Book 14: "The Dark Labyrinth" by Laurence Durrell

When a group of first class passengers on a cruise disembark at Crete for a guided tour of a labyrinthine cave system at Cefalu, they are trapped by a rock-fall, with only Lord Graecan being on the right side of the rocks to make his way back out and raise the alarm. The back stories of the passengers (many of whom already knew each other) and how each of them reacts when facing death in the labyrinth, make for a fascinating story.

There are sub-plots about the mysterious Axelos, who lives in a house at Cefalu, the ancient relics recently found in the labyrinth, and Captain Baird who is haunted by a man he killed in occupied Crete during World War II, enhance the atmosphere of the wild and mountainous island that permeates the book, and the story unfolds in a strange mix of realism, fantasy, and fakery.

Book 15: "The Circus of Dr Lao" by Charles G. Finney

"I am a calm, intelligent girl," Miss Agnes reassured herself. "I am a calm, intelligent girl, and I have not seen Pan on Main Street. Nevertheless, I will go to the circus and make sure."

Published in 1935, “The Circus of Dr. Lao” is a forerunner of all those books where a mysterious circus or travelling fair (or even shop) appears in a small town, full of wonders that have a powerful affect on the townsfolk, whether for good or bad.

When a notice in the local newspaper announces the arrival of a travelling circus, the locals flock to see it, but they seem surprisingly hard to impress. When the circus parades through town, with three wagons drawn by a unicorn, a sphinx and a shining golden ass, they are prepared to believe that they are just rare breeds rather than mythological creatures, and are more concerned with arguing whether the creature in one of the cages is a man, a bear or possibly even a Russian.

There’s not much of a plot; the circus is announced, here is a parade, the townsfolk visit the attractions on the midway and watch the main show in the circus tent, but apart from a couple of encounters with the satyr and the sea serpent, most people seem unimpressed. The fortune teller’s fortunes may be truthful but that makes them unpeasant and boring, while two young men seeing a werewolf transforming in to a woman, complain because she is an old woman, rather than being thrilled by seeing the metamorphosis. Even a rebellion by the sea serpent and a dozen people being turned to stone by the medusa's gaze, and don't stop the show.