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Three cheap musical boxes (each one playing a subtly different version of "The Swagman"), manufactured in Dartmoor Prison, are sold at a local auction house. However, a criminal gang is determined to steal and recover all three. The first is stolen from a collector, friend of Watson's, murdered in the attempt. Sherlock Holmes is to late to prevent the theft of the second one, but manages to recover the third from the shop where it was re-sold. The maker of those boxes had stolen printing plates from the Bank of England and never revealed where he had hidden them before being arrested. Holmes discovers that a message is coded in the variations of the tune played by the boxes, and manages to decode it partly. The gangsters manage to steal the last box and manage to lure Holmes with a planted clue. Holmes escapses death and guesses the end of the message (the place where the plates are hidden, a small museum); Holmes and the police manage to catch the gangsters in the act.

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Thor, son of Odin and future king of planet Asgard wants to prove himself by attacking the Frost Giants of Jotunheim (a commando of which had manage to enter unnoticed in Odin's castle and approach the source of their power, the Casket of Ancient Winter, taken from them by Odin when he had defeated the Giants long time ago). The attack is a failure and Thor, his brother Loki and their friends are saved in the nick of time by Odin. As a punishment for his rash actions, Odin banishes Thor to Earth. His war hammer Mjolnir is thrown to Earth as well and remains attached to the ground in the desert until someone worthy of it lifts it up. Thor meets a group of scientists studying strange phenomenons in the sky (due to the use of Bifrost, the rainbow that allows travelling between the nine realms), whose work is confiscated by S.H.I.E.L.D after the discovery of Mjolnir. In Asgard, Odin reveals to Loki that he has actually been adopted, and that is is actually a Frost Giant. Odin the falls into a coma to recover his strength and Loki, who considers himself the new king, lets Thor believe that Odin is dead. He then sends an indestructible robot to Earth after Thor, who, having learned humility is able to recover Mjolnir and protect the town from the robot. Loki is the one that has left the Winter Giant's commando in the castle; he kills the king of the Giants and then uses Bifrost to destroy Jotunheim. His plan is foiled by Heimdall, guardian of Bifrost, and Bifrost is subsequently destroyed by Thor who has returned to Asgard. He then fights Loki, who disappears into space.

“traditional Irish dry stout… roasted malts with hints of chocolate, coffee and dark fruit… earthy hops”

Quite bitter with a definite coffee flavour. Contains barley malt and wheat.

Clanconnel Brewing company, Craigavon, Northern Ireland. 4.3% alcohol.

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Holmes and Watson have been hired to guard a famous diamond, the Star of Rhodesia, and her owner, Lady Margaret, by her son Roland, during their train journey from London back to Edinburgh; Lestrade is on the train as well. Roland is killed and the diamond is stolen. The suspects are a grumpy professor of mathematics, an old couple (whose husband admits having stolen a teapot at an hotel), a young woman, Vivian Vedder, accompanying her mother's coffin back to Scotland, and Watson's friend, Major Duncan Blake. Questioning the suspects leads nowhere. Holmes is then pushed out of the train and miraculously manages to return into the car; he hypothesizes that the thief is Moriarty's partner, Colonel Sebastian Moran. Watson and Homes then inspect the coffin and discover a hidden compartment where the killer had been hiding; Miss Vedder admits she had been paid to take the coffin on the train. Lestrade is then found knocked-out next to the body of the killer. The train makes an unexpected stop to pick up several scottish policeman, and Holmes tells them that Blake is Moran. The latter stops the train with the emergency brake and fights to escape but is arrested by the policemen and taken out, his head covered with a coat. Holmes then reveals to Watson that the policemen were fake, that they have actually taken Lestrade out, and that the real Moran is handcuffed and hidden below a seat.

“a classic Traditional English Ale… English malt… local Fuggle hops”

An ale with a strange taste, not really metallic, that I can't describe. Contains malted barley.

Hogs Back Brewery Limited, Tongham, Surrey, England. 4.2% alcohol.

