Hardy Boys #18 Twisted Claw and #19 Disappearing Floor

In the original text of Hardy Boys #18, The Twisted Claw, Frank loses his wallet, which contains a paper with a special code for communication that was created by Fenton Hardy.  Soon, the boys learn that criminals got ahold of the code, since they send false coded messages to the boys.  The boys realize that their father might be in trouble so they journey to Canada to search for him.  And a bunch of other stuff happens involving a crazy Twisted Claw society.

I don't understand why Frank doesn't tell his father about the missing code, since it makes the method of secret communication to be risky.  Of course we know why.  By not telling Fenton, a mystery develops, but this is so stupid.

This book has the same tone as the previous book, and I don't like it.  The stories are a bit similar.  The coincidences are too ridiculous.

I noticed choppy transitions beginning with the previous title.  The authorship of the series has changed, and it shows.  A good example occurs on pages 81 and 82.  The boys are walking in the town.

"We'll make the rounds of all the lumber camps in the vicinity.  Sooner or later we should find out something.  Maybe Mr. Hendrick can help us."

After an hour of rummaging in the loft of the old hotel, the proprietor descended with an ancient, dog-eared map of the region.

It's confusing when the author leaves out transitions between scenes.

Frank reads a pirate book he finds in a store.  He believes that the criminals read it as well.  Of course they did!  The book helps the boys solve the mystery.  How convenient!

I did not enjoy a large part of the story, with the exception of the portion in the middle where the boys have to rescue Fenton.  Otherwise, I found this book to be difficult to enjoy.  The purpose of the story was not clear to me, and I never enjoy books as much when I don't understand the purpose.  I ended up skimming a lot of the last part of the story.

In the original text of Hardy Boys #19, The Disappearing Floor, the Hardys and Chet go camping and then get trapped in a cave, where they are rescued by Fenton Hardy, who just happens to be investigating bank robbers in the middle of the woods.  And the story just gets crazier from that point.

It is stupid for the boys keep going back the cave where they keep getting caught or nearly caught every single time.  And Fenton Hardy encourages their stupid behavior!

At one point, the boys trap the culprits in the cave.  They know there is a secret exit that Fenton Hardy knows about, but they are somehow certain that the culprits don't know about it.  When the boys arrive with law enforcement, they are shocked that the men have vanished. 

Even though strange and improbable, I greatly enjoyed the first half of the book. From page 100 on, I did not enjoy the story.  On page 100, the book becomes science fiction.  A strange light can freeze people, causing ice to form on them.  This is a bit too weird for me, and that's not all of it.

The old inventor is similar to the insane man from While the Clock Ticked.  That man was miraculously cured of his insanity and so is the old inventor in this book. 

Too much back and forth chasing and searching goes on in the old house towards the end of the story.  In fact, this part reminds me of the excessively lengthy chase scene through the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  I felt like I was having a bad flashback as I read the last part of The Disappearing Floor. 

I skimmed a lot of the last part of the book.

Recent Bret King eBay Prices

eBay is the one site where users can see recent sold prices for listings.  This is a great way to get an idea of how much books are worth.  In my opinion, auction results tend to be low-end values.  They are great indicators of what books are worth but are towards the bottom end of what the average buyer will pay.

eBay auctions often close too low because some collectors rely on the bids of other collectors to try to decide what to pay.  They react when someone else submits a higher bid by placing an even higher bid to outbid the other person.  Buyers who don't need to use others to determine what to pay learned a very long time ago not to bid until the last 10 seconds of an auction.  The reactionary bidders do not like that practice, since they prefer to let the other bidders help them decide what to pay.  Since many buyers wait until the end to bid, the reactionary bidders never realize that they need to bid higher, thus keeping the auction price low.

Some buyers are willing to pay higher prices in order to obtain instant gratification, and I am one of those.  I do prefer good deals, but when I want to build a set of books quickly, I am willing to pay higher prices.

