Mystery of the Midnight Rider

Nancy Drew Diaries #3

by Carolyn Keene, Jorjeana Marie (Narrator)

Dear diary...

Who would want to harm a horse? I kept asking myself that question while watching the beautiful jumpers at the annual River Heights Horse Show. The top riders from all over the country are here, and one of them, Payton Evans, is a close friend of Ned’s family. She’s been training for years, and Ned said she might even make the Olympic team. But just when Payton was supposed to compete in this show, everything went horribly wrong: Her horse, Midnight, tested positive for drugs! What kind of person would ever give drugs to a horse? And why?

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Audiobook, Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction, Detective

4 pages, Audiobook

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

Carolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people- both men and women- over the years. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.

Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.

Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid installment in the series! I'm glad to be back in this world with Nancy and her friends.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade books are often underrated. I listened to more of them when my niece was younger. I’m going to listen to more this year. Maybe I will listen to all of the books in this series.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saw the ending coming, I sound like a broken record...these are mediocre compared to the original stories. I'll still read any new Nancy Drew material, but they need to make these mysteries a little better. I get they are considered "kids" books but they should keep in mind how many adults read the series when WE were kids and they should pay homage to the original stories in these new spin-offs.

[A.L. Sowards]

I listened to this one with my kids and we enjoyed it.

[Nevaeha Palkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a quick audiobook and this was next on my Hoopla list. I just got a new job with a commute longer than 10 minutes and I can finally listen to audiobooks for longer amounts of time hooray! Mystery of the Midnight Rider opens up with the line, "Peyton Evans named her horse after the time it was born." Immediately I sassed back and said "2:36AM" but I knew it was called Midnight because of the title. Think of how dumb/ funny it would be to have a horse with a random time as their name.

Mystery of the Midnight Rider was rather fun and brings back the enjoyment I felt while reading the cruise ship case earlier in the series. I've never been a "horse girl" because I don't have those affluent resources and I was too occupied shoving my face in books. I've been on a horse once during a guided trail at youth summer camp. I enjoyed it but everything I know about horses comes from dramatic scenes in historical romances. Mystery of the Midnight Rider featured great insight on horse competitions and it was really immersive. I thought the key scenes of sabotage were really interesting as well like torn saddles and intentionally feeding horses chocolate to fail a drug test. It helped inform the reader as well as boost the element of mystery for those who don't know much about horses, such as myself.



My previous complaint with this series made an unfortunate return: the use of "dubious". I counted it used 3 separate times. Please use a thesaurus! There are plenty of synonyms for dubious. You could use unsure, suspicious, doubtful... I'm sure there were other words repeated but I had this same issue in Curse of the Arctic Star. It's a tiny complaint, but I'm that snobgoblin.



Otherwise, it was a great mystery that I eventually pieced together before the reveal. I hope the future books in this series are just as exciting and quick-paced as Mystery of the Midnight Rider. Yee-haw you later!

[Leeann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this mystery but the ending and everything was predictable. I enjoyed the writing as well and most of the plot as well.

[The Eod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seneng akhirnya baca buku ini lagi. Kali ini Nancy menyelidiki misteri kuda milik temannya Ned bernama Payton yang dikasih obat ilegal beberapa minggu sebelum pertandingan.

Jarang-jarang sekali ada penulis yang bikin cerita misteri pakai POV 1 Nancy. Namun, bagiku nggak masalah karena bisa lebih satset tanpa terasa diburu-buru. Apalagi bagi kalian yang lebih suka banyakan dialog daripada narasi, beuh bakal seneng banget. Di buku ini Nancy melakukan sleuthing pakai panca indra dan pola-pola sekitar. Poin paling plusnya di aku adalah ini melawan pakem cerita misteri detektif di mana nggak perlu ada karakter meninggal dulu baru diselidiki. Namun, bukan berarti nggak ada plot twist lho, justru di seri ini malah dar der dor.

Tetep dong ada narasi dikasih latar dan penggambaran bagaimana olahraga berkuda yang biasanya ada buat olimpiade.

Nancy ini pemberani banget sih memang, deketin sarang musuh dan mampu bikin musuhnya agak terintimidasi. Apalagi si Call sama Jessica, padahal cuma kasih satu dua pertanyaan santai hihihi.

