December 2011 Book Club - #147 Trial and Terror

tomswift2002 · December 11, 2011, 08:44:28 AM

Trial and Terror
Published December 1997

Post your thoughts and comments on this Hardy Boys Christmas adventure here.

MacGyver · December 11, 2011, 10:10:28 PM

Christmas adventure? Okay- didn't realize it was set at Christmas. I will have to dig it out and give it a quick reread through before I can comment further- but that right there got me interested. It's been quite a while since I first read this one, but I do recall liking it pretty well at the time.

tomswift2002 · December 15, 2011, 10:20:53 PM

I was just reading page 19 at work, and I noticed that at the top of the page the book (which is only 14 years old this month) dates itself by having Frank see the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in his rear view mirror.

MacGyver · December 16, 2011, 07:54:21 AM

Yeah- wow, now that just serves as a sad reminder of recent history...

tomswift2002 · December 16, 2011, 07:09:56 PM

I was reading more of the book today, and I was amazed at just how mature Frank and Joe are in this book at the ages of 18 & 17, respectively. No one seems to be saying that the boys are just kids, and being a court PI should be left to adults. That's something that you just don't see in the UB's and it's something tha t the UB's were sorely lacking.

tomswift2002 · December 19, 2011, 05:21:43 PM

I finished the book last night and I would have to give the story a 7.5 out of 10. It's too bad we didn't get any scenes in Bayport (since the boys went there), but it was nice to see that even in the middle of a case Frank had time to pick up a ring for Callie for Christmas.

MacGyver · December 20, 2011, 01:17:56 PM

Well, even with their busy schedules of going to school (sometimes) and participating in school sporting events (track and football and basketball and soccer and baseball and probably others at times) and solving mysteries throughout the year (mainly on weekends and holidays and vacations, etc.) - Frank and Joe Hardy still manage to make time for their girlfriends and other friends and family.

And yes- that's good to see that Frank got a ring for Callie for Christmas. Does the book mention if Joe got anything for Iola?

tomswift2002 · December 22, 2011, 11:34:19 AM

The book doesn't say, just that Joe mentions they'll still have time for Christmas shopping after the case is over (since the case only takes from midday on Monday till Wdnesday evening in a single week of December).