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Chris Smith, Author
James Lancett, Illustrator
Series: The New Famous Five
Imprint: Blyton Books
Publication date: July 2, 2026
Category: Crime & Mystery Fiction
ISBN: 9781444984705
‘A rip-roaring delight.’ Anna James
The Famous Five are back as a new group of kids go camping in the Forest of Secrets and crack their third mystery.
A brand-new adventure by bestselling author Chris Smith, inspired by Enid Blyton and featuring original and new characters.
Maddy, Fran and Tom – plus Gilbert the dog – are off on a camping trip with Professor George, and they can’t wait! There will be sausages to cook over the campfire and amazing places to explore . . . but before long, the New Famous Five discover there’s a bigger adventure in store for them. A famous scientist has gone missing and a criminal gang wants to use his research for nefarious purposes. Can the children solve the mystery, rescue the scientist and stop the criminals in their tracks?
Chris Smith has dreamed of being an author ever since he was 8 and won a competition with his story Where Are The Brandy Snaps? Chris worked for many years as a newsreader and presenter on radio stations including Xfm and BBC Radio 1. He is the bestselling co-author of the Kid Normal series and lives in north London with his wife, their son and a cat called Mabel who can travel through time.
James Lancett is a London-based illustrator, director and yellow sock lover! As a child growing up in Cardiff he was obsessed with cartoons, video games and all things fantasy. As he grew up and became a lot more beardy these inspirations held strong and so he moved to London to study BA Illustration and Animation at Kingston University. He now works as an illustrator and animation director. He is known for his illustrations for Lightning Girl by Alesha Dixon, the Avengers Assembly graphic novels, Max Einstein by James Patterson and many others.