Author: M. V. Carey

Translator: Bodil von Eichwald-Agdler

Swedish cover: Anders Ferm & Miralles

First Swedish edition: 1979 (1978 in the USA)

Editions: 6

Spine-number: 2092-93

Original title: The Mystery of the magic circle

Review:

The Three Investigators are working at Amigo-Press in Santa Monica. The Company is lead by Mr William Tremayne - a temperamental but honest man. He has a nephew, Mr Horace "the Beef" Tremayne, who is a pleasant young man. Horace lost his parents in an accident when he was 19 years old. At 30 he will take over the management of the Company.

One evening when the Three Investigators are working overtime, the house suddenly is on fire. At the same time old film negatives are stolen from the neighbouring house. It turns out that the negatives were sold by Miss Madeleine Bainbridge who once was a famous actress. At the same day Amigo-Press got the manuscript of her memoirs from her manager Mr Marvin Gray. The manuscript is safe from the fire, but is later stolen. Horace asks the Three Investigators for help to find the manuscript.

The boys start the investigation and discover that Miss Bainbridge once was the leader of a Magic Circle. There is a rumour of witch-rites on the country estate where she lives with her friend Clara Adams and Mr Marvin Gray. Marvin once was her chauffeur, but now he manages all contacts with the world outside.

This book is worth reading and here and there it is rather exciting with a creepy atmosphere. I like the scene when the boys are in the garden and discover the witch-rite. Unfortunately MV Carey serves a far too positive picture of modern witch-rites. In defence of her I should say that she is opposed to worship of the devil. In this book Jupe says that a devil-worshiper is dangerous and unscrupulous or crazy.

The characterization of the leading characters is ok, but Miss Bainbridge is too extreme. The villains are rather mediocre but ok.

What is the moral of this story? 1. It is dangerous to isolate oneself from the (surrounding) world and to rely on only one person. 2. Don´t curse people. Perhaps the curses are effective. What happened was perhaps a pure accident, but You will have a guilty conscience for the rest of Your life.

The covers are rather creepy and successful.

This book is not one of my favourites, but I still like the story, only slightly less than I used to do when I was a child.

Summarize:

The Story: 7

Characterization: 7

Atmosphere: 7

Thrilling factor: 7

Environment: 7

Original cover: 8

Swedish cover: 8

Cult status: 7

Nostalgia: 7