Secret Seven on the Trail

The Secret Seven #4

by Enid Blyton

The Secret Seven are siblings Peter and Janet, and Jack, Barbara, Pam, Colin and George. Together they are The Secret Seven - ready to solve any mystery, any time - in Enid Blyton's classic series of 15 mystery novels. In book four, something mysterious is going on at Tigger's Barn, and the Secret Seven are intrigued. Peter thinks it's all just gossip, but Jack isn't so sure when he overhears a strange conversation. Looks like the Seven are on the trail of another exciting adventure. First published in 1952, this edition contains the original text and is unillustrated.

Genres: Childrens, Mystery, Fiction, Adventure, Classics, Young Adult, Middle Grade

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

See 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

Reviews

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many readers might find Susie irritating. But nobody can deny the entertainment quotient she gives to these books. It is, in fact, a prank played by Susie, which forms the crux of this story.

Susie's prank forces Jack and George to go for a night trek. This night trek pushes them to a group of train robbers and yet another exciting mystery.


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[Nikos Tsentemeidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Τι ωραίες αναμνήσεις. Πόσο ωραία σειρά βιβλίων για ένα παιδί. Κάθε καλοκαίρι, ήταν τα βιβλία που μου κρατούσαν την καλύτερη συντροφιά.

[Nandakishore Mridula · Rating 3 out of 5]

More on the nostalgia trail... the very first Secret Seven book I read. I tried to start a similar club in our small suburban town in Kerala after reading this - but needless to say, failed miserably. :(

[Sophie Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to reread an old childhood favourite. I love the Secret Seven. This isn't one of the best, but it's still pretty gripping, even for a 44-year-old!

[Shrilaxmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've discovered that The Secret Seven series is perfect for reading when you're sick. This book was interesting enough to keep me occupied and light enough to not make my headache worse! Loved it. Enid Blyton is the queen of comfort reads. ( I do not include the Famous Five series in this species of books that evoke feelings of eudaimonia because they, quite frankly, annoy me to no end.)

All in all, this one was a Most Exciting Adventure with nice, fun kids, and the usual Blytonian food spreads (yum).

[Kelly-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars 🌟

[Pallavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars
Fourth Installment in the series "The Secret Seven".

Jack's sister Susie is annoyed that she is not being added to the secret seven. So she decides to start her own club. Susie decides to have some fun, by duping Jack into believing that her club is going to do some sleuthing at "Tigger's Barn" during the night.

Jack, unaware of Susie's deception, goes to the Tigger's Barn at night with George and stumble upon a real mystery. After a lot of discussions and detective work they find out about the robbery. And in due time Police is called and thugs are caught.

Enid Blyton is timeless and her books always alive in our hearts.
Happy Reading!

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack's annoying sister Susie has decided to start her own club, and of course she decides to trick Jack and the others. What she doesn't realize is that she's actually giving them real clue to a mystery! Peter at first doesn't believe it, but the other boys go adventuring and discover clues that help solve a string of robberies.

Twice the girls are told that they have to 'stay out of' things. Seriously annoys me the most about this series, Peter and keeping the girls away from anything fun. He even pokes at Barbara for crying when a Policeman takes their names and addresses to complain to their parents, as if any one wouldn't be upset at that.

Still though an enjoyable mystery and another quick read. Four stars.

[Maria Carmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

How nice to start the year going back to my childhood and infancy books! The ones that caused me such joy and expectation! Of course, at that time, I read them in Portuguese, and given my age (currently near the end of my fifties) I must have been among the first two generations of Portuguese kids who "fell" for Enid Blyton's adventure books! The truth is that they are lovely. At least in most of the collections I read at that time,m there was no racism or blatant bigotry... I am aware that nowadays people are more sensitive to such themes - and rightly so! - but in these, the Famous Five, the Mystery collection, I seen really nothing but a lot of fun for kids of all ages. And I do not even agree with those who would prevent a stamp in honor of her... After all, if we were to judge all older authors on their views... many an Author would be relegated to a deep, deep, drawer...

Maria Carmo,

Lisbon, 3 January 2019.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars & 4/10 hearts. I found this was a very unique S.S. story, which was nice, because some of them are a little similar. I loved the railway part, and how the kids were able to find their info. The showdown was good too. What I didn’t like was Susie being so underhand & nasty; Jack responding; and their mother just yelling at both and punishing them (but mostly Jack) without getting to the root of the problem or dealing with Susie’s provoking Jack. I don’t like unfairness 😅

[Sandra Nedopričljivica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meni su najdraži Pet prijatelja, ipak i ovo je simpa.

[विकास 'अंजान' · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5
उपन्यास मुझे काफी पसंद आया। यह एक ऐसा बाल उपन्यास है जिसका आनन्द व्यस्क भी ले सकते हैं। बच्चों को तो सीक्रेट सेवेन से जरूर ही मिलवाना चाहिए।
उपन्यास के प्रति मेरी विस्तृत राय आप निम्न लिंक पर जाकर पढ़ सकते हैं:
सीक्रेट सेवेन, पीछा करो

[Shreyas · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Secret Seven On The Trail' (The Secret Seven #4) by Enid Blyton.


"She certainly won't," said Janet. "Famous Five indeed! This will be the end of them!"


Rating: 3.75/5.


Status: First read most probably. I don't recall reading this particular book during my childhood. [I had first read some of the Secret Seven books about 20 years ago. At present, I'm not sure which of these I had read earlier and which I haven't.]



Review:
The Secret Seven vs. The Famous Five: The Dawn of Adventure.
It's not a crossover, though. Jack's sister, Susie, has formed a secret society of her own - The Famous Five; named after the popular Famous Five books that Susie has read. Quite ingenious from Enid Blyton!

Liked it! It was a pretty interesting read from the start to finish.

I'll need to add: I'm finding Peter to be annoying. He is arrogant, bossy, a control freak, and someone who considers himself to be superior to others. I have also observed a disconcerting trend in the books so far; most of the screen time is given to the boys, and it feels like most of the girls just future as members of the Secret Seven in the books without giving them any space to show their importance. Janet, at least, gets some screen time, but that is only because she is Peter's sister.



Disclaimer: Ratings reflect the enjoyability factor of these books considering they are intended mostly for children. Not to be compared with my ratings and reviews for books primarily intended for YA and adults.

[Heidi_2811 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was nostalgic to listen to as an audio from youtube.

[Oliver Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyably middle grade mystery that relies on such a ludicrous series of coincidences for its plot that it ends up being fun.

[Daniyal Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first experience of secret seven and I loved it

[Ayush Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you think happens to the children when they need to be on the trail of a dangerous criminal gang?

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumpy Dick and Twisty Tom, Zeb, Larry and Cheeky Charlie. Now these are good villain names, c'mon my man Enid.

By far the best Secret Seven book so far. Jack's little sister Suzie has started her own secret society... The Famous Five! You'll recognise that name of course as belonging to Blyton's most famous property, but this is where things get meta. In the universe of The Secret Seven, Blyton's five books are exactly that, a series of books from which Suzie's group takes there name. So those of you who were romantically imagining a world of interconnected Blyton properties (The Blyton Cinematic Universe???) can cry into their pillows at this news. Oh c'mon, it can't just be me.

It's a thought I have been entertaining for a while now. BBC hear me out, you need something to run now that Last Tango has finished. And the BBC is currently dramatising The Malory Towers series so there must be some interest buzzing around at Broadcasting House. So, we start with a 90 minute TV movie of the Adventurous Four. This book has always flown under the radar a bit so it will be a good starting point, and there's Nazis so that's something the audience can really sink their teeth into. That airs, the audience love it, we move on. Next we do a TV movie of Five on a Treasure Island. I know what you're thinking... do we really need another Famous Five adaptation? Do we want to keep promoting the assumption that the FF is the only thing of worth that Blyton has produced? I hear you I really do, but this big property will draw viewers and, if it is produced well, hook them. You will really need to make the setting really important for this film. Kirrin should come alive on the screen, Kirrin cottage, the beach, the wreck, the island. Maybe include Julian, Dick and Anne's journey to Kirrin too, they could pass through Paddington.

Then a few months later you air Five Go Adventuring again as a christmas special. It will be cool to see Kirin covered in snow. This will start of the first series of stories, maybe five in total. After this finishes you start up The Secret Seven on CBBC, as a younger-audience spin-off. A few minor characters or baddies from the Five Show can reappear on The Secret Seven... and our Universe begins to take shape.

The next year you air The Island of Adventure as a TV Movie. This should be in a separate time period to the FF and SS, which themselves are separate to the war-time setting of the Adventurous Four. Now in this story you introduce either Julian or Dick as the chief of police or Bill Smuggs (a secret agent who features in the Adventure series). This starts weaving an interconnected web. Series two of the Famous Five airs and includes Five Go Down to the Sea, where the five meet Yan, a boy raised on the seafront by his grandfather. Who is actually one of the Adventurous Four grown old. This story can take place in the same setting as the original Adventurous Four but many years on! I hope my mental timelines are coherent right now. Feel free to alter this plan a little bit BBC.

A second series of The Secret Seven, with more minor baddies appearing from the Five Series. The Castle of Adventure TV movie and then the third and final series of the Famous Five. One of the five should die in this, or maybe Uncle Quentin. Really up the stakes. By the way I am really advocating for some deaths across the board on all these series. Then a christmas special; The Valley of Adventure. This kickstarts a series of Adventure stories for the BBC and the third and final Secret Seven series. At this point we enter phase two of the Blyton TV Universe, utilising The Mystery Series (aka the Fatty books) as the new CBBC show, a TV Movie of the adventurous Four Again and a TV Movie of the Secret Island. This will launch a full series of Blyton's Secret stories, one that can draw elements from the rest of Blyton's work.

Look, I won't bore you with the details but that's just a fun idea. Where was I?

Oh yeas, Secret Seven on the Trail. This was great book with an excellent set up and some great characters. Suzie has always been excellent, but Jack, Collin and Jeff also shine in this story. Peter is a bossy boots as normal and Barbara, o Barbara. I'm sure you will do something eventually.

So, four down and eleven to go in my Secret Seven readathon. Good Lord will I ever get to the end of these? Who am I kidding, of course I will. This is a lockdown babayy.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never been a huge fan of the Secret Seven (too many curious children - who are they?)

However, this instalment was pretty good! Jack's sister Susie starts her own mystery crew, the Famous Five - I found it interesting that Enid Blyton's other detective crews don't share a universe but are just books in the Secret Seven world.

The girls were kept out of a few things to "protect them" which was a bit disheartening, but overall it was a quick and fun read.

[David Sarkies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susie starts her own group, with a not very original name
24 June 2013

I guess the reason that I like these Secret Seven books (as well as the other Enid Blyton books, and I have churned through quite a lot of them over the year and a half since I decided to read through them again) is that they are short and can pretty much be completed in a day (which also boosts the number of books that I have read for the year so, if I am lucky, I may be able to get to the one hundred and fifty mark, though my goal is still one hundred. They will obviously change the closer I get to the hundred mark. Mind you, I have no intention on increasing that number next year simply because I am not the fastest of readers).
Anyway, this is the forth Secret Seven book and it is rather funny that Blyton decides to bring in a parody of the Famous Five. Basically Jack's sister Susie is upset that she cannot join their group, so she decides to create her own by dragging four others into it, and calls it the Famous Five. There is even a side comment about how the Famous Five are actually quite well known, suggesting that the Secret Seven are basing their group on them (though I suspect Blyton suggests that the Famous Five come out of a series of books rather than actually existing in the world of the Secret Seven).
Now, the Famous Five decide to play trick on the Secret Seven by suggesting that they are already in an adventure, and drop some fake clues to attempt to embarrass the Secret Seven (and possibly even get them into trouble). However, what ends up happening is that they follow these clues and discover a real adventure, and end up solving it, once again becoming heroes in the town. I suspect that really ends up upsetting the Famous Five because if they had actually followed through on it they would have landed up in the adventure as well, but not having the experience of the Secret Seven, I doubt they would have reached a successful conclusion. Quite possibly they would have ended up getting caught and getting into a lot of trouble.
The funny thing about kids though is that they can get away with a lot more than adults, and one wonders if one uses children (which I suspect would be highly illegal in this day an age) as information gathers many of the crooks would not suspect the authorities are onto them. However not only is it dangerous, it is also a slippery path to totalitarianism. In the past (even in America) children have been used as information gatherers, particularly in schools where the teachers encourage the children to notify them if their parents are up to no good. This is probably one of my biggest concerns with state run schools because the schools end up becoming a vehicle not only for information gathering, but also a vehicle for arresting and imprisoning potential or perceived political agitators. My position thus is that we should let children be children and have them go out and have fun.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the best characters in these books is Jack's sister who is apparently annoying and not part of the exclusive group - it always feels a bit mean - but anyone in this one she forms an alternative group calling themselves The Famous Five (ho ho ho) and they play a joke on the Seven which of course turns into a real mystery and the Seven become heroes and save the day etc.
They still feel like a bunch of pompous gits at times but there is an undeniable charm about the books, and there is something special about well there is no crime around at the moment, no dastardly bad guys to track down what will we do, let's play with our train set!! and always mingled with lashings of lemonade and things like rock cakes.
I wish someone would write a series based on Susie and her mates as an alternative to the Seven, I wonder if someone has.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I only thought it was ok because of the lack of description. But yes, I know that it is a childrens book so don't pine at me)
It might be because this book series is aim for younger persons than me or just because I've been reading too many Agatha Christie novels. I wish to high heavens that I had read this when I was younger! I always wanted to read books like this but, my mum had her versions in the attic and I didn't even know they existed! Darn!
Well anyway, I thought overall that the plot was short and sweet. At some points I was confused as to which characters were talking at which point but I just carried on reading. When I have children, I vow that I will read them this series and, when they're older, let them read the Famous Five.