Endingnya memuaskan aku sih, dan langsung menjurus ke cerita berikutnya hihihi.

[Adela · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one was too obvious 🥱 still fun tho! 3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Katherine Tingen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the beginning of the book Mystery of the Midnight Rider you meet Ned and Nancy at their friend Payton's Horse show. Dana (Payton's trainer) gets really mad at Payton for disobedience and disrespecting herself and Dana. Right before Payton's first round in her show, Dana comes and tells her that her prize horse, Midnight, has just failed his drug test and that she may be suspended from the show. Later right after she goes home Payton finds a note threatening to kill her if she doesn't back out of the race but no one will let her. The next day to everyone's surprise Paytons saddle is cut into tons of little peaces. Once everyone has left Payton calls Nancy telling her that she thinks that someone has been stalking her. The next day right before Paytons Grand Prix Nancy finds her "scraping mud of her saddle" when really she was ruining her back up saddle. It doesn't dawn on Nancy though intil Payton is racing and Nancy goes and stops the race and Payton admits that she has been sabotaging her own career. Payton has to go and explain it to the police and the community of River Heights. Payton then decides to quit from competitive horse riding. Then she treats Ned and Nancy to a date in the forest.

Payton's horse gets drugged and fails it's drug test. Dana is very worried that Payton (her star pupil) will get suspended or won't be able to get into the Grand Prix. This makes Dana very mad and Payton gets yelled at. Then Payton throws a small fit and doesn't want to talk to Dana. Also when Neds family hosts a barbecue. When they open the barbecue they find a note addressed to Payton saying that if she doesn't back out of the show someone is going to come and kill her. Everyone then gets super nervous and worried for Payton but insist that she keep the show going. Knowing this is scaring Payton Ned won't leave her side or give her any privacy.

I really like the book. Some things I liked about the book were that there was always some mystery and suspence. I also enjoyed the creepy sensation that someone was always watching you. And my favorite thing was that there was sooo much discription and I felt like I was there. I disliked that the story was so short. And then I didn't like that Jessica (Paytons Enemie) is so rude to everyone she meets. And the last thing that displeased my was that the main big bad guy is siblings with Paytons trainer; I was not happy.

[victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this mystery! Pretty difficult to guess the culprit, and great characters and setting.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite honestly? These books are nothing like the original Nancy Drew stories. I might remember it wrong, but they were way more complicated, way more dangerous and way more spectacular. However, the boxset looks pretty and these books are perfect for busy days. They're short, easy to read and don't require me to focus too much. So, I will certainly read the other 7 books in the box at some point. But not because they're brilliant. They're, unfortunately, not.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this book, and I thought that the mystery was VERY PREDICTABLE. Like the other books in this series, no major violence or other really inappropriate things, but an overall light, easy read!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light fun mystery series

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Bella H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book, and it was amazing!! A must read for girls aged 9-13!!

[winnie ꣑ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good, short, easy read to get me out of a reading slump. I did kinda guess the ending though

[Corinna · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOYFRIEND REVEAL!!!!! Men…. It’s that easy to win over a woman I’m so serious

[Caron Pescatore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been making my way through the audiobooks in this series on the Hoopla app, and I must say, they get better as they progress. I listened to the first two books a few months ago and thought they were OK. I only decided to listen to more because I found them on Hoopla. I grew up on a healthy diet of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, so I guess you could say I'm reliving my distant childhood. LOL Although these books are not as good as the originals.

These Nancy Drew Diaries books are the updated version of the original Nancy Drew Mysteries. You know. Nancy and her BFFs, George and Bess, have smartphones, laptops, and such—technology they didn't have back when the original Carolyn Keene started writing the original Nancy Drew series.

In any event, this third book in the series was pretty good; I rated it four stars and liked it much better than I did book 2. I figured out the culprit's identity in the last 1/3 of the book, but the story kept me intrigued and was entertaining. Even though Nancy is around 17 in this series, I think this book is perfect for children 8-11 who like reading mysteries. Enjoy!

