The village of Moonfleet has a legend about the notorious Colonel John "Blackbeard" Mohune who is buried in the family crypt under the church. Blackbeard is reputed to have stolen a diamond from King Charles I and hiding it before his death. But his ghost has no rest and it wanders at night looking for the treasure and causing the mysterious lights in the churchyard. Now it is up to John and Elzevir to hunt the treasure amidst all odds and cunning. But will they survive the ordeal? Or will this hunt turn out to be the biggest mistake of their lives?

John Meade Falkner was an English novelist and poet, best known for his 1898 novel, Moonfleet. An extremely successful businessman as well, he became chairman of the arms manufacturer Armstrong Whitworth during World War I.