The Mystery Of Cabin Island
#8 in the series - 1929 - Written by Leslie McFarlane
It's
Christmas time in Bayport and the Boys and their chums are enjoying
themselves iceboating out on Barmet Bay. They decide to explore lonely
Cabin Island but are chased away by a surly stranger (Hanliegh). On the
way back, they nearly come to ruin in an accident with another iceboat
manned by Tad Carson and Ike Nash, a pair of obnoxious bullies.
Heading home from this near disaster, they find a message from Elroy Jefferson (who's car they recovered in The Shore Road Mystery).
They head over to Jefferson's posh digs to collect a reward and obtain
permission to camp out on Jefferson's Cabin Island retreat over the
Christmas school holiday.
The Boys along with Chet and Biff head
out to the island on their iceboats and have an unpleasant encounter
with Ike and Tad, who are in cahoots with Hanliegh. They chase Hanliegh
off the island and settle in for some rousing winter adventures.
Soon,
they find their supplies stolen and head to the nearest town to get
more from elderly storekeeper, Amos Grice, and, incidentally, discover
from him that Jefferson had a valuable stamp collection stolen many
years ago.
Back at the island, they have more adventures, discover a
notebook dropped by Hanliegh indicating that the stolen stamps are
hidden in the chimney of the cabin. They make a search and, surprise,
find nothing.
Later, during a howling blizzard, they are forced to
rescue Hanliegh who has come to grief in an iceboat accident. The storm
increases in intensity, finally blowing down the chimney of the old
cabin. Searching through the rubble, the Boys discover the stamp
collection which miraculously has escaped any damage whatsoever despite
being walled into a chimney over a huge fireplace for more than twenty
years. They return the stamps to Jefferson and pick up yet another
reward and Jefferson's offer to let them use his Cabin Island retreat
any time they want.
Comments: This tale appears on almost
everyone's list of favorite Hardy Boys stories and with good reason.
The story is well written and paced and the prose is charmingly
evocative and descriptive. One can almost picture oneself ice-boating
and camping along with the Boys and their chums.
The mystery is, as
usual, solved pretty much by dumb luck (aided by the infamous foul
weather that seems to plague Bayport) but this doesn't take away from
the excitement and mystery presented here.
The action is not too far removed from that which a teenage detective could accomplish. The villians are bad but not too bad and the mystery not too difficult to solve.
As
in a few other of the earlier stories, the Boys arm themselves in this
book (this time with rifles) and, although they threaten to use them,
no shootings take place (except for a hapless fox who meets his demise
in a totally extraneous sequence.)
Apparently the accident with the
iceboat shook up Frank more than he cared to admit because the
suggestion to go camping had to be made twice to him! When the
suggestion was made the second time, Frank acts like he never heard of
such a thing before - oh well!
I'm glad to note that, for once, the
Boys' chums got a share of the reward but sadly there was no
lip-smacking feast to cap off the Boys triumph in this case!
The
revised version of this story by Andrew Svenson sticks close to the
plot of the original and although the charm of McFarlane's prose is
completely lost, it still ranks among the best of the revisions.
Rating: A+
News and reviews about the Hardy Boys Mystery Series by Franklin W. Dixon.
December 2012 Update
Hardy Boys TV Show Season 3
The final season made to to DVD!
This title will be released on February 12, 2013
November 2012 Update
Hardy Boys Adventures #3: The Vanishing Game has been announced for a June 2013 release.
FOR SALE: Paperback - Hardcover - Kindle
No details yet.
October 2012 Update
No new Hardy Boys releases were announced.
July 2012 Update
FS: Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers books
I'm getting rid of my own Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers books.
I have the first 28 volumes, most, if not all, of them are first printings.
I also have the first 11 graphic novels in hardcover and the first 18 graphic novels in paperback.
All are in excellent, like-new condition.
Prices:
UB Novels and graphic novel PBs are $4.75 each
Hardcover Graphic novels are $10.75 each
I also have 2 Gift Sets (vols 1-4 $15, vols 1-8 $30)
Postage: $3.50 for the 1st 3 books, 35¢ for each additional book.
Contact me if interested: fwdixon@yahoo.com
I'll sell the whole shebang for $375 with free postage!
June 2012 Update
THE HARDY BOYS ADVENTURES
A new series of books replacing the Undercover Brothers Series starting in 2013.
1: Secret of the Red Arrow - 2/13
FOR SALE: Paperback - Hardcover - Kindle
2: Masked Mayhem - 2/13
FOR SALE: Paperback - Hardcover - Kindle
SECRET FILES
10: A Rockin' Mystery - 10/12 For Sale
Frank and Joe are thrilled to learn that the popular band, Crush, is scheduled to perform in Bayport’s huge Battle of the Bands—and even more excited when they find out that their friend’s brother, Dylan, is the bass guitarist. But on the day of the performance, Dylan’s prized guitar has gone missing!
Could someone from a rival band have taken it in hopes of gaining an advantage? Or could the culprit be someone closer to home? It’s up to Frank and Joe to investigate this rocking mystery—or else Crush might be crushed in the competition!
11: Robot Rumble - 02/13 For Sale
No information yet.
The Spotlite Book for June is Volume 26 "The Phantom Freighter".
Paul Mular reports that the graphic novels are going out of print.
May 2012 Update
As I have posted earlier, I'm getting rid of all my foreign Hardy Boys editions on My Sales Page
Otherwise no news this month.
Hopefully S&S will be announcing the new Hardy Boys series that is to replace The Undercover Brothers.
April 2012 Update
The April Spotlite Book is volume 54, "The Mysterious Caravan".
As I have posted earlier, I'm getting rid of all my foreign Hardy Boys editions on My Sales Page
Otherwise no news this month :(
March 2012 Update
This month's Spotlite Book is Volume 44 "The Haunted Fort"
Secret Files #10 A Rockin' Mystery has been announced for an October 2012 release.
No further information available at this time
As I have posted earlier, I'm getting rid of all my foreign Hardy Boys editions on My Sales Page
My Sales Page Is Back
After a long absence I'm starting to sell Hardy Boys and other books & collectibles.
Right now there are only a few books listed but I'll be posting more on the page over the next week or two.
Check out My Sales Page!
Right now there are only a few books listed but I'll be posting more on the page over the next week or two.
Check out My Sales Page!
February 2012 Update
The Spotlite Book this month is Volume 37, "The Ghost At Skeleton Rock".
Bob Nelson reports the the first volume in the new Hardy Boys Adventures, "Secret of the Red Arrow", will be released in January of 2013.
The current Undercover Brothers series has been discontinued.
NEWS FLASH: This just in from Paul Mular...
Hardy Boys New titles in HARDBACK for 2013!
Simon & Schuster has just publicly announced that the new Hardy Boys Adventures will be available in BOTH Paperback $5.99 and HARDBACK $15.99 editions!
The announced release date of January 2nd 2013 will now include "breeder sets", that is the first two books in the series. The title of the second book has not been publicly announced.
The third book in The Hardy Boys is scheduled for October 2013.
January 2012 Update
Happy New Year Sleuths!
Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Super Mystery #6 Stage Fright has been announced for a July 2012 release and can be pre-ordered now from Amazon.com.
This month's Spotlite Book is "The Secret Panel"
December 2011 Update
Secret Files # 9: The Great Coaster Caper has been announced for an August 2012 release: Pre-Order from Amazon.com
Synopsis not yet available.
Cover art for Secret Files #8: Sports Sabotage released: Pre-Order from Amazon.com - Available April 2012.
It’s time for Field Day at Bayport Elementary and all the kids are excited! Whatever grade wins gets a pizza party, and the person with the highest personal score also gets a special prize. But when the field equipment is sabotaged the day before the events are supposed to start, it looks like Field Day might not happen after all—unless someone can find out who is behind the mess of ruined rackets, tangled jump ropes, and flattened balloons. Can Frank and Joe crack the case and save Field Day?
This month's Spotlite Book is "The Arctic Patrol Mystery".
Best wishes to all sleuths for the holidays!
November 2011 Update
This month's Spotlite Book is "The Short-Wave Mystery
Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Super Mystery #6 has been announced.
The title has yet to be disclosed.
This title will be released on July 10, 2012.
Pre-Order From Amazon.com
October 2011 Update
This month's Spotlite Book is "The Wailing Siren Mystery".
It appears that the "Undercover Brothers" series will be ending this year, probably due to poor sales.
Jennifer Fisher reports that the "Nancy Drew Girl Detective" series is also coming to an end and that Simon & Schuster is planning to roll out new Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series.
It's unclear if the "Secret Files" series will continue.
This Just In!!!!
Paul Mular reports:
Simon & Schuster has announced that the new series title for the Hardy Boys in 2013 will be "The Hardy Boys Adventures".
The series logo, book titles and writing format have not been announced yet.
September 2011 Update
Nothing new to report this month.
I would like to remind fans that Amazon has Kindle editions of many Hardy Boys books available for download.
The Spotlite Book for September is "The Flickering Torch Mystery"
August 2011 Update
Undercover Brothers #40 has been announced for a May 2012 release with the working title of The Case of the MyFace Kidnapper
Mission: Frank and Joe's latest case involves the dangerous underside of social networking. A football friend from a nearby school contacts the Hardys when a team member goes missing! One minute he was at a massive beach party that everyone from school was invited to via MyFace; the next moment he was GONE! The MyFace parties continue, but so do the crimes: robbery, kidnapping, car theft...can murder be far behind? Is MyFace a social network of friends or a network of something far more sinister?
