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Lewis Packford, the great Shakespearean scholar, was thought to have discovered a book annotated by the Bard - but there is no trace of this valuable object when Packford apparently commits suicide. Sir John Appleby finds a mixed bag of suspects at the dead man's house, who might all have a good motive for murder. The scholars and bibliophiles who were present might have been tempted by the precious document in Packford's possession. And Appleby discovers that Packford had two secret show more marriages, and that both of these women were at the house at the time of his death. show lessTags
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After an acquaintance's funeral, his solicitor confides in Appleby that he thinks it was murder rather than suicide as the police thought.
Michael Innes is back in form with this story of an investigation in a houseful of batty academics holding a parody convention devoted to the work of an imaginary 18th century writer.
Michael Innes is back in form with this story of an investigation in a houseful of batty academics holding a parody convention devoted to the work of an imaginary 18th century writer.
Chief Inspector John Appleby is visiting Italy and takes the time to drop in on an old friend. Lewis Packford, a Shakespearean scholar, is pleased to see his friend, but Appleby gets the idea that he has a secret he's working on.
Just a few weeks later, Appleby is at Packford's funeral. His friend has committed suicide. But his lawyer thinks it was murder and wants Appleby to investigate.
Appleby finds that Packford had no shortage of motives for murder. He was a bigamist; he was deep in debt. However, he also had a houseful of guests, and they all have secrets of their own. The more Appleby digs, the more he believes that this was no suicide.
I really enjoyed this one. I thought I remembered how this book ended, but I was wrong. I am so show more glad I found this one! show less
Just a few weeks later, Appleby is at Packford's funeral. His friend has committed suicide. But his lawyer thinks it was murder and wants Appleby to investigate.
Appleby finds that Packford had no shortage of motives for murder. He was a bigamist; he was deep in debt. However, he also had a houseful of guests, and they all have secrets of their own. The more Appleby digs, the more he believes that this was no suicide.
I really enjoyed this one. I thought I remembered how this book ended, but I was wrong. I am so show more glad I found this one! show less
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Author Information
101+ Works 10,672 Members
John Innes Mackintosh Stewart was born in Edinburgh. He attended Oxford where he studied English. He taught English in universities at the University of Adelaide, in South Australia. Stewart published novels, short stories, studies in literature, biographies, and plays. Under his name, he wrote scholarly works such as Character and Motive in show more Shakespeare, Rudyard Kipling, and Thomas Hardy. As Michael Innes, he wrote over fifty detective novels with Inspector John Appleby of Scotland Yard in London as the main character. These titles include Death at the President's Lodging, The Journeying Boy, Lament for a Maker, Operation Pax, the Crabtree Affair and Silence Observed. Stewart died on November 12, 1994. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
SaPo (53)
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Hyvästi iäks'
- Original title
- The Long Farewell
- Original publication date
- 1958
- People/Characters
- John Appleby; Lewis Packford; Edward Packford; Mr. Rood; Ruth Packford; Alice (show all 7); Mrs. Husbands
- Important places
- Italy; "Urchins" estate, Deep Urchins
- Epigraph
- "Tis here, but yet confused: Knavery's plain face is never seen till used." (Othello)
- First words
- 'Come in!'
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'When you're in the middle of Italy, think twice when a voice calls 'Come in.''
- Original language
- English
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 224
- Popularity
- 144,298
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.69)
- Languages
- English, Finnish, Portuguese
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 15
- ASINs
- 11
