Cult of Crime
Encyclopedia
Cult of Crime is this third installment in the Hardy Boys
Casefiles series, published in 1987. The story revolves around Frank and Joe who try to save a girl named Holly from the clutches of a person who calls himself 'the Rajah' (Rajah means King in Hindi
).
, so every teenager who is fed up with life, or are very frustrated joins the group in hope of finding peace. The Rajah is a very powerful man - even police
officials are linked to him and do as he says. On a mission to rescue their good friend Holly from the cult
of the lunatic Rajah, the boys unwittingly become the main event in one of the madman's deadly ritual
s--human sacrifice
. The Hardy Boys try to escape the ritual, during which, Joe is framed that he kills a person very close to the Rajah, known as Vivasvat. Holly pleads with them to take her along, actually, she is linked with Rajah and wants to kill them.
The Hardy Boys escape with Holly. They are chased by a police officer
who is linked with the Rajah. When they are travelling on a train
, Frank is shot by a bullet
and falls of the train. Holly attempts to kill Joe but fails.
As the book progresses, the Rajah, taking revenge at the Hardy Boys, starts a riot
in the city. He holds captive Emmet Strand. Rajah reveals that he is the son of Emmet Strand's first wife & that he is taking revenge for leaving his mother. Soon, the Hardy Boys catch him and he is handed to the police. Holly, along with her father Emmet leave the country.
, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Charlotte Observer.
The Hardy Boys
The Hardy Boys, Frank and Joe Hardy, are fictional teenage brothers and amateur detectives who appear in various mystery series for children and teens....
Casefiles series, published in 1987. The story revolves around Frank and Joe who try to save a girl named Holly from the clutches of a person who calls himself 'the Rajah' (Rajah means King in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
).
Plot summary
The Hardy boys hear their father and a person named Emmet Strand talking about his daughter Holly, who has joined the group of Rajah. Holly was a close friend of Frank, so Frank decides to join the group of teenagers who serve the Rajah in order to save Holly. The Rajah claims that he shall give everybody peacePeace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
, so every teenager who is fed up with life, or are very frustrated joins the group in hope of finding peace. The Rajah is a very powerful man - even police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officials are linked to him and do as he says. On a mission to rescue their good friend Holly from the cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
of the lunatic Rajah, the boys unwittingly become the main event in one of the madman's deadly ritual
Ritual
A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
s--human sacrifice
Human sacrifice
Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more human beings as part of a religious ritual . Its typology closely parallels the various practices of ritual slaughter of animals and of religious sacrifice in general. Human sacrifice has been practised in various cultures throughout history...
. The Hardy Boys try to escape the ritual, during which, Joe is framed that he kills a person very close to the Rajah, known as Vivasvat. Holly pleads with them to take her along, actually, she is linked with Rajah and wants to kill them.
The Hardy Boys escape with Holly. They are chased by a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
who is linked with the Rajah. When they are travelling on a train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
, Frank is shot by a bullet
Bullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
and falls of the train. Holly attempts to kill Joe but fails.
As the book progresses, the Rajah, taking revenge at the Hardy Boys, starts a riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
in the city. He holds captive Emmet Strand. Rajah reveals that he is the son of Emmet Strand's first wife & that he is taking revenge for leaving his mother. Soon, the Hardy Boys catch him and he is handed to the police. Holly, along with her father Emmet leave the country.
Reception
Cult of Crime was reviewed in the San Jose Mercury NewsSan Jose Mercury News
The San Jose Mercury News is a daily newspaper in San Jose, California. On its web site, however, it calls itself Silicon Valley Mercury News. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Charlotte Observer.