Books like The Great Airport Mystery

Melanie Rehak’s essay about the Stratemeyer Syndicate is illuminating. She explains why there is a “full story” and “chopped” version of the novels. I used to aim for glossy copies but choose the oldies now that I know. The original ones flow with detail and balance around the action. Nancy is more of a tomboy, than prim. I am told the later rewrite of “The Great Airport Mystery” is an entirely different story, in an attempt to modernize the plot. My book is the original and it is a very good one! I wish I had written notes in March, to remind me why I gave three stars.The police chief, whom all the Hardys have helped a great deal by volume #9, presumed Frank & Joe were guilty and had to be pushed by Fenton, to consider that they were framed. I recall now, also, that I found the idea of hijacking mail planes an extreme means of stealing money. Perhaps I am influenced by Sandra Bullock’s subtle genius in the recent 2018 film, “Ocean’s Eight” but even in 1930, there are much easier ways to money-grab. If we suspend disbelief, this entailed marvellously hands-on heroism, on the boys’ parts. At the beginning, they overhead a few convenient conversations but made a realistic effort to track, anticipate, and even follow thieves by hiding in their plane’s cargo hold!This was refreshingly intellectual as well as physical. My version weaves a gratifying family and friendship background around all of it. As a matter of fact, we witness Frank’s & Joe’s high school graduation and a farewell picnic, that their whole class shares on the beach! It is neatly explained that they graduated together, because Frank was sick for a term. Benefactors they helped in preceding mysteries, come to their aid.