Mini-review: Moonfleet

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Classic and hugely atmospheric smuggling and treasure hunting adventure set in Dorset. Fast paced and stylishly written with the only the occasional bit of archaic language to stumble over. In Trenchard and Block, Falkner has created an admirable hero and mentor who never ever give up despite their various follies and mistreatment at the hands of others.  For all the derring-do though, it's a sombre book and repeatedly returns to the theme of loss.

Only the ending feels a little pat and fairy tale, but is perfectly in keeping with similar stories of the era. To my mind, this gives Robert Louis Stevenson a serious run for his money in the boys own adventure stakes.