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The Hardy Boys #10
What Happened at Midnight
Frank and Joe Hardy receive an unusual assignment from their detective father. They are to break into the house of a Bayport neighbor, Malcolm Wright, and retrieve a top-secret invention that the scientist had hidden in his study before leaving for California. The invention is in danger of being stolen, and the boys race against time to beat the thieves at their own game.
But the young detectives soon discover that they are involved in a mystery far greater in scope than just retrieving the invention. Their investigations put them on the trail of a dangerous gang of jewel thieves and smugglers. When Joe is kidnapped, Frank starts a search for his brother that nearly ends disastrously for him and his pals.
It's boat chases, rides in old and potentially unsafe biplanes, and much more.
But the young detectives soon discover that they are involved in a mystery far greater in scope than just retrieving the invention. Their investigations put them on the trail of a dangerous gang of jewel thieves and smugglers. When Joe is kidnapped, Frank starts a search for his brother that nearly ends disastrously for him and his pals.
It's boat chases, rides in old and potentially unsafe biplanes, and much more.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1931
179 people are currently reading
1421 people want to read
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
740 books992 followersFranklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors who were part of a team that wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate (now owned by Simon & Schuster). Dixon was also the writer attributed for the Ted Scott Flying Stories series, published by Grosset & Dunlap.
Canadian author Leslie McFarlane is believed to have written the first sixteen Hardy Boys books, but worked to a detailed plot and character outline for each story. The outlines are believed to have originated with Edward Stratemeyer, with later books outlined by his daughters Edna C. Squier and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. Edward and Harriet also edited all books in the series through the mid-1960s. Other writers of the original books include MacFarlane's wife Amy, John Button, Andrew E. Svenson, and Adams herself; most of the outlines were done by Adams and Svenson. A number of other writers and editors were recruited to revise the outlines and update the texts in line with a more modern sensibility, starting in the late 1950s.
The principal author for the Ted Scott books was John W. Duffield.
Canadian author Leslie McFarlane is believed to have written the first sixteen Hardy Boys books, but worked to a detailed plot and character outline for each story. The outlines are believed to have originated with Edward Stratemeyer, with later books outlined by his daughters Edna C. Squier and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. Edward and Harriet also edited all books in the series through the mid-1960s. Other writers of the original books include MacFarlane's wife Amy, John Button, Andrew E. Svenson, and Adams herself; most of the outlines were done by Adams and Svenson. A number of other writers and editors were recruited to revise the outlines and update the texts in line with a more modern sensibility, starting in the late 1950s.
The principal author for the Ted Scott books was John W. Duffield.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
March 7, 2017
Another excellent adventure with Frank and Joe - this time they team up with the FBI to bust a smuggler ring! The adventure includes Joe getting kidnapped and rescued, takes them to NYC trailing the bad guys on a shoestring budget, and on a wild sky chase in a bi-plane! One of our favorites! Looking forward now to #11!
June 29, 2019
When I was a little girl, my book collection included a few Nancy Drew hardcovers in yellow, a couple of blue Hardy Boys hardcovers, and a few brown ones of my Dad’s. I didn’t know my version was different from his and my Mom’s. I prefer those filled-in stories and choose them whenever I see them. I bet that “What Happened At Midnight, 1931, was a better story in its entirety. My copy was cut to the usual crash, boom, bang pace lacking in background and contextual attributes. I like noting that the original stories are by Canadian, Leslie McFarlane.
I enjoyed this adventure and in adult novels, interest that did not dip would be praised. However, a Stratemeyer Syndicate novel often begs the question: was there much to the contents? The crimes are not creative, the motives usually plain theft and greed, and the action unoriginal after we have read a few of them. Fenton Hardy is normally out of town, leaving urgent messages for his wife and sons to receive at intervals. Their Mom, Laura, says it is all right for them and their teenaged friends (but never Iola and Callie, the girls) to pursue crimes in his stead. His sister, their Aunt Gertrude, makes nervous exclamations, while they take advantage of their boat, convertible, and motorcycles. One of the vehicles usually has a near-miss and criminals always know the Hardys and try to sabotage them.
I gave three stars, after reflecting on a lack of substance but am happy to praise a few things. The creation of a static-free, overseas radio was fantastic. Also, when Frank & Joe hoofed-it to New York: they ran a dishwasher at a restaurant, instead of calling-in favours, when some of their money got stolen. The next title is familiar to me!
I enjoyed this adventure and in adult novels, interest that did not dip would be praised. However, a Stratemeyer Syndicate novel often begs the question: was there much to the contents? The crimes are not creative, the motives usually plain theft and greed, and the action unoriginal after we have read a few of them. Fenton Hardy is normally out of town, leaving urgent messages for his wife and sons to receive at intervals. Their Mom, Laura, says it is all right for them and their teenaged friends (but never Iola and Callie, the girls) to pursue crimes in his stead. His sister, their Aunt Gertrude, makes nervous exclamations, while they take advantage of their boat, convertible, and motorcycles. One of the vehicles usually has a near-miss and criminals always know the Hardys and try to sabotage them.
I gave three stars, after reflecting on a lack of substance but am happy to praise a few things. The creation of a static-free, overseas radio was fantastic. Also, when Frank & Joe hoofed-it to New York: they ran a dishwasher at a restaurant, instead of calling-in favours, when some of their money got stolen. The next title is familiar to me!
June 25, 2013
I said it before, I'll say it again - I really want more of these of the old vintage variety. Wow, what they did to 'modernize' and 'shorten' the Hardy Boys down in later years was a crime. I really loved this one, lots of suspense, a lot more danger, and a great mystery. The details of a different era just made it that much better - turning this into a historical mystery of sorts. Good heavens, do yourself a favor and track down the OLD copies of these books!
October 3, 2022
3.5 stars
Now and then I get in the mood for one of the real, original Hardy Boys books. (Yes, I’ve read some of the edited, chopped, changed, and gutted “blue” versions and don’t really like them.)
This was a fun read. Lots of excitement, but nothing really tense and suspenseful. Maybe because you know everything has to work out right because there are more books about them? It definitely had the feel of the late 1920s to it which was fun.
I like Frank and Joe and how their mother trusts them. And Chet is just fun.
It was just the kind of book I wanted.
Now and then I get in the mood for one of the real, original Hardy Boys books. (Yes, I’ve read some of the edited, chopped, changed, and gutted “blue” versions and don’t really like them.)
This was a fun read. Lots of excitement, but nothing really tense and suspenseful. Maybe because you know everything has to work out right because there are more books about them? It definitely had the feel of the late 1920s to it which was fun.
I like Frank and Joe and how their mother trusts them. And Chet is just fun.
It was just the kind of book I wanted.
August 23, 2024
3 Stars. Not my favourite, but worth reading. I'm still not sure what the title refers to. Yes, some dangerous things do happen at midnight, or at least in the dark after sunset, but during the daytime too! The Hardy Boys are always up to their necks in action, so nothing special. It can't be the time the boys and their friends were in their motorboat, 'The Sleuth.' They almost collide with a tugboat in the fog. Nor can it be the time that Frank and Joe are up in Cole Weber's biplane in pursuit of a jewel thief escaping in a much faster plane when their engine conks out in another fog and parachutes become the order of the day! Perhaps the title should have been 'What Happened in the Fog.' Not as catchy! The book opens with Fenton Hardy away in California asking his sons to break into a neighbour's home. Owner Malcolm Wright is with the older Hardy and he has given permission for them to recover a top secret invention before that same thief grabs it. They do it at midnight. Ah, now I get it. You'll enjoy the role Aunt Gertrude plays in this one. It's a thrill a minute and we even return to the same caves encountered in #7, 'The Secret of the Caves.' (Au2024)
January 1, 2025
I felt the need to read something a little light today and I remembered I had a Hardy Boys book on my shelf! The volume was #10 in the series by Franklin W. Dixon and it was called “What Happened at Midnight.” I’ve never read a Hardy Boys book before.
