Author: M.V. Carey

Translator: Kurt G. Möller

Swedish cover: Jack Hearne

First Swedish edition: 1976 (1974 i USA)

Editions: 6

Spine-number: 1910-11

Original title: The Secret of the haunted mirror

Review:

The Three Investigators end up in the strange house of Mrs Darnley - a house built by a magician called Drakestar. She is a collector of mirrors, and her last find is a mirror which once belonged to Mr Chiavo, a magician who lived in Madrid 200 years ago. Mrs Darnley got the Mirror from a friend on the Island of Ruffino. (Her husband was an advisor to the president of Ruffino). A man called Mr Rafael Santora is very eager to buy the Mirror, and someone has broken into the house. Very soon they hear strange laughters and a ghost is visible in the Mirror. Later Jeff, who is the grandchild of Mrs Darnley, is kidnapped.

Behind this strange story there is a political intrigue of blackmailing, and the persons who try to get the Mirror use fantastical tricks. The tragicomic Baldini is playing a very pathetic role, and I can´t help feeling sorry for him.

I love this story. MV Carey succeeds when she combines a political story with the mystery of the Mirror. The story has many memorable scenes and interesting persons. One of the highlights is when Jupe does see the ghost in the mirror, and then when he finds the ghost.

All the characters are well depicted. Jupe is brilliant when he is looking for the hiding place of the ghost, and especially when he finds the place where Jeff is kept.

This book has a fantastic atmosphere - the mirror, the ghost, the house, the hiding place of the ghost.

This story was one of my favorites when I was a child and today it has very high cultstatus. The creepy cover is also one of my favorites.

Summarize:

The Story: 9 (of 10)

Characterization 9 (10)

Atmosphere 10 (10)

Thrilling factor 9 (10)

Environment 9 (10)

Original cover 10 (10)

Cult status 10 (10)

Nostalgia 10 (10)