I'm enjoying Georgette Heyer's Death In The Stocks so far, v good. I have my suspects. It has been v easy to get into and the body was discovered o nthe 2nd page! I'll let you know if the rest is good. You know how you can read a fantastic book, then it all goes pear shaped towards to middle-end.

The body is discovered on the second page? Now, that's not how Christie usually works. Sometimes the body is found deep within the book instead.

What are your impressions of the book so far, Miss Quin? Interesting characters, any handsome young bachelors, or matrons haughtily flapping their exquisite fans?

No, the books is centred around a set of young people. Their all eccentric. One of them, a handsome male artist, openly say's he's done it! He really winds up the inspector, and myself! I usually have a real soft spot of handsome men and artists! But this one? No, he's a prat! he even misquotes Hamlet as Romeo and Juliet.

But no, it's very good. What sort of person would put a man in the stocks, then kill them? It's pervese. Plus how did they manage to get a man, with no sense of humour in the stocks?

I put someone in the stocks once. Seriously. For a joke photo. They went along with it happily. I did let them out, Eventually... I was rather an enfants terrible's. I sound so mean now, they though it was v funny!

I'm glad their banned now. It's really cruel.

it must have been some weeks since I wrote a story. The weather is v v bad where I live. My cat like rain loathing, means I stay inside. So if anyone wants me, they have to come to me. I'm not going out there in a downpour!

Eccentric young people, eh? What era is it set in, if I may ask? Are we finding "Modern Girls" with their cloche hats and hatred for the standard which says women can't drink, dance, or drive?

A question I was about to ask in the Mr Quin thread but moved here: if I may ask, how exactly did you picture Mr Quin like?

Part of the aftermath of the 20's Bright Young Things set.  Take nothing seriously, drink cocktails. Shown lack of convention or conviction. Not my attutude, I must say. 1935 it was published, so around that time.

Harley Quin looks like? Well I like men with dark hair-brown or black. I picture Mr Q with dark sad eyes, dark brown hair, very thick, slightly wavy. Tall... Sad but sweet smile. Very graceful (unlike me!). On a frivolous note, he looks good in diamonds. Not many men call put that look off, but Mr Quin can!

What about your image of him?

Maybe it should never been a film/TV adpat. Because my expectation level is too high.

I suddleny have a burning question for Butler! He watched Ashes to Ashes. In that I heard there was a evil Pierrot staking someone. I really want to know more! As Pierrot of course is Mr Quin's freind and love rival. I'm just curious..

My image of Mr Quin seems to have been pretty much summed up by yours. Well, I tend to picture him as my childhood Harlequin (which seemed to have reached celebrity status with you and Butler - remember he said we found a new religion?). Tall and thin, somewhat visible cheekbones, with eyes slightly deep-set and dark brown. The hair is wavy or nearly curly, also deep brown, he walks with a smooth, sliding gait, and is dressed almost impeccably in a way that Poirot will doubtless approve. I tend to picture him as wearing a dark suit with a fedora hat, for no reason.

Pierrot? I've tried to picture Pierrot before, with little success.

Nice work there, good image. I don't picture the hat, but sometime Mr quin had a leather jacket I think. His motoring gear, which was classically for that time period- leather brown jacket (smart), and white/cream scarf.

Pierrot is rather scary to me. Or at least looks scary. He can't actually be any one else. You'd have known if this clown turned up at your party! If the books had been written by AC as The mysterious Mr P. Eyre-Rowe. Well. It's not the same. It looks ruff at times hoho. That white ruff, black eyes lined, baggy ballon trousers. Shudder. But he's seen as either evil or just sad. One legend has it so Pierrot loves Columbine, Columbine and Harlequin love each other. That's why he cries.

But there's another version where Pierrot is little Peter and meets a saint? He's famous for black and white. How do I know this. Well I read alot! Oddly enough, all ive found out, Ive not looked ofr. Ive stumbled across it. Odd eh?

Ive come up with clever ways of saying goodbye for now Harley. So here's a song for you! Listen and smile (I hope!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6nDF9pRUPQ

If there were an AC character named Mr Pierre Gott (the closest I can get to Pierrot, although it jumbles a French and a German name together), he would be described as pale, moving in clumsy, lumbering steps, with an ever-so-gloomy look on his eyes, sad, but not subtly saturnine as Mr Quin is. He will most likely fumble with his words and cast envious glances at our dear fellow.

But if that's the train of thought, what will Columbine be like?

About the Pierrot - Columbine - Harlequin love triangle: try reading the poem When Harlequin was Young. It has a very beautiful, yet equally saturnine view of their relationships.

I don't know, as Columbine never appears as herself in AC stories, I havent thought so much about her. I tend to think of her as blonde, but that's because of some of the AC character masqueraded as her were so. Plus the actress playing Coco had light hair on TV.

The Affair at the victory ball-have yo read that one? I believe it was one of the first Poirots I ever read. I love it still now. The TV adapt is very good, their all in their costumes. Great fun.

I'm concious theis is becoming Harlequin topic, so moving on..

The youtube song is called Our farewell, although the last line is "This is not our farewell". ;) The group do lavish stage sets and statues and are quite theatrical.

