Rereading: WAR ON THE DARNEL by Philip Turner

The fifth book in Turner’s Darnel series, taking place in a coastal town in northern England, is full of action, as the title suggests. Cruising down the river in their home-made paddle boat, Peter, Arthur and David find their way barred at Ballast Island, where a larger group of boys led by George Brody, a school friend, have a pirate camp and are charging a toll for passage to raise money for charity. The crew of Sea Peril II are indignant, and also annoyed that George is trying to top their own charity fund raising. They try to run the passage, but are forced to turn back by enemy fire (clumps of sod) and a rope barrier at the downstream end. Peter vows revenge, and begins planning.

Meanwhile, their friend the Admiral has bought a group of abandoned buildings just downstream, Powder Quay, and he and his right hand man Guns Kelly are renovating it as a place to live, while staying in their own large ship Northern Lion, on the quay. The boys also meet an American businessman and former Marine, Colonel MacKenzie, who has bought the remains of the former Darnley Mills rail line, and has plans to restore it and make it a tourist attraction. Those plans don’t sit well with Lady Bridgebolton, whose estate includes part of the rail line, though her niece Jane loves the idea, and quietly leads the boys to a large woodshed on the estate where they find the line railway engine Taffy hidden behind the woodpile, where it’s sat for many decades.

The battle at Ballast Island takes up a good part of the book’s planning and execution, but then a strong storm makes allies of all the opposing sides, as flooding and high winds threaten Sea Peril II, the camp at Ballast Island, and the Bridgebolton estate and cottages. Teamwork is needed, but will it be enough?

Wonderful series, recommended.

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