The Sinister Signpost (Hardy Boys #15) [Hardcover]

Franklin W. Dixon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1936 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

The Hardy boys and their father solve a mystery involving inexplicable crashes of highspeed race cars being used to test an experimental turbine motor.

--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 ghostwritten 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 Hardy Boys Mystery Stories 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 (September 1, 1936)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0448089157
• ISBN-13: 978-0448089157
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #357,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Series > Mystery & Detective > Hardy Boys
  • #47 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( D ) > Dixon, Franklin W.

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:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vroom, Vroom, 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 Sinister Signpost (Hardy Boys #15) (Hardcover)

The fifteen Hardy Boys mystery is the first book of the series to feature a more scientific approach to aspects of the mystery. The boys have been involved in secret weapons before, but this is the first time that a Hardy Boys book has acquired a slight science fiction flavor.

Fenton Hardy asks Frank and Joe Hardy to assist him in a case. Someone is stealing information about a high speed turbine motor developed by the Alden Automotive and Research Company. Keith Alden, a former race car driver, started this company. In addition to the thefts, several of his race cars have met with unusual accidents. The windows of the cars suddenly crazed and became milky, making it impossible for the cars' drivers to see where they were steering, and they crashed.

As the boys investigate, they learn there are a number of characters that may be involved in the mystery. One person that appears too often is Keith Alden's son Roger. Roger is arrogant and keeps doing things he should not, such as driving the experimental race cars when his father told him not to. Roger also treats Frank and Joe poorly, accusing them of bothering him and harassing him. The boys also learn of twin brothers, Vilno Sigor and Barto Sigor, the former an engineer and designer and the latter a sheet metal worker. According to Mr. Alden, the two brothers are opposites, with Vilno being a troublemaker and Barto being stable. Lastly, the brothers meet several other unsavory characters as the story evolves, including a manager of a horse farm that their Aunt Gertrude inherits.

The boys must learn who is stealing Mr. Alden's secrets. They must also learn how the criminals cause the crazing of windshields. As the boys investigate the mystery events become even more mysterious with the theft of a valuable race horse, also owned by Mr. Alden.

The boys suspicion that Roger Alden may somehow be involved in the various mysteries. His actions are strange, often appearing devious. More than once he seems to be where crimes take place. Of course, there are the times when he is caught taking race cars for joys rides, and crashing them as well.

As the book concludes, the boys learn of scientific masterminds who have developed a unique weapon that causes car windows to craze. That weapon is but one in their arsenal. The boys realize that the criminals involved in the schemes they are investigating have lethal weapons, and they are ready to use them!

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sinister Signpost, March 6, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Sinister Signpost (Paperback)

Mr. Alden has invented an experimental car motor, but someone is trying to steal it! Frank and Joe Hardy can handle it. Frank and Joe try to solve the case with their father, Fenton Hardy. Frank and Joe work in Mr. Alden's facility disguised as workers, hoping to find out who's behind the case. Mr. Alden's experimental cars always seem to crash, with the windshield crazing and all. Every location that these cars crash at seemed to have a signpost with the word "Danger" on it. Will the Hardys solve the case? You'll have to read it to find out!

I'd give this book a Five Star rating. I think that it's one of the best Hardy books I've ever read. I hope you read it.

(...)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Exciting, August 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Sinister Signpost (Hardy Boys #15) (Hardcover)

This review concerns the revised 1968 edition. Mr. Hardy, Frank and Joe are hired by Mr. Alden,the president of a company that makes experimental race cars and motors. Three of their drivers have had accidents while on test drives because the windshields of their cars suddenly went white and blocked their vision. Alden is afraid that someone is trying to sabotage his company and steal a top-secret experimental motor. The theft of Alden's race horse, Topnotch, further complicates the mystery. This book is quite good; it is packed with action, mystery and suspence. The plot is interesting and would probably appeal to most young readers and even older fans of the series. However, I am disappointed with the manner in which the criminals were captured. It was purely by dumb luck and reminded me of something that would have happened in an episode of Inspector Gadget. Also, I didn't like it that the Hardy's friends were largely ignored in this book; Chet is the only one used to any extent and even he isn't really involved in the mystery. Despite this, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it to other fans.