[Nira Ramachandran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many other children growing up in the sixties, all my pocket money and leisure hours were spent on Enid Blyton. No matter if it was “Noddy” or fairy tales, school stories like St. Clares and Malory Towers or my favorite, Five Find Outers, I happily devoured any of her books.
The Secret Seven Series, unfortunately, didn’t catch my interest as much as the other mysteries. In fact, I remember owning just one, “Shock for the Secret Seven”, which of course, I read and re-read several times as children in those days did.
It is only recently that I’ve become reacquainted with the little group of budding detectives and their guardian Scamper. Other Blyton fans are sure to remember that every series had its own Mascot- the Five Find-outers and Buster, the Famous Five with Timmy, Barney and Gang with Looney, some even having other pets like Barney’s monkey, Miranda. The strong bond between children and their pets always underlies Blyton’s stories.
Well, back to the book I decided to review for the 1952 challenge. The Secret Seven on the Trail (1952) is the fourth in this series of 15 books published between 1949 and 1963. The series revolves around a group of seven friends, all attending day school in the same village, unlike Blyton’s usual characters, who go to boarding schools and meet only in the holidays, when they can get back to becoming sleuths again.
Peter, the leader and his sister Janet have setup the “Secret Seven” complete with “SS” badges. They meet in the garden shed at Peter and Janet’s home. The scruffy little shed is furnished with old cushions to sit on, a few boxes to serve as tables and a gas stove to make it all warm and cozy as well as dimly lit in cooler weather. At the door sits Scamper, the Black Spaniel on guard. Only those who can give the correct password (changed at every meeting) are allowed in. Of course, most of the members forget the password or scribble it down where outsiders like Jack’s nosey sister Suzie (who is always trying to join the group or sabotage it) can get at it.
The “Seven” consist of four boys, Peter, Jack, Colin and George, all in the same class at school, and three girls, Janet and her friends Pam and Barbara. Peter’s mother or Cookie always provides plenty of eats and drinks, for what is a meeting without food? The simplicity of children and the lifestyle in those long past days really strikes the reader. Drinks were hot cocoa in winter, which they made themselves in the shed or lemonade made with a jug of water and freshly squeezed lemons and sugar. Eats always involved a tin of biscuits which had turned soft, or rock cakes which were just a bit stale. No one minded, certainly not the children who gobbled up every last crumb. In case you don’t know what rock cakes are (I didn’t), I googled and found a recipe. Here’s the link: Rock Cakes - Old Fashioned British Recipe - by Flawless Food

Back to the story, Peter decides that now that the holidays are over, they may as well shut down the club till Christmas, as the days are getting shorter and looking for adventures in the gloomy afternoons when school is over is more or less, impossible. With this in mind, he calls one last meeting but the others are quite unwilling to discontinue. However, Peter is the Leader and what he says, goes. When school opens the next day, they find that Suzie has started her own Group “the Famous Five” and is strutting around with her followers sporting even larger badges than those worn by the Secret Seven.
Annoyed at constantly being refused membership of the Secret Seven, Suzie decides to play a trick on them. She calls a meeting of the Famous Five at her own house. When she spots her brother hiding in a laurel bush in the garden to spy on them, she promptly decides to play a trick on the Secret Seven by discussing an imaginary mystery and trapping them into going on a fruitless search for a gang of criminals. This she follows through with great success tricking her brother Jack and his friend George into visiting a dilapidated Barn right on top of a hill at dusk, which they bravely do although it is very scary. But here, the tables are turned and the two scared boys run into an actual adventure. A gang of crooks is meeting in the Old Barn and now the SS has a real mystery to solve. How they solve this mystery with no clues but a glimpse of a few shady characters, a couple of names and a scribbled note which makes no sense to them, forms the storyline. One of the best Secret Seven Mysteries that I’ve read, and I have now read quite a few. Step by step with dogged perseverance and little bursts of inspiration, the Seven save the day, once again.
According to Wikipedia, the names Secret Seven and Famous Five were first used by Frank Richards (Charles Hamilton) in his Billy Bunter and Greyfriars School stories. Another explanation is:
“It is not clear whether Enid Blyton was influenced by Hamilton's work. Blyton's elder daughter, Gillian Baverstock, describes a conversation between the author and her publisher that led to the inception of Blyton's Secret Seven. The publisher's own children, the eldest of whom was named Peter, had formed a secret society with their friends. They met in an old shed, used secret passwords and had badges inscribed with "SS".
The first ever stage adaptation based on The Secret Seven opened in Chester at the city's new Storyhouse theatre from 1 December 2017. It received good reviews.
Accessed at The Secret Seven - Wikipedia

A dramatized audio drama adaptation of several Secret Seven books was published by Rainbow Communications in 1983. Here’s a link to this book:
Secret Seven On The Trail - Enid Blyton (1983 Dramatisation BOW103) - YouTube

[Saanvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, but the middle is a bit boring.

[Deb Sharp]

I never get tired of reading The Secret Seven!

[Martyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Secret Seven on the Trail," the fourth instalment in Enid Blyton’s cherished series, is a delightful concoction of mystery, mischief, and meticulously British escapades. This book promises a cornucopia of clandestine meetings, cryptic clues, and the indomitable spirit of seven pint-sized detectives who take the concept of youthful sleuthing to dizzying new heights.

Right from the outset, one must appreciate the sheer audacity of the Secret Seven’s organisational prowess. In an age where children are often found glued to screens, Blyton’s band of brave, biscuit-consuming detectives are instead meeting in a gloriously secretive shed, their leader, the ever-earnest Peter, runs these meetings with the rigour and formality of a military operation, complete with passwords and solemn oaths. One can only wonder at the bureaucratic efficiency that would have rendered MI5 envious.

In "Secret Seven on the Trail," our intrepid heroes stumble upon a mystery that involves an abandoned house, a deceitful scheme by Jack’s sister Susie, and suspicious characters named Larry, Cheeky Charlie and Zeb. The plot is as thick as a foggy London night, and as convoluted as one of Scamper’s trails through the woods.

The adventure kicks off when Susie, ever the thorn in the Secret Seven’s side, tricks the group into investigating an old, abandoned house under the guise that something thrilling is going to happen there. The Seven, ever eager for excitement, fall for the ruse hook, line, and sinker. However, as fate would have it, Susie’s prank leads them straight into the path of real criminals. It seems that Cheeky Charlie, the nefarious leader of a gang, has planned a covert meeting at the very same house. Although Charlie himself does not grace the scene, his minions Larry and Zeb are present and plotting away.

Blyton’s depiction of the gangsters is delightfully over-the-top. Larry and Zeb, with their clichéd villainous personas, seem straight out of a comic book. Their dialogue, dripping with malevolence and peppered with the occasional comical blunder, provides ample fodder for the Secret Seven’s sleuthing. The gang’s plans, while nefarious, are outlined with a level of detail that allows our young detectives to piece together the puzzle and form a plan of their own.

The ensuing caper is nothing short of a riot. The Seven, with their earnest determination, set out to thwart the criminals’ plans. There’s Peter, the stalwart leader, who tries valiantly to keep everyone in line; Janet, who exhibits a blend of courage and practicality; and Jack, whose impulsiveness often leads to unexpected, and often humorous, consequences. Colin, George, Pam, and Barbara each bring their unique flair to the mission, making the Secret Seven a well-rounded, if somewhat haphazard, investigative team.

In the end, the Secret Seven’s bravery and quick thinking save the day. The villains are apprehended, the lead is recovered, and the railway is safe once more. "Secret Seven on the Trail" is a quintessential Enid Blyton adventure: brimming with the charm of a bygone era, infused with the optimism and innocence of childhood, and sprinkled with just enough peril to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Blyton’s knack for creating memorable characters and her unparalleled ability to weave a narrative that is both engaging and amusing make this book a must-read.

If you’re looking for a read that combines the thrill of a mystery with the hilarity of childhood misadventures, "Secret Seven on the Trail" is the perfect choice. It’s a delightful romp that will leave you chuckling, cheering, and perhaps even longing for the days when your biggest worry was remembering the secret password to enter the club. Enid Blyton has once again crafted a timeless tale that celebrates the ingenuity, resilience, and irrepressible spirit of youth.

[Esther Archibong Ita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Seven. Boy are they known for solving mysteries, puzzles and rather complicated things! They are made up of seven bright kids namely-Peter, Janet, George, Jack, Collin, Pam and Barbara.

This group is of great benefit to the community; as such, it can be deduced that they are the important. You guessed right; envy is the order of the day in the hearts of non members.

As imagined, five kids i.e. Katie, Susie, Jeff, San and Harry, decide to form a group of their own called 'The Famous Five'. The Famous Five are annoyingly copycats of The Secret Seven i.e. they have both badges, a password etc.

One day, on seeing Jack, Susie cooks up a rumour with the aim to trick The Secret Seven and then laugh at their foolishness. Jack buys the rumour and tries to sell it to the others. Peter, the leader of The Secret Seven, dismisses the rumour as a lie. Even with this, Jack is resolute in his belief. He convinces George and they go on a trail to Tigger's Barn.

As shocking as it is, they meet truly a gang who speak non-sensical words like points, six-two etc. In the bid to locate where George is, Jack calls out The Secret Seven password, of which unknowing to him, is the name of a dreaded rogue.

Tick Tock! Tick Tock!!
Its going to get dark soon. Someone does not know that he is about to be robbed! A thick foggy night it is.

Will The Secret Seven be able to solve this mystery? Or OH MY WORD!, Will they be toast in the hands of the dreaded thief whose name is spelt C-H.....haa! Gotcha! You thought I would spell his name. No!

Flip through the book and you will see him for who he is.

[Atharva Shah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Secret Seven Book 4
*Secret Seven on the Trail*
Now, this story stands out particularly from the Secret Seven series. The plot begins with Susie (Who is getting bit by bit into the spotlight) as she forms her own 'Famous Five' Society and try to envy the Secret Seven by framing up a fake suspicious mystery to fool the Secret Seven that turns out to be true as a coincidence. The story is original and unique and has its ups and downs but to define it in a single word, I would say it was extremely unrealistic and coincides a lot with plotlines. There are three 3 lucky coincidences that seem too good to be true. The first one is the password of the SS Society matching with the Cheeky Charlie villain. The Second one is discovering the fake mystery turning out to be a real one. And the third one, the Zeb and Larry guys of the railway management turning out to be the criminals and without even a hint of suspicion declaring their plan indirectly to Peter and George of the SS Society. This was the most simple o f the adventures so far. And always, the mystery is regarding robbery and stealing, which may add up to the monotonous atmosphere but don't take the wrong meaning. This book is written very nicely, with witty dialogues and twisting storyline that you surely can't guess. I liked the end very much, it was delivered fantastically as always. Not the best in the SS Series, but surely worth your time. It takes nothing more than 2 hours, so just hit it! Nice Reading!!

[Steve Denton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler - my memory only

School back as Peter says SS will not meet. Jack;'s sister sets up "the famous five" and he eavesdrops a pretend mystery they have.
Jack and George follow Susie and Jeff to spooky house but S & J have not really gone. and just trying to make SS look silly.

Rogues are planning to steal lead from a goods train.

Boys go a foggy November night to the train track and phone police. Girls can't go because on of them cries when a policeman takes their names for trespassing.

Pompous Peter rules the roost. Lemon and sugar for homemade lemonade, stale rock cakes and homemade peppermints. Bath time and supper. Cross parents when late for dinner. Playing with farm and train sets in the shed when the meeting is over. Boys carry torches.
Lovely, warm nostalgic and of a time. Love it !

[Thalia S. A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack's sister Susie has decided to start her own Secret Seven club! He tries to spy on them, overhears a fake rumour- and then falls for it. But then he realises that there is something going on, his sister not even knowing it...

I am a fan of the Secret Seven and was happy to read this one. I loved the plot and characters too. However, the thing that really gets on my nerves is that the girls are excluded every single time. What's the point of having girls in the Secret Seven if they're not allowed to come on the adventures? If it wasn't for Janet, they wouldn't have solved the mystery. Then Peter gets annoyed with Barbara for crying about the policeman taking their names down. Of course anyone would be upset!

Still was a good read, though. If you're a mystery fan you will want to read this.