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The Hardy Boys Casefiles #1
Dead on Target
When Joe's girlfriend is killed in the blast of a terrorist bomb, Frank and Joe Hardy pursue a ruthless terrorist leader, the infamous Al-Rousasa, who has targeted a presidential candidate for assassination.
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
50 people are currently reading
867 people want to read
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
1,461Ìýbooks961ÌýfollowersFranklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors who were part of a team that wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate (now owned by Simon & Schuster). Dixon was also the writer attributed for the Ted Scott Flying Stories series, published by Grosset & Dunlap.
Canadian author Leslie McFarlane is believed to have written the first sixteen Hardy Boys books, but worked to a detailed plot and character outline for each story. The outlines are believed to have originated with Edward Stratemeyer, with later books outlined by his daughters Edna C. Squier and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. Edward and Harriet also edited all books in the series through the mid-1960s. Other writers of the original books include MacFarlane's wife Amy, John Button, Andrew E. Svenson, and Adams herself; most of the outlines were done by Adams and Svenson. A number of other writers and editors were recruited to revise the outlines and update the texts in line with a more modern sensibility, starting in the late 1950s.
The principal author for the Ted Scott books was John W. Duffield.
Canadian author Leslie McFarlane is believed to have written the first sixteen Hardy Boys books, but worked to a detailed plot and character outline for each story. The outlines are believed to have originated with Edward Stratemeyer, with later books outlined by his daughters Edna C. Squier and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. Edward and Harriet also edited all books in the series through the mid-1960s. Other writers of the original books include MacFarlane's wife Amy, John Button, Andrew E. Svenson, and Adams herself; most of the outlines were done by Adams and Svenson. A number of other writers and editors were recruited to revise the outlines and update the texts in line with a more modern sensibility, starting in the late 1950s.
The principal author for the Ted Scott books was John W. Duffield.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 23, 2009
I started out with Nancy Drew before realizing most of the girls in my class were reading ND while most of the boys were reading The Hardy Boys. Pssh! I crossed the divide and read BOTH!
I nearly went crazy trying to find all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. The public and school libraries had patchy collections; combined it was frustratingly close to complete. I started to keep a list. Then I learned there were spin-off series, the equally infinite Files/Casefiles and I think there was a Nancy Drew Summer Love series or some crap like that.
I remember this particular book because this is where I stopped reading them. Instead of the charmingly light fluff mystery or cheesy Scooby-Doo-like suspense, they killed Iola! This was almost 20 years ago, but I ended the book feeling like the Hardy boys had started off on a quest for vengeance, that now that they've used guns and were fighting terrorists they would no longer be the nice boys-next-door who were entertaining, useful, and generically good-looking, leaving you at your door with a tame peck on the cheek. The newly serious HBoyz were out for blood. The bubble burst and I realized all the hundreds of books had the same storyline. Ah, the newly awakened feeling of betrayal. Bye-bye, Ms. Drew, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Hardy. Thanks for keeping me reading.
The cover of this edition is not what I remember...I think there was a jeep with a gun mounted on the back. One Hardy boy was at the wheel, the other was at the gun, both were squinting with the speed of the driving. Huh.
I nearly went crazy trying to find all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. The public and school libraries had patchy collections; combined it was frustratingly close to complete. I started to keep a list. Then I learned there were spin-off series, the equally infinite Files/Casefiles and I think there was a Nancy Drew Summer Love series or some crap like that.
I remember this particular book because this is where I stopped reading them. Instead of the charmingly light fluff mystery or cheesy Scooby-Doo-like suspense, they killed Iola! This was almost 20 years ago, but I ended the book feeling like the Hardy boys had started off on a quest for vengeance, that now that they've used guns and were fighting terrorists they would no longer be the nice boys-next-door who were entertaining, useful, and generically good-looking, leaving you at your door with a tame peck on the cheek. The newly serious HBoyz were out for blood. The bubble burst and I realized all the hundreds of books had the same storyline. Ah, the newly awakened feeling of betrayal. Bye-bye, Ms. Drew, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Hardy. Thanks for keeping me reading.
The cover of this edition is not what I remember...I think there was a jeep with a gun mounted on the back. One Hardy boy was at the wheel, the other was at the gun, both were squinting with the speed of the driving. Huh.
December 21, 2014
Hi readers,
I read this book a few days ago and I was delighted to read a book like this. Actually this was the first book which I completed in my lifetime. I get bored of books and leave them unfinished . But this book kind of encouraged me to read books. From now on I only read The Hardy Boys Casefiles. STORY - Joe's girlfriend Iola dies from a bomb blast which was set for Joe, he wants to get revenge for Iola's death. MY REVIEW - This book is just awesome. It has some good suspense and the action sequences are also pretty good. I would suggest teenage readers to read this book.