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Women are found dead, their forefinger removed. Sir George Fenwick's daughter asks Sherlock Holmes for help when she finds out her father has burried a box containing a finger. Sir George, after an evening with his girlfriend had awaken in an unknown place with the finger in his pocket, and is being blackmailed for having presumably killed a woman. Sir George is killed before Holmes has a chance to talk to him, but leaves a clue about a restaurant where Holmes had spotted him earlier in the company of a woman. Moriarty (whom Holmes believe is behind the murders) then visits Holmes and threatens to kill Watson unless he gives up on the case. Holmes conjectures that Moriarty is using hypnosis to make his victims believe they have commited a murder. Soon after, a hypnotised sniper attempts to kill Holmes from the empty house across the street. Holmes then investigates London's club of hypnotists where he meets and befriends Sir George's girlfriend. Back in her appartment, she and Moriarty attempt to hypnotize Holmes and force him to commit suicide, but he is saved in the nick of time by Watson and the police. Moriarty falls from the building's balcony in an attempt to escape.

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Un pensionnat situé dans une zone désertique et peu propice à la vie. Les pensionnaires s'adonnent aux joies de la drogue et du sexe, pour oublier la fadeur du quotidien et de l'enseignement. Marquis invente un jour un nouveau genre de musique, et les pensionnaires se mettent à créer des groupes et à jouer d'abord clandestinement, puis plus officiellement. Mais à force d'abuser des drogues inventées par l'un d'entre eux, les moniteurs finissent par remettre de l'order. On apprent que les pensionnaires ne sont que des clones servant de banque d'organes à leurs parents. Marquis s'enfuit pour ne pas être cannibalisé par son «  père  ». On le retrouve plus tard dans les caves de Shanghai, ville dominée par les tours où vivent les riches. Il est recueilli par un groupe de paumés comme lui, et finissent par se retrouver dans l'universtié de la Suburb, qu pied des tours. À nouveau des groupes de musique se montent et marquis devient une célébrité. La drogue coule à flot, et domine les besoins des habitants (avant l'eau, l'oxygène et la nourriture). La musique engendre la révolte dans la Suburb, et les groupes finissent par se disloquer, leurs membres mourant dans la guerre civile. Delange, en quelques sortes l'impressario de marquis, vend ce dernier à son «  père  » génétique en échange d'une place dans les tours.

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The four children are back in Narnia, drawn there by young Prince Caspian who has sounded a horn (belonging to Susan, it had stayed behind when the fourn children had left Narnia, 1300 years ago). Caspian is chased by his uncle Miraz's men; being the last obstacle on Miraz's path to the throne. Caspian meets the Narnians, hiding in the forest after having been almost exterminated when Caspian's ancestors (the Telmarines) had invaded Narnia. Soon the four children meet the Narnians and Caspian and organize a revolt against Miraz, helped by an army of Narnians. Their first attempt at taking the castle fails and causes the loss of many. They then fall back in an underground temple, soon under siege by Miraz's troops. While Lucy escapes in the hope to find Aslan she had seen several times in visions and dreams, Peter challenges Miraz to a duel for the throne, buying Lucy time. Peter wins and spares Miraz's life; but one of the latter's followers kills him and blames the Narnians for having cheated, causing the troops to attack. Aslan arrives in the nick of time and saves the Narnians. He later offers whoever wants to go back to Earth (which is where the Telmarines came from originally). The four children take the opportunity to leave Narnia again.

“strong pale ale… plenty of Golding hops”

Just another ale. Contains barley malt.

Hook Norton Brewery, Hook Norton, Oxon, England. 5.0% alcohol.

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The bishop sends Father Brown to carry a antique cross to Rome, but is warned by Scotland Yard that the famous antique thief known as Flambeau will attempt to steal the cross. In Paris, the priest identifies the thief and attempts to make him give up stealing and become an honest man; Flambeau however steals the cross and disappears. Father Brown attempts to bait him by putting an antique chess set (belonging to Lady Warren, one of his parishoners) to the auction; flambeau bites and steals the set, but returns it to its owner, a beautiful widow, and escapes the police with her and the priest's help. Flambeau still refuses to give up stealing antiques, but Father Brown gathers enough information (the crest on Flambeau's cigarette case) to track him to his castle in Burgundy with the help of an old heraldist and the owner of a Café in Paris. He discovers the secret room hidden behind the kitchen's fireplace where Flambeau has collected the product of all his robberies. Again, he helps Flambeau to escape the police; the collection is however taken and exposed in the Louvre. Seeing that his collection can now be admired by everyone in the museum, Flambeau returns to England and joins Lady Warren in Father Brown's church.

“Ginger root, water, sugar, pear juice and yeast”

Sweet but not too much and tastes of ginger. Very nice.

Fentimans Ltd, Hexham, Northumberland, England. 4.0% alcohol.