What do you think?
Rate this book
Charles and James Latimer #3
Come and Go: A Ghostly Comedy
Young Richard Scroby didn't intend to make a fuss when the burglar broke into his apartment. After all, that's why he kept a very competent manservant about. But Wilkins was out of town and Richard was a little the worse for drink so when he spotted the crook at his window, he picked up a perfectly awful vase -- a gift from his very formidable Aunt Angela -- and sent this second-story man crashing to the pavement. After which he promptly went to bed. He was more than a bit perturbed when the police came calling quite early that morning to ask about the man in the street. To Aunt Angela this escapade was the last straw and she announced that it was time she found Richard a wife, at which point Richard flees to Paris with his aunt in pursuit and meets up with the confederates of the incarcerated burglar. Which is why two gentlemanly spirits, James and Charles Latimer, who were killed some eighty years earlier, are back again among the quick. Whenever a relative is in danger these two are allowed to return to the world of the living. Coming along for the ride is their pet monkey Ulysses, whose love of claret spells trouble for a troupe of scantily clad trapeze artists. First published in 1958, this is the third and final book featuring the ghostly Latimers,
- GenresFantasy
Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
26 people want to read
About the author
Manning Coles
47 books9 followersFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.
Manning and Coles were neighbors in East Meon, Hampshire. Coles worked for British Intelligence in both the World Wars. Manning worked for the War Office during World War I. Their first books were fairly realistic and with a touch of grimness; their postwar books perhaps suffered from an excess of lightheartedness and whimsy. They also wrote a number of humorous novels about modern-day ghosts, some of them involving ghostly cousins named Charles and James Latimer. These novels were published in England under the pseudonym of Francis Gaite but released in the United States under the Manning Coles byline.
Many of the original exploits were based on the real-life experiences of Coles, who lied about his age and enlisted under an assumed name in a Hampshire regiment during World War I while still a teenager. He eventually became the youngest officer in British intelligence, often working behind German lines, due to his extraordinary ability to master languages. Coles had 2 sons (Michael and Peter, who were identical twins and who are both still alive, living in the UK) and the Ghost stories were based on the tales he used to tell his young sons when he was 'back from his travels'.
Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.
Manning and Coles were neighbors in East Meon, Hampshire. Coles worked for British Intelligence in both the World Wars. Manning worked for the War Office during World War I. Their first books were fairly realistic and with a touch of grimness; their postwar books perhaps suffered from an excess of lightheartedness and whimsy. They also wrote a number of humorous novels about modern-day ghosts, some of them involving ghostly cousins named Charles and James Latimer. These novels were published in England under the pseudonym of Francis Gaite but released in the United States under the Manning Coles byline.
Many of the original exploits were based on the real-life experiences of Coles, who lied about his age and enlisted under an assumed name in a Hampshire regiment during World War I while still a teenager. He eventually became the youngest officer in British intelligence, often working behind German lines, due to his extraordinary ability to master languages. Coles had 2 sons (Michael and Peter, who were identical twins and who are both still alive, living in the UK) and the Ghost stories were based on the tales he used to tell his young sons when he was 'back from his travels'.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 11, 2021
2021 bk 136: The third and last of the Latimer ghost adventures. Each one, though tied together by the Latimer cousins, has been a story unique unto itself. The comedy so slapstick and yet so well done you can see it happening as if in a movie or real life. In this adventure, Richard Scroby, related through his mother who was a Latimer before her marriage to a Scroby, wants to be left alone. But his aunt is convinced he needs a wife. Escaping his aunt and fleeing to Paris with his manservant, the pair meet their Latimer ghosts via a seance and a drive into the country. The Latimer's see that he needs his help in avoiding both thugs and in finding a nice girl to marry. Both adventures that provide amusement and joy.
July 10, 2018
I hadn't read this book since high school years ago but needed something light and diverting after a lot of heavy & depressing reading (and world events). My mom was a big Manning Coles fan and had many of his books, which I've now inherited and am re-reading.
This book is charming and breezy and lighter than air. So relaxing to read a novel like this! Of course everything works out perfectly. That's what I enjoyed as a kid, and what I needed now.
And it makes me want to go to the Paris of the 1950s right now.
Now I'll have to go read some of the Tommy Hambledon stories . . .
This book is charming and breezy and lighter than air. So relaxing to read a novel like this! Of course everything works out perfectly. That's what I enjoyed as a kid, and what I needed now.
And it makes me want to go to the Paris of the 1950s right now.
Now I'll have to go read some of the Tommy Hambledon stories . . .
April 17, 2020
Once again, cousins James and Charles Latimer, murdered, along with Charles' pet monkey Ulysses, during the Franco-Prussian War, are permitted to return to life to help a 1950s family member in distress. Another delightful Thorne Smith-like comedy supernatural adventure.
May 2, 2023
Another descendant is in trouble and must be lured to the small French town so the Latimer ghosts (and the monkey) can materialize to help out. Richard Scroby is more frightened by his aunt than the French crooks he has angered, but James and Charles handle both problems.
September 19, 2009
Shades of George and Marian Kirby (and their St. Bernard) haunting--or helping--Topper. This was written about 5 years after the TV show "Topper" and in it two ghosts, James and Charles Latimer (and their Capucin monkey) come from the other world to help their cousin Scroby who is about to have "troubles". What is it about the 1950's and their affection for ghosts. This book is totally silly and is really a waste of time, but I found that I had to breeze through to the end. It ends up ridiculously happy with all lose ends tied up. Possibly a good read for taking to the beach....or maybe not.
I was looking for a series of mysteries featuring a French detective who drove a Citroen Traction Avant, written in the 1940's or 50's, but this wasn't it. I read them when I was working in the public library in Inglewood just after high school; I'll have to keep looking.....
I was looking for a series of mysteries featuring a French detective who drove a Citroen Traction Avant, written in the 1940's or 50's, but this wasn't it. I read them when I was working in the public library in Inglewood just after high school; I'll have to keep looking.....
February 29, 2008
Perhaps my favorite of this series of stories about the Latimer ghosts. It is only loosely connected to the other 2
(Brief Candles and Happy Returns) as the currently mortal
kinfolk with whom the Latimer ghosts are interacting are different --instead of Jeremy and Sally Latimer, they are
Richard Scroby and his (very Wodehousian) aunt. Scroby knocks a cat burglar out his window and flees to Paris, pursued by his aunt (who wants him respectably married) and
the burglar's accomplices (who want him dead). I first read this about 40 years ago in a library copy, and was very glad to find it had been reprinted so I could buy it.
(Brief Candles and Happy Returns) as the currently mortal
kinfolk with whom the Latimer ghosts are interacting are different --instead of Jeremy and Sally Latimer, they are
Richard Scroby and his (very Wodehousian) aunt. Scroby knocks a cat burglar out his window and flees to Paris, pursued by his aunt (who wants him respectably married) and
the burglar's accomplices (who want him dead). I first read this about 40 years ago in a library copy, and was very glad to find it had been reprinted so I could buy it.
January 29, 2011
Third and last of Manning Coles' Latimer family ghost stories, and every bit as funny as the first two. Always nice when an author (or authors--Coles was a partnership, not a natural person) knows to quit while ahead!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews