Book Review: Hunting for Hidden Gold by Franklin W. Dixon (Hardy Boys #5)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Action, fast moving plot

Cons: Thin characters, as always

The Bottom Line:

Trip to Montana

Hunting thieves and some lost gold

Action packed story

Thieves and Gold Out West

I always wanted to read Hunting for Hidden Gold.  I mean, who doesn’t want to go on a treasure hunt?  And when the Hardy Boys are leading the treasure hunt, all the better.  I didn’t get my hands on a copy as a kid, but I was able to snag one as an adult.  It’s a Hardy Boys book, but it’s a fun one.

Frank and Joe Hardy are on an expedition with their friends when they get a summons from their father.  He’s been working on a case out West, Montana to be specific, and he needs their help.  Before they leave, they learn about a fortune in gold that was lost there years ago.

They quickly book tickets to join their dad, but the journey itself is filled with danger.  When they arrive, they learn that their dad was on the trail of a gang of thieves, and there is a suspected mole in the nearby town.  Who is it?  Where is the gang hiding out?  And what about the gold?

When you pick up a Hardy Boys book, you know you are going to get plenty of action.  That’s certainly the case here.  In fact, I was a little surprised at how quickly it started and how much danger the Hardys faced.  I’m not complaining; I was along for every twist and turn of the plot.  I was even impressed that there was a bit of a mystery as to who the mole was for most of the book.  Normally, the Hardys figure things like that out fairly quickly, so it was a nice change.

Of course, the characters are thin, which is common in the series.  Most of the regulars, even their father, only have cameos.  This is really Frank and Joe’s show.  I had trouble keeping a few of the supporting players straight, and it would have been nice if they had more personality, or easier to differentiate names, but that’s a minor complaint.

As a kid, I never really noticed the dated elements, but they are very obvious to me now.  Of course, there’s also been more time since I read them as a kid.  A few things or references might confuse kids, but I suspect most of them won’t notice as long as they know going in.

Overall, this is another fun book that kill entertain middle graders.  Even adults will enjoy the nostalgia of Hunting for Hidden Gold.