Exceptionally, almost uniquely, in Malcolm Saville's long running "Lone Pine" series, this early adventure features a full complement of club members. It's fun to see how this large collection of young people interact with each other.
Plot was never the strong point of this series, Christmas tree rustling and dog-napping being two of the less inspired crimes the gang have investigated. Sometimes, he recycled a plot: "Not Scarlet But Gold"and "Lone Pine Five" for example.(Still, if it's good enough for Shakespeare's comedies...)
The plotline of this book is pedestrian to say the least.
But it also shows the real strengths of Saville's writing : evoking the spirit and sense of a place; in this case, the forgotten, sleepy, Wintery village of Clun, dozing fitfully on the English/Welsh borders.
As always, Tom and Jenny do all the work.David and Jon (officer class?..this book was written in the 1940s remember) are dumbfounded by Tom (enlisted man)'s enterprise and drive.The reader can be equally shocked that gun-play is featured, but actually this occurs "off-stage" and is only the very undynamic "Mister" Cantor shooting a lock off a door.
Great stuff.Really, a lost age of innocence is shown here, but Clun and its quiet environs are still there to be seen.