The Mystery of the Missing Man facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Enid Blyton |
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| Illustrator | Lilian Buchanan |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Five Find-Outers |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Methuen |
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Publication date
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1956 |
| Preceded by | The Mystery of Holly Lane |
| Followed by | The Mystery of the Strange Messages |
The Mystery of the Missing Man is an exciting adventure book for young readers. It was published in 1956 and is the thirteenth story in the popular Five Find-Outers series. The book was written by the famous author Enid Blyton and featured original drawings by Lilian Buchanan.
Contents
Meet the Characters
This section introduces the main characters you'll meet in The Mystery of the Missing Man.
- Fatty (Frederick) – He is the clever leader of the Five Find-Outers detective group.
- Daisy – A smart member of the Five Find-Outers.
- Bets – The youngest and often very observant member of the group.
- Larry – He used to be the leader before Fatty. He is also a member of the Find-Outers.
- Pip – Another important member of the Five Find-Outers.
- Buster – Fatty's loyal and brave dog, who often helps with clues.
- Mr. Goon – The local policeman in Peterswood. He often tries to solve mysteries before the children.
- Eunice – The daughter of Mr. Tolling, a friend of Fatty's father. She joins the children on their adventure.
- Chief Inspector Jenks – A friendly police inspector who sometimes shares information with the Find-Outers.
- Bert – A clown working at the village fair.
- Josef – An employee at the fair.
- Lucita – Another employee at the fair.
- Harris – A person involved in the mystery.
- Mr. Tolling – A friend of Fatty's father. He studies beetles, which are insects.
What is the Story About?
This book follows the Five Find-Outers as they try to solve a tricky case.
A Dangerous Person is Missing
The story begins when Chief Inspector Jenks tells Fatty that a dangerous person has escaped. This person is very good at changing their appearance. They are also interested in insects. Fatty needs to focus on this mystery. However, Eunice, the daughter of his father's friend, is visiting. She makes it hard for Fatty to concentrate at first.
Eunice Joins the Fun
Soon, Eunice starts to understand Fatty and his friends better. She even helps them solve the mystery! Fatty thinks the escaped person might be hiding at the village fair. The fair is a big event in Peterswood.
Investigating the Fair
Fatty and the other Find-Outers start looking for clues at the fair. They watch people like Bert the clown, Josef, and Lucita. Josef and Lucita also have a sad grandmother with them. With a little help from Eunice, the children discover something important. They find out that Josef and Lucita are keeping the person they are looking for in their caravan.
The Full Adventure
Let's dive deeper into the exciting details of the mystery.
A Visit from Mr. Tolling
In this book, we meet Mr. Tolling. He is an old school friend of Fatty's father. Mr. Tolling comes to stay with Fatty's family for a week. He wants to attend a special meeting for people who study beetles. This meeting is happening at a fair in Peterswood. People who study beetles are called coleopterists. The children joke about what this word means. Mr. Tolling is a small man with a big black beard and glasses. He always wears a dark suit. He is very kind, but he talks a lot about beetles. He is very excited to go to the beetle meetings at Peterswood's Town Hall.
Meeting Eunice
Mr. Tolling brings his daughter, Eunice, with him. She also stays with Fatty's family. Fatty is supposed to keep her entertained. Eunice is eager to join in with Fatty and his friends. However, she is very bossy and tries to be too helpful. This makes Fatty and the others feel a bit annoyed. Fatty even accidentally calls her father "Mr. Belling" instead of "Mr. Tolling." Eunice quickly replies by suggesting she call Fatty "Frederick Canterville." Throughout the book, Eunice shows she is smart and witty. But Fatty tries to avoid her bossy company whenever he can.
The Mystery Begins
The mystery starts when Fatty tries to get away from Eunice. He dresses up as a tramp. He puts on his disguise and hides in his shed. Eunice looks through the window and screams! She thinks there is a stranger in Fatty's shed. Mr. Goon, the local policeman, is nearby. He rushes over to help. He demands that the "tramp" show himself. Poor Fatty has to burst out of the shed. He runs off with Buster, his dog, barking excitedly around his feet. Later, Mr. Goon claims that the tramp was very strong. He also says Buster must have bitten the tramp's ankles as he ran away.
A Clue from Chief Inspector Jenks
Chief Inspector Jenks visits Mr. Goon. He tells him to look out for a dangerous person who has escaped from somewhere. This person has a scar above their lip. But they are very good at disguises. They can easily hide the scar with a beard. Mr. Goon is surprised. He realizes that the "tramp" he saw might be the person they are looking for.
The Big Question
The main puzzle in this book is: Where is the escaped person hiding? Are they in disguise? If so, who are they? The Find-Outers must use all their skills to uncover the truth.
Book Editions
- In 2014, the book was published by Egmont. The cover art was done by Timothy Banks.
