Talk About Blyton!

Mystery (Five Find-Outer) Series – The Find-Outers' Books

March 25, 2011 – Selim says: I love Enid Blytons books. I am a Turkish boy and I read her Turkish books too. But I think the mystery of the Burnt Cottage was fantastic. It was like I was solving the mystery. Now I am reading the second book. Fantastic book Miss Blyton!
August 7, 2011 – Coo says: Hey, everyone how r you? Being the biggest and craziest fan of the find outers I want to know and discuss about them. I think I can talk about find outers for ages and ages.
November 12, 2011 – I'm Broke says: I liked the Mystery of The Disappearing Cat, first I thought that the cat had magical power. Most of my books I own are yours, they are really interesting.
November 19, 2011 – Anjali says: Enid Blyton's mystery series are truly amazing. I am done reading the whole series and believe me, you won't regret reading all of the 15 books. So Selim, did you finish reading the books?
March 6, 2012 – Gillian says: In the Mystey of Holly Lane, Philip keeps on changing his mind about Marian. First he says that he doesn't believe she's the culprit, and later says 'It's simple - Marian took the money and ran away. ' (Well, not exactly but in a way) And later it changes to ' I'd always known it wasn't Marian. ' Taking advantage of the situation, Pip? Or is it a blooper on Enid's part?
Fatty says... Fatty says: Just Pip being a 'know-all', I would think!
March 6, 2012 – Saky says: While reading the book we accept it and even laugh but I wonder if Fatty can actually disguise himself better than a policeman? Doesn't it become a bit 'feel-good'?
Fatty says... Fatty says: Until his voice broke, he mainly, if not only, disguised himself as other children - for example, a butcher's boy. I think that it would have been difficult for Goon to do that!
March 7, 2012 – Saky says: But more often than not (and it's mentioned), Fatty disguises himself to 'have some fun'.
March 7, 2012 – Paul says: Goon couldn't get away with a disguise because he'd blow it by continuing to act like a policeman no matter what the disguise was! (rather like Herr Flick and Herr von Smallhausen in 'Allo 'Allo).
Fatty says... Fatty says: He did try, but was spotted immediately!
February 24, 2014 – Indrachapa says: Hey! Are you a five find outer fan? This will be a place to you!
Fatty says... Fatty says: Maybe you could have started this off by answering your own question. I have merged your topic with one that is already running.
August 1, 2014 – Hammy says: Hey, FFO-fans! I've just read "Strange Bundle" and "Tally Ho" and found something strange. I'm more a Famous Five fan so would like to seek clarification from you all. 1. Fatty called his mother "mummy" in these two stories whereas he called her "mother" in previous stories. Is it a change made by the publisher or did Blyton really changed it? 2. Regarding "Tally Ho", Fatty disguised himself as Mr Hoho-Ha and Mr Goon somehow knew it was him. I thought Blyton might shed light as to how Goon knew, since he is usually a bit of a turnip head. I guess he just got smarter? Something like "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me"? Thank you.
October 31, 2014 – Evie says: I'm not trying to be argumentative or anything, but why does everyone like the FFO books so much? I mean, most of the Fan Fiction is about them, Fan Poetry is Fan Portry because of Ern Goon, even when talking about other series people always talk about the FFO and only Fatty and Bets appear on this site. I'm not saying they are not good books, they are quite good, but there are books that are just as good or even better, like the Adventure series. Please don't fall out with me over this and tell me what you think is good about the FFO, thanks.
October 31, 2014 – Tinky says: It's a good question Evie. As much as I like all EB books, there's something about the FFO that really gets your brain ticking. You almost want to work out the mystery before you read how they do! Then it endears you to them. And they are awfully hilarious. I love the Adventure series very especially but the sense of humour displayed in Fatty's tricks etc is really what makes me happy to read them time and time and time again.
Fatty says... Fatty says: They are the best!
November 3, 2014 – Evie says: Fatty, obviously you would think they are the best. It isn't that I don't disagree with any of that, Tinky, but for some reason I don't like the FFO books as much as anyone else. Still, the only one I have is Banshee Towers and people say that is the weakest in the series, I will read some more I promise :)
Fatty says... Fatty says: Banshee Towers is the weakest of the series, written at the end of Enid's career. Do try the earlier books, you will be amazed!
November 4, 2014 – Tinky says: My favourites are Mystery of the Missing Man or Mystery of the Missing Necklace. I suggest you try one of those. It does make best sense read in order though. You can get them for a good price online.
Fatty says... Fatty says: I'd always recommend reading the series in order to gain the most from the character development.
February 22, 2015 – Evie M says: I have read most of the books, I have two more to go and I absolutely agree with everyone on here! They are the best series of books EB wrote, even better than Adventure series! Pip is my favourite, but I like all of them!!!! So far my favourite book is either Invisible Thief or Missing Necklace.
February 22, 2015 – Evie M says: I'm not being funny, can someone PLEASE explain to me what it is about Bets that means that if someone doesn't have Fatty down as their favourite, it's probably Bets? I'm not criticizing your opinions, I just don't understand what stands out about her? Fatty, could you tell me?
Fatty says... Fatty says: I cannot possibly speak for other people. I think you will just have to accept that most people simply love Fatty and Bets!
July 26, 2015 – Sam says: Does anyone know if EB had any of her books done in Arabic??
Fatty says... Fatty says: Afraid I don't. I would try Googling.
July 27, 2015 – Sam says: I looked and the F. F and some of the F. O books are in arabic in second hand shops.
January 5, 2016 – Axil says: Where did Fatty come from when he first came? Also, why did he come?
Daisy says... Daisy says: Have you read the first two books, Axil? We learn from those that Fatty and his family stay at an Inn opposite where the burnt cottage was, and in the second book Fatty's parents have bought a house. So one would guess that a job move brought them to the area is my guess.

