Another bizarre and fantastic case for Appleby, this time involving art fraud. Innes has much satirical fun at the expense of modern art and artists, and his scathing wit is in clear evidence throughout. This probably isn't the best in terms of pure detection but the weird universe of Innes' crime novels is just so much fun! Wonderful that these books are being reissued on Kindle.

A very clever written book, and not only is the puzzle intriguing but we et to see more of the family life of Sir John Appleby, a bit older but the same cleverness.
Michael Innes generally always pleases, written in the style of the golden age, this book really appeals to fans of classic mystery fiction. I really enjoy the book, had a lot of trouble putting it down, and when I finished it, I was very satisfied.

This is my first Inspector Appleby novel which are being re-issued and I'll be buying the others in the series.

Inspector Appleby is taken to an exhibition for a young artist who was recently found murdered. During the exhibition a painting is stolen and Appleby becomes embroiled in the art smuggling world. Theres a sense of fun to the book and a cast of weird and wonderful characters with bizarre situations.

Michael Innes is one of my favorite authors! His writing is both erudite and accessible, and always a joy to read. This novel is especially fun if you've read others in the Inspector Appleby series, as it includes a window into Appleby's private life and we get to know more about his wife. The mystery takes place in the London art world of the 1950s and is a fascinating glimpse into a way of life very different from what most people experience in 2018.

Appleby reluctantly accompanies his artist wife to a private viewing of the works of an artist whose death is under investigation, when one of the works of art is stolen from right under his nose. But all is not as it seems and adventure awaits. The story features many wonderfully intelligent characters, including Mrs. Appleby and the intrepid Inspector Cadover, an intriguing interwoven plot and many hilarious situations. Great fun!

I wasn’t too sure of this book at the beginning but it developed into an engaging and entertaining read. Although the personal element threatened to dominate, Innes never loses the narrative imperative, the clues, the intellectual engagement and the chase. Judith develops from a seemingly focused arty socialite to an observant, determined minor participant.

I found her sleuthing annoying in places - visiting crime scenes in the dark on impulse, for example, taking risks that are likely to end up diverting police resources. On the other hand, this is no more than her trained and respected husband does, so why wouldn’t she?

Against this is the emergence of Cadover as a reliable, clear-thinking, thorough and intelligent operative, restoring some balance, analysis and process, that in the end ensures the information gained from risk can be put to use. This balancing of forms of intelligence, assessment of personality and nuanced psychology is a good part of the book.s strength and charm.

This series has matured and developed in the books I have read - another plus.

This is a cracking Michael Innes novel, showcasing the novelist at his best. Both Appleby and his wife, Judith, are integral to the plot. That is, if they hadn’t been at a private view of pictures by a new, sadly recently murdered, artist, there would have been no story.

Innes skewers the pretentiousness of the artistic world by putting phrases like “A determined effort to disintegrate reality in the interest of the syncretic principle”. He is also very perceptive about how an ambition to be an artist is completely at odds with an ambition to be artistic. Very subtle and very very illuminating when you read his suggestions (as expounded by the characters in the novel, of course).

Oh, how I loved the scene where Appleby is taking on thugs in a junk shop! The villain biting Appleby in the leg; the exchange of missiles: a plaster fish, the stack of dinner plates; the “veritable jungle growth of mangles, whatnots, and jardinières.” And, of course, the marbles: “Not Gulliver in Brobdingnag was more cruelly assaulted. Old Moe – it would have been possible upon reflection to guess - had been planning a commercial operation of major importance: nothing less than that of securing a corner in children’s marbles. And now the entire stock was running down through space…” When you buy the book and reach this bit, slow down, take a breath and savour the description of the battle. Picture it with the middle-aged hero of your choice pitted against a gang: maybe Stratford Johns vs George Cole? David Niven vs the Marx Brothers? Choose your weapon? I choose dinner plates!

And then the more serious armed battle at the end of the book with Appleby inside a van parked over a fire… Yes, Judith ensures he gets free – what a woman!

If I could give this six stars, I would…

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. A murder mystery with lots of adventure, twists, humour and wit.
The first chapter sets the tone, with a touch of P G Wodehouse. The action fairly zips along. I've only read a couple of "Appleby" stories but this has been the best so far and has left me wanting more.

I had read some of the earliest Appleby stories and really liked them. Then I got bogged down in a couple that were very introspective, slow paced and almost boring at times. However not all were like that. So, when I was offered this a
s a free read for my review, I naturally jumped on it.

Pleasantly surprised was I. I loved the pace, the wrenching involvement of Lady Appleby and the intricacy of the plot. The plotline was so twisted that it was impossible for me to unravel. And I frequently do. But the opening of books like this should always be regarded!

Worth your time, you readers of Golden Age writers!

What I like about the Inspector Appleby novels is that they're all different - they vary from action packed to being full of cerebral problem solving. This one satirises the art world and modern art, with lots of unusual detail, including a Victorian themed nightclub, eccentric aristocrats and starving artists. All finished off with a nail biting chase at the end. A great and enjoyable read.

I’ve been lucky enough to read a number of the Inspector Appleby mysteries, and highly recommend them. In general I like vintage mysteries a lot and this one didn’t disappoint. Like many other vintage novels, the writing is elegant and descriptive, sometimes a bit scholarly even. The book is probably best described as a traditional mystery, but I think it will appeal to many cozy mystery lovers, as well as those who love police procedurals.
This book blends adventure and mystery along with some humor. In fact there are scenes which would make excellent comedy sketches if it weren’t for the sense of menace and suspense that overlay them. In particular the scene in the junk shop and Appleby’s subsequent ride in the “get-away” van come to mind.
Appleby’s wife, lady Judith is a bit more prominent in this book than in some of the others in the series, and her presence definitely adds to the book.
I don’t know how many Appleby books Innes wrote, but I hope there are lots more. I enjoyed this book, and recommend it highly.

Michael Innes has a flair for painting the scene. He is a gifted wordsmith. This Inspector Appleby mystery does occasionally get bogged down in extraneous detail. but overall the action and humor roll smoothly. This tale is set in post war Britain in the mid 20th century and the atmosphere and dialogue ring true to that era. An enjoyable read.

This was my first Inspector Appleby book, and what a great find! I enjoyed the interaction between him and his wife; it was a nice twist to have her fill such a large role in the plot. The storyline moved along at the right pace and the characters were interesting. I enjoy being challenged by references which would have been much better understood at the time of writing; Wikipedia to the rescue! Highly recommend for lovers of this genre!