#61 Grave Danger (33rd Anniversary Review)

[tomswift2002]

Published: March 1992
Publisher: Archway Paperbacks (1992-1999)
Author:  Unknown as of June 2025

Plot: The trail to ancient fortunes is a shortcut to danger.

The Hardy boys come to the Yucatan to take on a gang of grave robbers. Stolen Mexican artifacts have appeared in Bayport, and Frank and Joe intend to cut the smugglers off at the source. But the jungle is full of deception and distraction, including a bevy of beautiful models who have appeared at the site for a photography shoot.

A different kind of shooting, though, quickly puts the Hardys back on track. The raiders of the Mayan pyramids are packing automatic weapons, and they're not about to give up their lucrative looting without a fight. They plan to draw Frank and Joe into the jungle and add two deep new chambers to the ancient tombs!

Review: I remember that this was one of the first Hardy Boys Casefiles I read back in 1995.  Although at the time I remember I had a hard time getting through the opening.

It's also hard to believe but I'm kind of at the end of the first part of the Casefiles, and the Bill McCay era.  Of course, Time Bomb gives an idea why the Casefiles feel more like Mystery Stories after "Operation: Phoenix".

[NZone]

In [Callie's] heels she was taller than usual, only a few inches short of Frank's six foot one.

Let's say a few inches short is three inches short, and she is wearing average heels of about three inches, then Callie is five foot five. However, if she is wearing heels, then Frank is likely wearing dress shoes which also have a heel, so she could be taller.

"No, I don't want an autograph," [Joe] said. "Who do you think you are, Madonna?"

And then later.

"Nothing," Joe grumbled. "Just ran into some girl who thought she was Madonna or something."

The Nancy Drew Bible contains the following guidelines:

Nancy and her friends also enjoy rock music . . . . When referring to rock music, you can mention long-time popular favorites by name, since they have become more or less permanent parts of the music scene – artists like the Beatles, Elvis, and the Stones. But you should avoid referring to trendy groups and performers since today's #1 star can quickly become tomorrow's has-been.

Presumably the Hardy Boys guidelines were similar, as Joe refers to the Stones in Edge of Destruction. I guess Madonna was deemed to be timeless by 1992.

Joe tells a model:

"Don't take this the wrong way," [Joe] said, "but would you let down your hair?"

I don't know if this is supposed to be a double entendre or not.

While working for the modeling company, Joe is forced to apply suntan lotion to a model "wearing a very small bikini." Life is rough for the Hardys.