Recent Bret King auction results and my own experience with building a set serve as good examples of how auctions can be lower than what buyers are willing to pay on the fixed-price sites.

Aside from the first three books, the Bret King series is quite scarce.  Volumes four through nine are difficult to acquire.  I decided in June 2015 that I wanted to read the Bret King series, and I wanted to read them in the very near future.  I had no choice but to purchase the books from two fixed-price sites, AbeBooks and Amazon.  I chose the best value that I could that would give me books in the approximate condition I desired.  Even so, I had much trouble finding a copy of The Mystery at Blizzard Mesa in the condition I wanted, detailed here.

Since I wanted instant gratification and no suitable auction listings appeared on eBay in the one to two months I was looking for Bret King books, I had to pay higher prices than what auction prices would bring.  For volumes four through nine, I paid between $20 and $80 for each book.  The prices averaged out to around $40 per book.  I tend to average prices when I record how much I paid for books that are from the same series so that in the event I upgrade one later, I am more easily able to get my cost back.

I use books as escapism, and they help me to relieve stress.  Reading is the one most important activity that keeps me in an overall positive frame of mind.  This is why I am willing to pay above average prices to obtain needed books quickly.  I do make a profit on some books I sell, and that profit helps cover the amounts I overspend in order to achieve that instant gratification.  I doubt I'm the only collector and reader who does this, although I could certainly be in the extreme minority.

In December, two different sellers offered most of the the Bret King set in individual eBay auctions fairly close together.  For that short time, the Bret King series did not appear to be that scarce, and this could have kept some of the prices down.

The following listings are the results for the auctions for volumes one, two, and three, which are the easiest titles to find.  Including shipping, the final cost ended up being between $10 and $15 for most of the books.  Remember that you can always click on an image to see a larger version.

For volume four, The Mystery of Rawhide Gap, I feel that both of the books with dust jackets were a steal.  The two books with jackets sold for only slightly more than volumes one, two, and three, yet volume four is much harder to find than the first three books.

The Mystery at Blizzard Mesa was my hardest to acquire Bret King book in the condition I desired.  I ended up paying not too bad of a price at less than $40, but I would have loved for a listing with dust jacket to have been available on eBay at that time!  One thing to consider when viewing these results is that if one more person like me had been involved, the ending prices would have been higher.  The prices might have only been a few dollars higher or could have been $20 or $30 higher, depending upon what the two highest bidders were willing to pay.  Remember that value is variable and is subjective.

$20.50 for The Secret of Fort Pioneer is also a reasonable price to pay for this book.

I did not have much trouble locating a copy of The Mystery of the Comanche Caves, and the price I paid was less than the final auction prices of the two eBay listings.  However, it is apparent from these prices that The Mystery of the Comanche Caves is one of the hardest to find titles in the series.

The Phantom of Wolf Creek was the book for which I paid the least out of volumes four through nine.  Likewise, the two listings for that title sold at lower prices.

I paid more for my copy of The Mystery of Bandit Gulch than the closing prices of these two listings.

Notice that all of the books sold on December 29 sold at lower prices than the same titles did on December 16.  Since the buyers of the first set of listings were not bidding on the second set, prices went down.  This does not mean that the Bret King books dropped in value over those two weeks.

Unfortunately, sold listing prices are not available for AbeBooks and Amazon, so we have no idea what buyers are actually paying for series books on those sites.  I do believe that buyers are paying higher average prices than they do in eBay auctions, so buyers have only a partial idea of what other collectors are willing to pay.

I have more thoughts on this topic which will be expressed in a future post about Nancy Drew picture cover books.

Hardy Boys #16 Figure in Hiding and #17 Secret Warning

In the original text of Hardy Boys #16, A Figure in Hiding, Frank and Joe witness a robbery at the Rialto Theater.  Next, Fenton Hardy requests their assistance in a case involving Dr. Grafton, who is believed to be a fake doctor who operates on people with bad eyesight.  That case leads the boys to a girl named Virginia, who tries to kill herself after learning that the man believed to be her father is not her real father.  Later, Chet is arrested for the theater robbery, so the Hardys must prove his innocence.

And of course, all of these seemingly random events are ultimately connected in a series of bizarre coincidences, making this a strange and convoluted story.  I won't mention the craziest coincidences since they spoil parts of the plot, but those coincidences are too implausible to be even slightly believable.

I thought it rather concerning that the Hardy boys are not worried about a fake doctor operating on a man's eyes.  They are content to witness the operation with no concern.  If the fake doctor had gone through with the operation, the patient could have been blinded.

I enjoyed some parts of this book, but I also struggled with other parts. 

In Hardy Boys #17, The Secret Warning, Frank and Joe meet a diver, Roland Perry, who falls in the water and then borrows one of Fenton Hardy's suits.  The boys learn that valuable notes were in the suit, so they go after Perry, who then invites the boys to watch him dive for a lost ship.  Two men stalk the Hardys and try to sabotage the diving operation.

I found it quite unbelievable that the boys are allowed to dive with no training whatsoever.  Other series books emphasize diving safety and have the characters go through training before going on a dive.  Not these boys!  They are ready to go with little knowledge.

I noticed that Chet's behavior has changed.  He is not interested at all in helping Frank and Joe solve mysteries.  I thought he had more interest in the earlier books.  Not only that, but other things seemed off to me.  The author was different for this book.  The series is in transition during this and subsequent volumes.

I did not enjoy this book.

Hardy Boys #14 Hidden Harbor and #15 Sinister Sign Post

In the original text of Hardy Boys #14, The Hidden Harbor Mystery, the Hardy boys and Chet barely survive a sinking ship while sailing home along the east coast.  Before the accident with the ship, the boys speak to Mr. Blackstone, who later accuses them of stealing his money.  The boys must clear themselves of the charge.

This book was outlined by Edna Stratemeyer Squier, and the story has her fingerprints all over it.  The entire plot is crazy from start to finish.  A group of black men has a secret society, and they kidnap an insane man.  A bunch of people later search for the insane man, planning to lynch him.  Yikes.

Speaking of lynching, the culprit leaves the boys a warning note attached to a rope, threatening to lynch them.  Chapter 23 is titled " 'Lynch Him!' "

This is a wild book.  The boys get on a derelict boat, which is highly dangerous.  Later, Frank steals some personal papers from a man and takes them to his father.  We are talking about actual theft.

I actually enjoy crazy books, if they interest me.  This book highly interested me, and I greatly enjoyed it.

In the original text of Hardy Boys #15, The Sinister Sign Post, a man named Vilnoff plans to blow up Bayport.  Meanwhile, a valuable racehorse is stolen, and the boys search for it.

On page 175, the Hardy boys are following a path that they believe will lead to the villain.  They hear noises from behind them, which indicates that someone is following them.  Suddenly, they discover a trapdoor in the middle of the path.  Joe suggests, "Maybe we could hide here until they pass."  Frank yanks the door open, and a foreigner hurls angry words at the boys.  What did they think would happen? 

I greatly enjoyed most of the story, but I felt it got rather stupid towards the end, so I lost interest.

Nancy Drew Auction Results for Books with Blank Endpapers

I took some screen captures of recent Nancy Drew auctions.  I don't have any particular comments to make.  What sold and for how much should be apparent in the images.  Click on each image to see a larger version.

Hardy Boys #12 Footprints Under the Window and #13 Mark on the Door

In the original text of Hardy Boys #12, Footprints Under the Window, the Hardy boys learn that the owner of their laundromat has disappeared and has been replaced by a sinister Chinaman.  Soon, the boys see Chinamen here, there, and everywhere.  They sneak into the Hardys' house, and they get into brawls down on the dock.  They have taken over Bayport just like the Centrovians did to River Heights in the Nancy Drew book, The Scarlet Slipper Mystery. 

