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The Secret of Wildcat Swamp by Franklin Dixon
Reader Reviews 0 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Best book in the Series, February 4, 2003 Reviewer: Scott Thiel from Ontario, Canada Originally published in 1952 - I must say I read the other reviews on this website and Mr. Finnan's review curiously very closely mirrors a review I had submitted previously about this particular volume. So I beg your pardon as my new review tends to sound somewhat like his. That is because I originally made many of the statements in that review~~~ In any event, depending on what day you speak with me, more often than not I regard this book as the absolute best among the original 58. It is often difficult to compare those books written before The Mark on The Door with those composed after Footprints Under The Window. That being said this book opens with an introduction to a mystery when a friend of the Hardy's asks their assistance with a small mystery regarding fossil hunting in Wildcat Swamp. Thus the title plays a part in the opening. We learn of a trio of what I think are some of the more memorable Hardy crooks: Jessie Turk, Gerald Flint & Willie The Penman. For the next several chapters as the Hardys & Cap Bailey prepare to leave Bayport they frequently encounter Flint & Turk on their way to Wildcat Swamp. By page 45 or so, the trio of fossil hunters arrive in Wildcat Swamp and enter was is my favorite part of the book and what I often find is phase two of the volume. The book seems to be broken into three sub volumes within the volume. The opening to their arrival in the swamp and the third phase after Underground Ambush. During this second part of the book the trio initially encounter a wildcat which lets the reader know that the beasts are forever lurking throughout the swamp - but strangely after that one attack on Frank, no more wildcats appear. Before long they meet Harry Sanders, son of the owner of the swamp who reveals its true name and that men have been interested in purchasing the property. The Hardys then encouter 3 phony forest rangers Snake, Snide and Willie The Penman in a memorable scene and shortly afterward are caught eavesdropping by darkness on the rangers. Trying to communicate with their father is cut short when their radio balloon is shot out of the sy by the rangers. The memorable scenes in this book are endless - Frank's clue regarding "Three Odd Letters", the encouters with the rangers, Chet's arrival and he and Cap's subsequent ambush in the underground cavern. Enter the next phase in the book when the Hardys are ambushed themselves by the gang of outlaws. This book beckons back to the days of 1881 and the old west - not 1952, and draws parallels with "The Twisted Claw", another book seemingly written during another era. After their escape the brothers hop a train which eventually derails thanks to the gang and after a few more very well written chapters the Hardys assist in the capture of the gang. This volume was packed with adventure, action, a great mystery and plot. What young boy or grown man for that matter would not want to camp out in Wildcat Swamp and battle a gang of outlaws from the old west. This is "wish fulfillment" at its best. Again - I regard this as arguably the best book in the series. RATED A+
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