Mystery of the Skull

by Pamela Butchart, Enid Blyton, Tony Ross (Illustrator)

Solve the mystery with the Secret Seven - everyone's favourite detective club! A brand-new, action-packed Secret Seven adventure by prizewinning author Pamela Butchart.

When Peter discovers an old skull hidden in his bedroom, it's time for an urgent meeting of the Secret Seven. Setting off to investigate, the friends see a gigantic hole in the grounds of a local hotel. Could there be any connection between the two strange events? The Secret Seven are determined to solve the mystery.

It's time to look behind the green door of the Secret Seven's shed again. Enid Blyton's much-loved detective club are back in a superbly entertaining new adventure. Pamela Butchart is the bestselling and prizewinning author of the hilarious series that started with Baby Aliens Got My Teacher! A huge fan of Enid Blyton, Pamela has been inspired to create a new mystery for her favourite club, the Secret Seven, to solve.

Set in the same world and time as the original stories, this fantastic new mystery satisfyingly extends the series for fans old and new. The story is brought to life by Tony Ross's brilliant illustrations throughout. Join the Secret Seven for more mystery, excitement, friendship and FUN than ever before!

Read all 15 stories in the original Secret Seven series and don't miss Pamela Butchart's next Secret Seven mystery ...

Also look out for Secret Seven Brain Games - a fun and tricky puzzle book!

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Enid Blyton ®, The Secret Seven ® and Enid Blyton's signature are registered trade marks of Hodder & Stoughton Limited. No trade mark or copyrighted material may be reproduced without the express written permission of the trade mark and copyright owner.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Childrens, Middle Grade, Adventure, Crime

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 12, 2018

About the author

As a child, Pamela was lucky enough to grow up in a house full of pets and go to a primary school where lots of spooky and weird things happened (well, in her imagination at least). As a student, Pamela’s student jobs included: fishwife, teaching basketball in America, phlebotomist and Artist Liaison for a (really bad) Abba tribute band. Now, when she’s not writing or going out and about meeting readers, Pamela teaches philosophy to teenagers.

Her top selling stories include The Spy Who Loved School Dinners which won the Blue Peter Best Story Award and My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat which won The Children’s Book Award. Two of her books, Petunia Peri and There’s a Werewolf in My Tent, were shortlisted for the Lollies – the Laugh Out Loud Awards.

Pamela lives in Dundee with her baby boy and their two awesome cats, Bear & Carlos. If she wasn’t working as a writer and a teacher she’d like to open a luxury hotel for stray cats.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems to be the case now that every author, no longer with us, is having their work continued – some of these are more successful than others. Where the author at least attempts to have some kind of empathy with the style of the originals, such as Jill Paton Walsh’s continuation of the Lord Peter Wimsey books, they are often interesting (still sometimes jarring) and where no thought is put into them at all (such as Sophie Hannah’s terrible attempts to recreate Poirot) they can be downright terrible.

As far as children’s literature is concerned, we have seen Jacqueline Wilson with tributes to classics such as, “What Katy Did,” and E.Nesbit’s, “Five Children and It,” and Enid Blyton is not immune from being modernised. My daughter is a huge fan of Enid Blyton and she enjoyed the modern re-telling of the Naughtiest Girl by Jeanne Wilson, “The Diary of the Naughtiest Girl,” and, as a fan of the Secret Seven books already, I thought she might enjoy this.

Although the set up of characters is similar to the original books, the language and style of the writing has been modernised. I am not a fan of doing this, but I do think that these more modernised versions can help introduce children to the originals, as it leads them on to, hopefully, explore other, similar books.

This mystery begins when Jack’s annoying sister, Susie, discovers a skull. It was found near a hotel, which has new, American owners. Luckily, the Secret Seven are being taken to the hotel restaurant for a birthday lunch, so they can do a bit of snooping and see if they can discover what is going on. Why are the Lockhearts digging up the grounds around the hotel? Of course, the Secret Seven are immediately on the trail of this new adventure and will get to the bottom of the mystery.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, to me, it did not read like The Secret Seven and I think the characters are just too beloved by me to accept the changes. However, my daughter enjoyed it and she is, after all, the target audience. Although she has read the original series, she was happy to read this and said she felt it was almost a different series – the same characters, but transported into a more modern era. Children will probably enjoy it, which is the point and I am for anything which introduces them to Enid Blyton, even in a roundabout way. However, adult readers, such as myself, probably will not be keen.

