“Oh indeed, indeed… that is why I shall have to employ someone for whom ethics have no significance.”

114. The Joseph Stone – Jacqueline La Tourrette

The Occult-Gothic tale of a Celt spirit that wants a girlfriend and finally, finally 24 year old Monica – an American girl with a thesis to write and some psychic ability – comes to the Irish vacation home to rent a room for a while. There’s another psychic who is already staying there and has been trying to investigate and sort out what’s haunting them, Mr. Hughes realizes right away that Monica brought the spirit out to really get after it when the turf shed explodes her first night.

There’s a 16 year old in the house with her aunt as well and a doctor who hasn’t told anyone he’s a doctor until Monica blurts it out. Weirdly, the 16 year old and Monica the 24 year old are pitted as the two who could end up making out with the doctor, who is clearly over 30. That was awkward. The doctor is a skeptic and has a daughter and is technically married but vacationing by himself and thankfully does not go in for it when the Celt spirit pushes the 16 year old into his room one night. Nope, instead he and Monica will have a weird discussion later about how it’s not right for them to get together yet and they want it to be done ethically. That was unexpected.

Anyway, the stone itself is a Christian addition to Cor Hill, but it does play a strong part in the resolution of the Celt spirit and Monica’s relationship, which was not to be pursued ethically. Beyond the grave on the Bron Trograin festival night is just not a time for restraint.

 

Thaddeus doesn’t understand what the big deal is, he has a girlfriend, Pammy, and the power to explode a turf shed, he doesn’t make a big deal of it.