It doesn't help that the Chinese are called "Chinamen," which is now an offensive term.  Every time another Chinaman showed up, I got annoyed.  They were everywhere!

Mr. and Mrs. Hardy got back from a trip right at the end of the last book, and at the beginning of this book, they are back on another trip.  What's up with that?

I could not stand this book, and I ended up skimming most of it.

I detected a change in story quality beginning with #10, and that book was the first one outlined by Edna Stratemeyer Squier.  Edna typically came up with crazy story ideas, and she outdid herself with Footprints Under the Window.

In the original text of Hardy Boys #13, The Mark on the Door, the Hardys travel to Mexico to find a missing witness, Elmer Tremmer, who can provide evidence that will bring a fake oil company to justice.

On page 169, Tremmer refuses to return to the United States with the Hardys.  He believes that he will be arrested and prosecuted for being part of the fake oil company.  The boys are "aggravated by his stupidity."  I disagree.  The boys are wrong to judge Tremmer.  I can see where Tremmer would be worried, and his logic makes sense to me.  For all Tremmer knows, he would be arrested for aiding the criminals.

A Yaqui Indian guides the boys while they trek around the Mexican countryside.  The Yaqui tells the boys to call him "Yaqui."  I mean, really.

The villain has a habit of branding the letter "P" on people's foreheads.  This is a bit gruesome.

I greatly enjoyed the book, and it was a relief to read it after the torture of the previous book.

Books Read in 2015

I read 231 books in 2015.  This is a list of what I read and in the order I read them.  I have also included a rough timeline of when I read them.

January:

Ken Holt #1-18
Hal Goodwin, Feathered Cape
Nancy Drew Diaries #8

February:

5 Brains Benton by Charles Morgan
Roger Baxter #1-3
John Bellairs, The House with a Clock in Its Walls
John Bellairs, The Figure in the Shadows
Louise Dickenson Rich, Star Island
Lovecraft Middle School #1-4
Magic Repair Shop #1-3

February/March:

Troy Nesbit, Sand Dune Pony
Troy Nesbit, Jinx of Payrock Canyon
Troy Nesbit, Indian Mummy Mystery
Troy Nesbit, Rustlers' Fort
Troy Nesbit, Diamond Cave
Troy Nesbit, Forest Fire
Franklin Folsom, Hidden Ruin
Franklin Folsom, Search in the Desert
Neal Shusterman, Unwholly
Neal Shusterman, Unsouled
Neal Shusterman, Undivided
Ted Wilford #14 SS Shamrock Mystery
3 Brandon Mull Five Kingdoms

April/May:

Cherry Ames #1-27
Biff Brewster #2-13

June:

Tom Quest #1-8
Nancy Drew Diaries #9
Sandy Steele #1-6
Mill Creek Irregulars #1-10

July/August/September:

August Derleth, Beast in Holger's Woods
Ted Wilford #15 Greenhouse Mystery
Brad Forrest #1-8
Secret Circle #1-11
Phyllis Whitney, Secret of the Spotted Shell
Ted Wilford #2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13
Phyllis Whitney, Mystery of the Gulls
Phyllis Whitney, Linda's Homecoming
Phyllis Whitney, Mystery of the Strange Traveler
Phyllis Whitney, Black Diamonds
Phyllis Whitney, Isle of Skye
Phyllis Whitney, Green Cat
Phyllis Whitney, Samurai Sword
Phyllis Whitney, Haunted Pool
Phyllis Whitney, Tiger's Eye
Phyllis Whitney, Golden Horn
Phyllis Whitney, Hidden Hand
Phyllis Whitney, Emerald Star
Phyllis Whitney, Angry Idol
Phyllis Whitney, Goblin Glen
Phyllis Whitney, Crimson Ghost
Phyllis Whitney, Missing Footprint
Phyllis Whitney, Vanishing Scarecrow
Phyllis Whitney, Scowling Boy
Phyllis Whitney, Haunted Mesa
Phyllis Whitney, Stone Face

October:

Teen Witch #1-4
Nancy Drew Diaries #10
Bret King #1-6
Canby Hall #1
Bret King #7-9

November/December:

Hardy Boys #1-11
Demitria Lunetta, In the After
Demitria Lunetta, In the End
Scott Cramer, Night of the Purple Moon
Alexandra Moody, Tainted
Hardy Boys #12-45

Some books stood out as excellent or outstanding books that I enjoyed far more than the average book.  The following books fit that category.

Ken Holt, Clue of the Phantom Car
5 Brains Benton by Charles Morgan
Roger Baxter #1-3
Magic Repair Shop #1-3
Troy Nesbit, Rustlers' Fort
Troy Nesbit, Diamond Cave
Troy Nesbit, Forest Fire
Franklin Folsom, Search in the Desert
Neal Shusterman, Undivided
Biff Brewster, Alaska Ghost Glacier
Sandy Steele, Fire at Red Lake
Mill Creek Irregulars, Watcher on the Heights
Hardy Boys, Hidden Harbor
Hardy Boys, Yellow Feather
Hardy Boys, Screeching Owl

There are also some books that come to mind as ones that I enjoyed the least.  I usually had to skim large portions of these books in order to get through them.

A large number of the Cherry Ames books
Both John Bellairs books
Sandy Steele, Black Treasure
Phyllis Whitney, Mystery of the Strange Traveler
Phyllis Whitney, Isle of Skye
Phyllis Whitney, Golden Horn
Phyllis Whitney, Hidden Hand
Phyllis Whitney, Vanishing Scarecrow
Hardy Boys, Footprints Under the Window
Hardy Boys, The Twisted Claw
Hardy Boys, Skull Mountain
Hardy Boys, Viking Symbol
Hardy Boys, Haunted Fort

The only books I had read before 2015 are Ken Holt #1-18, Unwholly, Unsouled, Five Kingdoms #1-2, and at least 41 of the Hardy Boys books.  So, around 63 books were repeats, and around 168 books were read for the first time.

Hardy Boys #10 What Happened at Midnight and #11 While the Clock Ticked

In the original text of Hardy Boys #10, What Happened at Midnight, the Hardy boys have an unpleasant encounter with a man in Bayport.  The man carries a grudge, and later, he kidnaps Joe. 

I have always remembered the scuffle in the automat at the beginning of this book.  The Hardy boys behave in a terrible fashion, and the owner of the automat is willing to ignore it since he feels that their actions are "harmless mischief."  If I had a business and young ruffians were creating a disturbance that affects other customers, I wouldn't be willing to put up with it.

Chet has a party, and waxed planks are placed across the lawn to create a dance floor.  That lawn must have been especially flat.

What a strange coincidence for the Hardy Boys to meet two government investigators while hitchhiking back from New York, and the two investigators just happen to be working on the same case.

I did not enjoy the last half of the book very much.  I did greatly enjoy the first half.

In the original text of Hardy Boys #11, While the Clock Ticked, Mr. Dalrymple wants Fenton Hardy to investigate who is somehow gaining entry to a locked room and leaving death threats.  Since Fenton Hardy is out of town, Mr. Dalrymple reluctantly agrees to let the Hardy boys work on the case.

This story is strange.  It annoyed me the way the Hardy boys' friends keep preventing them from investigating.

When the boys go with Dalrymple to check on the secret room for the first time, I thought it was odd that they don't search the house.  They finally search the house on their second visit, discovering stolen goods.

The culprit, who is insane, is fatally injured near the end of the story.  As soon as he is injured, his mind clears up and he admits that he had been crazy.  Right...

This story is not believable, and I didn't like it very much.