I found the book pretty fun if you can accept the silliness of parts in it and the reliance of coincidence in the plot that enables the boys finding diamond thieves and such.
The boys make a lot of uses of many modes of transportation for their adventure: boats, taxis, roadsters, planes, buses and even jumping out of airplanes! The chapter headings also give you spoilers of what's happening ahead: The chapter “Robbed!” (The Hardy Boys get robbed in that chapter) and “Jump!” (The Hardy Boys jump out of that darn plane in that chapter).
We also get a Scooby Doo foreshadowing at the end of the book (remember this book came out in 1931) when the thief says, “And you’d have never caught me if it hadn’t been for this brat!”
We also get an early scene where the boys are having a friendly argument about pie at an automat. This triggered with me that I’ve been meaning to watch the documentary about the history of the automat (called “The Automat”) which I’ve now watched and highly recommend this insightful and poignant documentary by the way. I’m not sure about the boys having an automat in their smaller community that is well on the outskirts of New York City, but I’m glad it led me to watch the documentary anyway.
Another trigger from this book was to lead me to watch a cartoon from my childhood called “The Hardy Boys.” This was long before the 70’s television series with Shaun Cassidy became a thing. In fact, this cartoon aired in 1969 and only had 17 episodes! The only thing I really remember from it was the opening song that went “Oh, boy! Here come the Hardys! Oh, boy! We’re having a party.” I watched an episode of the show which was frankly pretty awful with animation reminiscent of Clutch Cargo, but without the human mouths…and that song still rings in my head fifty years later…but I digress.
Anyway, I recommend you put at least one Hardy Boys book on your bucket list.
What next? Nancy Drew? Tom Swift??
I found the book pretty fun if you can accept the silliness of parts in it and the reliance of coincidence in the plot that enables the boys finding diamond thieves and such.
The boys make a lot of uses of many modes of transportation for their adventure: boats, taxis, roadsters, planes, buses and even jumping out of airplanes! The chapter headings also give you spoilers of what's happening ahead: The chapter “Robbed!” (The Hardy Boys get robbed in that chapter) and “Jump!” (The Hardy Boys jump out of that darn plane in that chapter).
We also get a Scooby Doo foreshadowing at the end of the book (remember this book came out in 1931) when the thief says, “And you’d have never caught me if it hadn’t been for this brat!”
We also get an early scene where the boys are having a friendly argument about pie at an automat. This triggered with me that I’ve been meaning to watch the documentary about the history of the automat (called “The Automat”) which I’ve now watched and highly recommend this insightful and poignant documentary by the way. I’m not sure about the boys having an automat in their smaller community that is well on the outskirts of New York City, but I’m glad it led me to watch the documentary anyway.
Another trigger from this book was to lead me to watch a cartoon from my childhood called “The Hardy Boys.” This was long before the 70’s television series with Shaun Cassidy became a thing. In fact, this cartoon aired in 1969 and only had 17 episodes! The only thing I really remember from it was the opening song that went “Oh, boy! Here come the Hardys! Oh, boy! We’re having a party.” I watched an episode of the show which was frankly pretty awful with animation reminiscent of Clutch Cargo, but without the human mouths…and that song still rings in my head fifty years later…but I digress.
Anyway, I recommend you put at least one Hardy Boys book on your bucket list.
What next? Nancy Drew? Tom Swift??
August 27, 2020
Frank and Joe Hardy are shocked when they get the new request from their father, famed detective Fenton Hardy. He wants them to break into a house and steal something. Of course, it is to keep an invention for his client safe. However, doing that puts the boys on the radar of a gang of smugglers. Will they be able to protect the invention and round up the smugglers?
I remember as a kid the title really intriguing me. Yes, several scenes take place at midnight, but the title isn’t as relevant to the story as it might be. That hardly matters since the story is so action packed that it is hard to put it down. Coincidence rules quite a bit, and the characters are thin. Elements are also very dated today. So in other words, it’s a typical Hardy Boys book. Still, I take that into account when I pick up one of these books, and I enjoy the nostalgia I get from revisiting these old friends.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I remember as a kid the title really intriguing me. Yes, several scenes take place at midnight, but the title isn’t as relevant to the story as it might be. That hardly matters since the story is so action packed that it is hard to put it down. Coincidence rules quite a bit, and the characters are thin. Elements are also very dated today. So in other words, it’s a typical Hardy Boys book. Still, I take that into account when I pick up one of these books, and I enjoy the nostalgia I get from revisiting these old friends.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 2, 2012
A really fun and enjoyable addition to the Hardy Boys mystery book series.
August 25, 2021
As a judge recently said in a court hearing I attended: It is what it is.
March 9, 2023
"All the Hardys are too clever"
Aunt Gertrude here to save the day.
Aunt Gertrude here to save the day.
October 5, 2018
Hardy Boys series saved the day when some of my fellows used to force me into Nancy Drew. I still hate Nancy Drew but Hardy Boys! Its an all-time-favourite! Their adventures and mysteries are always new, interesting, suspenceful and highly entertaining! I can read these series anytime and enjoy them to the fullest.
June 26, 2017
In which the Boys use slang, dress like they're thirty and wind up washing dishes, 'cause people may take their shit in Bayport, but not in New York.
Also, Mr. Hardy writes dirty letters to Mrs. Hardy.
Also, Mr. Hardy writes dirty letters to Mrs. Hardy.
August 15, 2015
A Quickie Review
This series is pretty much Pete and Repeat; this book is once again more of the same...but that isn't a bad thing.
Content Concerns: See my previous reviews.
This series is pretty much Pete and Repeat; this book is once again more of the same...but that isn't a bad thing.
Content Concerns: See my previous reviews.
April 27, 2016
The Hardy Boys: What Happened At Midnight by Franklin W. Dixon was a fun book to read. I this story, amateur detectives Frank and Joe Hardy are asked by their detective father to secure a secret radio from his clients house. Mr. Hardy and the owner of the radio were out of town at the time. However, the boys get caught up in a gang of smugglers who also want the radio. Frank and Joe have to capture the smugglers and save the radio. I liked this story because it was an easy read, but not boring. It kept me interested and engaged throughout the whole story. One weakness of the Hardy Boys book to me, is their length. They are pretty short, therefore having a low amount of AR points. This book was only 5 points. I will continue to read the Hardy Boys books because they are fun to read and I enjoy reading mysteries. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an easy, fun read. Overall, this was a good book that I enjoyed.
August 4, 2022
eponymous-ey sentence:
p7: "A little second-story work around midnight," Joe mused, "and all because Mr. Wright left his keys inside the house and locked everything but that one bedroom window with a broken lock."
ocr:
p8: "...Why, suppose you fall off that house--I"
p37: "Frank, 1-look out!"
p64: "...You look as if yuu'd fallen into a cement mixer!"
p73: He roared off on his motorry cle, and on purpose went past the cell block.
spaces:
p60: "Ain'tIagood customer of this restaurant?"
p68: The youths jumped onto the tracks and made their way back to the Times Square station plat form.
p79: Behind it stood a plump ish, pleasant-faced man.
full stop:
p90: The box and invention were still there
Frank slammed the lid shut.
The deus ex machina is a little too obvious for me.
p7: "A little second-story work around midnight," Joe mused, "and all because Mr. Wright left his keys inside the house and locked everything but that one bedroom window with a broken lock."
ocr:
p8: "...Why, suppose you fall off that house--I"
p37: "Frank, 1-look out!"
p64: "...You look as if yuu'd fallen into a cement mixer!"
p73: He roared off on his motorry cle, and on purpose went past the cell block.
spaces:
p60: "Ain'tIagood customer of this restaurant?"
p68: The youths jumped onto the tracks and made their way back to the Times Square station plat form.
p79: Behind it stood a plump ish, pleasant-faced man.
full stop:
p90: The box and invention were still there
Frank slammed the lid shut.
The deus ex machina is a little too obvious for me.
June 18, 2022
Het boek past perfekt in de rest van de serie maar bevat erg weinig nieuwe elementen.
Er zijn een aantal nieuwe karakters, uiteraard de boeven maar ook twee federale agenten, daarbij blijft het. New York is een nieuwe, teleurstellende locatie waar niet echt veel tijd wordt doorgebracht. Diamantsmokkel is een vorm van smokkel waar ze nog niet eerder bij betrokken waren.
Verder zijn het allemaal variaties op situaties die al eerder in de reeks aan bod kwamen.
Uiteraard worden andere aspecten belicht en is er zeker geen sprake van platte herhaling.
Het feest van Chet en de ontvoering van Joe, de tocht naar New York zijn de hoogtepunten. De climax met de arrestatie van de boeven valt daarbij eerder in het niet.
De auteur achter het synoniem Franklin W. Dixon kent zijn vak.
Er zijn een aantal nieuwe karakters, uiteraard de boeven maar ook twee federale agenten, daarbij blijft het. New York is een nieuwe, teleurstellende locatie waar niet echt veel tijd wordt doorgebracht. Diamantsmokkel is een vorm van smokkel waar ze nog niet eerder bij betrokken waren.
Verder zijn het allemaal variaties op situaties die al eerder in de reeks aan bod kwamen.
Uiteraard worden andere aspecten belicht en is er zeker geen sprake van platte herhaling.
Het feest van Chet en de ontvoering van Joe, de tocht naar New York zijn de hoogtepunten. De climax met de arrestatie van de boeven valt daarbij eerder in het niet.
De auteur achter het synoniem Franklin W. Dixon kent zijn vak.
May 26, 2017
Interesting story. There are smugglers, Joe gets kidnapped and they don't know how to find him, and lots of action. Not my favorite HB story, but it was fun.
May 6, 2023
So much fun
March 24, 2020
Honestly I couldn’t have chosen a better book to read this quarantine. It was mysterious, fascinating and very very interesting. It never had one page that wasn’t full of mystery. This book never gets boring. If I would I would totally read it again. Highly recommended!
November 21, 2018
This story was probably a 3+ but the reader was annoying? How does this get through? Sometimes its ok to not use voices. Especially dont use them when your voices suck.
January 7, 2023
This story is full of action and exciting situations – including a train trip to New York City. However, I found myself unable to overcome a feeling that the main premises were too hard to believe. The Hardy Boys may have found themselves in over their heads, with a gang of smugglers operating in Bayport. Fortunately, the sleuths’ efforts are enabled by Mrs. Hardy, allowing her boys to follow their leads – even after Joe is freed from kidnappers – while their father is away on business and unable to communicate with them. The police and FBI seem all too cooperative with the teenagers, as do the bungling criminals they run into. The involvement of the boys’ friends is fun, in spite of the danger.
I realize now that the times are different from when this story was written in 1931. Whether it is from that 90-year gap, or the difference between my wide-eyed youth and middle-age cynicism, I didn’t enjoy this story as much as I might have when I was younger. The writing just didn’t suspend my disbelief.
I realize now that the times are different from when this story was written in 1931. Whether it is from that 90-year gap, or the difference between my wide-eyed youth and middle-age cynicism, I didn’t enjoy this story as much as I might have when I was younger. The writing just didn’t suspend my disbelief.
January 5, 2018
this was one of my favorits because this time the Hardy boy team up with a very expirenced crime fighting group, the FBI. this time the hardys and the FBI work together to catch a world wide criminal stugglers gang.
