First published in 1927, The Hardy Boys Series by Franklin W. Dixon has sold 70 million copies and continues to rise as new generations discover Frank and Joe’s bold capers. But, then, how many Hardy Boys books are there? Reading to find out more.
What Are Hardy Boys books?
Hardy Boys, literary brothers Frank and Joe Hardy, the teenage heroes of a 1927 American juvenile puzzle book series.
Frank and Joe learn criminal detection from their father, Fenton, a former policeman. The boys investigate crimes alongside their dad and friends. Edward Stratemeyer designed and plotted the sequence.
Franklin W. Dixon, a pseudonym used by several authors, wrote over 40 Hardy books for the Stratemeyer Literary Syndicate.
From 1927, when The Tower Treasure and two more Hardy Boys books were published, this show was continuously published. The 1987–98 Hardy Boys Casefiles series averaged ten names per year.
Dixon and Carolyn Keene wrote The Nancy Drew Hardy Boys Super Mysteries, featuring the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, from 1988 to 1998.
The brothers also wrote two novels with Tom Swift (1992, 1993) and the Clues Brothers (1997–2000) for younger readers.
The Hardy Boys became the Undercover Brothers again in 2005. After 2012, The Hardy Boy Adventures premiered.
The Hardy Boys appeared in three 1950s American TV shows: a 1969–1971 animated series, a 1977–79 show, and a 1977–79 show about Nancy Drew. 1995 saw another series.
How Many Hardy Boys Books Are There?
The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories, sometimes known as Hardy Boys Mysteries, is the longest-running series. 190 volumes were published from 1927 to 2005, but only the first 58 are considered canonical.
The Hardy Boys Adventures heroes appeared in 127 Case Files volumes and 39 Undercover Brothers volumes.
The boys have appeared in solo books like The Hardy Boys Ghost Stories and crossovers with Nancy Drew and Tom Swift.
Publication Order of The Hardy Boys Books
- The Tower Treasure (1927)
- The House on the Cliff (1927)
- The Secret of the Old Mill (1927)
- The Missing Chums (1928)
- Hunting for Hidden Gold (1928)
- The Shore Road Mystery (1928)
- The Mystery of Cabin Island (1929)
- The Secret of the Caves (1929)
- The Great Airport Mystery (1930)
- What Happened at Midnight (1931)
- While the Clock Ticked (1932)
- Footprints Under the Window (1933)
- The Mark on the Door (1934)
- The Hidden Harbor Mystery (1935)
- The Sinister Sign Post (1936)
- A Figure in Hiding (1937)
- The Secret Warning (1938)
- The Twisted Claw (1939)
- The Disappearing Floor (1940)
- Mystery of the Flying Express (1941)
- The Clue of the Broken Blade (1942)
- The Flickering Torch Mystery (1943)
- The Short-Wave Mystery (1945)
- The Secret Panel (1946)
- The Phantom Freighter (1947)
- The Secret of Skull Mountain (1948)
- The Sign of the Crooked Arrow (1949)
- The Secret of the Lost Tunnel (1950)
- The Wailing Siren Mystery (1951)
- The Secret of Wildcat Swamp (1952)
- The Crisscross Shadow (1953)
- The Yellow Feather Mystery (1953)
- The Hooded Hawk Mystery (1954)
- The Clue in the Embers (1955)
- The Secret of Pirates’ Hill (1956)
- The Ghost at Skeleton Rock (1957)
- The Mystery of the Chinese Junk (1959)
- Mystery at Devil’s Paw (1959)
- Mystery of the Desert Giant (1960)
- The Clue of the Screeching Owl (1962)
- The Viking Symbol Mystery (1962)
- The Mystery of the Aztec Warrior (1964)
- The Haunted Fort (1964)
- The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge (1965)
- The Secret Agent on Flight 101 (1967)
- Mystery of the Whale Tattoo (1967)
- The Arctic Patrol Mystery (1969)
- The Bombay Boomerang (1970)
- The Melted Coins (1970)
- Danger on Vampire Trail (1971)
- The Masked Monkey (1972)
- The Shattered Helmet (1973)
- The Clue of the Hissing Serpent (1974)
- The Mysterious Caravan (1975)
- The Witchmaster’s Key (1975)
- The Jungle Pyramid (1976)
- The Firebird Rocket (1978)
- The Sting of the Scorpion (1978)
- Mystery of the Samurai Sword (1979)
- The Pentagon Spy (1980)
- The Apeman’s Secret (1980)
- The Mummy Case (1980)
- The Vanishing Thieves (1980)
- The Infinity Clue (1981)
- The Outlaw’s Silver (1981)
- The Four-Headed Dragon (1981)
- The Crimson Flame (1981)
- The Stone Idol (1981)
- The Submarine Caper (1981)
- Track of the Zombie (1982)
- Game Plan for Disaster (1982)
- The Billion Dollar Ransom (1982)
- The Voodoo Plot (1982)
- Trapped at Sea (1982)
- Cave-In (1983)
- Sky Sabotage (1983)
- The Demon’s Den (1984)
- The Blackwing Puzzle (1984)
- The Roaring River Mystery (1984)
- Tic-Tac-Terror (1984)
- The Skyfire Puzzle (1985)
- The Swamp Monster (1985)
- Revenge of the Desert Phantom (1985)
- The Mystery of the Silver Star (1987)
- Program for Destruction (1987)
- The Shadow Killers (1988)
- The Serpent’s Tooth Mystery (1988)
- Shield of Fear (1988)
- Tricky Business (1988)
- Sky Blue Frame (1988)
- Danger on the Air (1989)
- Dungeon of Doom (1989)
- Breakdown in Axeblade (1989)
- Wipeout (1989)
- Cast of Criminals (1989)
- Terminal Shock (1990)
- Smoke Screen Mystery (1990)
- Tricks of the Trade (1990)
- The Secret of the Island Treasure (1990)
- The Money Hunt (1990)
- Night of the Werewolf (1990)
- The Million Dollar Nightmare (1990)
- Attack of the Video Villains (1991)
- The Prime-Time Crime (1991)
- The Secret of Sigma Seven (1991)
- Panic on Gull Island (1991)
- Fear on Wheels (1991)
- Three-Ring Terror (1991)
- Rock ‘N’ Roll Renegades (1992)
- Demolition Mission (1992)
- Radical Moves (1992)
- The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals (1992)
- Sabotage at Sports City (1992)
- The Baseball Card Conspiracy (1992)
- No Way Out (1993)
- Carnival of Crime (1993)
- Danger in the Fourth Dimension (1993)
- Trouble at Coyote Canyon (1993)
- Danger on the Diamond (1993)
- Spark of Suspicion (1993)
- The Case of the Cosmic Kidnapping (1993)
- The Mystery in the Old Mine (1993)
- Robot’s Revenge (1993)
- Day of the Dinosaur (1994)
- Mystery With A Dangerous Beat (1994)
- Mystery on Makatunk Island (1994)
- Racing to Disaster (1994)
- Reel Thrills (1994)
- The Treasure at Dolphin Bay (1994)
- The Hypersonic Secret (1995)
- Cross-Country Crime (1995)
- Sidetracked To Danger (1995)
- Crusade of the Flaming Sword (1995)
- Maximum Challenge (1995)
- Crime in the Kennel (1995)
- Slam Dunk Sabotage (1996)
- The Alaskan Adventure (1996)
- The Desert Thieves (1996)
- The Search for the Snow Leopard (1996)
- High Speed Showdown (1996)
- The Cold Cash Caper (1996)
- The Secret of Skeleton Reef (1997)
- The Giant Rat of Sumatra (1997)
- Lost in Gator Swamp (1997)
- Terror at High Tide (1997)
- The Mark of the Blue Tattoo (1997)
- Trial and Terror (1997)
- The Rocky Road to Revenge (1998)
- The Chase for the Mystery Twister (1998)
- The Ice Cold Case (1998)
- Danger in the Extreme (1998)
- Eye on Crime (1998)
- The Caribbean Cruise Caper (1999)
- A Will to Survive (1999)
- The London Deception (1999)
- The Hunt for the Four Brothers (1999)
- The Lure of the Italian Treasure (1999)
- Daredevils (2000)
- A Game Called Chaos (2000)
- Training for Trouble (2000)
- The End of the Trail (2000)
- Skin & Bones (2000)
- The Spy That Never Lies (2000)
- Kickoff to Danger (2001)
- Trouble Times Two (2001)
- Crime in the Cards (2001)
- Ghosts of a Chance (2001)
- Past and Present Danger (2001)
- The Castle Conundrum (2001)
- The Test Case (2002)
- Trouble In Warp Space (2002)
- Speed Times Five (2002)
- Hide-and-Sneak (2002)
- Trick-or-Trouble (2002)
- In Plane Sight (2002)
- Typhoon Island (2003)
- The Case of the Psychic’s Vision (2003)
- The Mystery of the Black Rhino (2003)
- Passport to Danger (2003)
- Double Jeopardy (2003)
- The Secret of the Soldier’s Gold (2003)
- Warehouse Rumble (2004)
- The Dangerous Transmission (2004)
- Wreck and Roll (2004)
- Hidden Mountain (2004)
- Farming Fear (2004)
- One False Step (2005)
- Motocross Madness (2005)
- Mystery of Smugglers Cove (2005)
Publication Order of The Hardy Boys: Secret Files Books
- The Missing Mitt (2010)
- Trouble at the Arcade (2010)
- Mystery Map (2010)
- Hopping Mad (2010)
- A Monster of a Mystery (2011)
- The Bicycle Thief (2011)
- The Disappearing Dog (2011)
- Sports Sabotage (2012)
- The Great Coaster Caper (2012)
- A Rockin’ Mystery (2012)
- Robot Rumble (2013)
- Lights, Camera . . . Zombies! (2013)
- Balloon Blow-Up (2013)
- Fossil Frenzy (2014)
- Ship of Secrets (2014)
- Camping Chaos (2014)
- The Great Escape (2015)
- Medieval Upheaval (2015)
- The Race Is On (2015)
Publication Order of Hardy Boys: Clues Brothers Books
- The Karate Clue (1997)
- The Gross Ghost Mystery (1997)
- First Day, Worst Day (1997)
- The Abracadabra Case (1998)
- The Doggone Detectives (1998)
- Jump Shot Detectives (1998)
- The Dinosaur Disaster (1998)
- Who Took the Book? (1998)
- The Pumped-Up Pizza Problem (1998)
- The Walking Snowman (1998)
- Slip, Slide, and Slap Shot (1999)
- All Eyes on First Prize (1999)
- The Monster in the Lake (1999)
- King For A Day (1999)
- Pirates Ahoy! (1999)
- The Fish-Faced Mask of Mystery (2000)
- The Bike Race Ruckus (2000)
Publication Order of Hardy Boys Adventures Books
- Secret of the Red Arrow (2013)
- Mystery of the Phantom Heist (2013)
- The Vanishing Game (2013)
- Into Thin Air (2013)
- Peril at Granite Peak (2014)
- Battle of Bayport (2014)
- Shadows at Predator Reef (2014)
- Deception on the Set (2015)
- The Curse of the Ancient Emerald (2015)
- Tunnel of Secrets (2015)
- Showdown at Widow Creek (2016)
- The Madman of Black Bear Mountain (2016)
- Bound for Danger (2016)
- Attack of the Bayport Beast (2017)
- A Con Artist in Paris (2017)
- Stolen Identity (2018)
- The Gray Hunter’s Revenge (2018)
Publication Order of Hardy Boys and Tom Swift Ultra Thriller Books
- Time Bomb (1992)
- The Alien Factor (1993)
If you happen to be interested in other famous series, go check out How Many Hank The Cowdog Books Are There? Best 2024 before reading on.
Publication Order of Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers Books
- Blown Away (1996)
- Rocky Road (1998)
- Boardwalk Bust (2005)
- Extreme Danger (2005)
- Thrill Ride (2005)
- Burned (2005)
- Running on Fumes (2005)
- Operation (2005)
- Top Ten Ways to Die (2006)
- The Mummy’s Curse (2006)
- Martial Law (2006)
- Hurricane Joe (2006)
- Trouble in Paradise (2006)
- Hazed (2007)
- Death and Diamonds (2007)
- Bayport Buccaneers (2007)
- Murder at the Mall (2007)
- Pushed (2007)
- House Arrest (2008)
- Feeding Frenzy (2008)
- Comic Con Artist (2008)
- Haunted (2008)
- Murder House (2008)
- Deprivation House (2008)
- Double Trouble (2008)
- Double Down (2008)
- X-plosion (2009)
- Double Deception (2009)
- Galaxy X (2009)
- The X-Factor (2009)
- Movie Menace, Hardy Boys #37 (2011)
- Movie Mission (2011)
- Hardy Boys #39 (2012)
Publication Order of Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers Super Mystery Books
- Wanted (2006)
- Kidnapped at the Casino (2007)
Publication Order of Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Super Mystery Books
- Terror on Tour (2007)
- Danger Overseas (2008)
- Club Dread (2009)
- Gold Medal Murder (2010)
- Bonfire Masquerade (2011)
- Stage Fright (2012)
Publication Order of Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Super Mystery (II) Books
By: Carolyn Keene, Franklin W. Dixon
- Terror on Tour (2007)
- Danger Overseas (2008)
- Club Dread (2009)
- Gold Medal Murder (2010)
- Bonfire Masquerade (2011)
- Stage Fright (2012)
FAQs
When were Hardy Boy books first published?
American young adult mystery series featuring fictitious brothers Frank and Joe Hardy as teenagers. First released in 1927. In the television series The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Parker Stevenson plays Frank Hardy, and Shaun Cassidy portrays Joe Hardy (1977–79).
How long does it take to read a Hardy Boys book?
At 250 WPM, the typical reader will finish this book in 3 hours and 0 minutes (words per minute). How fast do you read books like this?
Which Hardy Boy book is rarest?
Furthermore, the very first edition of volume 11, While The Clock Ticked, is rare and possibly the most precious of all Hardy Boys books.
Are Hardy Boy books valuable?
Just like the majority of series books, the old printings and earlier variants are the most precious. In the event of the Hardy Boys, a dust coat is vital to appreciate. The marketplace is heavily bombarded with Hardy Boy books.
What grade level are the Hardy Boy books?
The Hardy Boys reading level is for ages 8-12, or grades 3-7.
What age are the Hardy Boy books for?
Hardy Boys Clue Books: 6-9 years old. The Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers: 8-12 years old. Original Series: Around 8-12 years old. The Hardy Boys Casefiles: Approximately 12-15 years old.
Should you read the Hardy Boys books in order?
You do not have to see them in any sequence.
What is the most expensive book in the world?
the Codex Leicester
The entire record for the most expensive book ever sold is a science fiction book: the Codex Leicester, a fancy title for Leonardo da Vinci’s science journal. It was bought in 1994 for $30.8 million ($53.5 million).
Conclusion
The Hardy Boys books are popular among readers because they are full of adventure and suspense. The characters are likable, and the stories are well-written. These books are a great way to escape from reality and into a world of excitement. Thank you for reading!
