The Runaways

A Fateful Flight

When siblings Tom and Lily Ashford slip away from their overbearing guardian during a summer fête in rural Dorset, they expect only a few hours of freedom—until they stumble upon a clandestine smuggling operation in the village’s ancient quay. In The Runaways, Victor Canning weaves a pulse-quickening adventure that sweeps the two children into a world of shadowy figures, hidden coves, and midnight rendezvous. As moonlight shimmers on tidal pools and the scent of salt and petrol mingles on the breeze, Tom’s resourcefulness and Lily’s unbreakable courage become their only hope of escape from those who would exploit them.

Trails of Deception

Pursued by a ruthless ring of smugglers led by the enigmatic “Captain Blackthorn,” the Ashford children navigate narrow country lanes and secret woodland paths in a desperate bid for safety. Along the way, they forge an unlikely alliance with Ben Carter, a reclusive falconer whose prized hawk becomes both guide and guardian. Canning’s evocative prose brings each setting to vivid life: the moss-covered arches of a medieval bridge, the whispering reeds along the riverbank, and the distant chime of church bells marking the passing hours. Every twist in the hedgerow conceals a new peril—and a fresh clue that may lead them home.

Race Against the Dawn

With dawn’s first light poised to reveal their trail, Tom and Lily must outwit the smugglers in a final gambit at sea. In a tense climax aboard a weather-beaten fishing boat, loyalty and bravery are tested to their limits as the siblings confront the true cost of freedom. The Runaways is a timeless tale of sibling devotion, unexpected heroism, and the triumph of hope over adversity. Canning crafts an unforgettable journey that reminds us how far we’ll go to protect those we love—and how courage can turn the most ordinary children into legends. · Author’s description.