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Encyclopedia Brown #7
Encyclopedia Brown Saves the Day
A camper who's been bound and gagged...
A stolen bike wheel...
Two kidnapped pigs...
A boy with wings...
And a foot-warmer inventor who accidentally puts his own foot right in his mouth!
These are just some of the ten brain-twisting mysteries that Encyclopedia Brown must solve by using his famous computer-like brain. Try to crack the cases along with himthe answer to all the mysteries are found in the back!
A stolen bike wheel...
Two kidnapped pigs...
A boy with wings...
And a foot-warmer inventor who accidentally puts his own foot right in his mouth!
These are just some of the ten brain-twisting mysteries that Encyclopedia Brown must solve by using his famous computer-like brain. Try to crack the cases along with himthe answer to all the mysteries are found in the back!
Audiobook
First published January 1, 1970
142 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Donald J. Sobol
181 books222 followersDonald J. Sobol was an award-winning writer best known for his children's books, especially the Encyclopedia Brown mystery series. Mr. Sobol passed away in July of 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 7, 2020
Neo and I finished another collection of Encyclopedia Brown mysteries. The super detective is back and Idaville, USA is free of crime. Encyclopedia clashes with his nemesis, Bugs Meany, foils a store burglary, and keeps a boy from thinking he can fly with paper wings. These are wonderful five-minute mysteries and exercise the brain and spend a little time wondering. Neo and I use them as a before bedtime activity and we are getting much better. Young sleuths in the making may want to sharpen their skills with the massive collection of stories.
Neo really likes the stories that keep him thinking. I remember having these stories read to me when I was young as well, helping me want to pass along the tradition. Neo thoroughly enjoys listening to the stories and making an effort to uncover the clues that will help solve the cases. He mentioned that these are perfect stories for parent-child reading, but would be great for a good reader when they have time or are on a road trip. A note to parents: the stories are dated (1960s) and some of the terminology or word choices might not be as correct as you would like your young reader to use on a daily basis.
Did you know Neo’s has his own GR account for reviews? Check him out: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
Neo really likes the stories that keep him thinking. I remember having these stories read to me when I was young as well, helping me want to pass along the tradition. Neo thoroughly enjoys listening to the stories and making an effort to uncover the clues that will help solve the cases. He mentioned that these are perfect stories for parent-child reading, but would be great for a good reader when they have time or are on a road trip. A note to parents: the stories are dated (1960s) and some of the terminology or word choices might not be as correct as you would like your young reader to use on a daily basis.
Did you know Neo’s has his own GR account for reviews? Check him out: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
March 7, 2020
My dad and I finished another collection of Encyclopedia Brown mysteries. The super detective is back and Idaville, USA is free of crime. Encyclopedia clashes with his nemesis, Bugs Meany, finds the guilty person in a store burglary, and keeps a boy from thinking he can fly with paper wings. These are wonderful five-minute mysteries and exercise the brain and spend a little time wondering. We use them as a before bedtime activity and we are getting much better. Young sleuths in the making may want to sharpen their skills with the massive collection of stories.
I really like the stories that keep me thinking. My dad says that he remembers these stories when he was younger, helping him want to share it with me. I thoroughly enjoy listening to the stories and making an effort to uncover the clues that will help solve the cases. These are perfect stories for parent-child reading, but would be great for a good reader when they have time or are on a road trip.
I really like the stories that keep me thinking. My dad says that he remembers these stories when he was younger, helping him want to share it with me. I thoroughly enjoy listening to the stories and making an effort to uncover the clues that will help solve the cases. These are perfect stories for parent-child reading, but would be great for a good reader when they have time or are on a road trip.
July 30, 2020
I found a bunch of these as ebooks on my library's Overdrive/ Libby!
This is a better entry than many because we are shown why the victims are misled... they're not just stupid suckers. After all, "you can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time...." They're also mostly good puzzles: no super obscure trivia or loopholes in logic.
This is a better entry than many because we are shown why the victims are misled... they're not just stupid suckers. After all, "you can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time...." They're also mostly good puzzles: no super obscure trivia or loopholes in logic.
