Frank and Joe Hardy investigate a deserted house on a cliff above the bay and uncover a smuggling ring that has captured their father
Screams above Barmet Bay
Frank and Joe Hardy set out to explore an old, supposedly empty house on a cliff overlooking Barmet Bay, but they are frightened away by a scream and the feeling that someone is watching them. Their father, the detective Fenton Hardy, is investigating a smuggling operation along the coast, and the boys suspect the house is connected. When their father disappears, they must find the gang's hiding place among the caves and passages beneath the cliff.
Who will enjoy it
Young readers who love action-packed mysteries, fans of the first Hardy Boys book, and anyone who enjoys stories of secret caves and smugglers.
What you will get
A classic Hardy Boys adventure in which the brothers explore a spooky clifftop house and hunt for smugglers in the caves below after their father vanishes.
The House on the Cliff Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Children’s Books · Hardy Boys · Smugglers · Coastal caves
Length
180 pages · ≈ 5 h
More about this book
The creepy house, mysterious scream and hidden caves make this one of the most atmospheric early Hardy Boys books. The setting along the rocky coast gives the story a sense of adventure, and the brothers' expedition with their friends feels like a real exploration. Short chapters with cliffhanger endings keep the pages turning, which makes it a good choice for reluctant readers.
Frank and Joe are bold and resourceful, and their determination to rescue their father gives the second half real urgency. Chet Morton, their good-natured friend, provides comic relief, and the brothers' teamwork is at the centre of every action scene. The secret passages and smugglers' boat are classic adventure material that young readers will enjoy. Fenton Hardy's quiet confidence in his sons, and their eagerness to prove themselves, also gives the story a warm family thread.
The version in print is the revised text from the late nineteen fifties, simplified and fast-paced. The characters are fairly thin, and adults may find the plotting improbable. For young readers looking for a fast, exciting mystery with caves, boats and a daring rescue, it does exactly what it promises. About 180 pages in the Grosset & Dunlap hardcover; retail listings say 192.
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