what became of Iola?

[curo]

she died in the first book of case files but how come she's around in the undercover brothers?

[SkyWarp]

The Undercover Brothers do not take place after the Casefiles.  In fact, they may be a total new universe as compared to the Casefiles and older books.  Thus Iola is alive. 

[tomswift2002]

As far as the UB's go, for the first 5 or 6 volumes of the regular novels, the books continue on with the continuity established in the Grosset & Dunlap/Digest lines where Iola didn't die.  But since then, it seems like the only continous thing in the series is ATAC, otherwise since #7 the continuity has been restarted with every book it seems. 

If you are looking as to how the continuity goes overall, here's a list:

Frank and Joe Hardy/The Hardy Boys Are: The Clues Brothers (1997-2000, boys are 7 and 8, respectively)

The Hardy Boys (1927-1979)

The Hardy Boys Digest (1979-2005)

Possible Alternate Universe: The Hardy Boys Casefiles (1987-1998)/
A Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Supermystery (1988-1998)/
A Hardy Boys and Tom Swift Ultra Thriller (1992-1993)

Definite Alternate Universe: The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers (2005-)
A Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery (2006-)

[tomswift2002]

Some people believe the Casefiles are the continuation of the Digest series and take place after #190 Motocross Madness, while others believe that the Casefiles start just after Digest #85 The Skyfire Puzzle, which in both cases mean the Hardy's first case at 15/16 was The Tower Treasure.  But with the #85 theory that means that in one universe Iola (Casefiles) died while she is alive (Digest) in the other. 

And the UB's take place in an unrelated universe.

[NZone]

OR ... the third option. This is a little known fact, but my brother's cousin's ex-wife's stepdaughter's great-uncle's friend's neighbor used to know a guy who took out the trash for the guy who cleaned the pool of one of the ghost-writers and in casefile 128, the hardy boys wake up and realize the whole casefiles series was a dream. Then they get a phone call from Iola who wants them to take her to the mall for a special surprise the day of the practice Philip Walker rally. The book was titled "WHAT??" and was supposed to close the casefiles. In case you haven't figured out by now I was making this all up.

[Jokerette]

she probably was alive because some writers never read some books. i know, i know, but Stefan Petrucha only read 1 Nancy Drew book and he is writing them!

[Olivia]

I agree with SkyWarp and tomswift2002.

For HB:UB, it's like they were trying to do some kind of continuity and then failed (as tomswift2002 pointed out). I wonder if the series can be considered a spin-off or something.

I've read that some consider the Casefiles to be a spin-off, but I suppose they used the term loosely. I think the point was to show that the main basis is Frank and Joe, obviously, but also includes their friends and their town, BUT for a older readership and more mature plots. Again it may or may not be a continuation from the Digests.

In HB:UB, they are on their own most of the time, doing ATAC's bidding.

[Sam Spade]

OR ... the third option. This is a little known fact, but my brother's cousin's ex-wife's stepdaughter's great-uncle's friend's neighbor used to know a guy who took out the trash for the guy who cleaned the pool of one of the ghost-writers and in casefile 128, the hardy boys wake up and realize the whole casefiles series was a dream. Then they get a phone call from Iola who wants them to take her to the mall for a special surprise the day of the practice Philip Walker rally. The book was titled "WHAT??" and was supposed to close the casefiles. In case you haven't figured out by now I was making this all up.

You're a real sarcastic fella aren't you, n_zone.

[SDLagent]

As far as the continuities/universes go, I have an article on The Hardy Boys Wiki, about the different continuities.

http://hardyboys.wikia.com/wiki/Continuities

[JH4]

She is never seen or heard from again

[Olivia]

This is nothing new (and I probably pointed out this link before) but here's more info if anyone's interested - scroll down to #3.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/5567/faq.html

[Bigfootman]

Ioa seems to be slowly being earsed from the UBs

[bozonessinc]

Well she was in Murder at the mall. Maybe next she will be another book, what do we know really at the moment.

[003Robin457]

Ubs came before Murder at the mall if they are even in the same universe. I think she is alive. First of all NO body, major hint there.

[Olivia]

How did the UBs come before Murder at the Mall when MATM is a UB?

You have a point about "no body", but if she was literally/for sure burnt to a crisp there wouldn't be one.