Cirrus@Austlit

'From Enchantment to Horror; from Angels to Devils; from Laughter to Weeping; take your pick; they’re all there for you!

'If you like to shiver with dread, there’s some there for you.
If your fetish is cats, Kitty might just fit the bill.
If you’re into stories of nurses, there’s Rosie for you.
If you are dreaming of riches, Squiffy could show you a way.
If you’re in a tight fix, Sid bought time, so could you.
If you’re Irish or Scottish, a Fling with Paddy might do.
If you’re big into hacking, Millicent could give you some tips.
If you’re down and out, you just might like Fred.
If your child’s really gifted; you’ll steer clear of soup.
If you’re seriously into robots, see Doris and Ben.

'And when at last you’ve read all of them
'Take a deep breath and read them again.

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The Archbishop, Sammy, together with Mother Angelica mourned the death of their mischievous, but beloved old Cardinal, Charles York. The cardinal had apparently died while trying to drive a bulldozer, with his pet camel, in a crazy attempt to produce hydro electricity from a waterfall.

'While they were grieving, an alleged spy, a surgeon, British born - but of Chinese parents -was flying around the world, creating international headlines for the havoc, suspicion, distress and intrigue he caused as he played hell with Britain's, Algeria's, Libya's, Moscow's, and even Transylvania's security forces? 

'Could it possibly be Charles?

'But, if Charles, were alive, where was he? Why were the British Prime Minister, even the Palace - with Elizabeth and Philip - involved? 

'Charles is multifaceted and multi-talented: has he fooled them all?

'Charles does it again!'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'Well, the old cardinal, Charles Cardinal York, is off again on a series of helter-skelter escapades which nearly drive his one-time secretary, Bishop Sammy Spotels, crazy.

'The bishop, with the new responsibilities he has with his promotion, has no time to spare, but Charles shows no signs of slowing down and involves the long-suffering bishop in a series of roller-coaster adventures, this time involving a whole convent of Sisters.

'Charles, with his unusual pet, is a difficult man to topple but, this time, with Mother Angelica, who has a black belt in Karate, he might – just might – have met his match.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Brian Mason was confused. Behind the luxurious facade of the exclusive, elegant Beaumont Retirement and Convalescent Home exterior, with its magnificent position on the cliffs and its thrilling views, lived a mainly grey-headed world of deceit, lies, seduction, criminal activities, even Murder - and Murder not once, but again and again!

'This was supposed to be his 'health cure'. Instead, he was being plunged into a world of vice, pretense, fabulous wealth; sordid, vicious crime and betrayal. He was a writer, not a detective; a weaver of words, recovering from illness, not a muscle-bound 'super-hero'.

'Brian struggles to cope with all he discovers, and the people with whom he has to live; finally when he was beginning - as he thought - to have success in uncovering the master-minds behind the crimes, he is forced to engage in a life and death situation from which it was doubtful he could ever escape.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Spring of 1952. Annie Watson, now widowed, is assisting her daughter Lady Penelope Sheridan with the first formal dinners to be held at the renovated Big House. 

Even the reputedly troublesome Dowager Lady Edwina cannot cast a shadow over the triumphant success of the first dinner. But in all the planning, none of them expected murder to be served as one of the courses.

With the ever-loyal assistance of Superintendent Peters and team, Annie inveigles Edwina into the murder investigation. Little does she know she will involve the Dowager in a hair-raising confrontation with a serial killer — as an after-dinner mint!' (Source: Publisher's blurb)

'He was a university boxing champ with a bruised and battered face. But could anything have prepared young Father Sammy for his appointment as Secretary/MC to an irascible and eccentric old Cardinal?

At first, his new boss seems like a shining example of childlike and bumbling innocence. But Sammy soon discovers the Cardinal has a fiendish sense of humour.

