Enid Blyton Challenge Book 11 – The Mystery of the Pantomime Cat

Huzzah! It’s almost the final book, not in the right order but the challenge is almost complete! part of the The Five Find-Outers Mystery Series

‘It is in part the character of Fatty that makes these books so special. He may be boastful and arrogant but he is also generous, ingenious, a master of disguise and deduction, ventriloquist, escapologist, poet and macaroon-gobbler extraordinaire! Things just aren’t the same when he’s not around. As Daisy remarks, “Without Fatty we’re like rabbit-pie without any rabbit in it.” link here to more of The Five Find-Outers Mystery Series

About the Author

Enid Blyton is one of the best-loved children’s authors with over 700 titles published. Aged 27, Enid married Hugh Pollock and moved to London. They had two children, and soon afterwards Enid wrote her first novel, The Adventures of the Wishing-Chair. Throughout the 40s and 50s, Enid wrote books at a colossal pace: adventure stories, mysteries, magical stories, farming stories, stories for younger children, and best-selling series like Malory Towers and Amelia Jane. She is the author of The Famous Five series, The Secret Seven series, The Wishing Chair series, Malory Towers, St Clare’s, The Magic Faraway Tree series, Amelia Jane stories and many more! Enid died in 1963. Her stories remain timeless classics, adored throughout the world.

About the book:

A fantastic children’s crime story from the world’s best-loved children’s author, Enid Blyton. Who could have robbed the theatre’s safe?

The theatre safe has been robbed and Boysie, the pantomime cat, is top of the list of suspects. But could his best friend and fellow actress, Zoe, be the real thief?

This is the seventh book in Enid Blyton’s Mysteries series, author of The Famous Five. The Mystery series follows the adventures of ‘The Five Find Outers’ – Pip, Bets, Larry, Daisy and Fatty, as they solve the most unusual crime cases with the help of their dog Buster. -Amazon.co.uk

Characters:

Fatty – The chief of the Five Find-Outers and Dog
Larry – The former chief of the Five Find-Outers and Dog
Pip – A member of the Five Find-Outers and Dog
Bets – The youngest member of the Five Find-Outers and Dog
Daisy – A member of the Five Find-Outers and Dog
Buster – A black scottie dog owned by Fatty
PC Pippin – A policeman who replaced Mr. Goon
Mr. Goon – The local policeman
Boysie Summers – The pantomime cat in the Dick Whittington skit
Zoe Markham – Dick Whittington in the Dick Whittington skit
Alec Grant – Dick’s mother in the Dick’s Whittington skit
John James – The king in the Dick Whittington skit
William Orr – The captain of Dick’s ship in the Dick Whittington skit
Peter Watting – Dick’s master in the Dick Whittington skit
Lucy White – Margot, who is Dick Whittington’s sweetheart in the Dick Whittington skit
Theatre Manager – The manager of the theatre where the skit is played

see more about the book here

My review

“I say, it’ll be fun to be all together again, won’t it—the Five Find-Outers, ready to tackle the next super-colossal mystery!”

Another mystery from Enid Blyton and a delightful little book. This one made me laugh with the style of language used. Written in 1949 it is one of the books with what I think would be seen as slightly dated. But that doesn’t affect my reading of it in any way. In fact it’s quite enjoyable.

We start the story with the kids all meeting up for the first time in the holidays and whilst at the station find out that Mr Goon or ‘Clear-Orf as the kids call him eschewing PC Pippin around the village as he is his replacement while he goes on holiday. Mr Goon seeing the kids promptly warns them….

‘He turned to his companion, who was looking a little startled. “See these five kids? They think themselves very clever—think they can solve all the mysteries in the district! The trouble they’ve put me to—you wouldn’t believe it! Keep your eye on them. Pippin—and if there’s any mystery about, keep it to yourself.’

On discovering that there is a new policeman in town the find-outers decide to create a false mystery for him only to discover that there has been a real crime committed and they soon find themselves searching for clues for a real case.

After only having read two book of Enid Blyton I think I’m secretly becoming a fan. I mainly love the mystery ones. At one point I did find the language she used in writing a bit dated but once settling in I found she wrote some amazing stories. Most of you will know I am a mad fan of Murder She Wrote and this book is like a mini episode. The action never stops!

Like other stories produced by Blyton the group are all very close friends, and in this story they weren’t intending to solve a real mystery they were kids wanting to play a joke on the new policeman, which then uncovered a real crime. The book leads to show how the group work together to solve the mystery. I loved the part where they list all the suspects and reasons, and then each have a job to do. I don’t know why but this book reminded me of the film The Goonies, I think it’s because one of the characters is called Fatty and is always playing pranks on the policeman.

“The thing is—a really good detective always checks everything,” said Fatty. “Even if he thinks it really isn’t necessary.”

Enid Blyton wrote a variety of different stories but her mystery ones are by far the best. I love the fact that the children outwit the village policeman, Jump to the defence of Boysie who seems to be a vulnerable character, Almost put their lives at risk and solve the mystery. The determination of the kids is once again outstanding. I love it! Never let anything stop you doing something. Words I should listen to sometimes.

and of course final word from one of the finder-outers

“Here’s to you!” she cried. “The Five Find-Outer—and Dog!”
The Inspector raised his glass too, and grinned. “Here’s to the great detectives—who solved the insoluble and most mysterious case in their career—the Mystery of the Pantomime Cat!”

And I shall leave you with this. Whilst looking into the background of the book I found that several card games and been produced in the 1950s related to the books check out the link here