The Hardy Boys series is the natural counterpart to the Nancy Drew series. Written for boys between the ages of eight and fourteen, Hardy Boys mysteries have delighted young readers for over seventy years. What young adventurer could file to be charmed by the resourcefulness of Frank and Joe Hardy?

The boys, along with the other richly-drawn characters in the series, make for an absorbing and entertaining read. It all starts with Frank and Joe, of course. The boys, while working with each other, maintain very different identities, which makes for both dramatic and hilarious encounters during which straight-laced, serious Frank does his best to get his impetuous brother Joe out of trouble.

The Hardy Boys Series Contains a Diverse Cast of Characters

The adults in the series comprise a wide array or personalities. Fenton Hardy, the boys' father, is a premier private detective and has worked on the police force, yet his wife, Laura, has never gotten used to the dangerous line of work he's in. And who can forget Oscar Smuff, the annoying and incompetent private eye who seems only to find ways to disparage the boys instead of locating clues.

But where would the boys be without their friends? Chet Morton, his sister Iola, Biff Hooper, and Callie Shaw all make indelible impressions on the readers of the Hardy Boys series while at the same time helping the boys out. As we all know, it's good to have a little help from your friends.