Undercover Brothers
| Company type | Book series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Franklin W. Dixon (pseudonym) |
| Products | Detective fiction books |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster (Aladdin Paperbacks division) |
The Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers is a detective fiction collection released by Aladdin Paperbacks, a division of Simon & Schuster, which took over from the original Hardy Boys Digest series in early 2005. Every installment is authored under the pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon.
Series background
In the Undercover Brothers series, teenage sleuths Frank and Joe Hardy, who are the sons of famed private eye Fenton Hardy, are featured. Notable modifications from earlier versions include:
- Frank and Joe serve as covert operatives for American Teens Against Crime (ATAC), a clandestine government agency co-founded by their father, handling more intense and realistic criminal cases. Their undercover duties compel them to invent cover stories for their mother and aunt.
- The storytelling is delivered in first-person, with chapters alternating between Frank and Joe, who frequently interject during each other's narratives.
- Their aunt Gertrude, now referred to as Trudy, is portrayed as younger than in previous adaptations; the reason behind this name change is disclosed in Hurricane Joe.
- Former romantic interests Callie Shaw and Iola Morton appear solely as close friends; other original acquaintances are briefly mentioned but have limited involvement.
- The Hardys care for a pet parrot named Playback.
Regular series
| # | Title | Released |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Extreme Danger | April 1, 2005 |
| 2 | Running on Fumes | |
| 3 | Boardwalk Bust | |
| 4 | Thrill Ride | |
| 5 | Rocky Road | July 1, 2005 |
| 6 | Burned | October 1, 2005 |
| 7 | Operation: Survival | December 1, 2005 |
| 8 | Top Ten Ways to Die | February 1, 2006 |
| 9 | Martial Law | April 1, 2006 |
| 10 | Blown Away | June 1, 2006 |
| 11 | Hurricane Joe | August 1, 2006 |
| 12 | Trouble in Paradise | October 1, 2006 |
| 13 | The Mummy's Curse | November 28, 2006 |
| 14 | Hazed | February 6, 2007 |
| 15 | Death and Diamonds | April 10, 2007 |
| 16 | Bayport Buccaneers | June 5, 2007 |
| 17 | Murder at the Mall | July 24, 2007 |
| 18 | Pushed | September 25, 2007 |
| 19 | Foul Play | November 27, 2007 |
| 20 | Feeding Frenzy | January 8, 2008 |
| 21 | Comic Con Artist | March 25, 2008 |
Trilogy series
| # | Title | Released | Trilogy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Deprivation House | May 20, 2008 | The Murder House Trilogy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | House Arrest | July 8, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | Murder House | September 30, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | Double Trouble | November 25, 2008 | Double Danger Trilogy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | Double Down | December 23, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | Double Deception | March 10, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Galaxy X" | "May 19, 2009" | Galaxy X Trilogy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "X-plosion" | "July 21, 2009" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The X-Factor" | "September 8, 2009" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Killer Mission" | "November 10, 2009" | Killer Mystery Trilogy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Private Killer" | "January 5, 2010" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Killer Connections" | "March 9, 2010" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The Children of the Lost" | "May 4, 2010" | Identity Mystery Trilogy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lost Brother" | "October 12, 2010" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Forever Lost" | "January 4, 2011" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Movie Menace" | "May 10, 2011" | The Deathstalker Trilogy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Movie Mission" | "September 13, 2011" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Movie Mayhem" | }
Undercover Brothers Super Mysteries
The Hardy Boys Secret FilesIntroduced in 2010 by Simon & Schuster's Aladdin imprint, The Hardy Boys Secret Files series features Frank and Joe Hardy as elementary school detectives. The publisher issued three new paperback and digital editions annually until the series ended in 2015. This collection was followed by the Hardy Boys Clue Book series.
Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Super MysteryThis crossover spin-off series merges the Nancy Drew: Girl Detective books with alternating first-person narratives from Frank or Joe Hardy alongside Nancy Drew. The debut novel introduces all main characters. One installment was released each year until both the Girl Detective’’ and ‘‘Undercover Brothers’’ lines concluded in 2012.
Graphic novelsIn early spring of 2005, NBM debuted its Papercutz imprint featuring two separate three-part comic storylines: Nancy Drew (titled The Demon of River Heights) and The Hardy Boys (named The Ocean of Osyria). These comics were subsequently compiled into comprehensive graphic novels of approximately ninety-two pages each. This launch marked the beginning of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys graphic novel collections. Following these initial releases, new graphic novels have been published quarterly as standalone volumes. Graphic Novel Series Titles
Frank and Joe Hardy investigate after Chet Morton's hacked online account is used to place bids on a stolen artifact from Osyria.
The brothers delve into a case involving the theft of a wealthy teenage girl's identity.
When sabotage traps shoppers inside a mall, the brothers must utilize ATAC gadgets to survive and escape before time runs out.
The brothers investigate the person behind the disruption of a skateboarding competition.
During a high school drama contest, they work to identify a saboteur.
They undertake a mission to save an agent's son from danger.
Alongside Lindsay Rider, the brothers provide support at a stunt competition.
They assist when Haley’s online contacts mysteriously vanish.
See alsoExternal links |