»The Three Investigators

One of the more enjoyable series of books I read was The Three Investigators series, which followed a formula familiar to readers of The Bobbsey Twins, The Hardy Boys, McGurk, et c. Unlike these other series, the Three Investigators lived and breathed 1950s Los Angeles, and so the narratives consist of thrilling chases down LA freeways (to San Pedro piers, no less!), adventures in the old, unused subway tunnels around the city, and many realistic locations. The flavour of old Hollywood appears in the character of Alfred Hitchcock, the gutsy trio's sponsor. At times improbable -- the unlimited use of a gold-plated Rolls and chaffeur, appropriately British? -- and raw, such as the difficulties faced with double de-clutching when hi-jacking a bus in order to stop a bank robbery. The use of real locations and realistic plots (well, mostly realistic) combined with the everyday travails faced by working-class boys appealed to me, and I still enjoy the books today.