Famous Five 17: Five Get Into a Fix by Enid Blyton – Adventure & Mystery for Kids

Famous Five 17, officially titled Five Get Into a Fix, is the thrilling seventeenth adventure in Enid Blyton’s classic Famous Five series.

Julian.

Dick.

Anne.

George.

And Timmy the dog.

The Famous Five are together again.

But this holiday is different.

They have all been suffering from coughs and colds.

So a trip to the fresh air of the Welsh mountains sounds like the perfect way to recover.

Snow.

Mountains.

Skiing.

Tobogganing.

And plenty of outdoor fun.

What could possibly go wrong?

Quite a lot.

The Five soon discover a mysterious house called Old Towers.

The caretaker insists that the house has been deserted for years.

But Julian and George see something that makes that impossible to believe.

A face appears at one of the windows.

And the person behind that face looks terrified.

Why Read Famous Five 17?

Famous Five 17 is perfect for children who enjoy mystery, snow adventures and secret places.

The story combines:

• Snowy mountains
• Skiing
• Tobogganing
• A mysterious old house
• A frightened face
• Strange lights
• Rumbling noises
• Underground passages
• Suspicious people
• Friendship
• Courage
• Teamwork

The official publisher describes Book 17 as the adventure where the Five are enjoying a skiing holiday but become fascinated by a supposedly deserted house after seeing a frightened face at the window.

Famous Five 17 and the Welsh Mountains

The Welsh mountain setting makes this adventure feel very different from many earlier Famous Five stories.

Instead of beaches and islands, the children are surrounded by snow.

The landscape is beautiful.

But it can also be dangerous.

Heavy snow can hide paths.

Mountains can make travel difficult.

Cold weather creates its own challenges.

That atmosphere gives Famous Five 17 a strong winter-adventure feeling.

A Holiday to Recover

The adventure begins because the children are recovering from coughs and colds.

They are sent to Magga Glen in the Welsh mountains for fresh air and rest.

The plan is simple.

Recover.

Enjoy the snow.

And return home feeling healthier.

But the Famous Five rarely manage to have an ordinary holiday.

They soon become much more interested in the mystery surrounding Old Towers.

Famous Five 17 and Old Towers

Old Towers is one of the most important locations in the story.

The house stands on a lonely hill.

The gates are locked.

A fierce dog guards the property.

And the caretaker claims that nobody else lives there.

That explanation might have worked.

Except the Five see a face at the window.

Someone is clearly inside.

Why would the caretaker lie?

Who is the mysterious person?

And why does the face look so frightened?

These questions turn Old Towers into the centre of Famous Five 17.

The Frightened Face

The face at the window is one of the best hooks in the adventure.

Imagine seeing somebody inside a building that everyone claims is empty.

That alone would be strange.

But the expression makes it worse.

The person looks frightened.

Perhaps even desperate.

The Famous Five immediately sense that something is wrong.

The official synopsis makes this mysterious face the central question of Book 17.

Strange Noises in Famous Five 17

Old Towers is not the only strange thing happening.

The children experience unusual rumbling noises.

They feel vibrations.

They also notice strange shimmering lights coming from the hillside.

Something appears to be happening beneath the mountain.

But what?

At first, the Five have no clear explanation.

The mystery becomes bigger than one frightened face.

Something hidden appears to be happening around Old Towers.

Meet Morgan

One memorable character in Famous Five 17 is Morgan Jones.

Morgan is extremely strong.

He has a powerful voice.

And he controls several dogs.

At first, the Five are not sure what to think about him.

He can seem intimidating.

His behaviour sometimes makes the children suspicious.

Could Morgan know more about Old Towers than he admits?

Could he be connected with the strange events?

Enid Blyton keeps readers guessing about which characters can actually be trusted.

Meet Aily

Another important new character is Aily.

Aily is a local girl who knows the mountains extremely well.

She spends plenty of time outdoors.

She knows hidden routes.

And she knows things about Old Towers that the Famous Five do not.

Her knowledge eventually becomes extremely valuable.

Aily also gives Famous Five 17 a different personality from earlier adventures.

She knows the landscape better than the visitors and can move confidently through places that are unfamiliar to them.

