The Riddle of the Sands
by Erskine Childers
Review by Sarah Bass

As Summer draws to a close, Carruthers is stuck in London at his Home Office job while his friends socialise outside of the city. Boredom makes him susceptible to an enigmatic invitation from old school friend, Davies, who persuades Carruthers to join him in ‘a little yachting and duck shooting’ off the Dutch coast.

Carruthers departs, armed with a mystifying array of items requested by his friend. But is the invitation all that it seems? It becomes clear that there is more to Davies’s trip than he had let on. Soon the pair have uncovered a secret German naval fleet hiding in the fog – can it be about to invade England?

First published in 1903 and considered by some to be the first modern thriller, The Riddle of the Sands is a rip-roaring read with appeal for sea goers and land lovers alike. This new edition includes maps and charts of the journey and photos of some of the featured locations.

It’s a great tale and the perfect book to curl up with on a dark Winter's evening. I was swept away by the book’s cracking pace and will be recommending it to any friends complaining their lives are lacking in excitement!

Paperback book
Published by A&C Black
ISBN 9781408129418
Price £8.99