The Enid Blyton Society Barney Mysteries

The Barney Mysteries

The hols are never dull for Roger and Diana Lynton when their cousin Peter (who goes by the name of Snubby) comes to stay.

Barney Mysteries

A cheeky, inquisitive boy who thrives on attention, the "irrepressible" Snubby, red-haired and snub-nosed, is an orphan who spends the school holidays with relatives. Although exasperating, he somehow contrives to be a thoroughly likeable pest and cooks and housekeepers invariably develop a soft spot for him, promising to bake him meringues, macaroons and gingerbread. Snubby's energetic black spaniel Loony, based on Enid Blyton's own dog Laddie, lives up to his name in true Blytonian fashion.

Adventures begin for the three children when they make friends with Barney the circus-boy who, since his mother's death, has been on a quest to find his absent father. The boy sleeps rough and earns money by doing odd jobs, his only companion being his monkey, Miranda. Something of a romantic figure with his corn-coloured hair, wide-set blue eyes and foreign-sounding accent, Barney is a curious mixture of independence and vulnerability and the others warm to him at once.

Barney Mysteries

Generally accompanied by the brisk, sensible Miss Pepper, the children visit sleepy-looking villages and seaside towns which turn out to be riddled with intrigue. Full of atmosphere and often with a haunting, wistful quality lightened by sparkling humour, the Barney Mysteries (also known as the "R" Mysteries) benefit from strong characterisation, gripping plots and sophisticated language.

Barney Mysteries

Enid Blyton's autobiography, The Story of My Life, includes a list of her books with guidelines on age. The Barney series (sometimes referred to as the "R" series because of the six titles — Rockingdown, Rilloby, Ring o' Bells, Rubadub, Rat-a-Tat, and Ragamuffin) is the only series recommended solely for children over the age of eleven.

The first book, The Rockingdown Mystery, was published in 1949. Early editions of the books contain striking line-drawings by Gilbert Dunlop, except for The Rat-a-Tat Mystery which was illustrated by Anyon Cook.

Barney Mystery Series

There are 6 Barney "R" Mysteries books by Enid Blyton written between 1949 and 1959...
First Published in 1949 by William Collins
Book 1 of 6 in this category
See review by Anita Bensoussane
First Published in 1950 by William Collins
Book 2 of 6 in this category
See review by Anita Bensoussane
First Published in 1951 by William Collins
Book 3 of 6 in this category
See review by Anita Bensoussane
First Published in 1952 by William Collins
Book 4 of 6 in this category
See review by Anita Bensoussane
First Published in 1956 by William Collins
Book 5 of 6 in this category
See review by Anita Bensoussane
First Published in 1959 by William Collins
Book 6 of 6 in this category
See review by Anita Bensoussane