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The Famous Five #22
The Famous Five Have a Puzzling Time and Other Stories: Mystery and Adventure with the Famous Five
"The Famous Five Have a Puzzling Time and Other Stories" by Enid Blyton. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.
97 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2021
28 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Enid Blyton
5,134 books6,328 followersSee also:
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 7, 2019
Well, that's it. That's quite literally all she wrote. The very last drop of Famous Five. It's not a bad little collection of short stories actually, culled from magazines, Famous Five annuals and the like. Turns out Enid can write a pretty decent pithy tale.
Farewell Anne, Dick, George, Julian and Timmy! May you never get any older...
Farewell Anne, Dick, George, Julian and Timmy! May you never get any older...
December 28, 2018
Impossível esquecer estes livros, adorava-os se paixão
March 30, 2025
A nice collection of stories, although not quite as good as 'The Secret Seven Short Story Collection' which surpassed these in terms of it's diverseness and variety. 3 stars.
September 11, 2018
Famous Five series
Non-review rant
Some of the famous five books I owned (now donated to the library); others were borrowed from the library. Kid fiction is fun to read.
Review
The plot
The plot is always that the five of the characters get into some trouble while seeking adventure. They solve mysteries, save others from trouble, eat a lot of delicious food.
Does it sound like HP? Yes, it is and above mentioned elements are common. Their adventures are not as severe and serious. And HP has a great world built inside the books.
The characters
I like how the characters are built. I can remember them for their character traits.
George: A slightly arrogant, but likable daughter, raised more like a son. Her father is a scientist.
Anne: Geroge's cousin. Almost opposite of George, behaves most sensibly.
Julian & Dick: Anne's brothers.
Timmy: George's dog. He loves food, and he is a savior in most of the story.
Verdict
For kids, must read.
Non-review rant
Some of the famous five books I owned (now donated to the library); others were borrowed from the library. Kid fiction is fun to read.
Review
The plot
The plot is always that the five of the characters get into some trouble while seeking adventure. They solve mysteries, save others from trouble, eat a lot of delicious food.
Does it sound like HP? Yes, it is and above mentioned elements are common. Their adventures are not as severe and serious. And HP has a great world built inside the books.
The characters
I like how the characters are built. I can remember them for their character traits.
George: A slightly arrogant, but likable daughter, raised more like a son. Her father is a scientist.
Anne: Geroge's cousin. Almost opposite of George, behaves most sensibly.
Julian & Dick: Anne's brothers.
Timmy: George's dog. He loves food, and he is a savior in most of the story.
Verdict
For kids, must read.
March 20, 2024
I obtained this free download from the Faded Page website.
Much as I love reading anything about the Famous Five, I did find these short stories to be lacking the excitement of the longer books. The adventures were over in a few hours and were quite dull . Reading this was a little like craving a three course meal and only being served the appetiser.
Much as I love reading anything about the Famous Five, I did find these short stories to be lacking the excitement of the longer books. The adventures were over in a few hours and were quite dull . Reading this was a little like craving a three course meal and only being served the appetiser.
November 8, 2021
Aavyan Agarwal
Famous five is wonderful
I have read 10 short stories
And 4 long stories
I am on famous five - five go off in caravan
It’s a good book . Georgina is a girl but she likes being a boy and likes the name George and hates dolls her cousins are Dick Julian and Anne she owns Kirin island and Kirin cave she live in Kirin cottage and her parents farmer and farmers wife live in Kirin farmhouse she and her cousins solve cases and tell the police
Famous five is wonderful
I have read 10 short stories
And 4 long stories
I am on famous five - five go off in caravan
It’s a good book . Georgina is a girl but she likes being a boy and likes the name George and hates dolls her cousins are Dick Julian and Anne she owns Kirin island and Kirin cave she live in Kirin cottage and her parents farmer and farmers wife live in Kirin farmhouse she and her cousins solve cases and tell the police
May 17, 2025
After finishing the complete box set of the 21 Famous Five adventures, I saw this collection of short stories had been included in the box set.
Eight short stories featuring more adventures of the four cousins and Timmy the dog. The stories were surprisingly good and I enjoyed reading them.
Sad to say that's the end of my Famous Five adventures. Maybe I'll manage another reread of the series some time in the future. Goodbye Five - I had a great trip down memory lane!
Eight short stories featuring more adventures of the four cousins and Timmy the dog. The stories were surprisingly good and I enjoyed reading them.
