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What Happened at Midnight (1931)

by Franklin W. Dixon

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: The Hardy Boys (10)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1,5451211,493 (3.52)2
Juvenile Fiction. Mystery. HTML:

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. 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, this incident starts Frank off on a chase that almost ends disastrously for him and his pals. The exciting capture of several members of the gang during a stormy night on Barmet bay and a perilous encounter with the insidious Anchor Pete concludes one of the most complicated cases of the Hardy's career.

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» See also 2 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 12 (next | show all)
Bayport has entered the modern age: the automat has come to town! The boys are excited to have their good chum Chet Morton show them how to operate the automat, put a coin in the slot next to the desired food and presto you can open the cubbie and feast. The gang is having a great time and even start playing shovin' buddies, when Joe is pushed into a blonde man and jostles him. The man has an overblown reaction, but the boys don't think too much of it. Later, Joe is shoved into the same man, making him drop a package this time. The man, perhaps justifiably, is even more pissed off and thinks they're out to get him. Again, the situation is laughed off and the gang agrees to meet up later at Chet's for a party.

Then...at midnight...it happened.

'Midnight' has a dramatically different opening here then in the revised edition, which has the Hardy Boys breaking into a scientists house at the behest of their father to safeguard an invention. Were automats not cool anymore by the 1960s?

I'm given to understand the rest of the plot is similar with electronic gizmos replacing some of the loot being kicked around. I never read the revised edition of this, but the leisurely pace the narrative takes while Frank and Joe travel to New York City to follow a clue and then are forced to hitch-hike back home to Bayport over a couple days doesn't seem like something that would have been allowed.

I cannot stress enough how cool these early editions of the Hardy Boys are. Also, Aunt Gertrude was delightful in a crisis. Other than some basic safety concerns for two teens spending several nights out of doors and hitch-hiking, I didn't see any reason to butcher this work for 'modern' audiences. 1920s slang has more appeal to me than that of the 1950s.

Next: 'While the Clock Ticked'

Previous: 'The Great Airport Mystery' ( )
  ManWithAnAgenda | Feb 20, 2019 |
Frank and Joe once again find themselves in a world of trouble when they are put in charge of protecting an invention but end up discovering a smugglers ring.
Joe gets kidnapped and both boys end up in New York all while their father is off with the inventor, poor poor Aunt Gertude and Mrs. Hardy always worried about their boys. ( )
  WormsReview | Aug 31, 2018 |
I absolutely loved Nancy Drew growing up. This was a series I latched on to for dear life and never let go. So after my obsession with Nancy Drew started to dwindle (mostly because I had read all the ones I could get my hands on), I moved on to The Hardy Boys because that was the natural next step, duh. Love the Hardy Boys (though they weren't quite as amazing and Nancy Drew and her friends). ( )
  justagirlwithabook | Aug 1, 2018 |
Frank & Joe have done it again....kidnapping, a couple of rough-uos, a close encounter with a subway, a plane crash, and as always, unbelievably lenient parents and a whole big dose of good luck leads these 2 lads to save society from another gang of hoodlums! Perfect reading for a holiday camping trip in the Maine woods. ( )
  jeffome | Jul 2, 2016 |
Review by: Ben R

This book is about two boys whose father is a detective, and his sons are also detectives. The boys are tracking a gang of jewel thieves and smugglers. The boys' task is to guard a secret invention that belongs to a neighbor. The invention is at a high risk of being stolen. As the boys press closer to solving the mystery, Joe is kidnapped by the thieves in a desperate attempt to keep the boys from capturing the thugs. In the end, the boys finally manage to locate and capture the gang. I thought that this book was really tense and exciting. I loved the parts when the boys when to a bunch of restaurants during their stay in New York City because I love food.
Review by: Neveah

I can't believe I've been going for years without knowing that. ( )
  bplteen | Apr 27, 2012 |
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» Add other authors (2 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Franklin W. Dixonprimary authorall editionscalculated
Hoffsten, BörjeTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rogers, Walter S.Illustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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"The invention of the age!" proclaimed Chet Morton, his chubby face beaming as he led his chums through the freshly-painted portals of Bayport's newest building.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Juvenile Fiction. Mystery. HTML:

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. 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, this incident starts Frank off on a chase that almost ends disastrously for him and his pals. The exciting capture of several members of the gang during a stormy night on Barmet bay and a perilous encounter with the insidious Anchor Pete concludes one of the most complicated cases of the Hardy's career.

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