Good Old Secret Seven

Author:          Enid Blyton
First edition:  1960
Illustrator:     Burgess Sharrocks
Category:      Secret Seven
Genre:           Mystery/Adventure
Type:             Novels/Novelettes
Book no:        12



This story is set in November, presumably following on from the previous adventure, though no mention is made of it, and, therefore, still during term time. The central plot device reuses the idea of the short story The Humbug Adventure, some six years earlier, of a telescope, on this occasion gifted to Jack and Susie by their Uncle Bob, an ex-sailor. Therefore, to the Seven's annoyance, although the telescope is kept locked in their shed, they have to share it with Susie and her friend, Binkie, who makes a reappearance. George uses it for watching seagulls and then Janet for watching jackdaws that nest in Torling Castle on its hill across from the farm, where she spots someone lurking suspiciously, which heralds further investigation by the Seven.

It's likely that Torling Castle, both from Enid's description and its depiction by Burgess Sharrocks, is based on a real place that must have been well known to Enid when she lived at Bourne End. This is Hedsor Towers, which can be viewed on the hillside from just over the river from Cookham, on the Ferry Road that runs between Cookham and Bourne End, where it dominates the hillside.

We learn nothing new about the Seven. As in the first book, we are told that their shed backs on to a hot greenhouse and Scamper chases the stable cat, an area yet to be described. Matt, the shepherd, also returns and, along with the gardener (he, who is always vying with the Seven for the use of their shed) helps Peter's father effect a rescue and a capture at the conclusion of a story that is the most mysterious and exciting since Go Ahead, Secret Seven, a trend that continued in the next excellent story.


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