[Bárbara Oliveira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick to read
Didn’t guess who it was

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The latest Nancy Drew reboot is the Nancy Drew Diaries series, which attempts to bring Nancy and her friends back to the traditional sleuthing (sans gadgets) that made the original series such a success. In Mystery of the Midnight Rider, which is the third book of the series, Nancy meets an old friend of Ned’s, Payton Evans, who is an Olympic-hopeful horseback rider. Though Payton loves riding horses, horse shows are a lot of pressure, and her parents and trainer both constantly remind her of the importance of doing well. To add to her stress, just as an important competition begins, someone starts trying to sabotage Payton’s participation in the show! Thankfully, Nancy is always ready to take on a new mystery, and she is right there to get to the bottom of what’s happening!

Though it’s unclear how old Nancy is meant to be in this book, it is obvious to me that the target audience for the story is undoubtedly middle grade readers. The characters might be as old as sixteen, but the dialogue, plot, and characterization all seem to be geared toward ages 8 to 12 or so. All the usual supporting characters are back for the new series, including Bess and George, who have not really changed at all since their first incarnations, except maybe in style of dress, and Ned, who actually gets a chance to be involved in solving the mystery. Though they don’t have much to do in this story, Hannah Gruen, the housekeeper, and Nancy’s dad Carson Drew are also in the background. Fans of the original series will appreciate this continuity, and I think they will enjoy seeing a more child-like detective rather than the more sophisticated versions of Nancy that have been around for the past few years.

The story itself is typical mystery series fare, and nothing that will disappoint an avid reader of things like The Boxcar Children. I figured things out pretty early on, or at least had my suspicions, but it was still satisfying to see how Nancy put the various clues together to uncover the horse saboteur. I think the author does a nice job of setting up the appropriate amount of suspense and dropping enough red herrings along the way that the reader can easily be misled to suspect the wrong person until Nancy finally calls out the true criminal. The “diary” promised by the title really only appears at the start and end of the book, which might disappoint kids who have become so fond of diary fiction, but I doubt it will be a problem for most readers. (It wasn’t for me.) I also want to mention how much I love the covers, which are by one of my favorite children’s book illustrators, Erin McGuire.

The Nancy Drew Diaries will satisfy both kids and parents looking for interesting mystery series that aren’t too scary or too grown-up for their audience. Mystery of the Midnight Rider, in particular, will appeal to girls who love horses, of which I know my library has no shortage. Other titles in the Nancy Drew Diaries series that have been released so far include Curse of the Arctic Star, Strangers on a Train, and Once Upon a Thriller.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the new Nancy Drew Diaries series by Carolyn Keene, “Mystery of the Midnight Rider,” features the young sleuth and her friends on another case, this time right at home in River Heights. Sixteen-year-old Payton Evans, the daughter of Ned Nickerson’s mother’s best friend, is in town for a horse show. She is competing in the Grand Prix with the hopes of becoming qualified to take part in the Olympics. However, someone seems to be trying to sabotage her showmanship, and it’s up to Nancy to solve the case in time for the competition. Along with Ned, Bess, and George, she begins investigating, but there are a myriad of potential suspects, and she can’t help but feel that she’s overlooking something important. Meanwhile, it is her and Ned’s anniversary, and sleuthing isn’t allowing much time for romance or privacy. If she can’t figure out who is behind the strange occurrences, Payton and her horses could end up in serious danger.

The Nancy Drew Diaries are written under the familiar pseudonym Carolyn Keene but are aimed at a slightly younger audience than the original series. Pre-teens will identify with this younger Nancy’s life and conflicts, and the teenage slang and modern technology enhance this connection. This Nancy is not as intuitive or as flawless as in previous adaptations, and at times she comes across as an aloof character. Her sleuthing is also very amateur, and rather than actually solving the cases she often seems to accidentally stumble upon the solutions, which attentive readers may well figure out for themselves before the plot resolution. Bess Marvin is more intrepid than her previous portrayals, and George Fayne is often detached and disinterested, while Ned Nickerson is simply a sideline character. However, Nancy’s activities outside of detective work will be typical of contemporary teens and pre-teens, making this a series with which a young audience can perhaps identify.

Fans of the original series will likely find this new spinoff disappointing and lacking excitement, as the mysteries are rather mundane, and the series title itself is misleading, as only two very brief diary entries are included, bookending the story. Two errors in the paperback edition of “Mystery of the Midnight Rider” should be noted: on page 117 in the second paragraph the text mistakenly reads “Payton” when the character named should be “Jessica,” and the diary entry at the end misspells “Payton” as “Peyton.”