A Secret Message

The mystery becomes much more serious when Aily shows the children a message.

It comes from the woman living inside Old Towers.

The message suggests that she is being held prisoner.

Suddenly, the Five realize that the frightened face at the window was not simply imagination.

Someone really may need help.

That changes the investigation.

The children are no longer exploring only because they are curious.

They may need to rescue someone.

Famous Five 17 and the Underground Mystery

The mountain hides secrets.

Aily knows a route leading toward Old Towers through underground passages.

That discovery makes Famous Five 17 especially exciting.

Dark tunnels.

Hidden entrances.

Unknown people.

Strange noises.

And secrets beneath the hillside.

The Famous Five must explore carefully.

They do not know exactly what they will find.

And once they discover the truth, the mystery becomes far bigger than they expected.

Julian in Famous Five 17

Julian remains one of the group’s natural leaders.

He wants to understand the situation before rushing into danger.

When they discover evidence that someone may be trapped inside Old Towers, Julian takes the problem seriously.

He considers the clues.

He thinks about whom they can trust.

And he tries to protect the others.

Leadership becomes especially important when the children begin exploring unfamiliar underground places.

Dick in Famous Five 17

Dick is adventurous and curious.

He wants answers.

The strange noises and Old Towers mystery immediately capture his attention.

Dick helps Julian examine what is happening.

He also refuses to ignore clues simply because an adult tells them not to interfere.

That curiosity pushes the investigation forward.

Anne in Famous Five 17

Anne is often more cautious.

That caution is useful.

Snowy mountains can be dangerous.

Underground passages can be dangerous.

Suspicious strangers can be dangerous.

Anne reminds readers that courage does not mean acting without thinking.

Sometimes being careful is the smartest choice.

George and Timmy

George remains determined and adventurous.

If she believes someone is in danger, she wants to help.

Timmy remains close beside her.

Timmy is loyal.

Protective.

Alert.

And extremely useful whenever the Five encounter danger.

He is also especially important when other dogs appear during the adventure.

For many readers, Timmy remains one of the most lovable characters in Famous Five 17.

Famous Five 17 and Friendship

Friendship remains central to the Famous Five series.

The children have different personalities.

But those differences help them.

Julian brings leadership.

Dick brings curiosity.

Anne brings caution.

George brings determination.

Timmy brings loyalty and instinct.

Together, they are stronger.

Famous Five 17 again shows how teamwork helps them handle problems that would be much more difficult alone.

Famous Five 17 and First Impressions

One interesting theme in this adventure is that people are not always what they first appear to be.

Someone who seems frightening may not be the villain.

Someone who appears ordinary may be hiding something.

Someone who tells the Five to stay away may have reasons they do not understand.

That encourages young readers to think carefully before deciding who is good or bad.

Appearances can be misleading.

Courage in Famous Five 17

The Five face several frightening situations.

A mysterious house.

A trapped person.

Dark underground passages.

Suspicious men.

Strange activity beneath the mountain.

They have every reason to feel nervous.

But they continue.

Courage does not mean they never feel afraid.

It means they keep thinking and helping one another even when the situation becomes difficult.

Famous Five 17 and Problem-Solving

Young readers can investigate alongside the Five.

Who is living inside Old Towers?

Why is the caretaker lying?

Where are the strange noises coming from?

Why does the ground seem to vibrate?

Who can the children trust?

What is happening beneath the mountain?

Each question creates another clue.

That makes Famous Five 17 especially enjoyable for children who love mystery stories.

Snowy Adventure Without Modern Technology

The Famous Five cannot simply use smartphones.

No GPS.

No live location sharing.

No internet search.

No instant messaging.

They depend on:

Observation.

Conversation.

Memory.

Local knowledge.

Physical clues.

Courage.

And teamwork.

That gives Famous Five 17 its classic adventure feeling.

Famous Five 17 for Young Readers

Hachette categorizes current editions of Five Get Into a Fix within Key Stage 2 / approximately age 9+.

This makes it a good choice for children becoming confident with chapter books.

The snowy setting creates variety.

The mysterious house creates suspense.

The frightened face immediately raises questions.