Artwork has not yet been released.
Those of you with Amazon's Kindle reader may be interested to know that many of the revised text stories are now available for download. Check my Amazon Sales Page. Click on the title you want to see if it is available for download.
This month's Spotlite Book is Volume 17, "The Secret Warning"
July 2011 Update
Secret Files #8: Sports Sabotage has been announced for a 04/12 release.
Pre-Order Now From Amazon.com
It’s time for Field Day at Bayport Elementary and all the kids are excited! Whatever grade wins gets a pizza party, and the person with the highest personal score also gets a special prize. But when the field equipment is sabotaged the day before the events are supposed to start, it looks like Field Day might not happen after all—unless someone can find out who is behind the mess of ruined rackets, tangled jump ropes, and flattened balloons. Can Frank and Joe crack the case and save Field Day?
Cover art is not yet available.
The July Spotlite Book is "The Secret of the Lost Tunnel".
Pre-Order Now From Amazon.com
It’s time for Field Day at Bayport Elementary and all the kids are excited! Whatever grade wins gets a pizza party, and the person with the highest personal score also gets a special prize. But when the field equipment is sabotaged the day before the events are supposed to start, it looks like Field Day might not happen after all—unless someone can find out who is behind the mess of ruined rackets, tangled jump ropes, and flattened balloons. Can Frank and Joe crack the case and save Field Day?
Cover art is not yet available.
The July Spotlite Book is "The Secret of the Lost Tunnel".
June 2011 Update
Cover Art released/updated for Undercover Brothers 37, 38 & 39
37: Movie Menace - 05/11 For Sale ~ Book One in the Deathstalker Trilogy
Mission: Frank and Joe Hardy are assigned to pose as extras on the set of the an upcoming teen movie, Deathstalker. The star, an ingenue named Anya, believes that someone is out to get her--and she's got proof. Someone tried to burn down her trailer! The Undercover Brothers need to get to the bottom of the arson, and other mayhem surrounding the filming of the hit comic book.
38: Movie Mission - 09/11 For Sale ~ Book Two in the Deathstalker Trilogy>
Mission: Frank and Joe Hardy have been posing as extras on the set of the upcoming teen movie, Deathstalker. The star, an ingenue named Anya, has already had her trailer burn down, and now someone keeps sending her threatening texts! While the Undercover Brothers manage to keep Anya safe at a comic book convention, the threats just keep coming. Can they figure out who's behind the mayhem surrounding the filming of the hit comic book? Or is this movie going to wrap before filming even begins?
39: Movie Mayhem - 01/12 For Sale ~ Book Three in the Deathstalker Trilogy
Mission: In the concluding installment of this chilling trilogy with echoes of The Blair Witch Project, the missing Frank has been discovered at long last—and he may possess key answers to questions that will solve the mystery of the LOST abductions once and for all.
The current Spotlite Book is "The Sting of the Scorpion"
May 2011 Update
Hardy Boys Decoder Jigsaw Puzzle
A new 250 piece jigsaw puzzle seemingly based on the Undercover Brothers.
Manufactured in the good old USA by Ideal.
1: Build the puzzle
2: Find hidden clues with the decoder clue finder
3: Use the decoder booklet to solve the mystery
Available from HometownUSA Stores
No new Hardy Boys titles were announced this month - check back next month
The Spotlite Book this month is "The Secret of Skull Mountain"
April 2011 Update
Volume 39 of the Undercover Brothers has been announced for a January 2012 release.
Movie Mayhem
Book Three in the Deathstalker Trilogy.
Mission: Unknown at this time!
I'll post the cover art when it becomes available.
The Spotlite Book for April is "The Detective Handbook"
Movie Mayhem
Book Three in the Deathstalker Trilogy.
Mission: Unknown at this time!
I'll post the cover art when it becomes available.
The Spotlite Book for April is "The Detective Handbook"
March 2011 Update
Not much to report this month.
Secret Files #7: The Disappearing Dog - 10/11 For Sale
There's a new kid in town in Bayport, and Frank and Joe Hardy aren't really sure what to make of Max O'Malley, the Magician. Not only is he totally annoying, he claims that he can make anything--or anyone--disappear. Though Max wins over a bunch of his classmates, Frank and Joe remain skeptical--until Mrs. Briar's prized show dog, Charlie, suddenly disappears--and keeps on mysteriously disappearing and reappearing. Max quickly becomes the prime suspect, but is he really the one behind the strange occurrences? Or is Max really as magical as he says he is?
The Spotlite Book for March is "Mystery of the Whale Tattoo".
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