[Nicole Wrightson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I thought it might have been the person who had done it but somehow she had pulled my mind into thinking it was someone else. I can't believe that she talked me out of my own thoughts of the matter. But she did. Then when the big discovery happened, I had to hit myself on the head because the person who I had thought it was turned out to be the real person behind the problems.

A horse show. A strange note. A test result that seems strange for someone who takes really good care of her horses. A protest outside the show. SO many people who could want this girl to stop jumping. But who is willing to go this far to stop her?

A lot of twists and discoveries of the world of horse shows. It's not just people riding horses. It is a world of drama. It is amazing who all can be suspected trying to get rid of one rider. I enjoyed this book and the fact that Carolyn actually managed to talk me into suspecting someone else despite me figuring it early in the book who it was. I love when someone can make me doubt what I think and try to make me change my mind about what is going on.

[Akhila Ashru · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite one, predictable. But I am reading whatever I have not read in the Nancy Drew series. One cheerful read.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third installment in the new Nancy Drew series. Although I liked this book, I did not jump into the story like I did the other two. In this book, Nancy is off to the horse show to watch possible Olympian Payton Evans. Her horse Midnight and Payton bonded well and started winning events, now everyone is watching Payton and the pressure is on!

At the show, immediately things go wrong. Payton being a good friend of her boyfriend, Ned's family, brings Nancy out to look for clues. Is it the PAN group protesting the show? What about the jealous rider, Jessica? What about Cal, Midnight's previous owner? The list of suspects increase and Nancy is on the case!

It was a quick read,one I think girls particularly like. I had the case solved pretty early on in the book, but I still think it would be a fun read for younger kids.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is about a young girl named Payton who rides horses in competitions. She's really good and is about to ride in an event where someone is going to watch who helps determine whether someone is good enough to be on the Olympic team.

Things go wrong fairly quickly. Jessica is a girl who seems to hate Payton. Payton's own trainer, Dana, spends the vast majority of her time yelling at Payton and expecting her to be absolutely perfect in everything that she does. A rival trainer also seems to hate her.

Then there's a possibly that Payton's main horse, Midnight, has been given illegal drugs. There's also something put into his feed, a slashed saddle and threatening notes.

So, there's a number of suspects, a number of things done, Nancy and others on the case (including Ned) and a rather unexpected conclusion to the mystery. A good book.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in this modern version of Nancy Drew, Mystery of the Midnight Rider, is set at a horse show. When Ned introduces Nancy to one of his old friends, Payton, a talented equestrian, they don't expect to stumble across a mystery. However, Payton begins receiving threats. Nancy becomes determined to find the saboteur before the Grand Prix (the biggest competition of the weekend where an Olympic scout will be).

This was definitely predictable. I guessed who the culprit was early on but I still enjoyed this book. I learned quite a bit about horses and competing. I think if I had read this when I was younger, I would have liked it even more.

I will definitely be continuing this series.

[Dinnu Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was better than the first 2 books...Hadn't I spoiled the culprit by reading some of the comments in Goodreads first, I would have enjoyed the mystery part more (next time I will be smarter) but I certainly would have still guessed the answer before Nancy did :D It was more alike to the older Nancy Drew stories and so I liked it more :) Let's see, if the next ones will be even better :) I do think that someone should write some new Nancy Drew mysteries that are for older audience and perhaps even have some bloody stuff going on :D

[Randall Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this for my 9yr old daughter from the library and wanted to read it myself. Good fun mystery for middle grade girls, with interesting characters and good PG-rated suspense and action. Gets a little bogged down by some excessive details about the horse show industry - most of it is needed for the story but it's a little too much to follow. But overall, great fun mystery for middle schoolers & high schoolers.

[Amy Rugg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the first two books to me. The subject of horse shows is not really that exciting to me. There wasn't as much scenery description. Lots of dull talking and it felt like there was action, but still just found it to be boring and not my kind of book. It started picking up towards the end a bit, where i was starting to dread that i knew the ending. At first I was appalled at the ending but I guess I'm okay with it now.