Don’t Let Them Leave

By Mike Lucas

Reviewed by Zewlan Moor

Mike Lucas is a British-Australian author of picture books and young adult suspense. 

His latest young adult novel, Don’t Let Them Leave, starts with a compelling prologue in a mine shaft in North Cornwall, 1855. In a few pages, a spooky scene is set. It involves knocking noises, made by the Knockers, who superstition said could lead people to treasure, or to their doom. Lucas builds atmospheric tension to a degree that would make a perfect campfire story. The reader is left wondering who are the monsters, the Knockers? Or the older miners, who force an eight year old boy into the rock crevices? 

Then the scene changes to London, 1930. Thirteen year old narrator, Charlotte, and her siblings, Jack and Emily, are left orphaned after their parents die in a car accident. The family solicitor, Mr Frankelweiss, advises they are to be sent to live with a grandmother they did not know existed. In an exciting start to their journey, they nearly miss the train, and are helped by a young apprentice groundskeeper called Barnaby. 

Over the course of the first quarter of the book, the already tragic fate of the children begins to take on an even more ominous feel. There are strange happenings that make Charlotte’s neck prickle, but that she cannot quite explain. There are also funny parts, such as when Jack is provoked into being rude to an unhelpful adult. He says, “Up yours, mister!” And you can’t help cheering for him. 

The sense of foreboding grows as the children get closer to their destination. And by the time they get to the black house on Black Island, you realise you are not reading historical fiction after all, but a ghost story. A haunted house story, to be specific. 

As haunted house stories go, it is quite satisfying. Suspense is maintained by delaying the reveal of the significance of the prologue. I was itching to know how the miners and child miner fit in with the house. It all ties together quite nicely in the end, although there is an ambiguous ending. The character of Charlotte is consistently loving and resilient, while also realistic in her desire to have the caring role taken from her. 

Themes of class are explored in a complex way that avoids cliché, but could also stimulate debate and further analysis. Similarly for themes of revenge, atonement and redemption. This would therefore be a good set text for classroom use, or an independent study unit for advanced readers in Years 7-9. Older readers could pair it with other classics of the haunted house genre, such as The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, or contemporary books, such as How To Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix.

Penguin 2026

Mike Lucas

Zewlan Moor is the author of Nothing Alike, The Bill Dup and Our World: Philippines. Her next book, Say Hello Like an Armadillo is out in the US/UK in June 2026 and Australia in Summer 2026-7. Pre-order or add it to your Goodreads Want To Read shelf now!