The Riddle of the Sands

The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers is a mystery set at the start of the 20th Century, apparently it has become something of a cult novel amongst those fascinated by early spy novels. I haven’t been tempted to join the cult following despite the combination of a mystery with a novel set aboard a small yacht (I enjoy sailing as well as reading, reading whilst sailing on a fair day may be close to heaven).

I really can’t be bothered to try and describe the plot, upper class twits  in a yacht puzzled by some mysterious Germans who may or may not be plotting something. I suppose it describes the growing paranoia in the build up to the Great War. I found this slow paced, overly descriptive and not massively absorbing. I kept going with an expectation that I would ‘get it’ but just ended up breathing a sigh of relief at the end.

1.5/5 Don’t bother

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