And the underground mystery gives readers plenty of reasons to continue.

Continue the Famous Five Series

Famous Five 17 follows:

1. Five on a Treasure Island
2. Five Go Adventuring Again
3. Five Run Away Together
4. Five Go to Smuggler’s Top
5. Five Go Off in a Caravan
6. Five on Kirrin Island Again
7. Five Go Off to Camp
8. Five Get Into Trouble
9. Five Fall Into Adventure
10. Five on a Hike Together
11. Five Have a Wonderful Time
12. Five Go Down to the Sea
13. Five Go to Mystery Moor
14. Five Have Plenty of Fun
15. Five on a Secret Trail
16. Five Go to Billycock Hill
17. Five Get Into a Fix

The next adventure is:

18. Five on Finniston Farm

Hachette confirms Five Get Into a Fix as Book 17 and Five on Finniston Farm as Book 18.

7 Amazing Reasons to Read Famous Five 17

1. Snowy Mountain Adventure – The Five enjoy skiing and winter fun in Wales.
2. Mysterious Old Towers – A supposedly deserted house becomes the centre of the mystery.
3. A Frightened Face – Someone appears at an upstairs window even though the caretaker says nobody lives there.
4. Strange Noises and Lights – Mysterious rumblings and shimmering lights suggest something unusual is happening beneath the mountain.
5. Underground Passages – Hidden routes create classic Famous Five suspense.
6. Friendship and Courage – Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy must rely on one another.
7. Part of the Famous Five Series – Famous Five 17 continues Enid Blyton’s original 21-book adventure sequence.

What You Can Expect From Famous Five 17

Readers can expect:

• Julian
• Dick
• Anne
• George
• Timmy
• Welsh mountains
• Snow
• Skiing
• Magga Glen
• Old Towers
• Morgan
• Aily
• Frightened face
• Strange lights
• Rumbling noises
• Underground passages
• Mystery
• Friendship
• Courage
• Teamwork

Who Should Read Famous Five 17?

Famous Five 17 is ideal for children who enjoy mystery and adventure.

It is especially suitable for readers interested in:

Snow adventures.

Skiing stories.

Mysterious houses.

Secret tunnels.

Rescue mysteries.

Mountain adventures.

Dogs.

Friendship stories.

Classic children’s fiction.

Readers who enjoyed Famous Five Books 1–16 can continue naturally into this seventeenth adventure.

An Amazing Seventeenth Famous Five Mystery

Famous Five 17 begins as a winter holiday.

Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy head into the Welsh mountains to recover from illness and enjoy the snow.

Then they discover Old Towers.

The house is supposedly empty.

But someone appears at the window.

Someone frightened.

Someone who may need help.

Soon there are strange noises, unusual lights and secrets hidden beneath the mountain.

The Five know they cannot simply walk away.

For children who enjoy snow, secret passages, mysterious houses, friendship and classic mystery adventures, Famous Five 17: Five Get Into a Fix is an excellent continuation of Enid Blyton’s beloved series.

Book Details

Product Name: Famous Five 17
Official Title: Five Get Into a Fix
Author: Enid Blyton
Series: Famous Five
Series Number: Book 17 of 21
Genre: Children’s Fiction / Mystery / Adventure
Original Publication: 1958
Original Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Original Illustrator: Eileen Soper
Main Characters: Julian, Dick, Anne, George & Timmy
Main Setting: Welsh mountains / Magga Glen / Old Towers.

Paperback Edition Details

A current Hodder Children’s Books paperback edition is:

ISBN-13: 9781444927597
Format: Paperback
Publisher / Imprint: Hodder Children’s Books
UK On-Sale Date: May 4, 2017
Recommended Interest Age: Approximately 9+
Cover Art: Laura Ellen Anderson.

Classic Illustrated Edition

Another paperback edition uses:

ISBN-13: 9780340681220

This edition features the original cover artwork and internal illustrations by Eileen Soper.

Edition Note

Several editions of Famous Five 17 exist with different covers, ISBNs and pagination.

Use the ISBN printed on your actual physical copy before entering exact edition details on your website. https://yourwebsite.com/famous-five-17/