John Ridd, a sturdy yeoman, finds his quiet life in 17th-century Devon disrupted when he falls in love with Lorna Doone, a member of the notorious outlaw clan that murdered his father. John must navigate the rigid social hierarchies of the era and the violent hostility of the Doone family to protect his beloved. The narrative unfolds through a first-person perspective, detailing the physical challenges of the Exmoor wilderness and the logical constraints of a society governed by feudal loyalties and blood feuds. As John matures from a farm boy into a man of consequence, he faces the constant threat of the outlaws who terrorize the local countryside.

Readers frequently highlight the atmospheric quality of the Exmoor setting, which serves as a central character in the development of the plot. Discussion often centers on the balance between the romantic elements of the central relationship and the gritty, often violent reality of the outlaw-controlled territory. Critics note the effectiveness of the prose in capturing the transition from the protagonist's youth to his eventual maturity within a volatile political climate. The work is often cited for its enduring influence on the historical romance genre, with many readers appreciating the meticulous attention to period detail and the moral complexity of the characters involved.