Customer Reviews

The Sinister Signpost (Hardy Boys, Book 15)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

(...)

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.

This review concerns the original 1936 edition. Suspicious events at a home in Bayport and the disappearance of a valuable race horse combine to make one of the most interesting and exciting Hardy Boys books. This book was great; well-written, well-paced, and the mystery was highly intriguing. This book has one of the best endings of all of the Hardy Boys books that I have read and is especially good from page 172 on. It's an excellent book that I would recommend to all Hardy Boys fans.

In Bayport the Hardy Boy's are on another case,The Sinister Signpost.It starts out when mysterious things happen to peoples winshield's, then a motor design for a very fast car disappears.Whenever they try to test the car on a track a signpost would appear.There was something inside that made the winshield's break when a car whent past.The Hardy's aunt bought a stable and the motor's owner horse was kept there.His horse gets stolen one night,that was his only friend.Now there are two mysteries!Are the two mysteries connected?Who Knows!!!!

Ditto what Mr. Busse said about the Applewood reproductions, and this review concerns the original (1936) text/version.

There are two major mistakes that readers of the Hardy Boys series routinely make: 1) Not reading (& many times not even knowing about) the ORIGINAL, unrevised versions of the text. In almost every case, the original editions were much superior, and 2) Not researching the books, and assuming that all the HB volumes are basically of equal quality. This is very untrue, and the thing to do is to be selective. These two pitfalls must be avoided if one really wants to enjoy the classic Hardy Boys at their best.

I have researched and then read several installments in the venerable series which enjoy the highest reputations among true and informed HB aficionados. Next I applied my own personal evaluation to each book. In my opinion, they don't come any better than #15 - "The Sinister Sign Post".

Besides having all the endearing earmarks that HB fans have come to expect from the best of Frank & Joe's adventures, TSS adds one more element more effectively than any other volume I know of -- Horror! The chapter entitled "The Sinister Sign Post" (same as the book title) is some of the best and most thrilling writing in the history of the Hardy Boys. The twitching, seemingly living, glowing red hand is what enabled the story to creep beyond the boundaries of mere 'thrill' and verge (just a bit) into the regions of terror. Great stuff!

Highly recommended for adventurous boys (or girls) -- and men (or women) who still are such in their hearts!

This is the 15th book in Applewood's facsimile editions series of the ORIGINAL Hardy Boys books. Applewood is reproducing these books from original mint/near mint copies of the originals so we not only have an exact copy of the original book with original artwork but also the original glossy dust jackets.

These are beautiful books to behold and to hold. What a great way to start a collection of some of America's classic books for young people.

It's even more exciting if you read the books in chronological order because as the 20th century moves forward so do developments in technology in the Hardy Boys books. I've read the first 80 Hardy Boys books in the original editions which show wear and tear and remain in my library but these new beauties have their own special display area.

Anyone who enjoys the Hardy Boys would be well-advised to take the trouble and search out these original versions, not the 1950's rewritten versions which insult the intelligence of young readers. Although the technology and modes of transportation are clearly outdated, the warmth of the writing and richness of the stories left my young reader spellbound.

I've been purchasing the hardcover Hardy Boys books for my 7-year-old grandson. I've purchased through book #15 and I cannot keep up with his supply of reading materials. I think it's great that the Hardy Boy's are still popular. By today's standard the books are reasonably priced, I do wish that I had kept the books I had as a child to pass on to my own children.

The Hardy Boys The Sinister Signpost is about a person named Alden who thinks someone is stealing secrets about a motor. All of a sudden his horse Topnotch gets stolen and the criminal wants a ransom. Who is the criminal? Do the Hardy's catch him. Read the book to find out.