When speaking of a trip to Africa, Anne’s father refers to “Cook’s”. In real life, there were similar series called “The Perils of Pauline” and “The Exploits of Elaine”, both made in 1914 and then repeated through the 1920s. His legacy is highly controversial to this day as shown by the “Rhodes Must Fall” protests at universities in South Africa, the UK, and the USA.Īnne enjoys a weekly episode of “The Perils of Pamela” at the cinema.

Rhodes (1853 – 1902) was a businessman and politician who had a huge impact on the history of Southern Africa. De Beers was founded in 1888 by Cecil Rhodes and until the early 21 st century had a virtual monopoly over the international diamond market. A real page-turning thriller, with a touch of the Mills & Boon – not that I’ve read any but the reference to Sheik-cum-Stone-Age love making is what I expect features in such books.Īs with “The Secret Adversary” I enjoyed re-reading this as part of my project, but don’t know whether I would read again.īased on the days and dates quoted, the story is set in 1925, one year after publication.ĭe Beer’s diamonds play a significant part in the plot. En route she meets the Man in the Brown Suit, but can he be trusted? Can any of her new friends be relied upon and is one of them the mysterious “Colonel”?Īnne’s narrative is interspersed with extracts from Sir Eustace Pedler’s diary, and the contrast of voices is very convincing.

A scrap of paper from the dead man’s pocket reading “1 7.1 22 Kilmorden Castle” takes her on a trip to South Africa. Anne Beddingfield, newly orphaned, is in search of adventure, and she finds it when a terrified man falls onto an Underground line.

The man in the brown suit