Mr. Pizza's Hardy Boys Forum

Hardy Boys Casefiles Discussion => Hardy Boys Casefiles => Topic started by: tomswift2002 on March 15, 2019, 06:19:27 PM

Title: #23 Disaster For Hire (30th Anniversary Review)
Post by: tomswift2002 on March 15, 2019, 06:19:27 PM
Disaster For Hire
Written by: Ron Goulart
Other Hardy Boys stories by author: Casefiles #30 "The Deadliest Dare" & #44 "Castle Fear"
Published: January 1989

Plot: Fenton Hardy is missing and is accused of murder!  Frank and Joe race to Seattle to clear their father's name and to find out just where is Fenton Hardy!

Review:  I remember reading this book for the first time back around 1995-96 and I think I e read it since, but aside from a foggy recollection of Fenton's arrest, I don't really recall the book. 

"Disaster For Hire" seems to take place only a few weeks after "Double Exposure" as "Double Exposure" was taking place at the end of August, beginning of September, while "Disaster For Hire" takes place in late-September (although I kind of question the September part, as apparently all the bad guys are running around wearing parkas and winter coats.  I think Seattle's at about the same latitude as Ottawa, and in late September in the Ottawa area you only really need a windbreaker/light coat, not a winter parka!
Title: Re: #23 Disaster For Hire (30th Anniversary Review)
Post by: MacGyver on March 16, 2019, 09:13:09 PM
I read this book years ago and remember very little except that I think this is one that has one of my favourite Joe Hardy one-liners! :) ;D 8)
Title: Re: #23 Disaster For Hire (30th Anniversary Review)
Post by: tomswift2002 on March 17, 2019, 05:20:54 AM
Which one-liner was that?

Anyway, I'm finding that this book is similar to Breadown in Axeblade.
Title: Re: #23 Disaster For Hire (30th Anniversary Review)
Post by: MacGyver on March 17, 2019, 10:12:41 PM
After flipping through the book again, I can't find it. I guess I was thinking of another book. One of them though has a scene where Frank and Joe are visiting some place that gives them a cold welcome. Ironically, there's a welcome mat at the place that says "Courtesy is contagious". Joe quips something like, "Looks like they stamped that out around here." ;D
Title: Re: #23 Disaster For Hire (30th Anniversary Review)
Post by: tomswift2002 on March 18, 2019, 09:28:17 AM
Quote from: MacGyver on March 17, 2019, 10:12:41 PM
After flipping through the book again, I can't find it. I guess I was thinking of another book. One of them though has a scene where Frank and Joe are visiting some place that gives them a cold welcome. Ironically, there's a welcome mat at the place that says "Courtesy is contagious". Joe quips something like, "Looks like they stamped that out around here." ;D

I don't remember anything like that.  So maybe it was another book.

But the similarities between "Disaster For Hire" And "Breakdown In Axeblade" are:

-the Hardy's visit a small town and discover trouble
-the local sheriff is on the crook's payroll (although in DFH, the sheriff is not arrested)
-the Hardy's discover an environmental problem (in Axeblade in BIA it is illegal toxic waste dumping while in Crosscut in DFH it is a bio-engineered virus that is killing trees and has mutated into an airborne flu-like virus)
Title: Re: #23 Disaster For Hire (30th Anniversary Review)
Post by: Raven on March 18, 2019, 07:27:43 PM
Quote from: MacGyver on March 17, 2019, 10:12:41 PM
After flipping through the book again, I can't find it. I guess I was thinking of another book. One of them though has a scene where Frank and Joe are visiting some place that gives them a cold welcome. Ironically, there's a welcome mat at the place that says "Courtesy is contagious". Joe quips something like, "Looks like they stamped that out around here." ;D
That's from Danger Zone. I was re-reading it a few days ago. :)
Title: Re: #23 Disaster For Hire (30th Anniversary Review)
Post by: MacGyver on March 18, 2019, 09:20:21 PM
Okay, thanks. :) 8)