The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage (Mystery Series)

It's an ordinary evening in the village of Peterswood-until it happens. A raging fire suddenly starts to burn a poor defenseless cottage; belonging o the short tempered Mr. Hick! Since Mr. Hick had very important papers in the cottage, police investigate the scene and make a shocking claim-the fire was not an accident! Five young children and their dog witness the display and decide to solve the Mystery of the Burnt Cottage. They are: Laurence Daykin( the eldest of the 5, called Larry) Margaret Daykin( Larry's sister, called Daisy), Philip Hilton( a boy who doesn't focus on his schoolwork, called Pip), Elizabeth Hilton( Pip's sister and the youngest of the five, called Bets) and Frederick Algernon Trottevile(given the nickname Fatty because of his initials). This amazing book constantly keeps you thinking. Just when it seems that they have found a culprit, one tiny fact throws them off. Enid Blyton, according to the Index Translationum, is the 5th most popular author of 2006. Since Bets is young, she doesn't understand many things. Like when Larry decides to hunt for clues, she hears it as "glues" and asks if they are sticky. This is the first book in this spectacular series. Some others are The Mystery of the Disappearing Cat, The Mystery of the Pantomime Cat, The Mystery of the Spiteful Letters, and The Mystery of the Vanished Prince. All of these books are great and filled with detail, excitement, and fun! So if you haven't read this book, do yourself a favor and start reading it! Recomended by Vinay

I have read this book while I was aged 9. Ever since I completed the short series, I realised, it was the best recollections of all the books read by me. Even after so many years. I love the way the five kids unravel the mystery and solve it. They are quite thrilling. Up to today, at age 23, I still miss the books. I am now collecting all of them all over again. They are my reminsce of yesteryears.

Readers may not know it, but Enid Blyton's best work probably lies in the five findouter series...which begins with this book: "The mystery of the burnt cottage". I believe the only reason this series of books was never so popular was because of the way it was titled, i.e. Five Findouters, and this wasn't so eye catching compared with the Famous Five or Secret Seven.The story is about 5 children aged from 9 to 13 and a dog, who first meet each other when a cottage burns down due to suspicious circumstances in their little town. They both find that they have a common enemy in Mr. Goon, the pompous village policeman, and despite their differences they pull together in order to beat him in solving the case. At the end of the book starts a beautiful friendship between the five, and they call themselves the 'Five findouters and dog' (coined by Bets (aged 9)) and despite the fact that it was a ridiculous name (as mentioned by Pip, Bets's older brother), it stuck and remained the same for 14 more super mysteries after that.I believe that the five findouter series is much better in quality, entertainment and plot than most other Enid Blyton books. In this series the kids have realistic and practical lives, with strict but well meaning parents, and sometimes they get hurt by the 'bad guys' which makes it all the more exciting and interesting. As far as plots are concerned they are amazing. Some of them could qualify for an Agatha Christie novel. I was astonished at what depth Enid Blyton could go to in making a great plot.The kids actually AGE as the books go along...and gain experience as well. For e.g: Fatty learns to disguise himself, and this comes in very handy in later mysteries.In my opinion, of all the Enid Blyton stories I find this series the best of all. Even now, at age 21, they entertain me immensely. These books are for all...from age 8 to till your really really very old. ENJOY!