July 12, 2021
I love mysteries and Encyclopedia Brown always makes me feel like I'm in the book.
February 18, 2019
This one totally whipped me. I solved 2* out of 10! That has to be my worst track record yet.
Still, I loved the frustrating challenges. All of the stories in this one are pretty difficult but super fun and well-written as always. I just love Encyclopedia's witty comments, and #7 was chock-full of them.
Something interesting about this one is that almost all of the stories were about kids bringing their problems to the Brown Detective Agency. Not one was about Chief Brown giving a case to Encyclopedia. I don't think that has ever happened before.
*Do I get half-credit for figuring out who the thief was in a story, even though I had no idea why he did it?
Still, I loved the frustrating challenges. All of the stories in this one are pretty difficult but super fun and well-written as always. I just love Encyclopedia's witty comments, and #7 was chock-full of them.
Something interesting about this one is that almost all of the stories were about kids bringing their problems to the Brown Detective Agency. Not one was about Chief Brown giving a case to Encyclopedia. I don't think that has ever happened before.
*Do I get half-credit for figuring out who the thief was in a story, even though I had no idea why he did it?
September 27, 2022
"There is a marked drop in quality compared to the previous Encyclopedia Browns, which is extremely disappointing."
March 13, 2019
Encyclopedia Brown is not your normal fifth grader. He's a regular Sherlock! And your kids will appreciate the genius way in which he's able to put clues together ... and how you have to turn to the back of the book for the big reveal! It's a clever format that enables you to have a chance at solving the mystery and checking your theory!
Ages: 9 - 13
Cleanliness: Golly, Gee Whiz, for Pete's sake, thank heavens and the like are used throughout. There are several town bullies and swindlers. There is usually a fist fight in each book (mostly referring to the time Sally beat up Bugs Meany, the town bully). A case revolves around a fake hypnotism.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
Ages: 9 - 13
Cleanliness: Golly, Gee Whiz, for Pete's sake, thank heavens and the like are used throughout. There are several town bullies and swindlers. There is usually a fist fight in each book (mostly referring to the time Sally beat up Bugs Meany, the town bully). A case revolves around a fake hypnotism.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
September 19, 2021
I read this via audiobook, narrated by Greg Steinbruner. As a kid, I loved Encyclopedia Brown, and honestly, as an adult I still do. It was a relaxing listen, although Steinbruner’s narration was a little brash and his voice was not very soothing. I love the brain puzzles in these stories, and by listening to them instead of reading, it makes me pay even more attention since I can’t just flip back a few pages. (I could rewind but that’s not as easy. Especially if I’m listening in the car.) I DON’T like the newer covers for the Encyclopedia Brown books but at the same time, I get why they were reissued. Covers from the 1970s definitely date themselves for the “modern young reader.” I did like the original covers, though. 🤷🏻 Familiarity and nostalgia I guess.
October 30, 2016
Another 8 good mysteries. I was a little disappointed that some of the tales relied on some rather obscure knowledge, like . Otherwise, solid Encyclopedia, guaranteed at least one bad pun per chapter!
August 24, 2025
I enjoyed this book of mysteries to solve for children. Some of the cases were easy for me to solve, but some were harder!
April 21, 2013
2.5 stars
Back again to obscure knowledge cases. I did learn some things from this one, though: phone numbers used to have letters in them, but Z was never one of those letters; and people used to have to sharpen sewing machine needles by sewing through sandpaper. Craziness! :P
My favorite mystery in this one would probably be The Case of the Flying Boy just because it's one of the very few that can be solved with logic.
Back again to obscure knowledge cases. I did learn some things from this one, though: phone numbers used to have letters in them, but Z was never one of those letters; and people used to have to sharpen sewing machine needles by sewing through sandpaper. Craziness! :P
My favorite mystery in this one would probably be The Case of the Flying Boy just because it's one of the very few that can be solved with logic.
November 12, 2023
I have good memories of reading Encyclopedia Brown books as a kid, and I'm enjoying rereading some of the books. Like the other collections I've reviewed, this one has its strong points and a few easier mysteries. I would have liked some more difficult solutions, but maybe it's skewed a bit if childhood memories help with the solutions. Anyhow, some specific thoughts:
Electric Clock: Once again, so close to the perfect crime. Some people just don't know when to keep their mouths shut (although, I suppose that's most of these stories).
