I've been reading The Hardy Boys books to Owen. we are on the 3rd book now. I never read them as a kid. I never even read Nancy Drew. I 'm not sure why though, being a detective was my hears desire form several years as a kid. I devoured a series called "The Trixie Belden" books. Same premise as The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. There was another series I loved too along the same lines. I think it was Meg something. I want to say Ryan but we all know that's just not it! LOL! I'm willing to bet I have one packed away somewhere in the garage. I'll let you know someday if I remember.
Back to the Hardy Boys. Did you now that those books started back in 1927? That's the copyright date in the first one anyway. Really you wouldn't know that based on the Hardy's world. Not really. There is a sweet innocence in them that is not in books like Goosebumps or the like.
There are references to cars- Chet, one of the Hardy's chums, has a jalopy. The boys each have a motorbike. In the second book another chum has a small motor boat. Missing from the books are computers, cell phones etc. but short of that it might be a couple of boys in any given time period.
I love that the boys call each other fellows, that they refer to a girl as a favorite gal, and that they go for picnics and ice cream. Now some of the huge clues that it is not set in todays world are things like the 17 & 18 year old boys are looked upon as helpful by the local police- they even are asked to help at times. Their dad is a hot shot detective and that's all the credential they need to help solve a crime.
Like I said, they have a sweet innocence about them, yet they have enough suspense and action to keep you turning the page. I see why they've been around and done so well for so long. Owen loves them. Evan tolerates them for now, he's a bit too young, so I read him a book of his choice before reading to Owen. He listens though, mostly.