Although Miss Godden's novel is about five children, it is essentially a grown-up book. The story is extremely exciting and skillfully unfolded.
The family is spending a holiday in a small French hotel in the Marne district. The story is seen through the eyes of the second girl, Cecil, aged thirteen. Her character is very real and all the adolescent feelings. the sense of the place and the impression that this strange holiday makes on her and her elder sister is very well done. Gradually they are brought up against the seamy side of life. The impact on the two eldest girls is enormous. For this is the story of a dangerous criminal: a thief who will stop at nothing when he is in danger.
Miss Godden is extraordinarily good at understanding the half dream that children live in their natural acceptance of people whom they like, and their quick perception of something sordid and disreputable going on that they only half understand. The thriller aspect of the book gives an exciting pattern to the story.
Lady Rachel Cecil in the BROADSHEET
—from the dust jacket
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