After the last book I read, I decided that I just needed to read something simple and fun. So, I picked the Hardy Boys, which I’ve always enjoyed reading since I was a boy. Sure the plots and characterizations are simple and at times silly, but I find these books to be good clean fun.

The Hardy boys, Frank and Joe, investigate the theft of a car and later the robbery of the “Tower Mansion”. There’s not a lot of action or suspense or really even much mystery to be found here. The clues that eventually lead to the solution of these crimes and the capture of the criminal seem to just drop into the boys’ laps. At time’s it seems that one or the other of the brothers will have a spark of inspiration and it usually pans out. There never seems to be a whole lot of effort required from them to solve the crime or track down the clues.

All that aside, I still enjoy reading these books. The story was fun and interesting, even if it wasn’t all that complicated. I think the fun comes in imagining that I could be involved in such exciting events. There is always that part of us that finds solving mysteries appealing.

So many kids’ books these days borrow the same basic formula from classics like the Hardy boys. The Harry Potter series, the Spiderwick Chronicles, and others continue to entertain and intrigue by placing young kids in situations where they can accomplish great things that adults seem unable or unwilling to.

I keep these books around for my kids to read. But, I still enjoy reading them myself when I need a little break from more intelligent and involved fare.

Patrick writes: "I like the tower treasure. It is cool, because of Joe and frank." --28 May 2009. ( )

Yes, as a kid I was a rabid Hardy Boys fan--and I tried to infect my sons with the meme but as soon as I pointed out (innocently) that all the brothers' adventures seem to take place the same summer, when Frank was eighteen and Joe, his fair-haired sibling, was seventeen, they seemed to lose all interest. Cynical little punters... ( )

I thought this book was really good. Even though the series has been around a while, it was still interesting to read and I enjoyed it.

When the Hardy's wealthy neighbor is robbed, Joe and Frank are asked by their father to help solve the case.