The Hardy Boys Books In Order

Publication Order of The Hardy Boys Books

Publication Order of The Hardy Boys: Secret Files Books

Publication Order of The Hardy Boys Casefiles Books

Publication Order of Hardy Boys: Killer Mystery Books

Publication Order of Hardy Boys Clue Books

Publication Order of Hardy Boys: Clues Brothers Books

Publication Order of Hardy Boys Adventures Books

Publication Order of Hardy Boys and Tom Swift Ultra Thriller Books

Publication Order of Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers Books

Publication Order of Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers Super Mystery Books

Publication Order of Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Super Mystery Books

Publication Order of Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Super Mystery (II) Books

The Hardy Boys is a series that has spanned generations of readers. Started as a way to idle away time, Edward Stratemeyer came up with a magnificent group of children’s mystery stories. Over the years, hosts of unnamed writers have contributed to this yarn of tales to the delight of millions of mystery lovers. Interestingly, the name Franklin W. Dixon was adopted as the author of these interesting episodes as a large number of writers put pen to the stories. “Leslie McFarlane” wrote many of the beginning “Hardy Boys” mysteries using the Franklin W. Dixon pseudonym. Stratemeyer searched out ghostwriters and found a jewel in “Leslie McFarlane”. The story was distributed, making it widely read. The publishers Simon and Schuster now hold claim on “The Hardy Boys”.

The mystery series holds 58 stories. This includes the “Detective Handbook”. The original writing years were 1927-1979. The characters in the stories could easily be the kids next door or the local villain in any neighborhood. A stranger passing through or an old cavern half the neighborhood was afraid to enter because of an old legend. This story represented the imagination of a nation. Any nation, the stories were about kids and their adventures. This made it universal.

The stories no matter how much they change, still remain family entertainment. They are told, retold, and enjoyed by generations. Many grandfathers and mothers can sit and relate with younger folks when watching the Hardy Boys (series by Franklin W. Dixon). Crooks are still committing crimes and detectives are still after bad guys. Kids have fun trying to outsmart the story and the lesson in history is underlying.

Each writer taking part, has added a touch of his or her own personality. Bringing a little of his or her world to the story. This adds to its reach around the globe. Places traveled and stories told from one generation to the next. Stratemeyer found a way for his idea to move into the future.

Stores are about average everyday kids doing special things. No strange super sonic strength was needed and a person was not required to be overly brainy. No one arrived from a far away planet or leaped a thousand feet into the air. Using plain old-fashioned methods of deduction sufficed in this series. Packed into the “Hardy Boys” series from 1927 to 1972 was a long list of exciting adventures. A few derivatives were mustered, while the original stopped in 2005.

Like all things, the “Hardy Boys” have undergone renovation. Updating the players to fit into a new era seemed the only way to keep readers happy. Some complained but the series survived. Moving from the Hardy Boys in 1959 to become less stereotyped to fit the views of a changing society. The series and its well to do image toned to bring it into range with more of the population. However, not many kids cared about the house or the family income. The story was about, kid adventures.

Many series in an effort to continue to be relevant, have updated. A female version Nancy Drew, a less wealthy version and a less violent version have all showed up along the Franklin W. Dixon trail of the Hardy Boys. The Hardy Boys Case Files changed the perspective of the storyline from harmless to a more violent era. Then, the story line changed with society as violence became more acceptable in stories.

Brothers, “Frank and Joe Hardy” are the “Hardy Boys.” The lived in an “All American” town and went to school like all other teenagers. Bayport on Barnet Bay was a neat place for solving mysteries. The father in the story; Fenton Hardy was a respected detective. A happily married man, Laura Hardy was mother to these vivacious boy detectives. The story could not be interesting without a full entourage of relatives and friends, Gertrude hardy aunt and the evolution of helpful characters, Tony Prito, Chet Morton, Jerry Gilroy, Phil Cohen and Biff Hooper. Whether they solved crimes in relation to their father’s Frank Hardy’s cases or found interesting subjects of their own, their fictional fame grew.

Episodes aired by “Walt Disney” in the 1950s brought the “Hardy Boys” into the homes of millions. Shows were shown in a series as viewers waited to see the continuing episodes each week. A favorite introduced in 1956 was “The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure.” These amateur detectives were never real but to watch them solve mysteries, highly entertaining.

Stories like the “Vampire Trail”, the Tower Treasure and Hunting for Hidden Gold” represent a fraction of the wonderful adventure tales of the Hardy Boys (Series Franklin W. Dixon). In Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977-1979) was televised. Part of this series was Witches Hollow, African Safari and King Tut’s Tomb. Episodes continued to be creative. In this series, Callie was the girlfriend, and the boys traveled around the globe, making the story even more intriguing.

These novels provide a great way to stir young people to read. These novels have intrigue, honesty, and believability. A person reading these novels can see opportunity to accomplish any goal. These are regular kids and they are out there. No dangerous stunts just wit. How many young readers after seeing these stories might have a good idea and put it to work. The demand for the stories has proven the genius of the authors and inspired readers for almost 100 years.

Over the years, hundreds of stories have been written and rewritten about the Hardy Boys (series by Franklin W. Dixon). These adventures are able to keep a reader entertained for hours. The Hardy Boys series has spanned generations and most are still in print. Some hardback versions are no longer available but the stories are still out there in film and book form.

Many writers have been given the opportunity to use their imagination in writing for this great story line. The story, Hardy Boys (Series by Franklin W. Dixon) has evolved with the curiosity of people of the time. Enlisting ghostwriters was a brilliant idea. The premise has kept the story going for decades and more than likely it will continue. Video games swashbucklers and modern mystery movies may well have drawn inspiration from the storylines of this story idea started in a small tobacco shop.

2 Responses to “The Hardy Boys”

1. Lisa Troyer: 1 year ago

   I grew up with the Hardy Boys. I loved them. I still do and I’m always waiting for the next book to come out!!

   Reply
2. Gail B: 5 years ago

   How many total different writers contributed to “The Hardy Boy Series ?

   Reply