The Hardys tackle demons! (The Hardy Boys: Demon's Den - Franklin W. Dixon)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	The Hardy Boys: Demon's Den - Franklin W. Dixon
Date:	23/04/09 (90 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Plot, characterisation, delivery

Disadvantages: Nothing really

Demon's Den is the 81st Hardy Boys book to be published. It comprises good storytelling, a believable plot, and steps it up a notch on the scare factor for those of you who find the Hardy Boys books a bit tame at times.

The Hardy Boys are brothers Frank and Joe Hardy, and the magic of the books is that, in every one, they are 18 and 17 years old respectively. This maintains the same perspective and target audience throughout the books, since the first one was published in the late 1920s. They often find themselves sought out by someone to help solve a crime, which I find a little unbelievable, as they are teenage boys. However, there are the occasional books where they are on holiday and adventure falls into their laps, and this is one of those books.

Demon's Den sees the brothers on holiday in Vermont, and wind up trying to help find a missing person. Their search, initially just a helping hand, soon turns into a deeper mystery as they uncover a sinister cult that just may convince them that the devil is about to pounce on them! The plot does get a little scientific at times, particularly when genetics starts entering the equation, but everything is held in check enough for its target audience to understand. I enjoyed the plot, and felt that it was a well balanced exploration of the occult. I am no expert, but at no point did it seem too far fetched.

For once, the characterisation is used to good effect to show just how realistic the cult and all of its mysteries seem to the brothers. At times, panic and fright do set in and seem intent on staying, and it is good to see Frank and Joe explored a bit more than usual. Characterisation is similarly thorough with a lot of the other characters, too.

The plot is a little darker than the regular Hardy Boys book. That is to say, we don't get the usual criminal gang that has stolen something or put someone's life in danger. This dangles dangerously close with the occult and demons, and at time it is quite vivid. Hence the dark nature of the book! However, it still remains within the boundaries of hitting its target audience of teenage boys, and doesn't go overboard with its language or fear factor. It is, in essence, still rather tame when compared with more adult books that deal with similar plot elements.

Overall, a commendable Hardy Boys book, not quite the same as the others. It gets quite borderline on its content and isn't the best I have read, but it's up there in the top 5 or so, and with over a hundred to choose from, that's pretty good going. It's hard to get the book in the UK, and currently amazon.co.uk can only offer up two used hardback copies, each over £50! However, it's readily available from amazon.com for a low price, just beware of the P&P.

Summary: One of the best Hardy Boys books