The Affair at the Victory Ball? I've never read that one myself, but it does sound interesting, especially since you mention costumes. I just love all the fancy dress parties - it's a shame I never have any idea what to do (since a proper motley is nigh-impossible to find nowadays).

I've tried the link, but an error was experienced midway and I only heard the beginning. It sounds rather interesting, and yes, the singer's garb truly does not match that of the pianist.

I must say I have yet to read The Mysterious Mr Quinn (ducks) but I have put it high up on my never ending "To Read List".

I'm glad you made a new thread for this. The old one was slow to load. I'm quite surprised by the number of posts for a small group of people. Talking about everything from artists to cakes. But mostly Matt and his lovely assistant....

I don't know if you've heard but Matt is supposed to quit the series soon. He wants to make a name for himself in Hollywood. He hasn't actually said this but he supposedly told his friends. Which means it may not be true.

Forgot to mention-finnished Death In The Stocks and didn't guess the murderer! I recommend the book to any Chrisite fan. V good, since I am hard to please.

Ah, I'm sorry about thr youtube vid. I didn't check it to the end as I was in a hurry. The end really picks up into a soaring ballad. argh! how frustating

Well I think Sharon Den Adel (lead singer) is trying to look like an 18th century Gothic herorine. Or one of those ladies in the hammer horror films. That's a compliment, as that looks quite popular with some people. The keyboard player looks like a rock star of now. So no they don't go. That might be her husband! She's married to one of them .I don't know or care. I'm only interested in the music and musicians personall lives are of no interest to me.

I think you'd love Victory ball as much as I do. It's a good little mystery and has the added bonus of the whole

comme dell arte costumed characters. I also really enjoyed the Suchet adapt of it. They managed to find or make the costumes from somewhere. Or and Pierrot was there of course. Plus Punch whose scary!

I actually think Matt is destined for great things. But I think he might so another serires. But he's very cute. I'd like him to appear in Chrisite.

Please tell me Butler, what was Pierrot the evil clown doing in Ashes to ashes?

Commedia dell'Arte costumed characters? Now you got me interested. I'll try to glean what I can about it.

No, please don't worry about the video. I believe it's my connexion that made the blunder.

Miss Quin, who do you think Matt suits as? In AC, I mean.

Which Christie character would Matt suit?. mmmm. Which character takes their top off?!  Sorry, I'm being girlish! Um, I'm being serious now.

Well the artist in The Dead Harlequin springs to mind, not sure why. Bundle, suggested Bill from Chimneys/Dials which was v good suggestion. Bill's character in Chimneys was naive, charming Wodehousian young man.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwgS1ctxglw

In case you don't know Wodehouse chaarcters, there's  a clip I find hysterical!

I wish I could get a copy of Seven dials now.

To answer your question about Ashes to Ashes I can't remember. It was only for the first series. She was haunted by a clown dressed in a Pierrot costume which David Bowie wore for the record sleave and in the video of Ashes to Ashes. Hope this helps but I really can't remember why.

Ashes to Ashes video is very weird, Ive seen it. Bulldozer, padded cell, nun?, David Bowie is dressed as Pierrot.

Being stalked by a clown is many people worst nightmare! Certainly mine.

Don't find too much about the Victory Ball story Harley, or the end might be spoilt! I think it's the stories Poirot's Early cases. I remember discussing the episode on here actually.

No, don't worry about me, Miss Quin. I've learnt not to spoil things for myself through the hard way. I know what happens in Curtain not because I've read it, but by reading Poirot's biographical page on Wikipedia.

David Bowie as Pierrot? I know someone who is an avid David Bowie fan. Even went so far to be a self-professed alien! No, I don't gt it either.

I don't think David Bowie knows what his songs or videos are about, since some were drug induced. The one with the red shoes is strange too.

Ive had the ends of films spoilt. It's really annoying . I did find out about.... the Curtain end. But luckily didn't find the rest of the details. It's still worth reading. Plus I like Hastings, although I know not everyone does (points to HH). Have you read any with hastings Harley?

Ive started read They Came to Baghdad. I'll let you know how I get on with it. Vicotrian Jones, the chaarcter is a 50's version of a bright young herorine. She'll either impress with her verve, or annoy me to the point of wishing she's fall off a train. Thtat's how it  varies for me with those women.

Wonder how Hesei's getting on with his murder mystery? I imagine them all being stumped by the fiendishly clever questions and the game going on for a week.

I've read a few Hastings, including Styles and a few short stories. He generally seems like an amiable man for me, although I neither particularly liked nor hated him. I suppose he's an attempt at the Watson figure, something AC finally shunned.

Usually, the bright young heroines simply make me roll my eyes and swallow the plot. The heroine in Death in the Clouds, for instance, was somewhat ignored by me. I suppose I've mentioned that I am not quite the fan of romantic fiction.

Yes, Shinichi's been missing lately, and Butler ditto. I wonder why it's just us as of late...

I think I prefer Hugh Fraser as Hastings rather than the Hastings we see in the books and short stories. I'm not sure why that is though.

Sorry I've not been on as often as I normally am. Did you all miss me?