The Secret of Grey Walls

Lone Pine #4

by Malcolm Saville

When David, Peter, Mary, Dickie and Tom of the Lone Pine Club go on holiday together, they know something exciting is bound to happen. They soon find themselves investigating a sheep-stealing plot and following a trail which leads to the strange house with grey walls.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, British Literature, Mystery

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

Leonard Malcolm Saville was an English author best known for the Lone Pine series of children's books, many of which are set in Shropshire. His work emphasises location; the books include many vivid descriptions of English countryside, villages and sometimes towns.

(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourites, although I really need to replace my Merlin paperback copy, as all the pages are falling apart. I do like the ones where they all get together, and Mister Cantor is one of the best of the 'grown-up' characters. It's also a fairly believable mystery that doesn't involve hidden treasure or missing persons. And we're quite early on in the series so there's none of that awkward boyfriend-girlfriend stuff going on, and the twins are only a bit annoying.

Once again, good sense of both time and place - so much so, that I would never be tempted to visit Clun in the middle of winter!

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Malcolm Saville was a name that I recognised as a children's author, but for some reason, I completely missed his books in my own childhood. I came across a copy of 'The Secret of Grey Walls' when I was clearing out my aunt's house (like all retired primary school teachers, she never threw away anything which might prove useful or instructive for young children, so there were plenty of children's story books!) and was curious to see what it was like, especially when I realised it was set in Clun, just up the road from where I am currently living.

It's always tricky reviewing a children's book that you read for the first time as an adult, but I think it would probably have rated three stars when I was 8-12. The plot is not too far fetched - a group of sheep rustlers are operating in the area, and the 'Lone Piners' spot some suspicious goings on during their country rambles and help the police catch the criminals. I could have done with one or two fewer characters - I never think it's a good sign when there are so many in a children's book that the author has to include a description of each one in the forward so that you don't get them mixed up! I also felt that 'Penny' and 'Jenny' were pretty interchangeable, both being red-headed, gushing and extremely silly. I actually found Penny far more irritating than the twins - 10-year-olds can get away with occasional annoying behaviour, but at 15, Penny's behaviour felt ridiculously juvenile for a mid 1940s teen.

Is the series likely to appeal to the intended age group today? I'm guessing that the voracious readers will probably gobble it up along with every other book they can get their hands on, but those who are less omnivorous/more reluctant readers should probably look elsewhere. I think the series will mostly appeal to those who remember it from their own childhoods and are wanting to wallow in a bit of nostalgia.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one assembles the entire Lone Pine club in Whales for some adventures.

Gathering all 8 children takes quite a while not leaving much room for actual investigation

The Secret in the title really isn't very complex or interesting.

The kids cycle, ride and walk around the countryside golly-goshing and being generally annoying.

I would say this book is a little disappointing but I don't expect much from these.

Vintage, wholesome fun

[Sue Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have probably enjoyed it more when I was twelve, but still an enjoyable read. This brings all the Lone piners together in the area of Clun where valuable sheep are being systematically stolen by the flockful.

[Greyscotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the longer stories in the Lone Pine series. Still worth the effort though.

[Lydia Willcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth in the 'Lone Pine' series about a group of teenagers who have exciting adventures. Re-read in 2020 after a gap of twelve years, and although I remembered some of the plot I had forgotten most of the detail, and very much enjoyed it. It's set in a more innocent age (late 1940s) when children were basically safe outside, other than from the real villains, who - inevitably - get caught in the end.

Great characterisation, and although some of the style is dated (I actually have a second edition hardback rather than the somewhat abridged Armada version), it's a good light read for adults and teens alike. Not necessary to have read others in the series, although it adds to the continuity and enjoyment to have done so.

Recommended to children over the age of about eight or nine, and adults who recall the series with nostalgia.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...