LURE OF THE MYSTERY MANSE . . .
When Captain Robert Surtees of Falaise found he had lost his livelihood and his beloved ship the Lady Jane after a downturn in the coasting trade, his only recourse was to an inheritance left him years earlier by a maiden aunt. That inheritance was Hooting Grange, a rambling old wilderness of a country manse in the Tillington Road, on the far outskirts of Market Snailsby in Fenshire. With its vast, walled perimeter, steep roofs and clumps of twisted chimneys, the Grange was a sight to behold. And "Ramshackle Great Place" -- the captain's name for the house in his youth -- had a reputation to match. Workmen refused to work in it, housekeepers disliked keeping house in it, because, as people whispered, "there was something wrong with the place" -- despite their affection for the captain's kindly aunt, Miss Belle Normand, who lived there.
Five years now have passed since the captain's aunt mysteriously vanished on the road, while traveling to a nearby town to consult a medical specialist for her condition. Her nephew has moved into the Grange, and already trouble has reared its head. Worse yet, according to a provision of his aunt's will, Captain Surtees is prohibited from selling the Grange or any part of it or its acres, and so has no practical means of recovering his former life.
In this new, eleventh volume in his acclaimed Western Lights series of fantasy-mysteries, author Jeffrey E. Barlough returns to the scene and times of Bertram of Butter Cross, in a whimsical tale of the captain who had lost a ship but gained a . . .?
CHARACTERS
Mrs. Emma Bargery
Housekeeper for Captain Surtees at Hooting Grange
Miss Jacquetta Bargery
Her daughter, a pretty young woman of some attraction
Mr. Hiram Horace Blathers
A fussy little owlish man in black, fond of "gadgets"
Mr. Beakbane
A city stranger from Crow's-end, whose habits and demeanor engender suspicion
Miss Catwick
One of the "gasbags" of Mrs. Gazebo's court
Dr. Owen Chevenix
The town physician of Market Snailsby
Chops
Ferocious guard-dog owned by Phred Gumble
Mr. Barry Clary
A workman, cousin of the following
Mr. Harry Clary
Long-time gardener at Hooting Grange
Miss Mary Clary
His sister; a maid-of-every-kind-of-work
Mr. Croot
A grizzled worthy regularly attending at the Mudlark
Mr. Scotty Dodd
Right-hand man of Captain Surtees at Hooting Grange
Mr. Phoglander Finlayson ("Phoggie")
A fen-slodger, but a townsman too, with a lively interest in civic affairs
Mrs. Sophronia Gazebo
Indefatigable town gossip, chief of an entire court of gasbags
Gilliewhackit
A golden grummit, impossibly rare, belonging to Sir Hector and Lady MacHector
Mr. Phredrick Gumble
A dealer in objects rare and curious; proprietor of Gumble's Jumble
Mr. Haggis
Fiery-whiskered gillie and groundsman in the service of Sir Hector MacHector
Mr. Richard Hathaway
Good friend of Mr. Blathers, residing at Mead Cottage with sister Jemma Hathaway
Miss Ada Henslowe
Light-hearted young woman long acquainted with Lady MacHector and the Hathaways
Mr. Arnold Inkpen
The town solicitor of Market Snailsby
Jory Jago
Youthful lad frequenting the Mudlark
Mr. Erskine Joliffe
Mine Host of the Mudlark inn and public house
Jorkens
Dour, dish-faced gillie serving as butler and steward to the MacHectors at Mickledene Hall
Leander
Young nephew of Mr. Finlayson
Mrs. Locket
Another of the gasbags of Mrs. Gazebo's court
The Rev. Mr. Hugh Ludlow
The vicar of Market Snailsby
Mrs. Ludlow
Gentle and very useful wife of the preceding
Sir Hector MacHector
Knight of the Clan MacHector and Laird of Mickledene Hall
Lady MacHector
His wife, a handsome woman some years younger than himself
Mr. Murcott
The postman of Market Snailsby
Miss Belle Normand
Late aunt of Captain Surtees, from whom he inherited Hooting Grange
Nox
Dusky gelding belonging to Captain Surtees
Mr. Anthony Oldcorn
A widower of small fortune, now retired
Osric
Young hound acquired by Captain Surtees
Oswestry
Lively Welsh spaniel residing at Hooting Grange
Mr. P. Parsimonius Peduncle
Moldy academical gentleman visiting at Hooting Grange
Phoozle
Diminutive, linty-white terrier belonging to Mr. Finlayson
Polly Pilchard
Maidservant at Mrs. Gazebo's
Miss Poultice
Youthful gasbag attending at Mrs. Gazebo's court
Mrs. Ilonka Sandor
A Magyar lady, the handsome widow of an eminent cork-cutter; befriended by Lady MacHector
Jayne Scrimshaw
Gawky maidservant at the vicarage
Nate Scrimshaw
Her brother, a frequenter of the Mudlark
Skiddlebag
Trim bay gelding belonging to Miss Bargery
Spinach
Miss Henslowe's stout little riding horse
Captain Robert Surtees
Formerly a ship's captain at Falaise, now master of Hooting Grange
Mr. Ingo Swain
An eel-trap man
Mrs. Eurelia Syrinx
Another gasbag, of a skeptical bent
Tertullian
Pocket glypt belonging to Sir Hector and Lady MacHector
Mrs. Toosypegs
Yet another gasbag
Mrs. Kitty Travers
Helpmate of the following
Mr. Samuel Travers
Sober-eyed landlord of the Broom and Badger
Whisk
Mischievous squirrel belonging to Lady MacHector
Featured image: Detail from The Close Gate (color lithograph), by Ernest William Haslehust (1866-1949). Private collection / Bridgeman Images.
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