The Melted Coins (Hardy Boys, No. 23)

The great knock against this book was the plot itself. This review concerns the original 1944 story where a gang of criminals steals valueable coins and melts them down for sale. The metal is worth more if they are still coins and are not melted. Isn't this like "shooting one's self in the foot"? I suppose it could be argued that the purpose for melting the coins was to avoid detection. Well...."Big Sigh" In any event, I really liked this book for many reasons. The criminal Black Beard was perhaps the most memorable of any Hardy Boys villain. And in the end - he was not that bad. The scene in the tattoo parlor was a classic. The book moved along well and had a beautiful cover art for its 1944 edition. This was the second last edition to be completey revised chronology wise. The Short Wave Mystery was the highest volume to be drastically altered. The original Melted Coins is a great book. RATED A-PS: The revised 1970 text was completely different and cannot hold a candle to the original.

This book is great with lots of trouble and adventures. The Hardy's try to solve who stole from the Seneca's. They face kidnapping, little poison darts, hostile indians, and more. Recomended reading for kids form 3rd-6th grade.