Hardy Boys Clue Book Fall Mysteries 3-in-1 by Franklin W. Dixon is a compilation of three short stories featuring two brothers, Frank and Joe, as they solve mysteries.
In The Bad Luck Skate, Frank and Joe are excited to cheer on their friends on the Bayport Checkers hockey team. However, the mood darkens when someone dumps paint all over the team’s lucky skate, and then their friend’s hockey stick breaks. The team’s star player and goalie begin to worry that their luck has run out. Has the team’s luck really run out, or is someone trying to sabotage them?
In The Pirate Ghost, the brothers’ friend Jason wins a treasure map during Bayport’s Pirate Palooza. However, Jason receives a warning telling him not to hunt for the treasure. Is the legendary ghost of Captain Scurvydog warning people of a deadly curse, or is someone more human trying to mess with Jason?
In The Great Pumpkin Smash, the brothers are excited to attend Bayport’s annual Boo at the Zoo party. They look forward to participating in the activities but are devastated to discover that all the painted pumpkins on display have been completely destroyed. The duo must find the culprit, or the annual event will be canceled.
The book took a bit of time to get into. I felt like the first story was a bit stilted and boring. However, as I read on, I found the other stories more enjoyable. I thought the last story was the best because it had better pacing and a more engaging storyline. The first story felt more like someone was presenting a case, giving us all the details, and asking us to figure out who the culprit was, while the last story read more like an actual story.
I do like that there are three short stories in one book, and I enjoy autumn-themed mysteries. However, since all three stories are included in the same book, I felt that some of the repetitive details weren't necessary, especially when the same information was repeated in every story. I also found Aunt Trudy’s character a bit bizarre and didn't understand why she was written that way.
I did enjoy the format of reading about the crime and the brothers’ investigation of the suspects, followed by questions that let readers guess who the culprit is before the answer is revealed. I was able to guess two out of the three mysteries before the culprits were revealed. Overall, I think this is a good starting point for budding mystery fans.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.
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