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An assorted party of guests have gathered at Charne, home of Charles Martineau and his ailing wife, Grace, including Sir John Appleby and his wife, Judith. Appleby's suspicions are soon aroused with the odd behaviour of Charles, and the curious last request of Grace - who desires that upon her death, Charles marries her favourite niece, Martine. When Charles and Grace die on the same day, foul play is suspected.Tags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
You can always rely on Michael Innes to write an elegant story full of literary elusions. This is no exception and takes place in a country house full of suspects. John Appleby and his wife Judith are guests of Charles Martineau and his dying wife. In the course of their visit the wife is found drowned and the husband seems to have shot himself. Appleby decides that all is not as it seems and begins to investigate.
While the crime and criminal are no great shakes,the basic story is an enjoyable one as usual.
While the crime and criminal are no great shakes,the basic story is an enjoyable one as usual.
Grace Martineau is dying and has invited friends and family for a farewell visit. Her eventual death is not due to disease but to murder. Fortunately Sir John Appleby is amongst the friends visiting and he agrees to investigate.
I last read this 30+ years ago but I remembered that one of the early clues was a clue even if I didn't remember who the murderer was.
I last read this 30+ years ago but I remembered that one of the early clues was a clue even if I didn't remember who the murderer was.
Language amusing and erudite, but theme dated
Old school mystery in a country home setting (there's even a mysterious butler!)
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Author Information
103+ Works 10,661 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
Some Editions
Series
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1966
- People/Characters
- John Appleby; Bobby Angrave; Judith Appleby; Dr. Fell; Charles Martineau; Grace Martineau (show all 10); Bobby Angrave; Diana Page; Martine Riviere; Friary
- Important places
- Charne estate
- Epigraph
- ... And sang within the bloody wood When Agamemnon cried aloud, And let their liquid siftings fall To stain the stiff dishonoured shroud. (T.S. Eliot. "Sweeney Among the Nightingales")
- First words
- 'Do nightingales eat apples?' Bobby Angrave asked idly.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'And as for the private man - well, there are questions it is useless to ask oneself.'
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 178
- Popularity
- 181,847
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (3.69)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 9
- ASINs
- 12