[Craig Sisterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

With recent revivals of Agatha Christie's Poirot by Sophie Hannah and Dame Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Alleyn by Stella Duffy, among many other 'continuation' tales, I perhaps shouldn't have been surprised to stumble across this new instalment in one of my favourite childhood series. It's perhaps more remarkable, given Enid Blyton's massive popularity (half a billion sales, apparently, across her many series like Famous Five, Secret Seven, The Faraway Tree, Noddy etc), that it's taken half a century since her death for someone to bring her Secret Seven characters back to the page.

The Famous Five are perhaps more, well, famous, but for whatever reason I actually read more of the Secret Seven growing up. Along with the Hardy Boys, they probably kickstarted my love of mystery stories. So it was with a smile on my face and a lovely sense of nostalgia that I began THE MYSTERY OF THE SKULL, which adds a sixteenth tale to Blyton's original 15 tales written between 1949 and 1963. Award-winning kids author Pamela Butchart has been handed the reins.

It's been thirty-plus years since I've read a Secret Seven book, so I won't be able to accurately weigh up just how close or far from the original series this new instalment is in tone and atmosphere etc. But the 'old gang' are all back - Peter, Janet, Jack, Barbara, George, Pam and Colin. As well as dog Scamper and youngsters Susie and Binkie, who live to annoy the older sleuths.

For me, THE MYSTERY OF THE SKULL read relatively timeless (eg no massive reliance on or reference to technology etc), while feeling somewhat modern rather than old-fashioned in tone.

It's a nice little mystery with some spookiness running through it that could delight younger readers. The kids are at the forefront, the heroes who drive the story with their actions. There's plenty of action and intrigue, and some funny moments. Tony Ross's quirky illustrations add further flavour.

Overall I think younger readers would enjoy this mystery, and be prompted to give Blyton's original books a go. There's enough crossover for it to feel like part of the same whole, while not feeling out-of-date. I tore through this quickly, and had a smile on my face throughout. Blyton created an interesting dynamic between her adolescent sleuths, and Butchart has picked up the baton well.

A fun, easy read recommended for younger mystery lovers, while still being a light and enjoyable palate cleanser for adult readers in among all the darker and more serious crime tales.

[Shreyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Mystery of The Skull' (The Secret Seven #16; The Secret Seven Revival #1) by Pamela Butchart. [Based on the characters and stories by Enid Blyton]


Rating: 4.5/5.


Review:
This book is the first of the two official continuation novels of Enid Blyton's The Secret Seven series. Having grown up on these books, I was a bit apprehensive going into this book considering most of the revivals or continuations end up being huge disappointments. But I ended up loving this book. I was astounded that this book had me gripped despite me being a grown-up reader who has not delved much into the children's books genre recently (However, I did finish a complete Secret Seven reread before reading this book, so that definitely might have helped too).

I think Pamela Butchart did an excellent job with this book. Her writing style is simple yet distinctly different from Enid Blyton's writing style. Despite this, it captures the spirit of the original Secret Seven books and stays true to its roots. The original books are dated, and some things bugged me greatly while rereading those books as an adult. And this revival book greatly improves on it.

Pamela Butchart gave a distinct personality and trait to each member of the Secret Seven Society. Almost every member is proactive. The girls, especially Pam and Barbara, aren't merely reduced to a role of being the stupid girls prone to irrational giggling fits. They get to play a significant part in the current mystery; their impersonation of old ladies while being on a surveillance mission was great.

Peter is still the leader of the gang. He is less bossy as in the originals, but still a control freak when it comes to following the rules and regulations of the Secret Seven Society. He is more alert, less carefree; and he is now a guy who wants to methodically keep notes of the current mystery.

Colin is a proper sleuth who is keener to reenact scenes to eliminate other possibilities before coming to a definite conclusion. George and Janet have their fair share of moments too when they band together to investigate the culprit's room and the basement eventually leading to some interesting discoveries.

Unlike the originals, Jack isn't reduced just to a member of the club who has an annoying sister. I did miss the clever pranks that Susie plays on the Secret Seven though; I hope we see Susie and Binkie in the next book. Just like the other members, Jack has a distinct personality. He is forever hungry (staying true to the originals). There's a part in the book where he muses why does Peter always give him the riskiest jobs to do. Peter says that is because he trusts Jack the most out of the rest six, but Jack is sure that it is because Peter didn't want to do it himself. It was quite a funny moment; a value addition over the originals.

I think one of my minor gripes is that Scamper doesn't get many parts to play in the story. But then again, even a little bit of Scamper parts is good enough to make one's day. It's not that he has nothing to do in the story; he does have a small role as compared to the seven kids, but it is still crucial to the story.

