# Aunt Gertrude — The Missing Chums character guide

> Aunt Gertrude in The Missing Chums by Franklin W. Dixon.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gertrude, Aunt Gertrude, Whereupon Aunt Gertrude

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-three-strangers

## Snapshot

The Hardys' formidable, sharp-tongued aunt, whose sudden arrivals and relentless managing drive her nephews to flee town before she can take charge.

## Who they are

Aunt Gertrude descends on the Hardy household with bags, baggage, and Lavinia the cat, arriving two hours early precisely when the boys hoped to escape her. Mrs. Hardy jokes that any burglar would rather face a vicious bulldog, and the boys' dread of her bossing is an open secret. Her looming presence gives the departure a comic urgency and leaves Mrs. Hardy safely guarded at home.

## Relationships

### [Joe Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/characters/joe_hardy)

_family_

Aunt and nephew; she is protective and often fusses over the boys.

### [Frank Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/characters/frank_hardy)

_family_

Aunt and nephew; she dotes on Frank but also scolds him when needed.

### [Joe Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/characters/joe_hardy)

_family_

Aunt and nephew; she is protective and often fusses over the boys.

### [Frank Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/characters/frank_hardy)

_family_

Aunt and nephew; she dotes on Frank but also scolds him when needed.

### [Joe Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/characters/joe_hardy)

_family_

Aunt and nephew; she is protective and often fusses over the boys.

### [Frank Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/characters/frank_hardy)

_family_

Aunt and nephew; she dotes on Frank but also scolds him when needed.

## In the story

### [Missing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/chapters/vi-missing)

Arrives unexpectedly early, bossing the boys and arguing with the taxi driver.

### [Wreckage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/chapters/vii-wreckage)

Arrives and vehemently opposes the boat trip, brandishing her umbrella and predicting disaster.

### [The Strange Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/chapters/viii-the-strange-letter)

Aunt Gertrude intercepts the mail, insists on opening the letter addressed to Mr. Hardy, reads it aloud, and interprets it as a trick to lure Fenton Hardy away from capturing Baldy Turk.

### [IX: Blacksnake Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/chapters/ix-blacksnake-island)

Dismisses the ransom letter as a trick, but is shocked by the plan to search Blacksnake Island.

### [The Boy on the Deck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/chapters/x-the-boy-on-the-deck)

Vigorously opposes the expedition, predicting disaster and snake bites on Blacksnake Island.

### [Home Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/chapters/xxiii-home-again)

Scolds the boys for their entrance and criticizes their detective aspirations.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/characters/aunt_gertrude
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_missing_chums_se/characters