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Rating: 
Summary: Exciting
Review: A tremendous action packed book. One of the best in the series. Brings back memories of my childhood days when I was crazy about the Hardy boys.
Rating: 
Summary: An Average Read
Review: McFarlane wrote the original version of the book during his second stint with the Syndicate. I think the Syndacate had other ideas and let McFarlane finish The Melted Coins and World War II end before letting the hammer fall. In 1945 when the war ended this book was published then the heat was put on the author to bring the Hardy's into the scientific age. Like any of us at work, when change is implemented, we react with negativity. McFarlane at this point I feel became uninterested in the series and wrote his worst book to date only to be surpassed in 1947 by The Phantom Freighter. The book was average by the sets standards but sub par by McFarlane's standards. The revision was not much worse. Taxidermy become the sub plot and fingerprinting is performed for the first time in the series in this volume. The child like innocence held in the earlier volumes is now gone. ORIGINAL Rated C+ Revision: Rated C
Rating: 
Summary: Out Of The Golden Age
Review: This book continues the feel of the series that had been present since The Mark On The Door of 1934. After this volume however, the writing style would change. McFarlane wrote the original version of the book during his second stint with the Syndicate. I think the Syndicate had other ideas and let him finish The Melted Coins and World War II end before letting the hammer fall. In 1945 when the war ended this book was published then the heat was put on the author to bring the Hardy's into the scientific age. Like any of us at work, when change is implemented, we react with negativity. McFarlane at this point I feel became uninterested in the series and wrote his worst book to date only to be surpassed in 1947 by The Phantom Freighter. The book was medicore by Hardy Boys standards but subpar by McFarlane standards. Taxidermy becomes the sub plot and fingerprinting is performed for the first time in the series with this volume. The child like innocence held in the earlier volumes is now gone. I find this book somewhat difficult to rate. To me it is a 2.4 - Still it is worth reading and not among the worst of the series by any means. RATED C
Rating:
Summary: Out Of The Golden Age
Review: This book continues the feel of the series that had been present since The Mark On The Door of 1934. After this volume however, the writing style would change. McFarlane wrote the original version of the book during his second stint with the Syndicate. I think the Syndicate had other ideas and let him finish The Melted Coins and World War II end before letting the hammer fall. In 1945 when the war ended this book was published then the heat was put on the author to bring the Hardy's into the scientific age. Like any of us at work, when change is implemented, we react with negativity. McFarlane at this point I feel became uninterested in the series and wrote his worst book to date only to be surpassed in 1947 by The Phantom Freighter. The book was medicore by Hardy Boys standards but subpar by McFarlane standards. Taxidermy becomes the sub plot and fingerprinting is performed for the first time in the series with this volume. The child like innocence held in the earlier volumes is now gone. I find this book somewhat difficult to rate. To me it is a 2.4 - Still it is worth reading and not among the worst of the series by any means. RATED C
Rating:
Summary: Average
Review: This review concerns the original 1945 edition. Frank and Joe help their father capture a group of thieves that steal valuable radio equipment and communicate in code using short-wave radio. Also, an old friend of Mr. Hardys asks for the detective's help in locating some missing friends. This was the first book in which Chet had a hobby (in this case, taxidermy) that played a part in the mystery. Not much to say about this book, actually, it's neither good nor bad, just average. The mystery is not spectacular and it's not boring either. Most Hardy Boys fans would probably not be very excited by this book, but it probably won't put them to sleep either.
Rating:
Summary: An Average Read
Review: This review concerns the revised 1966 edition. Frank and Joe investigate the theft of a number of stuffed animals from a country auction and aid their father with his case concerning an industrial spy ring that is using short-wave radio to send coded messages containing the names of various wild animals. This book was average; the mystery was alright and it had a moderate amount of action. Most fans would probably not be bored with this book, but I don't think that many would be very excited by it either.
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