tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post8893390004836501620..comments2024-03-27T22:32:02.739+01:00Comments on Beneath the Stains of Time: The Rilloby Fair Mystery (1950) by Enid BlytonTomCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-80306760959715721852019-09-08T12:09:13.836+02:002019-09-08T12:09:13.836+02:00"What good taste I had as a young child of si..."<i>What good taste I had as a young child of six!</i>"<br /><br />Everyone who reads detective stories, any kind of detective story, has an impeccable, highly refined taste when it comes to fiction. ;) TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-54126543503730787472019-09-07T17:38:52.670+02:002019-09-07T17:38:52.670+02:00I'm delighted with TomCat's review of The ...I'm delighted with TomCat's review of The Rilloby Fair Mystery (1950) by Enid Blyton.<br /><br />I read the first four books of that short "Barney/Mystery" series soon after I started reading at age five. Perhaps I was six when I encountered them, but I'd certainly read them by the time of my seventh birthday. They were my favourites of her novels, along with the "Adventure" series, of which I also read maybe the first four or five. After that I stopped reading Blyton and moved on to slightly more adult stuff such as Richmal Crompton's "William" books.<br /><br />So I'm amused to see that the Barney/Mystery series was apparently "the only series from Blyton's hands 'recommended solely for children over the age of eleven.'" The books are "reportedly 'full of atmosphere' with 'a haunting, wistful quality,' sparkling humor, strong characterization, clever plots and sophisticated language."<br /><br />What good taste I had as a young child of six!<br />David Pringlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07221462436404686786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-79037602911845674692019-09-04T13:22:38.973+02:002019-09-04T13:22:38.973+02:00Someone, anonymously, left a comment on my review ...Someone, anonymously, left a comment on my review of <i>The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage</i> recommending <i>The Rilloby Fair Mystery</i> as a locked room mystery. So you probably recommended this series to JJ. <br /><br />Regardless of the age-demographic of Blyton's series, she seems to have written some really good, well thought out detective stories throughout all of her series. The Five Find-Outers may be targeted at her youngest clientele, but <i>The Mystery of the Invisible Thief</i> is a shining example of how to handle clues and red herrings. JJ has spoken highly of some of the other books in the series. <br /><br />I only wish it was easier to seperate her adventure novels from her detective novels (especially her locked room mysteries). <br /><br />Anyway, you can expect a review of <i>The Rat-a-Tat Mystery</i> later this year. An impossible crime tale, of the no-footprints variety, set in a snowbound mansion? Yes, please! TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-86118222306636121472019-09-03T18:09:41.832+02:002019-09-03T18:09:41.832+02:00I know that I've recommended JJ this series, b...I know that I've recommended JJ this series, but I can't remember if I recommended it to you as well. Anyhow, I'm glad to see that you enjoyed it.<br /><br />Out of Blyton's five longer mystery series, I think this is the one geared to the oldest age group. The "Adventure" series - as the name indicates, these are more adventure stories than proper mysteries - probably comes next, followed by "The Famous Five" (which are generally more in the adventure vein as well). And "The Five Find-Outers" and "The Secret Seven" are clearly geared towards the youngest clientele.Christian_Henrikssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13013383718388416698noreply@blogger.com