Written by Franklin W. Dixon & Illustrated by Leslie Morrill
SUMMARY:
Published in 1980 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. this 184-page mystery paperback has teen detectives Frank and Joe Hardy tangled up in two seemingly unrelated cases. In one instance, a missing girl, Sue Linwood, is believed to have joined a secretive religious cult. Or was she abducted by the thuggish Children of Noah?
The Hardys’ other case pertains to a sudden rash of vandalism and theft-related offenses linked to The Apeman, a popular comic book super-hero, now with his own high-profile TV series. Could these bizarre costumed Apeman appearances be a misguided publicity stunt, or is there a far more nefarious purpose? Frank & Joe must work fast to find definitive answers before they become the ruthless culprit’s next target.
REVIEW:
Clearly inspired by The Incredible Hulk TV series, including some winks at the perennial Marvel Comics-DC Comics rivalry, the Apeman case proves great fun. The Sue Linwood subplot is relegated to the back-burner amidst the Hardys’ involvement in the Apeman shenanigans. Despite a growing incentive to find Sue, the Hardys’ repeated clashes with the Children of Noah cult become far more about exposing the cult’s sinister agenda than discovering the girl’s fate. Hence, Sue’s sub-plot is far too abruptly and conveniently resolved in the finale to be considered a fair resolution.
Also, the author’s repetitive references to the Hardys’ pal, Chet, as i.e. “chubby,” “rotund,” etc. weakens whatever scenes Chet participates in. Describing Chet’s appearance once would have been sufficient, especially as illustrator Leslie Morrill’s black-and-white sketches competently fill in any visual gaps.
Finally, where this book falls flat is its contrived crossover between the two mysteries. Though such clichés are expected for this particular genre, the bland links the Hardys establish between these two cases make for forgettable reading. Even if it doesn’t age particularly well, The Apeman’s Secret remains a decent find for Hardy Boys fans.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
None.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars
