John Appleby, formerly of Scotland Yard, is traveling through unfamiliar countryside when his car breaks down. After setting off to find an inn and get a place to spend the night, his flashlight dies. He has no choice but to hike along the dirt road hoping to find shelter. He is stunned - literal...
I sometimes forget how strange Michael Innes novels can be--and this is an odd one, definitely a lesser work, but not too bad. The first chapter is perfect--a portrait of a group of people in a cafe on an ocean liner, right before their ship is torpedoed. The group ends up on a tropical island, w...
Sir John Appleby, Inspector at Scotland Yard, is on holiday in Italy and decides to stop in and see an acquaintance who is also abroad. Lewis Packford is a well-known, if flamboyant, Elizabethanscholar with a penchant for quoting Shakespeare at the most interesting moments. Packford often puts ...
Former Scotland Yard detective Sir John Appleby is taking a beach walk near Ampersand castle when a man literally drops dead at his feet. Dr. Sutch, part-time archivist for the penniless Lord Ampersand, has fallen to his death from the rickety external staircase rigged up to allow access to the c...
Rather a tiresome man. But it does seem extravagant to propose to murder him. (p. 84)But it begins to look like that may be what is in store for Sir Ambrose Pinkerton in Appleby's Answer by Michael Innes (John Innes MacKintosh [J.I.M.] Stewart; 1973). It all begins with Priscilla Pringle, well-kn...
Charles and Arthur Povey set out on a boating adventure. Charles is the rich brother who can afford to keep a yacht and Arthur is the less affluent brother with the sailing skills. His skills prove useless, however, when they run into a storm which leaves the boat mast-less and one brother dead (...