January 27, 2022
Is this my favorite of all Hardy Boy books? It might be. The original version text is one of the funniest and craziest adventures of the series. If you read one Hardy Boy book, find the original text of this one. It includes a depiction of a new-in-town automat, and also, the Hardy’s first visit to New York City, by train—which is extended and hilarious—especially when they attempt to hitchhike back to Bayport, eat at a diner, and have to wash dishes to pay for their breakfast. There’s some good surveillance, tailing their suspect in the city. They visit a seedy, New York, diner and get accosted by a drunk (this is during Prohibition, remember). They even sleep in Central Park. This book has Aunt Gertrude at her most nutso—really funny. Also, this is one of the best books for Chet to really expand his personality. As usual, there is a fraught boat excursion, with fog, and caves, and an even more harrowing small plane excursion, with fog, and parachutes. The story also includes Joe being kidnapped (for an extended period!) and a pretty interesting criminal they’re up against, named Taffy Marr. One more odd thing to note—the old edition cover (which isn’t the original cover, but one that was incorporated in the Forties, I believe) is terrible—one of the worst ever—especially later printings—too dark. The cover of the rewrite, which came out in 1967, however, is one of my favorite covers of all books and editions. The boys are in a rainy park at night, with a masked man approaching them with a boat’s anchor as a weapon. In the background, a courthouse clock strikes midnight. I always thought it looked exactly like the downtown park in the city where I grew up.
September 19, 2020
I loved this book for many reasons, I think it is one of the best books in the Hardy Boys series yet. Like the others it was full with mystery, danger, and Hardy-fun. But this time they added more danger to the boys, especially Joe and had some unexpected help from a friend. I won't spoil the mystery for anyone and even though all their mysteries do seem to be similar, this one just added so much more I can't wait to read book 11!
December 31, 2023
Gripping, mysterious, with multiple elements of surprise, a smart villain who isn't caught easily, and a mystery that gets dangerous at every turn. This was a fun read!
A quick question though? 🤔
I understand the books are stand alone novels. However, over 10 books you'd expect the Hardy boys to grow up from being 18 and 17 years of age. Plus! They never have school! Summer vacations make sense, but at least 2 seasons passed in previous books...
A quick question though? 🤔
I understand the books are stand alone novels. However, over 10 books you'd expect the Hardy boys to grow up from being 18 and 17 years of age. Plus! They never have school! Summer vacations make sense, but at least 2 seasons passed in previous books...
September 5, 2017
.
Frank and Joe Hardy and their chums never fail to provide an entertaining and mysterious escapade. These teenagers are very intelligent, resourceful, and mature for their ages.
My grandsons and I enjoyed sharing them together and would recommend them to others.
Each book is a clean read and can stand on its own.
Frank and Joe Hardy and their chums never fail to provide an entertaining and mysterious escapade. These teenagers are very intelligent, resourceful, and mature for their ages.
My grandsons and I enjoyed sharing them together and would recommend them to others.
Each book is a clean read and can stand on its own.
February 13, 2016
2.5 stars Maybe it's the nostalgia. I've found that I can reread Nancy Drew as an adult and still enjoy them, but I can't find the same appeal in the Hardy Boys stories. I can see why kids would like it, but I'm obviously not the right audience. To its credit it is more action-packed then any ND story I can recall. However, Frank and Joe are not as clever and charming as Nancy.
September 26, 2020
A good entry in the series, but nothing in it to make it stand out from the crowd. All of the Hardy Boys' friends are there, but used to little effect. This may be the earliest in a book that one of the brothers gets kidnapped as well.
A decent read for a younger audience or a quick read on a rainy afternoon.
Find it. Buy it. Read it!
A decent read for a younger audience or a quick read on a rainy afternoon.
Find it. Buy it. Read it!
November 3, 2022
This one was probably the fastest paced of the first 10. The action starts right away and then after only a brief lull for maybe a chapter is non-stop til the end and even partly takes place in NYC. One of the Hardy brothers actually ends up in serious danger. I'd rank it 3rd best of the first 10 (behind The Shore Road Mystery and The Great Airport Mystery), but maybe with the most energy.
April 14, 2023
Anchor Steve? Taffy Marr? Smugglers for diamonds AND electronics?
Is Mr Wright invention safe? What does that radio do that makes it so secretive?
Frank and Joe go through the ringer in this one. Aunt Gertrude doesn’t like it, but she helps.
Series really is a great read for a little boy and he LOVES it! Always asking for more.
Is Mr Wright invention safe? What does that radio do that makes it so secretive?
Frank and Joe go through the ringer in this one. Aunt Gertrude doesn’t like it, but she helps.
Series really is a great read for a little boy and he LOVES it! Always asking for more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews