Un rompecabezas para los Siete Secretos

The Secret Seven #10

by Enid Blyton

Barcelona. 19 cm. 120 p. il. Encuadernación en tapa blanda de editorial ilustrada. Blyton, Enid 1897-1968. Traducción de Federico Ulsamer. Traducción Puzzle for the Secret Seven .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y señales de su anterior propietario. 8447320480

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

Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

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]

In this, seven helps a family rebuild their lives after witnessing their house destroyed in a fire. Amid this commotion, a valuable violin gets stolen. The seven embark on a journey to determine whether these two events are interconnected.

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[David Sarkies · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Seven help a family in trouble
28 April 2015

This is another one of those feel good Secret Seven stories where a poor unfortunate, namely a lady that lives in an old shack and makes ginger bread biscuits for the local fair, has her house burnt down. In response the Secret Seven step in to help her and her family get back onto their feet. However, a Secret Seven story would not be a Secret Seven story without a mystery to be solved, and in this one it involves a stolen violin, most likely a Stradivarius (though we are never told what it is, we are just told that it is a very old, and thus very expensive, violin, which in my mind suggests that it is a Stradivarius). By the way, I hope, like me, you didn't get it mixed up with a Fender Stratocaster, because there is a big difference.

This is a Fender Stratocaster:



And this is a Stradivarius:



Another difference is that Jimi Hendrix played a Fender Stratocaster however, as far as I am aware, he never played a Stradivarius (though I could be wrong, and who knows, he may have even smashed one up at the end of one of his concerts, which is something that he seemed to be prone to do – smashing up instruments that is, not very expensive violins).

I found Blyton to be quite clever in this story because it seemed that there were a number of events that occurred that did not seem to be all that connected, however as the story progresses all of these disparate events were easily weaved into quite a coherent ending. Mind you, it was pretty predictable in some instances. I had worked out who had stolen the violin, where it was located, and what the wailing sound out on the paddocks was, though the ending still came as quite a surprise. Also, it is one of those stories where the antagonist isn't actually all that bad, but rather he is just trying to get himself, and his family, back onto their feet without being too much of a burden to those around them.

We never actually found out why the hut burnt down, but then I guess that wasn't all that important. A part of me was hoping that it was because the father, Luke, owed the mafia money for gambling debts, and had been told that if he didn't pay up by a certain date then they would burn his house down with his family inside. However, I then realised that this is an Enid Blyton book, and while we do deal with smugglers and thieves, we generally don't have organised crime, or racketeers, as the antagonists. Even then, we are dealing with children here, and while they are able to bust open the plans of the petty criminals in the local area, I am not certain if they would be ready to graduate to dealing with organised crime.

Another interesting thing is how the Secret Seven have changed over the years. While the stories may be the same, the pictures in the books have changed somewhat. Here is a picture of the Secret Seven in the edition that I read:



Here is a picture from one of the newer editions:



Okay, it probably has nothing to do with the story itself (much in the same way that a Fender Stratocaster has nothing to do with the story) but I still thought it was interesting.

[Shreyas · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Puzzle for the Secret Seven' (The Secret Seven #10) by Enid Blyton.


Rating: 4.0/5.


Status: Definitely a first read. 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:
Oh to live in a quaint little English town in the 1950s! Although I read some of the Enid Blyton books as a kid in the late 90s or early 2000s, reading them now brings in a sense of nostalgia. Oh to be a kid again; being carefree reading books during summer vacations. Good old times!

The Secret Seven and their parents are a charitable lot. They show concern for those in need and help in whatever manner possible. In the times of wars and strife in the present world, it feels so good to read about such things.

The only issue I have with the Secret Seven Society is that despite their good nature, they can sometimes be obtuse towards Susie and her friends. Yeah, sometimes Susie and her friends do seem to deserve it thanks to her pranks. But it becomes too annoying when Susie genuinely wants to help Mrs Boland and her displaced family but the Secret Seven refuse her help simply because "it's a Secret Seven business". When people want to honestly help someone in need, let them do it and just not let your organisation take the credit.

