Michael Innes Books

When Inspector Appleby's car breaks down on a deserted road one dark night, he happens upon an imposing mansion, whose windows are all illuminated. His sense of curiosity gets the better of him when he discovers that the front door is wide open, and he gets a funny feeling of being watched as he wanders round this splendid house, looking for signs of life. When he finds an elaborate feast laid out, he wonders who is expected...

Clusters, a great country house, is troubled by bats, as Lord and Lady Osprey complain to their guests, who include first rate detective, Sir John Appleby. In the matter of bats, Appleby is indifferent, but he is soon faced with a real challenge - the murder of Lord Osprey, stabbed with an ornate dagger in the library.

During a walk to Elvedon House, palatial home of the Tythertons, Sir John Appleby and Chief Constable Colonel Pride are stunned to find a police van and two cars parked outside. Wealthy Maurice Tytherton has been found shot dead, and Appleby is faced with a number of suspects - Alice Tytherton, flirtatious, younger wife of the deceased; Egon Raffaello, disreputable art dealer; and the prodigal son, Mark Tytherton, who has just returned from Argentina. Could the death be linked to the robbery of some paintings several years ago?

Sir John Appleby is assigned to investigate the disappearance of Howard Juniper, a scientist who has been working with a deadly strain of bacteria

When young student David Henchman decides to escape his boisterous classmates by spending a day in the country, he doesn't count on coming across a man with a bullet hole in his head. Now it is up to the intuitive Sir John Appleby to solve the ingenious crime. Originally published by Dodd, Mead.

This collection features five notable works of classic crime fiction, showcasing the talents of prominent authors in the genre. The stories delve into intricate plots, exploring themes of morality, justice, and the human psyche. Josephine Tey's "The Franchise Affair" presents a gripping narrative centered on a wrongful accusation of kidnapping, examining societal prejudices and the quest for truth. Michael Innes's "Hamlet, Revenge!" blends elements of Shakespearean drama with a modern mystery, as a detective navigates a web of intrigue surrounding a theatrical production. Margery Allingham's "The Crime at Black Dudley" introduces the character of Albert Campion, an amateur sleuth who uncovers a murder during a weekend gathering at a country estate, highlighting themes of deception and class dynamics. Edmund Crispin's "The Moving Toyshop" features the eccentric detective Gervase Fen, who investigates a puzzling crime that combines humor with intellectual challenge. Lastly, G. K. Chesterton's "The Innocence of Father Brown" introduces the titular priest-detective, whose keen insight into human nature allows him to solve various crimes, emphasizing themes of faith and morality. Each story offers a unique perspective on crime and detection, reflecting the diverse approaches within classic literature.

When mad recluse Ranald Guthrie the laird of Erchany, falls from the ramparts of his castle on a wild winter night, Appleby discovers the doom that shrouded his life, and the grim legends of the bleak and nameless hamlets, in a tale that emanates sheer terror and suspense.

Our lovely heroine and her various accomplices are the object of a superb chase across Scotland by a scheming band of undercover Nazis. Sir John Appleby of Scotland Yard--a master craftsman in the art of crime and counterespionage--comes to the rescue, and the British Empire stands secure once more.

Stunning Belrive Priory, consisting of a mansion, park and medieval ruins, is surrounded by the noise and neon signs of its gaudy neighbours - a cotton-mill, a brewey and a main road. Nevertheless, Arthur Ferryman is pleased to return for a family Christmas, but is shocked to discover that his cousins have taken up a new pastime - pistol-shooting. Inspector Appleby arrives on the scene when one of Ferryman's cousins is found shot dead in the study, in a mystery built on family antagonisms.