Overall, this was a good read (even for an adult). It surprised me too, considering most revivals often end up being criticized heavily. Pamela Butchart stayed true to the spirit of the original books but made some necessary changes that make the books more approachable to the younger audience in modern times. Looking forward to the next (and alas, the last book so far) in the revival series by Pamela Butchart.


PS: I need to add that I found the illustrations by Terry Ross to be amusing as well as awesome. They were a nice addition to this book.



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.

[Arpita K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela, the author, has done an incredible justice to the line of children mustery books at the same bar, which Enid Blyton has set. Children can continue reading the new releases of the secret seven with same eagerness and enthusiasm.

[Joanne Eglon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐

Well.... I read this with my daughter and she enjoyed it... I however, did not.

As a young child I was obsessed with Enid Blyton and I just can't cope with these modernised versions.

These modern versions will never be as magical and special as the original works of Enid Blyton and unfortunately I will refrain from reading anymore of this series.

The Secret Seven belongs to Enid Blyton and her alone 😞.

[Jen Pritchard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much of a parody for my liking!
I think if you are going to continue such a well loved series, it should be done in the style of the originals.

[Misfits farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Seven are back! This took me back to my childhood and reading under the covers. Whilst out walking they find part of a skull. Being the Secret Seven one thing leads to another and soon they are on the trail of a suspicious couple running a seemingly fully booked hotel- with no guests and a tent over a hole which they are more than curious about. The friends as ever are imaginative in their sleuthing and always need extra snacks and drinks after any sort of adventure. This is a more modern version of the old classics and hence not quite in the same style as Enid Blyton’s wonderful books. Something was a little adrift. Great to have the format but just that je ne sais quoi missing. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed this but not quite as much as I thought I would. Maybe I have just got older( who knew!) ? Maybe this needs reading by today’s younger generation to see what they make of it. However I feel they would be asking questions such as“why didn’t they use a mobile phone” etc. A mixed bag.

[Reyansh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was great, but the adventure was a bit too strechy, actually I like long adventures, but in this book you don't feel excited in the start, in the start the book is boring, but it gets exciting at the middle, I suggest the author to start the mystery at the beginning of the book, but make sure not to start it too early

[Medhansh Vaddadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading complete set of books... It all started during the pandemic time. One of my favourite reads during pandemic

[Farseer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a modern continuation novel of the Secret Seven series created by Enid Blyton. This has been done for other Blyton series and it has even been done successful (I'm referring to the Malory Towers and the St. Clare's continuation novels by Pamela Cox, which have a similar feel to the originals). This one is not so successful, in my opinion.

The feel of this novel is just too different to the source material. There are some things that you expect to be updated in a modern continuation novel. For example, in the originals, written shortly after WWII, the girls are usually protected, or kept away from the most daring parts of the adventure (like sneaking out at night to watch some mysterious site). You would expect something written now to avoid differentiating gender roles this way. However, it can be done in a natural, smooth manner, without calling attention to the differences. Instead, Pamela Butchart, with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, is always making a point of calling the reader's attention to it, having the boys cringe in fear at the sight of a spider, or at the idea of sneaking into someplace at night, while the girls brush away the spider with their bare hands or fight among themselves to be the one to do whatever terrifies the boys.

The language is also updated, with the children using expressions like "calm your pants", although mercifully they do not blatantly use modern technology, leaving the question of whether this is set in the mid-20th century or in modern times relatively ambiguous. I say relatively, because multiple details point to a modern setting, like for example the restaurant where the children go, which offers a vegetarian alternative menu.

The dynamics between the Secret Seven is also changed. This is not a completely bad thing, because one problem with Blyton's originals is that sometimes some of the children didn't get much to do. However, they get multiple extraordinary abilities (for example the girls disguise themselves as old ladies and fool multiple adults for extended periods of time), they act with the confidence of adults, compared to the originals where the Seven were basically little children. They talk to each other in a very different manner compared to the originals. Added to all the other things, like the stylistic differences in writing, and to the fact that the kind of mystery also feels quite different, adding (mild) horror elements, having foreigners in the formerly rural and provincial town where the children live...

One starts to wonder what's the point of making this a continuation novel at all. Sure, the characters' names are the same, and it keeps some of the trappings of the series (the passwords, Susie trying to spoil things, even though she only gets a cameo), but other than that there's not much to make it feel like part of the same series. I'm saying this from the perspective of an adult. The book is not awful, and I think that children readers, who after all are the target audience, might still enjoy this one, but as an adult reader I feel it could have been better as its own thing, rather than making it part of a series whose spirit it does not follow.

Am I being too purist? Maybe, but for me if a continuation novel doesn't feel like it might have been part of the original series, what's the point of it?

[Thalia S. A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book as the first of the continuation novels of Enid Blyton's Secret Seven.

Pamela Butchart has done very well with this story. Her style of writing is a little different from Enid Blyton's, but in a way it is somewhat better.

She has given each of the members a slightly different personality, especially for Pam and Barbara. They aren't giggling, annoying girls, instead they have strong roles and good character, especially when having to play an important part in the mystery; dressing up as old ladies to search a hotel.

Janet and George have a good share of moments when exploring the basement together, and Colin seems to gather lots of evidence (rather like a real detective!) before making a decision. Jack still has Susie, his silly sister, but his personality is still there (and is always hungry, so that hasn't changed). Peter is thankfully not as bossy as in the originals, though he still is slightly strict over the rules and the head of the Secret Seven.

The plot is also very captivating, and can teach you a lot from all the Seven's different perspectives.

I think my only concern is that Scamper is not involved as much. However, he still does play a few parts in the book and is a definite favourite character.

Five stars for this wonderful story, and cannot wait to read the next one.

[Julie Garner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reading copy of this book.
I know that Enid Blyton and her Secret Seven are beloved and that there are a lot of people out there who will be upset that someone is bringing them back for today's children. I see no harm in this at all. We want our kids to read adventure stories where no one really gets hurt. We want them to be reading the style of books we did - it helps keep them that little bit more innocent for a little while longer.
Who can forget reading their first Secret Seven book? Not me...I was addicted to anything that Enid wrote. I believe that the Mystery of the Skull will be something that kids pick up and read and go 'Wow. Is there any more like that?' Now we have a whole new audience for the original books. This is win win.
I believe that this book does justice to the original. It is a nice mystery with the Seven friends that is just spooky enough to give readers a little fright, without terrifying them. There is enough of a threat to the kids that readers will be on the edge of their seat hoping for a good, safe ending. Good, clean, fun that new readers will enjoy. Please don't be a purist and spoil it for them...let your young readers have a chance to discover the wonders and mystery that are The Secret Seven.

[M.Pinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a young group of children who call themselves The Secret Seven, together they solve mysteries and will stop at nothing until their investigations are complete. The main characters in this book are Peter, Janet, Collin, Jack, George, Barbara and Pam. When Peter finds out his younger sister put a real human skull in his room, he informs the rest of the Secret Seven to further investigate, as their investigation goes further they soon find out that they are dealing with criminals on the run. This book is set on an English countryside on an English farm. This book made my heart race a lot, because their investigation requires a lot of snooping around, and when they snoop around I would worry they would get caught. I would recommend this book to ten and up, because I think it will inspire readers to do more group activities with their friends.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new Secret Seven adventure for today's kids to enjoy. It's very much in the classic Enid Blyton style of children solving mysteries and being very brave sleuths. Several delicious food descriptions too - I'm really craving pineapple upside down cake now! It's impossible for me to be impartial about this as I was a real Blyton fan as a child and read everything she wrote so I am a very harsh critic but this was a fun story to read and hopefully will encourage young readers to discover the originals.

[Beth Younge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a memory of reading the famous five as a child and i thought that i would enjoy this. Unfortunately, i did not really like this book. I think the issue was down to me and my own hazy memory of enjoying Enid Blyton novels. I liked how the plot was on the lighter side and fitted in with the overall ideas that Blyton showed in her fiction but this was one book were i felt too old for it.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Saffron Mavros · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book series is meant for a younger age group, but thrilling and exciting nonetheless, despite being a spin off!

New plots, stunning escapes, and chilling mysteries keep you hanging on every word! And of course the descriptions of the elaborate meals that the seven have. Let's not forget the official "seven" meetings that each of us, deep down, wanted to be a part of, like those eavesdropping intruders.

[Jai · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Seven Mystery Of The Skull is a exciting and intense book because of all the action that happens in the book,it can teach many lessons from different perspectives. I like the ending because of all the gasps and all of the surprising moments. This book is wonderful for anyone who loves Enid Blyton books.

[Karin Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read an update of a childhood classic. The stories and language have been brought up to date to appeal to the current generation of children

[Beaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Calm your pants, we're only having a laugh!"

[Sragvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was an amazing story where the S.S find that the lockhearts family behave strangely. So, its up to the S.S to reveal the reason!!!

[Jotham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling 😆

[Perry Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book, but you could tell it was not Enid blyton. It is good that someone is trying to update Blytons books though

[Gail Danks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

[Pranav Pandya · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first of the secret seven is ironically the last of the series. I had fun reading it at nights. Definitely going to read more of these.

[Hrdaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysterious

[Maryam Shaikh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's perfect for kids of all ages. I loved it too, as an adult. it's got elements of mystery, adventure, horror, and humour which makes it awesome! 😎

[Sophie Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie and her son read The Secret Seven: Mystery of the Skull out loud together. This is the first official addition to Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven series since her death in 1968 and is written by Pamela Butchart, author of Baby Aliens Got My Teacher!

For those unfamiliar with the classic British series, the Secret Seven are a secret society of seven children, Peter, Janet, Jack, Barbara, George, Pam, and Colin, who go about solving mysteries and foiling criminals. Fifteen Secret Seven novels were originally published between 1949 and 1963 and they all follow the classic narrative where the children are smarter than most of the adults and are able to gather enough evidence to put a stop to whatever is going on. Often there is a hint of paranormal elements to the mysteries, but as in Scooby Doo, these always turn out to have a down-to-earth explanation.

In this new book, the seven kids investigate strange goings on surrounding the new owners of a local hotel. Why are they digging up the grounds, why is the restaurant only serving burnt fish pie, and what is causing the scratching noises coming from the top floor? As an adult, the big reveal was blindingly obvious, but Sophie’s eight-year-old was hooked.

Mystery of the Skull does nothing new or shocking to the Secret Seven universe. The characters and settings have remained the same although some of the language has clearly been brought up-to-date. The story also avoids anything which sets it in a specific time period, with no modern technology present (none of the Seven use smartphones or computers) but also nothing to place the book notably in the past.

Mystery of the Skull won’t convert anyone who doesn’t like the original series, but Secret Seven fans will love having a new adventure for their favorite detectives.

[Dawin (DawinTheBookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guys, I was a little skeptical to read this book since it was a book which was not written by Enid Blyton.

But I read it, and I ABSOLUTELY ADORED it. Even though there were some places in which the plot was a little slow with the Secret Seven talkin' about the mystery, It was great book when came to the plot and the execution

Hats off Enid Blyton, Great Story Pamela Butchart - Thanks for bringing this book into my life!!

[Cylus Lothain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THE PLOT HOLE. I thought the people were just weird and definitely probably doing something illegal but what truly was going on was a whole another level!!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enid Blyton’s beloved series The Secret Seven is back with a brand new adventure, Mystery of the Skull, based on Blyton’s original intrepid sleuth septet and written by Pamela Butchart.

I loved The Secret Seven and The Famous Five as a child and raced through all of the books, some more than once. With the exception of Roald Dahl’s books, no other books had such an enduring impact on my life. To this day, decades after I read them, I can still fondly remember sharing afternoons with the characters playing in copses full of tall grass and wild flowers or exploring old abandoned quarries and discovering hidden tunnels.

I would move on to the The Adventure series by age 10 or so, firmly choosing it as my favourite of all Enid Blyton’s series but it was The Secret Seven that started it all. This summer, 55 years after the final Secret Seven book was written, Hodder Children's Books hope to gain a whole new audience and are releasing the first ever official addition to the world of The Secret Seven.

Mystery of the Skull begins two weeks into the summer holidays when Janet and Peter return home from a fortnight with their gran. Peter discovers a skull in his bedroom and calls an urgent meeting of the Secret Seven. Where did the skull come from? How did it land up in Peter’s bedroom? And most importantly of all, what does this have to do with the new hotel down the road and its secretive proprietors?

With ample servings of sandwiches and cake, several moonlight adventures and significant levels of danger, this new adventure is a welcome return to a world that I never thought I’d visit again.

At first I was concerned that the book would feel dated, being that the originals were set in the 50s and 60s, or that the book would be obviously modernised but I was impressed to note that neither is the case. There is no obvious technology in the book but nothing to suggest that it couldn’t be set in the modern era either, making it accessible to a new generation of readers.

I don’t think this book (and others that I expect to follow in the series) will appeal as a children’s / adult crossover in the same way as the Harry Potter books have but it will appeal to the original fans of The Secret Seven and I think the innocence and simplicity of the story would be perfect for new readers aged 7 to 9.

This review originally appeared on Addicted to Media.