As I mentioned for the previous two books, it felt good to have another adventure that ends on a satisfactory note, and not just a major shakeout followed by an arrest. Ah, so good!



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.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review vansihed again?? GR, what is happening here??

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ótimo, como sempre, se bem que pouco surpreendente.

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

these books i grew up with. i wanted to be a part of their adventures and i was when i read them. i reccommend these books for any child under 10.
I has been a while scince i read these books so i can't give a proper review.

[Cyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

buku Sapta Siaga kedua yg kubacaa 🤭

—

ceritanya tntg beberapa kejadian aneh yg sambung menyambung. awalnya saat pulang dari pasar malam Sapta Siaga ngeliat ada pondok kebakar di atas bukit, dan kebetulan pemiliknya adalah penjual kue jahe baik hati di pasar malam. beberapa hari kemudian pakaian lusuh yg dipakai scarecrow di ladang ayah Peter hilang. disusul pada suatu malam Colin dan George jadi saksi mata perampokan toko barang antik, meski yg dicuri hanya biola kuno. terakhir, ada suara tangisan pilu yg terdengar tiap jam 10 malam. apa benang merahnya? 🤔

—

Sapta Siaga uda lama ga ada kejadian menarik karena lagi libur sekolah. saking lamanya sampe password buat ikut rapat aja lupaaa 😁

baca buku SS selalu terasa lambat pdhl cuma 100-200 halaman dan ceritanya pun ringan. kalo baca blurb, kejadian yg ditulis menarik ya. tp jadi kejauhan mikirnya, berharap dikasih misteri yg agak rumit. seakan lupa kalo ini buku middle grade 🤭

kesamaan di dua buku Sapta Siaga yg uda kubaca ituuu keduanya ada adiknya Jack, Susan, yg nakal bgt. di sini malah ditambah temen Susan yg namanya Binkie. ngeselinnn pol mereka. hobi bgt ngejek" SS, sampe dibuatin sajak pula. gatau di semua buku SS bakal ada Susan terus gak 👊🏼🤧

[Philip · Rating 2 out of 5]

And here we have another installment in 'The Secret Seven fight... poverty' series.
Arguably featuring Blyton at her most woke as she inspires readers to fall in love with a dirty little gypsy family who live in the shack on the hill behind the Secret Seven's more respectable establishments.

The Secret Seven are such a bunch of do-gooders, and that's not a bad thing of course not but it seems to come from such a place of entitlement. They are all eager to help those who are fundamentally less than their own group. I don't know how many working class people Blyton had met but she writes them with such an aura of otherment. This is not excused by the fact that she pulls a dally on us by making their theft and vandalism justified because... they can't read. I'm not even going to go into the magic blind violin genius toddler thing.

The Secret Seven is comforting in it's predictability. Every book has to contain certain elements. Somebody forgetting the password. Suzie being generally annoying (assisted by her new sidekick Binky now). And of course the girls getting sidelined. "Don't you start asking if you and the other two girls can come Janet, because you CAN'T!"

[Eva Siagian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku pertama dari seri Sapta Siaga yang selesai saya baca. Saya masih membuka buku Serikat Sapta Siaga, yang tidak selesai-selesai karena boring bacanya :(

Tapi setidaknya yang ini berhasil saya selesaikan dan cukup puas. Ternyata buku Sapta Siaga cocok untuk bacaan anak yang baru mulai membaca novel. Lebih karena buku tidak terlalu tebal, tokohnya pun masih kanak-kanak, dan aktivitas mereka masih aktivitas keseharian.. yang menimbulkan mini adventure gethooo...

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stond in boekenkast bij de AH. Nostalgie vd bovenste plank😄

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant secret seven adventure with a heartwarming twist. Loved this book as a child and still love it today.

[Rahmi Susiswanti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sapta siaga merupakan serikat rahasia tujuh anak yang begitu piawai memecahkan misteri. Sapta siaga terdiri dari Peter (ketua), Janet (adik Peter), Jack, Colin, Barbara, Pam, Barbara dan George, serta yang anjing yang mengikuti mereka selalu Skippy.

