Pip escapes from an orphanage and manages to sneak a ride on a coach headed for Hangman’s Hollow, a place he’s only heard about in stories but didn’t believe existed.  Once there, he thinks he may have made a mistake in leaving the orphanage and the seafaring future which awaited him, as Hangman’s Hollow is not kid-friendly.  Sam, the owner of a pub, befriends Pip and hides him with his own son who is hidden.  Pip makes his first friend ever and learns how to survive in a world where kids are hunted.  First of all, the illustrations in this book are remarkable.  They are generously placed in the book depicting the evil-looking characters that hunt children, the forbidden forest, the deadly animals, and even the town itself.  The story moves along quickly as Pip and his new friend try to find another child whose siblings and parents have been jailed.  Lots of action and drama and cliffhangers.  Writing is a strong element in this book; I love the vocabulary and the varying sentences.  I would use this book in teaching writing to show how sentences should be mixed up, short and long, simple and complex.  It seems that many UK authors have this ability.  Mould does an excellent of this book one of a new series.  I am definitely adding this and the others to my library collection.