Since our last regular study session back in June, Petrels have been enjoying a lovely summer.  Some of us have been travelling, one member, Brian, was able to attend the conference in Minneapolis, and some of us were also able to enjoy the much-anticipated and successful Silver Blaze races in July.

A full report will appear in a future edition of The Petrel Flyer.  Hostess extraordinaire Johnnie, along with Sheldon and Ana were the race winners. Awards were also presented for best ascots and hats.

It is now time to think about preparing for our next study session which will take place, as usual, on the first Tuesday of the Month. September 3rd.

The adventure for discussion will be “The Lion’s Mane“.  First published in The Strand Magazine in December 1926 and in Liberty Magazine (US) in November 1926.

The case, narrated by a retired bee-keeping Holmes, is set in 1907 and features a mysterious death. The victim struggles up from the beach to fall at Holmes’s feet while uttering the words “lion’s mane”.

Could it be the result of some sort of love triangle?  The lady Maude seems to have cast a spell over a few men in the district (including Holmes?)

Is the old housekeeper Mrs. Hudson?  Do we miss Dr. Watson?

There will be much to discuss and discover at the meeting.

Find out what was generously donated to the Stormy Petrels by a local gentleman.

Date:  Sept, 3, 2019

Time:  7:00 pm

Location:  Hampton Place lounge

For additional information please contact Fran at:  franziskah@shaw.ca

Our next adventure, as we work our way through The Casebook, is “The Adventure of the Creeping Man”.

Published in both The Strand Magazine and Hearst’s International in March 1923.

When Watson, not living at Baker Street at this time (1903) receives a message from Holmes which states: “Come at once if convenient – if inconvenient come all the same”, the good Doctor makes his way to 221b, despite admitting that his relation with Holmes had become “peculiar” and he felt like one of Holmes’s “habits”.

Off to the University town of Camford they go!

The famous Camford physiologist, Professor Presbury had disappeared to for two weeks and had returned a different man. So different that his faithful hound was attacking him.

Where did he go? What happened to change him? What was in the mysterious wooden box? What was in the secret correspondence?

Please feel free to join the Stormy Petrels as they meet to discuss this unusual case.

When?  Tuesday, June 4 at 7:00 pm

Where?  The lounge of the Chatham at Hampton Place (UBC)

Bonus question for members attending the meeting:

Where did the professor keep the key to the wooden box?

Added bonus:  What was Mr. Bennett’s first name?

If you have any questions, or need more info, please contact Fran at franziskah@shaw.ca

The Stormy Petrels of BC will drop the hammer on Thor Bridge.  We are certain it will leave a chip in the stonework and Sherlock Holmes will discover it!

First published in the February-March 1922 edition of The Strand Magazine and in Hearst’s International in the February-March 1922 edition in the US.

Watson begins this adventure (set in 1901) by teasing us with the mention of some unrecorded cases.  Successful or not, they sound intriguing! Mysterious! Dare I say somewhat paranormal?  The imagination knows no bounds!

We are given a further glimpse into life at 221b Baker street.  Watson, we are told, descends to breakfast. Does he have rooms on the floor above?  Perhaps 221c?  There is also a new cook.  Has Mrs. Hudson finally had enough of Holmes’s complaints about her “limited cuisine”?

This case features some interesting characters, to be sure!  We have a wealthy American dubbed ‘the Gold King’, his Brazilian wife, who is a fiery woman “tropical by birth and tropical by nature.”  We have the sweet, young governess, accused of a horrible crime. The manager of Thor Place, terrified of his villain of an employer.  What could possibly go wrong?

It is interesting to note Holmes’s attitude toward each individual.

All are welcome to join the Stormy Petrels as they ‘travel’ to Thor Place in Hampshire to discuss the case “The Problem of Thor Bridge”.

When:  Tuesday, May 7th at 7:00 pm

Where:  The Chatham lounge, Hampton Place (UBC)

For more information, please contact Fran at:  franziskah@shaw.ca

Bonus question for those attending the meeting:  What is the name of the body of water over which Thor Bridge spans?