Moonfleet by John Meade Falkner is a thrilling adventure novel set in the small coastal village of Moonfleet. The story follows young orphan John Trenchard as he becomes involved in the dangerous world of smuggling and hidden treasure.

Falkner's writing is incredibly engaging, drawing readers into the vividly described setting and characters. The sense of mystery and intrigue is maintained throughout the novel, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat as they follow John's journey.

The themes of loyalty, friendship, and betrayal are woven throughout the plot, adding depth to the story and making the characters feel more real and relatable. Falkner does an excellent job of building tension and suspense, leading to a satisfying and exciting conclusion.

Overall, Moonfleet is a captivating and well-crafted novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, adventure, and coming-of-age stories. Falkner's storytelling skills shine in this classic tale of adventure and treasure hunting, making it a must-read for anyone looking for a thrilling and immersive read.

Book Description:

The novel is set in a fishing village in Dorset during the mid 18th century. The story concerns a 15 year old orphan boy, John Trenchard, who becomes friends with an older man who turns out to be the leader of a gang of smugglers.
One night John chances on the smugglers’ store in the crypt beneath the church. He explores but hides behind a coffin when he hears voices. He finds a locket which contains a parchment, in the coffin belonging to Colonel Mohune. Unfortunately after the visitors leave, he finds himself trapped inside, and is only rescued two days later when two of the smugglers, Ratsey, the sexton and Elzevir Block, the innkeeper of the Why Not?, the local pub, investigate his disappearance. His aunt insists he leaves her house and Elzevir Block takes him in to live at the pub.