new this month
19: Dungeons & Detectives – 10/19
For Sale: Paperback – Hardcover – Kindle – Audio CD
Brother detectives Frank and Joe search a hidden castle for clues to help them find a missing comic book in the nineteenth book in the thrilling Hardy Boys Adventures series.
Frank and Joe have been hanging out at Sir Robert’s Comic Kingdom, the local comic and gaming shop, and got the exclusive invite to this year’s Halloween costume ball at Bayport’s one and only castle. Sir Robert plans to use the big event to unveil his most prized possession, a super rare comic that is rumored to contain a map to buried treasure.
Sir Robert agrees to show his store regulars-who now include Frank and Joe-a sneak preview of the comic before the party. But when he goes to unlock the fireproof casing, he finds the book is gone.
It will take all of Frank and Joe’s recently acquired LARPing skills to solve this case. Anything can happen in a castle full of dungeons and deception. Can the Hardy boys keep up?
coming soon
Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Missing Adults – For Sale
Hardcover Graphic Novel – November 2019
by Scott Bryan Wilson (Author), Bob Solanovicz (Artist)
Eating candy nonstop and watching TV all day sounds great . . . until you actually do it, as the kids of Bayport High find out when all the adults vanish, and the world’s greatest (high school) detectives–the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew!–have to team up to solve the mystery! Whether it’s going under cover, sneaking out at night, chasing weird buses, or following a strange smell, they know it’ll take all their wits and smarts to get their parents and teachers back . . . that is, if Joe and Frank don’t kill each other first. Oh, and there’s also the matter of the skeleton that can walk. And a major feud with a rival high school. And a koala-in-a-diaper costume. And lawlessness in the hallways. And an unrequited crush . . .
Written by Scott Bryan Wilson (Batman Annual, Star Trek: Waypoint) and drawn by Bob Solanovicz (Mister Meow), NANCY DREW AND THE HARDY BOYS: THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING ADULTS! is a high-octane, nonstop comedic romp full of action, excitement, mystery, and friendship. And mayhem. Lots of mayhem.
20: Return to Black Bear Mountain – 02/20
For Sale: Paperback – Hardcover – Kindle – Audio CD
Brother detectives Frank and Joe face the dangers of Black Bear Mountain once again in the twentieth book in the thrilling Hardy Boys Adventures series.
Frank and Joe are back on Black Bear Mountain, the scene of a previous wilderness adventure and mind-bending mystery. This time, the brothers are checking in on Dr. K, a friend they made during their first trip. Dr. K is a fan of living off the grid, but he’s been MIA long enough to cause worry in the small mountain town. And so the teenage detectives Black Bear Mountain relied on before have been called in to help once again.
It’s not a good start to the investigation when Frank and Joe’s ATV is put out of commission by a falling tree. Then their camp, including their radio – their only way to contact the outside world – is destroyed by wildlife searching for food. And when they finally reach Dr. K’s research station, they find his cabin has been cleaned out and abandoned – the only current resident is an angry skunk.
Frank and Joe may have been better prepared for their second Black Bear Mountain adventure, but they’re not having any more luck this time around. In fact, they’ve been downright unlucky. Is someone trying to sabotage their mission? And if they are, how can the brothers stop this invisible foe?
11: Bug-Napped – 04/20
For Sale: Paperback – Hardcover
Illustrated by Santy Gutierrez
Detective brothers Frank and Joe search for a very special beetle in the eleventh book in the interactive Hardy Boys Clue Book series.
Frank and Joe are taking care of their friend’s super cool pet stag beetle named Izumi for the weekend. Not only is this bug fun to watch, but he is also supposed to bring you luck!
The first night with Izumi, Joe learns that stag beetles like to hiss and chirp.a lot. So, Joe decides to leave Izumi on the front stoop so he can get some sleep. But when Joe goes to get Izumi the next morning, he discovers that his lucky friend isn’t so lucky after all. Because Izumi has gone missing! Izumi’s cage is gone so the boys know he didn’t escape on his own. Did Aki’s pet get bug-napped?
