Number: 01Series: Original
Published: June 1, 1927
Pages: 214
Written by: Leslie McFarlane
Outline: Edward L. Stratemeyer
Cover art: Walter S. Rogers
Here's a gem: Read the book online for free on Project Gutenberg!
Story:
The first Hardy Boys adventure begins with Frank and Joe narrowly avoiding being run over by a reckless speed demon as they head out of Bayport to complete an errand for their father, the famous detective Fenton Hardy.
It later turns out that the reckless driver has crashed and then stolen Chet Morton’s yellow two-seated roadster in order to make a getaway.
But just as the boys recover their friend’s car, a new mystery emerges: a number of jewels and valuable securities have been stolen from the Tower Mansion, owned by the eccentric Hurd Applegate.
The old man accuses his servant, Henry Robinson — father of one of the boys’ friends — of the theft. It’s now up to Fenton Hardy and his two sons to uncover the real culprit.
However, things begin to look bleak, as even the renowned detective seems unable to make progress in the search for the criminal. But Frank and Joe believe there may be a connection between the car thief and the Tower Mansion mystery.
"Riley!" ordered the chief, "see that package on the counter of the fruit stand? Go and get it and pour a pail of water over it."
"Huh?" exclaimed Riley, gaping.
"Pour a pail of water over it."
Riley took off his helmet and scratched his head. He began to wonder if his chief's brain had been affected by the heat.
"Don't stand there staring at me!" snapped Collig. "Hurry up and obey orders."
"This is the meanest job I ever got," observed Con Riley. But he ambled across the street, wondering why a crowd of people had collected - for word had quickly spread that a bomb had been found under Rocco's fruit stand - and when he reached the package he inspected it wonderingly.
"Mebbe she blowa him all to da bits!" suggested Rocco fearfully.
"He has insurance," consoled the chief.
"We'll give him a good funeral," observed Smuff.
Main characters:
Frank Hardy
Joe Hardy
Regulars:
Fenton Hardy | Laura Hardy | Chet Morton | Callie Shaw | Ezra Collig | Oscar Smuff | Con Riley | Hurd Applegate | Adelia Applegate | Perry 'Slim' Robinson | Biff Hooper | Jerry Gilroy | Phil Cohen | Tony Prito | Iola Morton | Mr. Morton (mentioned)
Guest characters:
John 'Red' Jackley | Henry Robinson | Mrs. Robinson | Paula Robinson | Tessie Robinson | Ike Harrity | Henry J. Brown | Lem Billers | Kauffmann | Harold Morley | Rocco | Mrs. Wills (mentioned) | Norton (mentioned) | Major Applegate (mentioned)
Locations:
Bayport (Willow Grove, The Tower Mansion) | Willowville | New York City, New York (only Fenton Hardy's investigation in the city)
Trivia:
// The first case the boys helped their father with wasn’t the Tower Treasure, but a counterfeiting case mentioned at the very beginning of the book. $50,000 had vanished right under the authorities’ noses, and not a single auditor, police officer, or detective could figure out what had happened. When Fenton Hardy took on the case, it was solved within three days. He first grew suspicious of a clever bookkeeper. Frank and Joe then suggested he look for a forged signature in the city tax receipts, which ultimately led to the mystery being solved.
// We are told that the story takes place in the spring.
// The first book in the series clearly stands out from the ones that follow. It includes descriptions of both people and places, and we also follow Fenton Hardy during his investigation in New York.
// The police — particularly Chief Collig and Detective Smuff — are portrayed in a rather unflattering light in this book.
// In this first book, the Hardy family has several maids working in their home.
Review:
The first book in the Hardy series is a gem. The story flows well, and the atmosphere is delightful; you can truly feel the sense of despair among the Hardys and their friends as Mr. Robinson is suspected of the break-in at the Tower Mansion. Naturally, there are a few things to critique — such as the boys' conversation at the beginning of the book, which feels rather unnatural, as they list who they are and what their father has accomplished as a detective. However, this is easily overlooked, and it’s clear that the scene serves as an introduction to the series. The ending is a joy to read, capped off with a real celebration at the Tower Mansion.REVISED TEXT:
Published: 1959Pages: 180
Written by: Harriet S. Adams
Outline: Harriet S. Adams
Cover art: Rudy Nappi
Revision: Altered
Story:
The revised edition of the book is completely rewritten, yet it follows more or less the same plot as the original—albeit with a few changes.
First and foremost, Oscar Smuff takes on a slightly more prominent role here. He is no longer part of the police force, but instead runs a private detective business, making him something of a rival to the boys. Early in the book, he claims to have found Chet’s stolen car but demands payment before revealing its location. As it turns out, Smuff’s detective work may not be entirely flawless.
Perhaps the biggest difference comes toward the end of the book, when the boys solve the mystery. In the revised edition, they face far more trouble than they did in the original.
A character from the original named Hobo Johnny appears in the story and makes life downright difficult for the boys. In addition, there are other reasons why Henry Robinson is keeping secrets from his employer, Hurd Applegate.
The boys rejoiced over their discovery for another full minute, then decided to hurry back to Bayport with the precious sack.
"You go down first, Frank," said Joe. "I'll toss the sack to you and then come myself."
He picked up the bag and was about to hoist it to his shoulders when both boys heard a sound on the roof of the tower. They looked up to see an evil-looking, unshaven man peering down at them.
"Halt!" he ordered.
"Who are you?" Frank asked.
"They call me Hobo Johnny," the man replied. "This here is my quarters and anything in it belongs to me. You got no right in my room. You can't take anything away. And t'anks for finding the wad. I never thought to look around."
Main characters:
Frank Hardy
Joe Hardy
Regulars:
Fenton Hardy | Laura Hardy | Chet Morton | Callie Shaw | Ezra Collig | Oscar Smuff | Con Riley | Hurd Applegate | Adelia Applegate | Perry 'Slim' Robinson | Biff Hooper | Jerry Gilroy | Phil Cohen | Tony Prito | Iola Morton | Mr. Morton | Mrs. Morton
Guest characters:
John 'Red' Jackley | Henry Robinson | Mrs. Robinson | Paula Robinson | Tessie Robinson | Ike Harrity | Henry J. Brown | Mr. Schwartz | Kauffmann | Harold Morley | Rocco | Rosa Rocco (mentioned) | Mike Halley | Hobo Johnny | Mrs. Wills (mentioned) | Melvin Schuster (mentioned) | Major Applegate (mentiond)
Locations:
Bayport (Willow Grove, The Tower Mansion) | Willowville | Ducksworth | Cherryville | New York City, New York
Review:
I must admit, I was very skeptical about a revised version of the classic beginning to the series. But once I finally got around to reading it, I was pleasantly surprised. I think the original book is well preserved, and nearly all the elements that made it a classic are still present. One exception is Chet’s prank on the farmer Lem Billers, which has been removed, along with other charming parts that were likely taken out for reasons of political correctness. Still, while the original version can be somewhat drawn out in its introduction to the Bayport universe, this one manages to streamline the story without ruining it.Thoughts on 'The Tower Treasure'? Leave a comment!
Gi via Vipps:
0 Comments