The first book in the series to feature Jon & Penny Warrender, and to be located away from Shropshire.

It is also the first story to feature Miss Ballinger, Grandon and Valerie - recurring "villains" who we encounter in further books.

Saville seems to be in his stride with the series by now, and even the change of lead characters and location do not alter the pattern he has developed. Slow build up, often involving a journey to the setting of the adventure, some local history provided by an adult to the children and a good deal of local geography thrown in.

Followed by the Lone Piners splitting up to track someone, or find clues, and eventually reuniting and putting all of the pieces together. But not before Penny and the twins end up imprisoned in a house in danger of flooding

What distinguishes this novel is that it has a genuinely thrilling conclusion, with kidnapping, rescues and a race against rising sea levels. The villains are just mean enough to create a sense of jeopardy.

The third book in the series, but the first truly exciting story. ( )

An exciting adventure, third in the "Lone Pine' series. This book introduces the cousins Jon and Penny Warrender, searching for long-lost treasure in Rye, on the South coast of England.

This book also introduces Miss Ballinger, who appears as a villain in several of the later books too. Fast-paced and enjoyable, with excellent characterisation. Of course it seems rather old-fashioned now, over 60 years after it was published, but that's not a problem.

In 2008 it was twenty or more years since I had read this, and while I remembered some of the plot, I'd forgotten the majority. Re-reading again another twelve years later, I liked it very much yet again.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2020/10/gay-dolphin-adventure-malcolm-savil... ( )