Bird Watcher: Had to read the solution to figure this one out. It makes sense, but it didn't come to me.
Kidnapped Pigs: I figured this out, but it's a bit dated. Not sure it works anymore.
Bound Camper: Easy enough if you pay attention to the details.
Junk Sculptor: The solution was okay, but the story stood out. Pablo (and Sally's fandom) is an interesting addition to Idaville, although I suspect he's a one-time character.
Treasure Map: This one didn't add up for me. Pete should know better, and it seems out of character to make that mistake.
Five Clues: A bit dated as well. I remembered this one from decades ago, which I guess is a good sign.
Gold Rush: I remembered this one as well, but because it stumped me (and I learned something interesting in the solution) many years ago.
Flying Boy: A well-written story that takes a bit of thinking to solve.
Foot Warmer: An interesting twist. Similar to the solutions in some other stories, but I like how it's used here.
Electric Clock: Once again, so close to the perfect crime. Some people just don't know when to keep their mouths shut (although, I suppose that's most of these stories).
Bird Watcher: Had to read the solution to figure this one out. It makes sense, but it didn't come to me.
Kidnapped Pigs: I figured this out, but it's a bit dated. Not sure it works anymore.
Bound Camper: Easy enough if you pay attention to the details.
Junk Sculptor: The solution was okay, but the story stood out. Pablo (and Sally's fandom) is an interesting addition to Idaville, although I suspect he's a one-time character.
Treasure Map: This one didn't add up for me. Pete should know better, and it seems out of character to make that mistake.
Five Clues: A bit dated as well. I remembered this one from decades ago, which I guess is a good sign.
Gold Rush: I remembered this one as well, but because it stumped me (and I learned something interesting in the solution) many years ago.
Flying Boy: A well-written story that takes a bit of thinking to solve.
Foot Warmer: An interesting twist. Similar to the solutions in some other stories, but I like how it's used here.
March 21, 2021
This was the first EB book I've read since I was in 3rd grade.... a long, long, time ago. Last century, even.
I read this with my third grader as we tried to solve the mysteries. Except some of them we couldn't because the solutions involved outdated technology that I was not aware of (and I was born in the early 70s). I am almost a half century old and neither I nor my experienced in sewing mother had ever heard of sharpening needles with sandpaper.
So, this can be a fun book to read in the 21st century, but be prepared to explain a lot if you read this with a child or class.
Also, the character of Sally is written really poorly and quite old fashioned. Just a head's up.
I read this with my third grader as we tried to solve the mysteries. Except some of them we couldn't because the solutions involved outdated technology that I was not aware of (and I was born in the early 70s). I am almost a half century old and neither I nor my experienced in sewing mother had ever heard of sharpening needles with sandpaper.
So, this can be a fun book to read in the 21st century, but be prepared to explain a lot if you read this with a child or class.
Also, the character of Sally is written really poorly and quite old fashioned. Just a head's up.
October 20, 2025
Read one chapter per night to my youngest as a bedtime story/puzzle to be solved.
More of the same; Sobel seems by this volume (and earlier ones) to have settled into a comfortable (for him) formula: ten brief single-chapter mysteries with solutions varying from rather clever (one or two per volume) through rather obvious (maybe three or four per volume) to rather unfair (the remainder). The ones I consider unfair have solutions that no rational adult, let alone a rational kid, could be reasonably expected to get, often due to some slightly bizarre logic.
The forumla also includes some fairly tedious boilerplate at the beginning of the first two chapters setting up the characters and premise of the series. This introductory material varies very little, if at all, from volume to volume by this point in the series, making it a mystery in itself why Sobol and/or the publisher didn't simply replace it with a standard introductory preface that could be reprinted at the head of each volume. Regular readers would then feel free to skip it as it would be plainly identical from book to book, rather than the existing system, in which a reader might be wary of skipping the introductory paragraphs, as Sobol occasionally throws in a slight change to the boilerplate.