This was my review on this book.
I hope it helps you! :D
I read this book a few days ago and I was delighted to read a book like this. Actually this was the first book which I completed in my lifetime. I get bored of books and leave them unfinished . But this book kind of encouraged me to read books. From now on I only read The Hardy Boys Casefiles. STORY - Joe's girlfriend Iola dies from a bomb blast which was set for Joe, he wants to get revenge for Iola's death. MY REVIEW - This book is just awesome. It has some good suspense and the action sequences are also pretty good. I would suggest teenage readers to read this book.
This was my review on this book.
I hope it helps you! :D
September 3, 2019
This book honestly started out pretty fantastic. The action is well-written and the characters actually have personality. But, by the end, I was very disappointed. The villain was set up to be someone very harsh and cruel, and he made so so many mistakes that led to his downfall. Mistakes that should not have been made according to what the book was setting him up to be. So overall, I have to say I'm pretty disappointed.
July 18, 2019
Very interesting read I liked it
November 7, 2021
My favorite Hardy Boys.
September 19, 2007
I used to read the shit out of these in elementary and junior high. I put this one up because it's the first of the "casefiles" which was the publishing company's attempt to modernize the old Frank and Joe franchise for a more modern audience. They started off with a bang, literally, killing off Joe Hardy's girlfriend Iola (who he'd been dating since about the mid-30's apparently) in a car bomb meant for the Hardys. Hilariously, I used to go to the Amarillo Public Library's Southwest Branch and choose these books based largely on the cover art. I remember being a bit crushed when, as a full grown literature grad student adult mind you, I discovered Franklin W. Dixon was not in fact a real person but the pen name for a syndicate of writers hired on a contracted basis by the publishing company of Grosset & Dunlap, most of whom penned between 3 and 6 titles under the Dixon monicker before moving on to the next freelance gig. The same is true of Carolyn Keene, the credited author of the Nancy Drew mysteries...another a syndicate in the employ of Grosset & Dunlap, and R.L. Stine, "author" of the ever-popular Goosebumps series for young readers, is another famous pseudonym for a writers' sweat shop. Anyway, only two stars because, let's face it, these are cheezy books, but Frank and Joe did help lead me down the road that led me to Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, so for that I'll give them due credit.
January 9, 2010
I'm giving this book five stars, not becaue the writing or plot is that good, but because like the first Mandie book, "Dead on Target" represents a change in reading for me. It was the point where I gave up the kid section and finally moved onto the 'teenage' section of the library. Hardy Boys were safe xD I got into some bad books those first few months, but Hardy Boys were something I could trust. And I still think it would be sweet to have their gray, bullet-proof van!
May 13, 2018
Franklin W. Dixon did an amazing job on his book Dead on Target which is the part of the Hardy boys series. He did a spectacular job describing the different situations the boys faced and always left the reader in suspense. The Fact that the boys were always fighting against the assassin and were trying to find him or even escaping his traps really added the the action packed books that the hardy boys portray. It really affected me an away because I was always wanting to read on. I never felt the thought in my head that I should do something else.
The way that Dixon writes the book is truly fascinating in the way that he never has a detail left out and he always makes sure that you are not bored or wondering what each situation that the boys were in felt or looked like. The many details he uses makes it so easy to create that movie in your head that should be with a well written books. The way that he comes up with the plot is very beneficial to the book because he always has the boys running for cover or fighting. The way that he writes deeply affected me was the way that the boys fight and think. They never just go out and fight they fight with a strategy. The scene when the boys were up in the plane when the assassin was there really kept me on the edge of my seat.
The book was truly fascinating and the story line was amazing. Over all the difficulty for the book was a bit to easy for me. I would recommend the book for people in 4th through 6th grade depending on the comprehension level you have. The book was truly great even though it was a bit to easy. Over all I give this book a 4 out of 5 star. It was a great book.
September 24, 2020
The only Hardy Boys series that was as good as the original series was CASEFILES, and given how hit or miss the quality of even that original series was, that may not be saying much. However, the first five works in this series serve as a wonderful loosely connected "PG-13" update to the series. I've read this series described as an attempt to bring The Hardy Boys into the world of James Bond and international intrigue. I would disagree with that description in that the adventures did not seem all that much more "international" than the original series, which often took place in multiple locales and countries and would involve secret societies and hidden government agencies. However, like all the Hardy Boys series even written, this series, after the 5th book, became hit or miss.
