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Uncle Flynn
When timid eleven year old Max Bradley embarks on a hunt for buried treasure on Dartmoor with his mysterious Uncle Flynn, he discovers he is braver than he thought. Together they decipher clues, find a hidden map and explore secret tunnels in their search. But with both police and rival treasure hunters on their tail, Max begins to wonder if his uncle is all he seems...
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Published January 5, 2011
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88 people want to read
About the author
Simon Dillon
27 books16 followersI was born the year Steven Spielberg made everyone terrified of sharks in the city where JRR Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings. I now live in southwest England, near where Sherlock Holmes met The Hound of the Baskervilles.
I've written several novels and short stories. Most occupy the gothic mystery horror/thriller spectrum, though I have also dabbled in dystopian science fiction, children's adventures, and even the odd bit of romance. I'm branching into fantasy a little as well, but horrors and thrillers remain my fiction preoccupation.
I've written several novels and short stories. Most occupy the gothic mystery horror/thriller spectrum, though I have also dabbled in dystopian science fiction, children's adventures, and even the odd bit of romance. I'm branching into fantasy a little as well, but horrors and thrillers remain my fiction preoccupation.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 16, 2012
Free for the Nook. Started out well, but I'm now really tired of all the main character's (Max's) phobias. There are just too many. And I get that that's how kids can be, so I'm trying to ride it out, but there aren't any reasons given for the phobias, so it's getting really hard to stay sympathetic. There needs to be a little fleshing out of the father character, too. He's just too uncaring toward Max. Again, I get that some parents are like that - or can seem to be like that to their children, and this story is told from the kid's point of view - but there just seems to be no reason for any of it, other than because the author said so, and there's just too much of it stacked against Max's favor. I find it hard to believe that a kid that terrified of everything in the world would set off on some mad treasure hunt with a slightly-scary uncle he's only just met for the very first time, especially when that treasure hunt starts off with breaking and entering. I just feel I'm being asked to accept too much.
It's not a badly written book, and only has a few errors in spelling or grammar (1 of each thus far, and one of those might be a British thing), but I need for Max to have more going in his favor to make the rest of it either sympathetic or believable. I've just lost patience with him at this point. I feel maybe kids who are afraid of a lot of stuff might benefit from this story though, so I certainly don't want to write it off, and readers who are more accepting of "what the author says is what goes" will also probably not be bothered by it in the least, so while it's not for me, I think plenty of other readers, especially young boys who are maybe afraid of a lot of stuff or have trouble fitting in with other kids, might really enjoy it.
Updated to add that I decided not to finish. I've just lost interest in it. I did, however, skip to the end, and I have to say that if I *had* waded thru the entire book only to get to that ending, I would NOT have been pleased. Nor would I find it believable. I do find it a cop-out. Dillon obviously knows what happened, and he owes it to his reader to make that clear, not throw a lazy "twist" at them in the end. I hate when writers do that in movies, and I hate it a thousand times more when authors do it. Don't make your readers guess what the hell happened. It's very bad form. Because of the ending, I downgraded my rating from two stars to one.
It's not a badly written book, and only has a few errors in spelling or grammar (1 of each thus far, and one of those might be a British thing), but I need for Max to have more going in his favor to make the rest of it either sympathetic or believable. I've just lost patience with him at this point. I feel maybe kids who are afraid of a lot of stuff might benefit from this story though, so I certainly don't want to write it off, and readers who are more accepting of "what the author says is what goes" will also probably not be bothered by it in the least, so while it's not for me, I think plenty of other readers, especially young boys who are maybe afraid of a lot of stuff or have trouble fitting in with other kids, might really enjoy it.
Updated to add that I decided not to finish. I've just lost interest in it. I did, however, skip to the end, and I have to say that if I *had* waded thru the entire book only to get to that ending, I would NOT have been pleased. Nor would I find it believable. I do find it a cop-out. Dillon obviously knows what happened, and he owes it to his reader to make that clear, not throw a lazy "twist" at them in the end. I hate when writers do that in movies, and I hate it a thousand times more when authors do it. Don't make your readers guess what the hell happened. It's very bad form. Because of the ending, I downgraded my rating from two stars to one.
March 22, 2012
I have to say I loved this book.
Also, I can't agree with the previous reviewer at all regarding the ambiguity in the ending (I note she didn't read the entire novel). The actual adventure story was terrific, and everything was properly tied up. The bigger mystery regarding Uncle Flynn was answered too, but in a way that added a tiny bit of room for doubt and a couple of other interpretations should the reader wish to apply them (as they might, depending what their religious views are, etc). As far as I'm concerned that was a strength, not a weakness.
Besides the adventures there was a modicum of social comment and satire too - attacking the present tendancy to mollycoddle children, and the dangers of where this can potentially lead. Obviously the main rite of passage themes, overcoming fear, etc are familiar ones but they were well deployed here, and I particularly liked the symbolism of the panther in that respect.
I shan't say anymore in case i spoil it, but I would definitely recommend this book, pretty much to all ages.
Also, I can't agree with the previous reviewer at all regarding the ambiguity in the ending (I note she didn't read the entire novel). The actual adventure story was terrific, and everything was properly tied up. The bigger mystery regarding Uncle Flynn was answered too, but in a way that added a tiny bit of room for doubt and a couple of other interpretations should the reader wish to apply them (as they might, depending what their religious views are, etc). As far as I'm concerned that was a strength, not a weakness.
Besides the adventures there was a modicum of social comment and satire too - attacking the present tendancy to mollycoddle children, and the dangers of where this can potentially lead. Obviously the main rite of passage themes, overcoming fear, etc are familiar ones but they were well deployed here, and I particularly liked the symbolism of the panther in that respect.
I shan't say anymore in case i spoil it, but I would definitely recommend this book, pretty much to all ages.
June 25, 2014
I enjoyed this story. It does move slowly in some parts, but then there is a lot of action in others. There are some unbelievable parts, but by the time I got to them I was hooked and just shrugged it off and kept reading. I liked Max and I even liked Uncle Flynn, even though there isn't a whole lot of detail regarding him. I liked the adventure and mystery in the story, and I think it's a good upper-middle-grade and early YA read. I'm going to hand it over to my 12 and 10 year-olds tonight. They are both very good readers, and I think they will enjoy it. There are one or two swear words and some minor violence, so I think it's appropriate for fifth grade and up. You may read my full review on my book blog: www.the-readathon.blogspot.com.
August 26, 2012
This is the second book I've read today that had a sappy character in it. I realize that there are children out there with fears and problems, but isn't the point of reading a book to transport the mind to a place where those fears can be overcome and where a weak child can escape to become the strong character he/she needs to be?
I just couldn't get past the character development in the book to even try to enjoy the adventure that was being created.
I just couldn't get past the character development in the book to even try to enjoy the adventure that was being created.
November 23, 2011
Good book! Would of given it 4.5 stars if the option were available. :)
November 21, 2011
I love adventures!
There is a transformation of the main character. The adventures were fun, as the character had to overcome his fears. I'm not sure I like the ending, though.
There is a transformation of the main character. The adventures were fun, as the character had to overcome his fears. I'm not sure I like the ending, though.
November 28, 2011
Excellent read for the reluctant boy.
May 30, 2012
Good book about chalenging your fears
July 25, 2012
I got this book because it was a free Barnes & Noble Nook book. I really enjoyed it and found it engaging. Also appropriate for my preteen son if he chooses to read it.
July 22, 2013
Clever and interesting.
October 3, 2020
I read this book on smashwords some years back and still feel nostalgic about it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews