Bøger af Michael Innes

A Scotland Yard detective probes a string of strange disappearances and paranormal phenomena in this classic British mystery adventure. Insp. John Appleby has his hands full. It begins when his aunt's horse, Daffodil, disappears from her stable in Harrogate. Meanwhile, Appleby's colleague, Superintendent Hudspith, is searching for a missing young woman by the name of Lucy Rideout. But the most bizarre case is the vanishing of a supposedly haunted house in Bloomsbury. Working together, the puzzled policemen soon find the cases are connected. But what exactly is going on? The answer to that question lies with a madman in the Amazonian jungle . . . Praise for Michael Innes and Inspector Appleby "Innes is in a class by himself among detective story writers." --The Times Literary Supplement "As farfetched and literary as Sayers." --Cambridge Companion to Crime Fiction "A first-rate piece of work, intelligent, well-written, elaborate and exciting. . . . Highly recommended." --The Spectator on Hamlet, Revenge!

An erudite Scotland Yard detective investigates after a professor meets a hellish end with a heavenly body in this classic British mystery. When Professor Pluckrose is found dead in his deckchair on the campus of a provincial English university, it looks as though the eminent biochemist was struck by a falling meteorite. But this was no act of God--the stone was dropped from a nearby tower. With the local authorities baffled, Scotland Yard's Insp. John Appleby is asked to consult on the case. Combing the hallowed halls for information, Appleby finds plenty of pompous academics with their own theories about the murder--as well as their own motives. Appleby must study the clues thoroughly if he hopes to determine who among them has a mind for murder. Praise for The Weight of the Evidence "Appleby's adventures in search of clues among the classics may be strongly recommended for its sturdy independence and originality." --The Times Literary Supplement

A Scotland Yard detective investigates when gunfire disrupts an aristocratic family's Christmas celebrations in this classic British mystery. The relatives of Sir Basil Roper are gathering to celebrate Christmas at the family's ancestral home in Yorkshire. While the ancient estate has remained unchanged for centuries, the surrounding area now features neon signs, a textile mill, and a brewery. Even so, Arthur Ferryman is happy to be there and looking forward to a peaceful holiday. Unfortunately, many of his cousins have taken up pistol shooting for a new hobby. Making matters worse, the family learns that Basil plans to sell the place. With the mood of the party soured, quarreling begins, and tension mounts. Before you can say, "Bah humbug," a gun is fired, and one of the revelers is shot. Soon, Arthur finds himself assisting Insp. John Appleby with his investigation. Together they must navigate family secrets and grudges to find a shooter before someone else gets a bullet for Christmas . . . Originally published s asunder the title A Comedy of Terrors Praise for Michael Innes and There Came Both Mist and Snow "Highbrow appeal." --Kirkus Reviews "Mr. Innes is in a class by himself among detective story writers." --The Times Literary Supplement "Wickedly witty." --Daily Mail "As farfetched and literary as Sayers." --The Cambridge Companion to Crime Fiction

A Scotland Yard detective investigates a peculiar case of murder, poetry, kidnapping, and German spies in this classic British wartime thriller. Insp. John Appleby is puzzled by the death of Philip Ploss. Who would want to kill such a harmless, quiet man known for writing mid-level nature poetry? . . . Poetry is what Sheila Grant overhears two men discussing on a train outside Edinburgh. Their whole conversation seems absurd to her, especially after one of them misquotes the poet Swinburne. Unfortunately, her discovery quickly places her in danger . . . Meanwhile back in London, Appleby learns of a kidnapping on a train in Scotland and senses a connection to Ploss's murder. Locating Sheila will certainly lead Appleby to Ploss's killer, but only if he finds her alive . . . "You'd let a cobra walk all over you before you'd put this one down to defend yourself." --The New Yorker "Very exciting, full of most painstakingly described violent action." --The Observer "For sheer excitement and picturesque melodrama The Secret Vanguard will delight everyone." --New Statesma

A London detective investigates after a fictional character seems to come to life to harass his creator in this classic British mystery. Richard Eliot began writing crime novels to fund his son's education. The protagonist, known as "the Spider," started off as a notorious criminal and later transformed into a private investigator. Now, after thirty-eight entries in the series, Eliot is considering putting the Spider to bed. Someone else, however, has a different idea. At first, Eliot's manuscripts are rewriting themselves overnight. Then neighbors are burglarized, sinister messages appear, and soon someone is recreating storylines that the author never shared with anyone. With the situation reaching a fever pitch, Eliot calls upon Insp. John Appleby to investigate. Now Scotland Yard's best must determine who is the mastermind behind this puzzling plot before the Spider strikes again . . . Originally published under the title The Spider Strikes. "For careful, dignified and at the same time unfailingly witty writing it would be hard to beat and the characterization . . . is admirable." --The Times Literary Supplement "An erudite and curious novel . . . not to be missed by connoisseurs." --The Times (London)

A London detective investigates when a troubled Scottish laird takes a fall in this classic British mystery by the author of Hamlet, Revenge!. Strange things are happening around the remote Castle Erchany, located in the Scottish Highlands. The miserly and reclusive laird, Ranald Guthrie, roams the castle's freezing halls, reciting an old poem over and over: Timor mortis conturbat me. Fear of death disturbs me . . . Then on a wild winter night, Guthrie plummets to his death from his castle's tower. Was it an accident? Was it suicide? Or was it murder? Suspicion falls on a local man, but when Insp. John Appleby arrives from the Met in London, he doubts this solution. To discover the truth, Appleby immerses himself in the dead man's final days in a gloomy, gothic castle. Of course, he must be on his guard, because there's no telling whether someone else might fall victim to another "accident." "The simple-seeming and single-seeming plot of Lament for a Maker holds about as many layers of complication as a first-class mystery story could well hold without bursting, and . . . Michael Innes manages this complication with the lucidity of a master." --The Observer "Magnificently written." --The Times Literary Supplement "A grand and ghastly tale with a surprising double climax." --The New Yorker

A Scotland Yard detective probes a high-society house party for someone rotten when a government official is murdered in this classic British mystery. Preparations are underway for a grand party at Scamnum Court, the sweeping English country estate of the fabulously wealthy Duke of Horton. Some of the nation's elite are invited for dinner, and some are even set to star in a semi-amateur production of Hamlet on an authentic Elizabethan stage in the banqueting hall. No expense is spared, but one guest soon pays with his life. Before the play ends, a shot is fired, and the actor playing Polonius--Lord Auldearn, the Lord Chancellor of England--is dead. With war looming on the horizon, suspicions arise over the possibility of espionage. Therefore, the prime minister sends Insp. John Appleby not only to investigate, but to also find a confidential government document. Appleby is lucky there's a mystery novelist eager to lend a hand with the extensive guest list at Scamnum Court. He will need all the help he can get if he hopes to prevent the killer from making an encore performance . . . "Hamlet, Revenge! confirms the fact that became clear in his first book, that Mr. Michael Innes is in a class by himself among writers of detective fiction." --The Times Literary Supplement "A brilliant novel of manners. The writing is assured and lively with wit. Add to this a flawlessly constructed murder and an admirable and quite breathlessly thrilling dénouement, and we have fresh blood in the field of crime fiction with a vengeance." --The Times (London) "A first-rate piece of work, intelligent, well-written, elaborate and exciting. . . . Highly recommended." --The Spectator

A Scotland Yard inspector holds the key when a college professor is shot behind a series of locked gates in this classic British mystery series opener. The usually quiet campus of St. Anthony's College is abuzz with talk of murder. Someone shot Prof. Josiah Umpleby, the college's president, in his room during the night. Word spreads all the way to London, and Insp. John Appleby of New Scotland Yard is dispatched to consult on the case. The local authorities are already occupied with a string of burglaries and could use the help with this unusual death. Appleby learns that at night, the campus gates are locked, and a section of the college is shut off from the rest. In other words, someone would need a key to reach the president, and that limits Appleby's suspects down to seven. Now Appleby must keep his wits about him as he combs the grounds for clues. The killer is still on the loose, and they need to be taught a lesson . . . Originally published under the title Seven Suspects Praise for Michael Innes & Death at the President's Lodging "One of the best detective novels." --The Scotsman "A brilliant newcomer." --News Chronicle (UK) "Quite the most accomplished first crime-novel that I have read." --C. Day Lewis, Daily Mail