THE BOOK CLUB MYSTERY    (close window to return)

They met together once a month, all six women living in and around the town of Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. It was a meeting they had been attending and enjoying for over twenty five years, although a few members had changed out in that time, three had belonged from the start. They were no longer young in body, yet most were still young at heart with minds still sharp and perceptive. A casual observer would probably say they shared one collective trait other than all being female and all living in the same county; the observer would say they were all very middle class English. They were not all provincial. Far from it. Tanya travelled a lot; Kelsey went to Lanzarote every late summer; Melanie owned another property in Scotland, and Leila up until recent times, had holidayed in many exotic countries. They were of different ages with not one of them being younger than sixty eight.

It was a Wednesday afternoon the day it started. An incident out of the ordinary, although not fully realised by the group in the moment in began. A profound and mysterious adventure had begu - one that would potentially change all their lives.

So now might be a good time for me to give you some background and knowledge of these book club members who long ago called their group The Argonauts in an affectionate moment, where one of the original members coined the name to reflect the fact they were explorers, but not of the legendry kind seeking the Golden Fleece; no, they were dedicated explorers of books.