The third book in the Jess Carter series of historical canal stories for younger readers follows on from the conclusion of the last book, Jess Carter and the Bolinder. Back on their home ground, Jess and Luke Kain have rejoined Luke's mother and sisters; now they set off once more to reload with fuel oil from the Stanlow refinery. Waiting at Ellesmere Port over a weekend, they come into dramatic contact with an undesirable family of boaters—the 'Rodneys' of the title—who are to cause even more mayhem on the return journey. Familiar faces from the previous books and new characters blend together once again in a tale which will appeal to an older generation of canal-lovers as much as to its intended younger readership.