Berawal dari Jack yang mendapatkan uang dari mamanya untuk pergi ke pasar malam. Dia mengajak anggota Sapta Siaga lainnya, kesemuanya senang karena pasar malam merupakan hiburan yang ditunggu dan tentunya tidak setiap hari. Sapta siaga pergi bersama Susie, adik Jack dan Binkie yang merupakan teman Susie.

Di pasar malam mereka bersenang-senang tanpa terasa uang habis, tetapi mereka tertarik dengan sesalnya bau roti jahe buatan Mrs. Bolan. Mrs. Bolan baik hati, dia memberikan anggota Sapta siaga kue jahe yang agak hitam karena terlalu lama memanggang.

Pulang dari pasar, tampak dikejauhan pondok di lereng bukit terbakar, anggota Sapta siaga lari kesana. Ternyata pondok yang terbakar milik Mrs. Bolan. Mrs Bolan mempunyai 2 anak berusia 8 tahun bernama Benny dan seorang bayi. Mrs Bolanya menangis keras, untunglah Benny selamat, tetapi Banyo milik suaminya ikut terbakar.

Ayah Peter mempunyai pekerja bernama Matt, dia mengusulkan bagaimana kalau keluarga Bolan tinggal di caravan miliknya. Semua setuju, dan sapta siaga memberikan segala sesuatu keperluan Mrs. Bolan.

Beberapa hari kemudian Matt mendapati baju orang orang an sawah milik keluarga Peter hilang, selanjutnya di kota Colin dan Jack mendapati ada seorang laki-laki dengan pakaian orang orangan sawah yang hilang melempar etalase barang antik dan mengambil biola kuno.

Buku ini dapat diduga alur ceritanya, siapa yang mencuri karena terlalu sedikit tokoh di dalamnya. Mr. Bolanlah pelakunya, dia menyembunyikan baju curiannya di belakang pintu Caravan, dan biola di kereta dorong bayi. Cuma yang tidak terduga adalah bukan Mr. Bolan yang memainkan biola melainkan Benny, anak kecil yang semua menduga bodoh, nakal dan selalu ketakutan sembunyi bila ada orang asing. Ternyata Benny sosok yang jenius, dia bisa memainkan lagu lagu gypsy dan juga lagu ciptaan yang sering membuat Matt ketakutan karena lagu ciptaan Benny mirip tangisan anak kecil. Dan baru diketahui pula dari Mrs. Bolan kalau Benny ternyata tuna netra, makanya Benny selalu mempunyai pandangan kosong, bukan karena dia bodoh tetapi tidak bisa melihat. Mr. Bolan mencuri biola kuno karena melihat Benny yang selalu sedih karena biola lamanya ikut terbakar. Mr. Bola pun tidak tahu kalau itu biola mahal, karena dia tidak bisa membaca keterangan harga ya g menempel di biola tersebut.

Terungkap sudah misteri Biola kuno, akhirnya Benny diarahkan oleh ayah Peter ke sekolah luar biasa dan sapta siaga berjanji menyisihkan uang jajan mereka untuk membelikan biola baru karena biola kuno sudah dikembalikan ke pemiliknya oleh ayah Peter.

[Martyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enid Blyton graces us once more with another thrilling episode of the Secret Seven saga in “Puzzle for the Secret Seven.” This time, the seven intrepid children—Peter, Janet, Jack, Barbara, George, Pam, Colin—and their ever-faithful dog Scamper tackle the complexities of arson, theft, and the socio-economic plight of fair folk. Because, naturally, these are the sorts of adventures that every group of pre-teens should be engaging in during their school holidays.

The story begins with the Secret Seven realising they haven’t had a meeting in a while—perhaps because they’ve finally exhausted the list of local petty crimes to solve. Eager to rectify this, they decide to visit the local fair, an event that promises fun, excitement, and of course, the potential for mystery. Reluctantly, they include Jack’s insufferably annoying sister Susie and her equally exasperating friend Binkie. Because nothing says “top-secret club” like bringing along your pesky siblings.

Armed with a whole pound from Jack’s mother—a fortune in those days—and some spare pennies scrounged from various sofa cushions, they descend upon the fair. After indulging in all the delights that a mid-20th-century British fair can offer, they spot a fire up on the hill. Displaying the keen instincts of seasoned firefighters, they rush to the scene and call in the fire brigade whilst watching a small home burn to the ground. One might question why a group of children are the first responders in such a scenario, but in Blyton’s world, adult supervision is as elusive as the Loch Ness Monster.

Enter Mrs Bolan, the distraught owner of the now-charred abode, who arrives with a baby in a pram and frets about her missing eight-year-old son, Benny. Benny, as it turns out, has been hiding in the bushes. Because when your house is on fire, the best course of action is to play an impromptu game of hide-and-seek. Benny is described as an odd boy with a vacant expression, stumbling about as if he can’t see where he’s going—which, plot twist, he can’t. Yes, Benny is blind, a revelation that seems to surprise everyone except the readers who picked up on the not-so-subtle hints.

Feeling a charitable impulse—or perhaps just bored—the Secret Seven, along with their mothers, decide to house the Bolan family in an old caravan on Peter’s father’s farm. It’s heart-warming to see such generosity, especially when it involves relocating a homeless family onto someone else’s property without any formal arrangements. Luke Bolan, Benny’s father, is conspicuously absent throughout these events, conveniently “away at the fair,” which naturally raises suspicions because, in children’s literature, absence equals guilt.

Soon after, a scandal rocks the bucolic peace: the scarecrow’s clothes have been stolen! The shepherd, Matt, briefly suspects the Secret Seven, because who else would want tattered old clothes but a group of children with a penchant for disguises? Determined to clear their names, the Seven embark on an investigation that involves wandering aimlessly around the farm in the hope that the missing clothes will magically appear.

The plot thickens when, after a late-night cinema visit, Colin and George witness a scruffy man throwing a brick through a shop window and stealing an expensive violin. Because where else would you commit a burglary than in front of two children with failing torch batteries? The local police, ever efficient, arrive just in time to miss the perpetrator and gather scant information from the boys.

Back at the farm, eerie, wailing sounds fill the night air. Rather than attributing it to the wind or perhaps a fox, the Secret Seven are convinced something nefarious is afoot. It’s either a ghost, a banshee, or—more likely—a clue! They eventually discover that the source of the haunting melodies is none other than blind Benny, playing the stolen violin. Yes, Luke Bolan, in a misguided attempt to replace his son’s lost instrument (which, along with his own banjo, was destroyed in the fire), decided that burglary was the most logical solution.

In a move that would make any defence barrister cringe, the children confront Luke but ultimately decide that his heart was in the right place. After a stern talking-to from Peter’s father—who finally makes an appearance as the voice of adult authority—the matter is resolved amicably. The expensive violin is returned to the shop owner, who apparently has no issues with the fact that a stolen item was handled by a group of meddling kids before being given back.

Feeling a surge of moral responsibility, the Secret Seven spend the remainder of their holidays doing odd jobs to earn money for a new violin for Benny. Enid Blyton’s portrayal of the adult characters is, as always, delightfully oblivious. Parents are conveniently absent or minimally involved, allowing the children to navigate complex social and legal issues on their own. The police are well-meaning but ultimately ineffective, serving mostly as a backdrop to highlight the children’s superior problem-solving skills.

Character development remains consistent with previous instalments. Peter continues to lead with the iron fist of a benevolent dictator, while Janet supports him unquestioningly. The other members contribute in their usual ways: Jack brings along unwanted guests, Colin loses personal belongings at critical moments, and Scamper the dog provides the occasional bark to remind us he’s still there.

In terms of investigative prowess, the Secret Seven demonstrate once again that thorough detective work involves a combination of wild conjectures, happenstance, and the ability to be in the wrong place at the right time. Forget forensic evidence or logical deductions; all you need is a failing torch battery and a penchant for nocturnal wanderings.

“Puzzle for the Secret Seven” offers readers a rich tapestry of improbable scenarios, moral lessons delivered with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, and the reassuring notion that any problem can be solved by a group of unsupervised children and their dog. It’s a charming throwback to a simpler time when the lines between right and wrong were as clear as the black-and-white text on the page.

If you’re seeking a realistic crime thriller solved by competent authorities, this might not satisfy your cravings. However, if you’re in the mood for a nostalgic romp through a world where children’s intuition trumps adult logic, and serious crimes are resolved with a handshake and a new violin, then “Puzzle for the Secret Seven” is the book for you. Just be prepared to suspend disbelief—and perhaps question the efficacy of your local law enforcement while you’re at it.

[Atharva Shah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secret Seven Book 10
*Puzzle for Secret Seven*
Enid Blyton has begun to explore carious forms of mystery and builds up good suspense in this particular novel. This was a seemingly different story as compared to others. I like the way how Enid Blyton had taken her writing skills to a very new level and of almost feels as if you are reading Children's Sherlock Holmes. He writing is simple as always with a steady plotline. Another minor character explored here is Binkie, who's Susie's friend and they both play an important role in creating menace and sidelining the SS society from their tracks. The pie selling woman and her family play a key point role, especially her husband and son who get involved in a robber but for a benevolent purpose. The end was quite surprising and impressive. I'm looking forward to read the other books and quickly finish the series. A memorable and a well planned book but with some minor flaws. A very quick and short read. Nice Reading!!

[Raja99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable and fair mystery. I think this must be a re-reading for me, because I knew the solution immediately. On the plus side, it has some lovely sentimental touches.

Back cover blurb: "The Seven see a house burn down--then they witness the theft of a valuable violin! Are the two incidents connected?"

ISBN 0-7540-7800-0, 139 pages (the last of which has only 2 lines).

(finished 2007-12-03 14:52EST)

[Jake Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very typical Secret Seven adventure in many ways, which ticks along at the usual pace and follows the usual formula. However, there are definite signs of Enid Blyton's encroaching dementia creeping in for the first time in this series. Also, the Secret Seven have really earned their stripes as the world's least skilled detectives, as not one of them realised that Benny was blind after interacting with him several times.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic Secret Seven tale.

***Interview with my 5 1/2 year old***
Me: What did you think about that book?
Him: I loved it.
Me: What was your favourite bit?
Him: When the man smashed the window.
Me: Who was your favourite character?
Him: Benny
Me: Why did you like Benny?
Him: Because he likes to play the violin and I want to play the violin one day.

[Sean Harding · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book ten of the series and the middle class heroes save the day once again. The whole time you are reading it though you keep wishing to see more of Jack's sister Susie as she is the real highlight of the series, I wish she had a series of her own.

[Lorelei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this one, it has a terrific ending and every one of my kids cheers when it is read aloud.

[Maria Carmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very human story resulting from an adventure of the Secret Seven!

Lovely to go back in time with them.

Maria Carmo,

Lisbon, 13 January 2020.

[Srivardhan Ramesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting and interesting especially scamper scampering around!

[Jessica J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

crecí leyendo sus libros y me sirvieron bien

[Maisie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pre teen reads

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

1228th - 2011

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

i had no idear what was going bto happen next but still cool as going to ride on an elefant but an elefant ride would be way better soooooorry i got a bit off topic.!!!!!

[Hil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The one with the violin in the pram.

[Deb Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Foster Children are now reading my End Blyton books :)

[Imam Abdullah · Rating 4 out of 5]

the was an awesome series when i was small.... gave me the hobby for reading suspense full novels

[Mathew O'keefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good kids book - was a present from the family in 1988!

[Wilde Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of children investigate a theft / mystery.

I thought this book had a good story, the writing felt a bit dated but children will probably really enjoy it.