When His Eminence throws the young priest into a knockout adventure of hilarious and mortifying encounters, from midnight motorbike chases to an operatic appearance and a mistaken shooting, Sammy finds himself in the match of his life.' (Source: Publisher's blurb)

'It is late summer 1942-1943. The close-knit community of Bexford North is brought face to face with one of the by-products of war when one of their own is admitted to the newly established Army Mental Hospital. As the ladies of the village, led by the eccentric Annie Watson, come to know the young hospitalised soldiers - especially the black American soldier - they become alarmed.

In this period of the White Australia Policy, all is not as it seems. Their consternation turns to anguish when murders occur which appear to be motiveless. Inspector Bob Peters and his team have their work cut out to solve the problem - but how do you find a particular mad-man in a mad-house.' (Source: Publisher's blurb)

'It is the winter of 1942. In the wartime blackout, a midnight bus breaks down near the small, semi-rural town of Bexford North, 30 miles from Sydney. Outside the bus, a passenger screams as torchlight fall on the body of a soldier stabbed to death. Inspector Peters is summoned to solve the mystery, but soon another more horrific murder follows.

In the midst of a country at war and a town in terror, the fabric of this close-knit and respectable community is torn asunder. Inspector Peters struggles through the complexities of the lives and attitudes of the villagers: their loves, jealousies, fears, prejudices, their silent heroism and, equally, their silent anguish and despair -- all lived out against an overwhelming fear of invasion.

With the help of the eccentric Annie Watson, Inspector Peters arrives at a startling truth.

War continues, life returns to normal ...and the Dance Goes On.' (Source: Publisher's blurb)

'1944. King’s Cross. The red light district of Sydney is alive with noise, bright lights, American soldiers on leave – and vice. 

'Nearby, Annie Watson is hoping for a few days’ vacation with her cousin, Monica Jeffrey. But when Annie intervenes to save an orphan girl, she is enmeshed in a murder conspiracy involving gangsters, drug addicts, thugs and prostitutes. Discovering the time and place of the arranged murder, Annie tries desperately, in her inimitable manner, to avert the tragedy.

'Unorthodox methods are called for, and Annie, as usual, is not afraid to use them.' (Source: Publisher's blurb)

'Not even the imminent threat of a Japanese invasion can stop the notorious Lady Emily Gascoigne-Ridley from courting disaster - or even death - wherever she goes. When she decides to spend the winter of 1943 in Bexford North, simply to spite her relative, Annie Watson, she begins to wreak havoc in the villagers' lives. Within a week, she has the village in turmoil with her insinuations, her Russian Communist propaganda and her evil tale-bearing. When murder is discovered, Inspector Peters and his team do not have to search for the suspects - they are in bewildering abundance. It seems as if, finally, Lady Emily has received what she deserves... or has she?' (Source: Publisher's blurb)

'Jean Harris, the pretty Land Army Girl from Kelly’s dairy, was enjoying the war. She threw many of the Bexford North men – young and old – into a frenzy of excitement. So when Jean is found brutally murdered, Inspector Bob Peters and his team are not short of local suspects. But their enquiries expand when the murder victim is revealed to be a pivotal figure in criminal war-time activities.

The blackmailing exploits of a precocious and unpleasant child of eleven distract police and hamper their work still further. Annie Watson is determined not to get involved. But then another murder – and a conspiracy to assassinate her daughter’s husband – draw her into the far-reaching investigation. Is it too late to reveal what she knows?' (Source: Publisher's blurb)

'Wong could easily confuse you by being Right, but Right and Wrong may also be Wright. Florian could put you off buying second-hand furniture for life, and if Elsa was in the ether, you would never dare attend a science again. You could begin to doubt the authenticity of every rock musician. You might even start to investigate the possibility of time travelling in Ancient Greece; perhaps take sides in the War of the Roses; be wary of psychiatrists and natural medicine; be suddenly enthusiastically into junk food; believe you need to take a closer look at the secret life of your cat; be suspicious of genius concert pianists… and finally, in desperation, consider becoming a bar attendant Downside (as a career change) besides catching a brief glimpse of Heaven in passing – if you believe a fraction of one of the stories in this book. ' (Publication summary)