26 - Mystery of the Downs by Arthur J. Rees, John R. Watson

A tempest unexpectedly sweeps in from the sea, hurtling across the downs and into the hills with unrelenting force. The once visible crescent moon is now obscured, as the countryside is shrouded in an impenetrable darkness, punctuated only by the intermittent flashes of lightning. - The captivating opening sentence of the book.