The Twisted Claw [SEP] publisher
The Twisted Claw
The Twisted Claw is Volume 18 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.
This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by John Button in 1939. Between 1959 and 1973 the first 38 volumes of this series were systematically revised as part of a project directed by Harriet Adams, Edward Stratemeyer's daughter. The original version of this book was rewritten in 1969 by Tom Mulvey resulting in two different stories with the same title.
Plot summary (revised edition).
Empire of the Twisted Claw" which bears a symbol on the cover which matches a ring the first mate of the "Black Parrot" was wearing. While they cannot afford to purchase the book, the store keeper allows them to read it, whereby they learn about the Empire of the Twisted Claw and the pirate ships named "Black Parrot" and "Yellow Parrot" and the King who controlled the empire.
As the investigation continues, the Boys and their father learn that the thieves are targeting the DeGraw collection