December 20, 2024
I love Nancy Drew and how fast the story progresses in that series, but Hardy Boys Casefiles isn't it. Nancy Drew might be cliché, but the ending of this book made me cringe. Maybe I was just not the target audience, since the chase scenes here were mostly formulaic for action movies, mostly targeted for men.
For me, I was expecting it to be all about getting clues, being a detective and all. Afterall, it is supposed to be a "casefile". Instead, I had a hard time going through this book mostly because of the plot.
I could only wish that the rest of the series isn't as bad as this one.
For me, I was expecting it to be all about getting clues, being a detective and all. Afterall, it is supposed to be a "casefile". Instead, I had a hard time going through this book mostly because of the plot.
I could only wish that the rest of the series isn't as bad as this one.
September 26, 2020
Overall I thought the story was interesting. Keeping in mind that I'm reading it in 2020 and the world has significantly changed from when it was originally published it still was a fun read. I don't expect much out of these books because they fall under young adult and the action is mostly PG these days. It was a fitting start to a new series. It's a quick read. A fairly decent start to a newer series. I would think it falls into the range of interesting to 11-13 year olds.
August 8, 2021
Hardy Boys mystery series was always one of my favorites as a kid. I read a few of the casefiles when I was a preteen but was never able to read all of them. It was great to read the series again.
Frank and Joe are two of the best brothers you could have. Their friend group is what everyone hopes to have. And their family is ideal.
This was a great introduction into the series. I hate how it started but it was a great mystery nonetheless.
Frank and Joe are two of the best brothers you could have. Their friend group is what everyone hopes to have. And their family is ideal.
This was a great introduction into the series. I hate how it started but it was a great mystery nonetheless.
May 9, 2022
umm.. I was really curious about the Hardy Boys series, and well I didn't expect it to be like that, I though fun teen investigations, not a hard core assassins ,terrorists', and actual death of people.. I think if I read this years ago I would have loved it , but now it just kind of lame, I got me a pile though and am planning to go through them. I might change my mind, but man old school adventure series is just...
December 19, 2018
This book has haunted me since I read back when I was in grade 7 or 8. This was definitely a turning point in my reading career and is among one of my all time favourite books, and possibly the only book I have read and reread about 10 times... it was just so hauntingly good...
August 8, 2017
Cheesy, of course. But still worth reading if you're a fan of the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys mysteries.
October 8, 2017
Just when I thought the stories couldn't be more interesting I read this.
January 6, 2018
I had a bunch of these books as a kid. They are pretty good for a high interest YA book.
June 16, 2018
Short and easy to read so I definitely enjoyed it as well as the relationship between the Hardy boys and their father. I would gladly read this book a second time.
August 16, 2018
This book is ridiculous, and I loved every second of it. Great, fast read for those days when you just want explosions.
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January 23, 2021Maybe my boys will like reading these when they're tween/teenagers
January 28, 2021
This was better than I thought Itd be! A quick easy read with semi predicatable plots is just what a busy week needs.
I missed the brothers.
I still love Frank hah.
I missed the brothers.
I still love Frank hah.
September 21, 2021
One of the very first novels I read growing up.
October 15, 2021
because iola died
November 18, 2021
loved it....
September 13, 2022
This is a little too mature for my grandsons. I’m glad I checked it out before ordering it as a Christmas gift. I enjoyed the book and look forward to sharing it with the boys in four years or so.
March 6, 2023
As usual hollywood cliché.
March 11, 2024
This was one of my favourite Hardy Boy mysteries growing up and I still really enjoyed it. Although my favourite brother has changed since then.
Minor language and kissing.
Minor language and kissing.
October 13, 2020
In the bomb blast that happened outside the mall in the Hardy's car in which joe Girlfriend Iola Morton in which terrorist Al-rousasa 'the bullet' was included he has planned to murder Philip Walker . Fenton Hardy and his sons are searching Al rousasa with help of The Grey man . Many times the hardy boys were attacked by Al rousasa . Al rousasa is in disguise a police man who is in charge of Philip Walker . In the last they found that policeman who is in charge of Philip Walker Is Al rousasa . Joe fought Al rousasa and throws him from The Mall roof.
February 27, 2017
The Casefiles take a more serious turn from the original Hardy Boys books, but, as an older teen, I enjoyed spending time with my favorite detective duo in a slightly more believable setting. While I was shocked they killed off Iola, I also feel like the new unpredictability of the series gave credibility to the more serious storylines.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
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