The Secret Panel facts for kids
Original edition
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| Author | Franklin W. Dixon |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Hardy Boys |
| Genre | Detective, mystery |
| Publisher | Grosset & Dunlap |
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Publication date
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January 1, 1946 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 192 pp |
| Preceded by | The Short-Wave Mystery |
| Followed by | The Phantom Freighter |
The Secret Panel is the 25th book in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories series. It was published by Grosset & Dunlap.
This exciting mystery was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by Harriet S. Adams in 1946. Later, between 1959 and 1973, many of the early Hardy Boys books were updated. This book was shortened and changed slightly in 1969 by Priscilla Baker-Carr. This means there are two versions of the story with the same title!
Contents
Unraveling the Mystery: The Secret Panel Plot
This book follows the famous detective brothers, Frank and Joe Hardy, as they solve a puzzling case. Their adventure begins when they innocently help a motorist. This simple act quickly leads them into a deep mystery.
A Strange Request and a Missing Man
The Hardy Boys are asked to turn off a light at a house. The man who asks for help uses the name John Mead. But there's a problem: Chief Collig says John Mead died five years ago! He was in a car accident.
The Mead mansion itself is very strange. Its doors don't have regular doorknobs or keyholes. The boys have to talk to a locksmith to learn that the locks are hidden. This makes the mystery even more interesting.
Fenton Hardy's Secret Assignment
Meanwhile, Frank and Joe's father, Fenton Hardy, gives them a special case. Fenton is a famous detective himself. He asks his sons to look into a lead about a missing doctor. This lead might connect to a local boy.
This boy got involved with a clever thief. This thief is a "master criminal" and is related to the boy. The Hardy Boys need to find a traffic signal that makes a soft humming sound, like someone singing. From there, they must drive ten minutes in two different directions. Then, they have to search the area for a "secret panel."
Connecting the Clues: The Master Criminal
Soon, Fenton's mystery and the strange Mead mansion start to connect. The master criminal has been breaking into places. He has been stealing things without setting off any alarms. This seems impossible!
It turns out that the late Mr. Mead was a brilliant inventor. He was an electronics genius. He created a special device. This device could open any lock and turn off any alarm system. Mr. Mead wanted the device to go to the FBI after he died. However, the master criminal had become friends with Mr. Mead. He found out about the device and stole it! Now, the Hardy Boys must stop him.
