Journal Entry 1 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Monday, July 13, 2009

By the Pricking of My Thumbs
Tommy and Tuppence have reached an age at which many less unusual people might live mostly in a world of reminiscence. Even the Beresfords might do so were it not for Tuppence's still-thriving gift for finding mystery and danger in unlikely places. And what more unlikely place than Sunny Ridge? This pleasant and peaceful Home for Elderly Ladies is the object of a duty-visit to Tommy's Aunt Ada who shortly afterwards dies quietly in her bed. Among her possessions which pass to Tommy is a picture which Tuppence feels should be offered to the inmate who had given it to Aunt Ada. But there is a snag. The old lady in question has been suddenly whisked away by some mysterious relatives. A forwarding address turns out to be bogus - old Mrs Lancaster has vanished. It also turns out that the peaceful passing of a third Dear Old Soul was helped along no end by a massive dose of morphia. The trail leads Tuppence to a village where a series of horrifying and unsolved crimes have been only half-buried by time, and where Tuppence herself has a terrifying experience before the link between past and present mysteries is discovered.


Endless Night 

Journal Entry 2 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Friday, December 04, 2009

The Mysterious Mr. Quin
In these twelve short mystery stories, each with mildly supernatural overtones, the tantalizing appearances of Mr Quin are all-important to their solution. Who, then, is Mr Quin? Even his wealthy friend Mr Satterthwaite - connoisseur of the arts and dilettante detective - has no very clear idea of his origins or day-to-day whereabouts. Yet whenever Mr Quin's peculiarly helpful influence is needed he is likely to arrive; and, no matter how brief his appearance, what has been cloudy and uncertain soon becomes clear. In fact, Harley Quin's speciality is to act as guide to Mr Satterthwaite by two different but equally effective methods: by making him see where the unlikely truth can be discovered; and by making things happen.