The adventure begins with Elroy Jefferson offering Frank and Joe the use of his remote cabin over the Christmas holidays and asking them to solve two mysteries. The first is the disappearance of a collection of valuable medals some years previously and the second, the rather more recent disappearance of his grandson who has gone missing from boarding school. Along with Chet and Biff, the Hardys are soon up to their necks in trouble and snow on the eponymous island.
Unlike the preceding few volumes in the series, the boys aren't up against great gangs of organised criminals but a single, determined thief and his two scheming henchmen. This, combined with the winter setting give the book a differerent feel to the earlier books. The action is just as fast paced however, the only difference being a more snowy aspect. Instead of speedboat chases, it's iceboat crashes, and a snowstorm so powerful it threatens to bury them in their cabin. A great example of the early series, this is again just different enough to stop the whole series from feeling overtly formulaic. ( )

Highly recommend this book. If you have to read one Hardy Boys book (after the first one) read this one. It is reallllly good. ( )