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About this edition: This is one of five titles released simultaneously in a Christmas boxed set. These are the only five titles appearing in the green cloth binding.
wikipedia
About the author: Here is a Wikipedia article and a Goodreads article about George Goodchild (1888-1969).
Characters:
- Ralph Wallace
- Julian "Connie" Conrad - war veteran
- Monsieur Fallières - owner of Château Grammont
- Yolande Fallières - his daughter
- Monsieur Severin - servant at Château Grammont
- Arnard Fouchard - of the police
- Bertha. - the saucy maid
- Heinrich
- Niels
Locale: France
Synopsis: Ralph Wallace and Connie Conrad are touring France and encounter Monsieur Fallières and his daughter Yolande, who own the massive Château Grammont; where Connie was billeted during the war.
It turns out the château is also home of a 'monster' who appears periodically, breaking mirrors, and is suspected in the death of a servant a year ago. Monsieur Fallières goes missing, then is found murdered, soom the servant Monsieur Severin is murdered also.
Meanwhile, young Ralph Wallace is attracted to Yolande, while Connie is interested in parlour maid Bertha - who has a couple of seedy associates, Heinrich and Niels, whom she secretly allows access to the house. Both they - and the 'monster' - are after something, but what?
Review: What fun! This book has everything. A castle complete with towers, cellars, and secret passages. Servants who are not what they appear. A monster who roams the halls. Underground rooms. Dead bodies. Lurking Germans. Lights going out. Car chases. Kidnappings. Escape by yacht across the English channel complete with a man going overboard. And two, yes two, love interest subplots. It is definitely action-packed.
All through the book the Germans and The Monster are looking for "something" and what it is comes to a surprise. It wasn't what I expected. Everything resolves quite nicely although a few dead bodies have been scattered around in the process.
There are several loose ends left dangling. How did The Monster get a disfigured face? and why does The Monster break mirrors (perhaps so as not to see his own face?) and despoil (not sure I want to know more) the furniture?
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