The Last Waltz at the Starlight
- A case in 10 chapters
- Free to play
- Large print
- Read in order
How the case begins
The Starlight Ballroom, New Year's Eve, 1954. The big band plays the last waltz at midnight, the balloons come down, and the champagne goes around twice. At half past twelve, Dora Quinn from the cloakroom finds Eddie Marr, the Starlight's celebrated bandleader, at the foot of the marble step, and there is nothing to be done for him. The last waltz ended at twelve. Thirty minutes are missing, and by morning it is plain that half the ballroom had a reason to be in them. Eddie was engaged to Lena Hart, the band's singer. He was also engaged to Connie Duval, the owner's daughter, and he was not a man to buy two rings when one would travel. And on the evening train, after five years away, came Iris Bell with a ticket that tells its own story. Somebody followed Eddie to the cloakroom before the year turned. The band plays on, because the Starlight has never once missed a midnight, and the truth waits its turn.
Each chapter is a short scene and a puzzle, and every puzzle leaves you one clue. Keep all nine. The finale needs them.
- 1The Last Waltz
- 2The Torn Dance Card
- 3The Dressing Room
- 4The Private Booth
- 5The Owner's Office
- 6The Evening Train
- 7The Cloakroom
- 8The Bandstand
- 9Dora's Notebook
- 10After Midnightbring your clues
The people of the case
- Eddie Marr. The bandleader. Charming to a fault and cheap to the bone, engaged twice over on a single ring. The Starlight's brightest light, put out at midnight.
- Lena Hart. The band's singer and Eddie's public sweetheart. Lately she has been returning his letters unopened, in her own hand.
- Connie Duval. The owner's daughter and Eddie's secret fiancee. Wears her ring turned inward when her father is in the room.
- Victor Duval. The Starlight's owner, Connie's father. Despised Eddie, held his debts, and called them in yesterday.
- Frank Ross. First trumpet, Eddie's oldest friend. Has loved Lena quietly for years and never once said so.
- Iris Bell. The old flame, back on the evening train after five years. Came with one suitcase and left her hotel unbooked.
- Dora Quinn. The cloakroom attendant. Logs every coat, every comer and goer, every time. The Starlight's memory.
Prefer pen and paper?
The whole case as one large-print booklet: every chapter and its puzzle, a clue ledger to fill in, and the ending sealed on the last page.