Sad to say that's the end of my Famous Five adventures. Maybe I'll manage another reread of the series some time in the future. Goodbye Five - I had a great trip down memory lane!
January 12, 2021
It's nice to find a new book in this series. Unlike the original books, these stories don't have descriptions of what the five ate. Timmy is also glorified a bit more in these stories.
1. A lazy afternoon :
the story ended too quickly
2. George's hair is too long :
Ridiculous villains and too many plot holes.
George went into an old man's shop just to get a pair of scissors to cut her hair. She could have waited till she got home or could have gone home early, if it was so urgent.
The old man isn't the villain. Two men appear out of nowhere, lock George and the old man together into a cupboard of utensils, take the trouble of carrying the cupboard into a van and drive off.
Amazingly, the villains don't know how to change a tyre but Julian (who must be 13 years old) knows. Even he expresses surprise.
I was surprised the other 3 just sat and watched the clearly suspicious men instead of fetching help or looking for George. And the villains didn't threaten them at all.
I liked that Anne acted intelligently (She and Bets Hilton are often shown as blabbermouths).
3. Half term adventure : Unusual mystery. I liked that the famous five weren't able to solve everything on the spot and took Aunt Fanny's advice to call up the police.
4. Well done, Famous five : Dick did it all, nothing left for the others.
5. When Timmy Chased the Cat : Timmy gets away with a lot. And the problem was realistic (no villains). I also liked that the old lady acted intelligently.
6. Five have a puzzling time :
"Tell your dog to keep off. (Mine will fight him!). And clear off, all of you!"
Reminds me of Mr Goon, but it is actually a small boy trespassing on Kirrin Island. Instead of flying into a rage, George (surprisingly) orders Timmy off.
It is often mentioned in the original series that George is the only one skilled enough to get past the dangerous rocks near Kirrin Island.
But this small boy reveals that he and his pets travelled to Kirrin Island from the mainland using just an inflatable bed as a boat and a spade as a paddle. And neither are damaged.
Makes me wonder why Anne and her brothers (or the village children whom George refused to take to the island) didn't do this in the first book. Then there would be no famous five.
7.Good old Timmy :
I didn't expect a kidnapping to occur under the children's nose after they were warned about it.
Why didn't one of the kidnappers stay with the boy they kidnapped while the other went to fill petrol, instead of both going and leaving him unguarded?
8. Happy Christmas, Five :
After 21 books, I think Uncle Quentin should have realised that if Timmy were sent outside the house for even a night, someone would choose that very night to break in.
I liked how Timmy worked hard for a successful Christmas.
But after entering a house and evading detection, why would a thief take ordinary Christmas presents, instead of something far more valuable?
Everything else about the stories was nice.
1. A lazy afternoon :
the story ended too quickly
2. George's hair is too long :
Ridiculous villains and too many plot holes.
George went into an old man's shop just to get a pair of scissors to cut her hair. She could have waited till she got home or could have gone home early, if it was so urgent.
The old man isn't the villain. Two men appear out of nowhere, lock George and the old man together into a cupboard of utensils, take the trouble of carrying the cupboard into a van and drive off.
Amazingly, the villains don't know how to change a tyre but Julian (who must be 13 years old) knows. Even he expresses surprise.
I was surprised the other 3 just sat and watched the clearly suspicious men instead of fetching help or looking for George. And the villains didn't threaten them at all.
I liked that Anne acted intelligently (She and Bets Hilton are often shown as blabbermouths).
3. Half term adventure : Unusual mystery. I liked that the famous five weren't able to solve everything on the spot and took Aunt Fanny's advice to call up the police.
4. Well done, Famous five : Dick did it all, nothing left for the others.
5. When Timmy Chased the Cat : Timmy gets away with a lot. And the problem was realistic (no villains). I also liked that the old lady acted intelligently.
6. Five have a puzzling time :
"Tell your dog to keep off. (Mine will fight him!). And clear off, all of you!"
Reminds me of Mr Goon, but it is actually a small boy trespassing on Kirrin Island. Instead of flying into a rage, George (surprisingly) orders Timmy off.
It is often mentioned in the original series that George is the only one skilled enough to get past the dangerous rocks near Kirrin Island.
But this small boy reveals that he and his pets travelled to Kirrin Island from the mainland using just an inflatable bed as a boat and a spade as a paddle. And neither are damaged.
Makes me wonder why Anne and her brothers (or the village children whom George refused to take to the island) didn't do this in the first book. Then there would be no famous five.
7.Good old Timmy :
I didn't expect a kidnapping to occur under the children's nose after they were warned about it.
Why didn't one of the kidnappers stay with the boy they kidnapped while the other went to fill petrol, instead of both going and leaving him unguarded?
8. Happy Christmas, Five :
After 21 books, I think Uncle Quentin should have realised that if Timmy were sent outside the house for even a night, someone would choose that very night to break in.
I liked how Timmy worked hard for a successful Christmas.
But after entering a house and evading detection, why would a thief take ordinary Christmas presents, instead of something far more valuable?
Everything else about the stories was nice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2020
That's it. It's taken me two years, roughly a book a month to (re)ead the Famous Five series and I've LOVED it. Most of the stories I remember and can still picture in my head how I saw it 30(ish) years ago. They've served me well, getting out of reading slumps and finding something light after a hard weed. During 2020 they've really been a comfy blanket. Complete nostalgia, formulaic and of very similar repetitive structure.
December 3, 2019
The last book in the Famous Five series. We're finished. It's been quite a journey - some of the mysteries have been fantastic, others not quite so but on the whole it's been very enjoyable.
This collection of short stories were fun to read and a good way to wind up the series. I shall miss Julian, Dick, George, Anne and Timmy!
This collection of short stories were fun to read and a good way to wind up the series. I shall miss Julian, Dick, George, Anne and Timmy!
December 26, 2025
jackdaws, rabits, barley sugars, a pip from a grape, piled up heaps of seaweed, dog biscuits, chocolate bars, thief, monkeys, red sandals, big dogs, orange peel and five white teenagers
white people owning an inhabitated island? and a monkey potrayed as a thief, i dont want to look more into it.
white people owning an inhabitated island? and a monkey potrayed as a thief, i dont want to look more into it.
May 19, 2018
No wonder the series ends here!
June 2, 2020
A great collection of short stories.
January 11, 2021
Bad
Bad luck I hate it when people like you put stuff like programme of teamwork and the best way to get fierd
Bad luck I hate it when people like you put stuff like programme of teamwork and the best way to get fierd
June 22, 2023
I cant seem to get this over yet....
Read
December 31, 2024Good short stories. Fast to read. But little different from the original ones
July 30, 2025
An assortment of short stories
November 28, 2025
Fun, frothy, adventures.
May 16, 2015
It seems strange to read about the Famous Five in this collection of very brief adventures more suited to the Secret Seven, but I'm sure these short stories sat very well in their original magazine/annual settings. Many of the stories do seem like curtailed versions of full-length Famous Five adventures and it would be too much to expect to find anything of the same exciting atmosphere of the series at its peak, but Enid Blyton does manage to capture a lot of the wonderful magic of childhood holidays in a variety of seasons, which was always one of her strengths.
March 13, 2011
I can't stop laughing and loving The Five! Timmy is the hero. Even Uncle Quentin seems so funny :D
May 15, 2011
It's really dull. All famous five novels are so good and this......Yikes!
June 11, 2012
Ich habe alle Fünf Freunde Bücher gelesen, gehört und gesehen, sie sind ein Teil meiner Kindheit.
April 25, 2016
This is the icing on the cherry,that means just to say to top off the whole series.
October 17, 2017
These were a very cute collection of adventures that the Famous Five had. I liked most of them but the one about Dick and the horse was a little bit of a waste of time! I liked the Christmas story though. Just a lovely set of short stories about the characters that I love from my childhood!
April 25, 2017
A collection of short stories about the Famous Five, published in different magazines over the years. It's just a curiosity for fans, mostly. The stories are simple and there's not much character work. They could be about any other group of adventurous children.
August 20, 2018
Well here we are....end of the line! Whilst there have been spin offs, none of them hold the same Blyton appeal and as such I'm not going there (except the new satirical ones, which are hilarous!)
This collection of short stories was fun and a nice add on, obviously lacking in the detail of the proper books. Timmy is a Christmas hero, the Five save a stolen puppy and an old lady AND a scared horse, what ho! Whatever next! Until the next reread then, Five!
This collection of short stories was fun and a nice add on, obviously lacking in the detail of the proper books. Timmy is a Christmas hero, the Five save a stolen puppy and an old lady AND a scared horse, what ho! Whatever next! Until the next reread then, Five!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews