Clue of the Hissing Serpent (Hardy boys mystery stories / Franklin W Dixon) [Import] [Hardcover]

Franklin W Dixon (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 154 pages
• Publisher: Collins (September 13, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0001605461
• ISBN-13: 978-0001605466
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT!!!, October 15, 2003

By 

Adam Smith (EH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ghost at Skeleton Rock (Hardy Boys, Book 37) (Paperback)

WOW, this is a great read! That's what I think of the Hardy Boys book #37, THE GHOST AT SKELETON ROCK! Anyone interested in a good read will like this book. It is full of danger, excitement, and it will leave you guessing in till the end! If I were to rate this book, I would give it: (out of ten stars)
Creativity: **********
Interest: **********
Excitement: **********
Action: **********
Overall: **********/**********
Age minimum: 10 years old

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a pretty good book, March 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Clue of the Hissing Serpent (Hardy Boys, Books 53) (Hardcover)

I thought that this was a pretty good book because there are lots of actions and good scenes in there. Once I started to read the book, I couldn't put it down until I was finished with it. So I highly reccomend you to read it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Huge Ghost!, September 17, 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 Ghost at Skeleton Rock (Hardy Boys, Book 37) (Hardcover)

In quite a few books in this series Chet Morton's hobbies either are important to solving the mystery, or they lead to a mystery. Such is the case in this story. Chet is learning to become a ventriloquist, and he has saved enough money to purchase a dummy. However, it appears that dummies are very popular and Chet has a difficult time buying one. In a shop that has a dummy to sell, two men take a dummy that Chet is about to purchase at gunpoint! Fortunately, the proprietor has another dummy in stock.

Chet's dummy is damaged by accident, and suddenly the mystery becomes more complex when the boys discover raw diamonds in the dummy's glass eyes. The mystery continues to increase in complexity and danger when an extra suitcase containing a bomb appears on the Hardys' new plane. The boys also learn that the gang includes a member who looks a lot like Joe Hardy. The resemblance between the criminal and Joe will cause Frank and Joe difficulties throughout this mystery.

The mystery leads to Puerto Rico, where the boys encounter the criminals time and again, and yet seem to have difficulties learning what the criminals are up to, only that there is something sinister and complicated going on. Eventually the boys travel to a remote island where the natives are clearly restless, and where the huge ghost of skeleton rock lives. Soon after the story reaches its climax and the Hardys, Chet Morton and Tony Prito solve all the mysteries, including one involving a group of revolutionaries.

I thought the most intriguing part of this story occurred early on, when Frank and Joe Hardy and Chet Morton were trying to figure out what was going on with the dummy and the diamonds. After everyone went to Puerto Rico the story seemed to get a little weaker. The story also dates itself because the story describes Carib Indians that appear to be living a very archaic life. Given the size of the island and its location, it seems unlikely that the Indians were indeed Carib and it seems unlikely that they would still exist in the same condition today.

I find myself conflicted about this Hardy Boys mystery. The story had good portions, but there were also portions that left me wondering what the author was thinking. I happened to be reading another book about Puerto Rico at about the same time, "The Happy Hollisters at Lizard Cove," and I noticed the same lack of attention to detail. While I am prepared to forgive a few errors, this time the author appeared lazy and that decreased my reading pleasure. However, I am determined to read all the Hardy Boys books, regardless of their quality. If I had the ability, I think I would have given this story three and a half stars.

The publisher recommends the Hardy Boys series for ages 9 to 12 because the series is relatively tame for the previous target audience of ages 10 to 14. This particular book is a good fit for the new age range. Though the Hardy Boys series contains archaic information, as reading material for an increasingly younger audience they are good. 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.