The Melted Coins

The plot of this Hardy Boys mystery is as complicated and difficult to summarize as Dickens's "Little Dorrit," and like that great novel, lends itself readily to a Marxist interpretation, since everything in it revolves around the theme of money - old coins, rare coins, counterfeit coins, buried coins, stolen coins, hidden coins, and of course the melted coins of the title. Freudians could also have a fun time with such episodes as the revelation of Aunt Gertrude's (clearly fetishistic) secret, and the homoerotic scene in which a maniac sailor captures Joe Hardy and starts to tattoo him on the chest!

I loved that my hometown Cleveland, Ohio was referenced in this story. The overall story is fabulous. It covers Indians on the reservation and in society. It briefly touches on a little known group of Indians known for the work building skyscrapers. The Smtihsonian Museum did an exhibit. I love how they interwove Indian history in the Hardy Boy story line. You do not have to read all the previous Hardy Boy stories to appreicate this story. Great read.

I first read this book 25-30 years ago. Just found it again after moving house and thought I'd read it. I used to love all the Hardy Boys books. This might have been exciting when I was younger but it is really a bit far fetched and unbelievable. A quick easy read though. I feel like I should re-read books from my childhood more often. Hopefully I'll like some of the others a bit more.

I first read this book 25-30 years ago. Just found it again after moving house and thought I'd read it. I used to love all the Hardy Boys books. This might have been exciting when I was younger but it is really a bit far fetched and unbelievable. A quick easy read though. I feel like I should re-read books from my childhood more often. Hopefully I'll like some of the others a bit more.

From memory it was one of the better ones in my opinion.

Very good condition

I liked this book along with the others in the series.