys once again have jumped into the thick of a complicated mystery. Samuel Blackstone's brother, Ruel Rand, lives on property adjacent to Samuel's. It appears to the boys that either Samuel or Ruel is out to hurt the other brother as each is attacked. Added to the mystery is the disappearance of a seamstress and a butler. The boys also learn that the pond between the Blackstone and the Rand estates is rumored to have a treasure associated with it, a treasure that can be found at the hidden harbor.

As the boys continue their investigation, they learn that others are involved in the apparent plot between Blackstone and Rand. It seems these other characters may be working for Blackstone, trying to keep the boys away from any information related to the impending lawsuit, the disappearing people, the pond, the treasure, and the brother's estates. However, these other characters are vicious, attempting to harm the boys more than once, including leaving them stranded on a deserted island, and knocking them out.

As the boys unravel the clues to the various mysteries, they encounter a long-unused secret entrance and rooms related to the entrance. The entrance and the secret rooms may be related to at least some parts of the mysteries. Most unusual of all, the boys encounter a monster in the pond.

Join the boys in a classically styled mystery that reminded me of 30s-styled mysteries. Spooky mansions, secret passages and rooms, mysterious characters and a monster provide an enjoyable atmosphere to this Hardy Boys mystery.

I have one minor complaint about this book. The cover of the book features a reptile. The reptile should be an alligator to match the novel. However, the reptile on the cover appears to be a crocodile, not an alligator. Also, the boys refer to the cold water, and alligators and crocodiles are very sluggish in cold water. Minor complaints about an otherwise enjoyable mystery.

Though the Hardy Boys series is written in a relatively archaic fashion, as reading material for an increasingly younger audience they are excellent. The stories were once recommended for children ages 10 to 14. As children are exposed to more violence and seem to require greater levels of stimulation, the recommended age range has move to 9 to 12. I think any child capable of reading some of the challenging words in these books will enjoy them, regardless of how tame most of the action may be. Once a child has reached age 12 or so the stories may be of less interest, but given the combination of mystery and action, these books remain good safe choices for parents who want to know what their children are reading.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Highly Entertaining Book, September 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hidden Harbor Mystery (Hardy Boys #14) (Hardcover)

This review concerns the original 1935 edition. Frank, Joe and Chet become involved in an old-time Southern feud when they come to the aid of an elderly man and he later accuses them of robbing him. This book actually reminds me more of something that I would read in the Nancy Drew series, but for people who aren't fans of Nancy Drew, don't let that keep you from reading this book, because I really enjoyed it. The book is very well-written and is very interesting. I'd recommend this one to any Hardy Boys fan.