Customer Reviews

Come and Go: A Ghostly Comedy

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A Confederate Civil War Vet hooked up with his English cousin and went off to Europe to drown his sorrows, succeeding to such an extent that he got himself, cousin and pet monkey shot by invading Prussians. So starts Brief Candles, in which they continue to figure when their ectoplasm is gelled by the presence of modern day ('50s) descendants. In Come and Go, the pair and their pet are brought back again by the peril of another descendant. They are as charming and delightful as ever. Don't expect convoluted plot or subtle characterization. Do expect comedy, gentility and the lively Aunt Angela. If you haven't read Brief Candles, drop everything and do that now. Then come back and read this. Then you may weep a bit, for along with Happy Returns, these are all the visits of the late Latimers that we are going to get. Thanks to the Rue Morgue Press for renewing them in these reprints.

The team of Manning Coles has written three books Brief Candles, Happy Returns and Come and Go)about the ghostly Latimer brothers who are permitted to return to earth when any of their extended family needs help. All three books are witty, charming and amusing with the Manning Coles trademark clever repartee and just enough adventure to keep the plot moving. I highly recomment all three books, as well as their Far Traveller. However, you'll never look at ghost stories in the same way again.

I read all three of the Latimer books fifty years ago, and have been cudgeling my brains ever since trying to remember Manning Coles' name! It's something of a relief to see the books again, although they are rather lightweight comedies of manners more than ghost stories. A fast reader can get through Brief Candles in an evening and count him or herself entertained. Manning Coles is not J. K. Rowling, nor even C. S. Lewis, but considering that what is on ABC's evening fare these days is essentially unscripted Japanese D-list retreads, an evening or two with one of these books should feel calm, collected and devoid of postmodern nincompoopery. Anyone familiar with Thorne Smith or the Topper movies from a generation or two ago will be right at home.

This book, and the other two Manning Coles ghost stories, were favorites in my family as long as I can remember. My parents had the original books, which got misplaced years ago, and my sisters
and I have looked for them used with only occasional success. What a delight to see them again! For sheer fun, it's hard to beat these, and some of the scenes are priceless. Have fun!