Fatty says: Sounds like a lot of guessing to me!
November 5, 2016 – Vanessa says: Even though I haven't read all this series of her books, I bet all her books are a colourful hole of adventure.
Fatty says... Fatty says: I have no idea what a colourful hole of adventure is, Vanessa.
November 6, 2016 – Paul says: Vanessa seems to be a child and "whole of adventure" is probably what she meant. Although she probably intended to put something between "whole" and "of".
Fatty says... Fatty says: Possibly - maybe she meant, whole lot of adventure...
March 14, 2017 – brendan fitzpatrick says: I recently bought a collection of the first 3 books. It's interesting as how the 5 were quite gullible at times. Larry was not a good leader and why Fatty could get into the secret room and then fall asleep and be captured is beyond me. Pip is quite annoying but to me the real stars of the early books are Bets and Buster, the later books are better, needless to say Mr Goon is as awful as ever. A very underrated set of books,certainly better then some of the later Famous 5.
Daisy says... Daisy says: Most serial books get better as the series progresses. I don't think you can compare the Find-Outers to the Famous Five. It's a different series altogether.
March 17, 2017 – Philip says: Not sure about that. The later "Fives" are a shadow of the earlier ones, and "Banshee Towers" is awful. Maybe mid-series are some of the best. Always better when you really know the characters.
Fatty says... Fatty says: Daisy did say "most"! I agree about the FF books, but no Find-Outers' book can ever be bad!
June 5, 2017 – Avan N. Cooverji says: Bets is as sweet as sweet can be and Daisy no less so , Then comes Pip a smart little trick with a will to be on the go , Larry of course gives up his place when Fatty comes on the line , But Buster it is who goes foremost and is a dog most fine. He waits for Goon to see him swoon when he takes a small little bite , He'll bark and yap and set the trap and longs for a good old fight , Along comes Ern with Sid and Perce and Bingo on a lead , This merry band of kids and dogs won't let Peterswood go to seed.
Fatty says... Fatty says: I have put this in the general 'Find-Outers'' thread, Avan. We don't need a new thread with each of your posts. Nevertheless, a good pome!
July 29, 2020 – S-Dog says: There are quite a few reasons why people like Bets. (I assume it is obvious why Fatty is so popular!). I guess one of the main reasons is that Enid Blyton seems to be fond of Bets herself, and probably intended Bets to be popular. Some people feel sorry for Bets I expect, as near the beginning of the series she is often told she is too young to take part in some things. Another thing is Blyton portrays Bets' personality a bit differently to the others; while it is true that Larry, Pip and Daisy do have unique personalities, Bets and Fatty are a little bit more distictive. I personally like Bets best because she has a very kind nature, and hardly ever says a bad word about anyone. Some people to aren't so keen on Bets because they think she is a bit soft or a crybaby, but anyway I have given an opinion on that in another thread!
Buster says... Buster says: I agree that Enid had a soft spot herself for Bets, and I think she liked Fatty too.

Fatty says: As with Anne (FF), Enid used Bets as a tool to explain things to her younger readers. Quite clever, really.
July 30, 2020 – June Johns says: What's wrong with a little girl or woman being soft and gentle? I am woman hear me roar was one of the silliest slogans ever to come out of the 1970s.
July 31, 2020 – S-Dog says: Yes June Johns I agree, Bets is my favourite Find-Outer and it really wouldn't be right if she wasn't soft and gentle. I don't believe she is a crybaby - I wrote a lengthy paragraph counteracting some others who said she was. That was on a different discussion page (Favourite Five Find-Outer characters).

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