This story is set just before the outbreak of World War II in a house in Dulcimer Street, London that’s been converted into flats.  There’s Percy, very Jack-the-Lad with ideas bigger than his stomach can hold; Mr. Puddy, whose main fear is the German blockade, which may result in him going hungry; the enigmatic Professor Qualito, a fake charismatic psychic; Mrs. Vizzard, the prim widow immersed in the supernatural; Connie the elderly bit-part actress and  con-merchant and Mr Josser, newly retired and under his wife’s feet.  A wonderful read with characters that are visible because no writer could possibly invent them!