Can the brothers find this special bug before the weekend is over? It’s up to Frank and Joe-and you-to solve the mystery of the missing beetle!
Midnight is Coming! The Hardy Boys Return!
The HerInteractive Nancy Drew: Midnight in Salem game will officially release on November 19th, 2019.
Returning to help Nancy on another case, the Hardy Boys hone in on unexplained occurrences and aide in the hunt for the arsonist of the Hathorne House. With Frank’s practical sensibilities and Joe’s unbridled enthusiasm, they make an excellent team in search of the truth. The Hardy Boys will provide great insights and vital information regarding the investigation. You, as Nancy Drew, can depend on Frank and Joe’s assistance to shed light on the motivations of suspects and those that might be influenced by Salem’s dark past.
Further Secrets Of The Stratemeyer Archives
By Bob Nelson
Last May I had a chance to travel to New York City to visit the Stratemeyer Archives in the New York Public Library. I was there once before, and spent the whole day going through the archives of Hardy Boys related material. The first time I went, I found a lot of info, but this time, I ran across something very interesting! I found a file that contained a series proposal for one of the characters in the Hardy Boys books. Chet Morton!
Apparently, back in 1965, the Stratemeyer Syndicate was in a spin-off mood, and wanted to develop a brand new series based on Chet Morton and his hobbies. In each story, Chet would be involved in a new hobby and thus get involved in a mystery that was somehow related to his current interest. Chet’s hobbies were already being related in the Hardy Boys stories, but the Syndicate felt at that time that Chet had become popular enough to have a series of his own.
I discovered a list of proposed titles in the series that the Syndicate simply called “Chet Morton.” (This may have just been the working title). There were also plot summaries on some of the titles, and even some complete chapters written. Here is a list of the eight titles I discovered:
1. CHET MORTON AND THE FUNNY PUTTY CAPER
(Had an alternate title called CHET MORTON AND THE FUNNY FACE MASK)
2. CHET MORTON AND THE TALKING TURKEY
3. CHET MORTON AND THE MIGHTY MUSCLE BUILDER
4. CHET MORTON AND THE STOLEN FLEA CIRCUS
5. CHET MORTON AND HIS ELECTRONIC EXAM PASSER
6. CHET MORTON AND HIS BIRD-BRAIN BLIMP
7. CHET MORTON AND THE MONKEY’S UNCLE
8. CHET MORTON AND THE FLYING FRUITCAKE
As you can tell from the titles, there was to be a lot of humor in the stories. I read the series proposal, and it described Chet as being a “Master of Disguises” as well as having a mania for hobbies. When I read some of the sample chapters, I discovered that the Hardy Boys themselves would be featured in the series too, but this time as supporting characters.
In this series, Chet was going to run the show. I don’t know why the Stratemeyer Syndicate never developed the series, especially after so much planning had already been done on the new series. It’s anybody’s guess as to how popular the series would have been, had it been developed. I would have enjoyed reading the books.
I thoroughly enjoyed digging through all those archives, and getting a real behind the scenes look at The Hardy Boys and their chums, and unlocking a lot of “Hidden Gold”. There is so much to go through, you could literally spend days reading all the material.
For Hardy Boys fans and collectors, the archives are truly The Holy Grail. I recommend that everyone go see them if traveling to New York City. I can’t wait to go again! Who knows what secrets will be revealed next time? Perhaps the archives will finally reveal the true identity of Harry Tanwick too. Hmmmm…..=)
Book of the Month: The Secret Of Skull Mountain
27: The Secret Of Skull Mountain – Collectible Editions For Sale
Original: 1948 George Waller Jr. (212 pages
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1966 David Grambs (177 pages) – For Sale
Outline: None – Grambs edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Altered
Art: 1948 Russell Tandy
Art: 1966 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Harriet Adams wrote a manuscript which was not used for the original edition..
The Hardy Boys solve the mysterious disappearance of water from the Tarnack Reservoir.
Description of current edition: There is a crisis in Bayport! Soon the city will be without water! Every night, water strangely disappears from the new reservoir near Skull Mountain. Frank and Joe Hardy join forces with a team of skilled engineers to solve the baffling mystery.
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