Rereading: SMUGGLERS’ GAP by M. E. Atkinson

Illustrated by Harold Jones

The fourth book in the Lockett series of holiday adventures by Atkinson takes us to the Scilly Isles off the coast of Cornwall in southwest England. The Lockett children: Oliver, Jane, and Bill, are vacationing with their Aunt Lavinia on the coast of Cornwall, and are on their own for a few days while their aunt visits some other friends. They receive a frantic letter from Robin Angel, who with his sister Anna have become fast friends of the Locketts. It seems Anna and Robin have been sent on their holiday to the guest house of Mrs. Mead, known as Smugglers’ Gap, on a remote island in the Scillies by their grandmother, but Robin writes that Anna has disappeared. He wants the Locketts to come help find her.

Ever resourceful, Oliver and Jane have just enough money for airfare to the main island, and they make their way by ship to the guest house, but Mrs. Mead will give them no satisfying answers about the fate of Anna, and angrily turns them away. At least Robin is glad to see them, and with his help, Oliver and Jane find a place to camp nearby and begin investigating. Meanwhile, Bill has lucked into free transport by ship to the islands as well, and when he meets his siblings, is able to do things they can’t without arousing the anger of Mrs. Mead. There are more complications, including suspected smuggling, a hidden door, and a mysterious boy lurking out of sight in the house, and the Locketts and Robin have quite a time and some dangerous adventures trying to unlock the mystery and find their friend.

Recommended.

Smugglers’ Gap by M E Atkinson

The post Rereading: SMUGGLERS’ GAP by M. E. Atkinson appeared first on Todd's Blog.