More of the same; Sobel seems by this volume (and earlier ones) to have settled into a comfortable (for him) formula: ten brief single-chapter mysteries with solutions varying from rather clever (one or two per volume) through rather obvious (maybe three or four per volume) to rather unfair (the remainder). The ones I consider unfair have solutions that no rational adult, let alone a rational kid, could be reasonably expected to get, often due to some slightly bizarre logic.
The forumla also includes some fairly tedious boilerplate at the beginning of the first two chapters setting up the characters and premise of the series. This introductory material varies very little, if at all, from volume to volume by this point in the series, making it a mystery in itself why Sobol and/or the publisher didn't simply replace it with a standard introductory preface that could be reprinted at the head of each volume. Regular readers would then feel free to skip it as it would be plainly identical from book to book, rather than the existing system, in which a reader might be wary of skipping the introductory paragraphs, as Sobol occasionally throws in a slight change to the boilerplate.
December 19, 2019
This is a re-read of one of the books in this mystery series for children. Clever puzzles solved by the boy detective, Encyclopedia Brown (real name, Leroy).
The difference between then and now is that this reader is more knowledgeable about things and could actually solve most of them whereas in the past, maybe one or two were obvious.
The usual suspects were in full force: Bugs Meany, Sally Kimball, and the older toughs.
The difference between then and now is that this reader is more knowledgeable about things and could actually solve most of them whereas in the past, maybe one or two were obvious.
The usual suspects were in full force: Bugs Meany, Sally Kimball, and the older toughs.
September 18, 2019
I used to read the series when I was in fifth grade. It is a brain twister book that is excellent for riddle lovers and great for mental exercises. It is also meaningful because I have a bad habit of not looking beyond the scene, thinking outside the box to solve problems, and picking up details of leaving details behind. It also helped me become logically smarter and helped me become a genius. I highly recommend this book to anybody who is interested. :D
August 28, 2025
Sobel used good misdirection in couple of the cases in this entry! As usual, it was a lot of fun trying to figure out the solutions to each mystery. I missed quite a few, however. I do remember reading this one from childhood. In particular, the first story with the switched around telescope lives rent-free in my head.
March 18, 2017
It was weird listening to this on audio, but some horrible person with no soul ripped all the solution pages out of the paperback that I had on loan from the library. Sounds like something Bugs Meany would do. Amiright?
September 25, 2017
Love Encyclopedia Brown. Can't stand his partner, Sally, who is a bully but is a "good guy" because she bullies the bullies. She's a social justice fascist straight out of South Park.
My five-year-old can't get enough of these books.
My five-year-old can't get enough of these books.
January 4, 2018
Another collection of short detective stories using Encyclopedia's brain and broad culture... Funny and a good exercise for grey cells, although most stories follow the exact same pattern...
Maria Carmo,
Lisbon, 4 January 2018.
Maria Carmo,
Lisbon, 4 January 2018.
February 10, 2018
Enclopedia Brown solves cases involving theft, deception, greed. I didn't solve them all, which is fine because life should have a few challenges in it. Some you can figure out just based on logic, but some do require a little obscure knowledge. Fun read.
June 8, 2019
Leroy "Encyclopedia"Brown continues to thwart crime in his home town of Idaville in these ten short stories involving sneak thieves, petty crimes, scam artists, and kidnappers. As always, Encyclopedia Brown proves that no case is too small.
December 8, 2019
Read it again for the first time since I was a kid. This one was a bit hit and miss, but the misses were few and far between. Overall most of the mysteries were pretty good, although a few involved answers that were a bit obscure.
July 4, 2023
I found this set a little more difficult, but I also noticed that many of the stories here have a recurring theme of .
January 21, 2020
My boys would probably rate it 5 stars, though!
July 19, 2021
We love figuring out the mysteries with Encyclopedia Brown!
March 22, 2022
A good listen with a sick kiddo.
November 8, 2022
Fun puzzle book for an easy read. Definitely looking forward to reading more of these short stories to try and keep my brain firing on all cylinders!
October 28, 2023
Keep your eye on the mule!
July 20, 2024
Oldie but goodie!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews