The Appleby File

This collection of short stories starring Inspector John Appleby is divided into two sections: "The Appleby File"--seven miscellaneous mysteries; and "Appleby's Holidays"--eight mysteries that occur while John and his wife Judith are on vacation.Normally in his novels, character development is one of this author's great strengths. In these stories, he sometimes uses less effective short-cuts to show us his antagonists and protagonists. Adverbs are used with greater frequency---people pace nervously, glance cautiously, and nod soberly. There is a fair amount of caricature. Innes lapses into veddy British upper-class snobbery, to let readers know that there is something not quite right about a criminal suspect.However, even short-hand Innes is fun to read. His snobbery is delicious. His Americans are amusing. Commissioner of New Scotland Yard, Sir John Appleby is his usual ironic, witty, dangerously intelligent self. He tackles poltergeists, corpses in the snow with only one set footprints leading to them, and rich uncles in fish ponds with his usual aplomb. I wouldn't start with this short story collection if you are new to Michael Innes, but "The Appleby File" (1975) contains a rich set of puzzles for his long-term fans: "The Ascham"--A snowstorm traps Appleby and his wife in the castle of a very athletic peer, along with a blackmailing scoundrel."Poltergeist"--Lady Appleby's Aunt acquires a poltergeist that doesn't seem to care whether it smashes a Ming vase or a souvenir teacup from Brighton Beach."The Fishermen"--Appleby accepts an invitation to trout-fish in Scotland and investigates the mysterious death of his host."The Conversation Piece"--A boardroom portrait is donated to the nation by a widow in honor of her late husband. Shortly thereafter one of the widow's guests is murdered after making a curious comment about the portrait."Death by Water" (also the name of one of Innes's later novels)--A philosopher's investments go badly wrong and his death is thought to be a suicide until Appleby investigates."A Question of Confidence"--Bobby Appleby persuades his father to investigate a particularly gruesome murder of an Oxford scholar."The Memorial Service"--A mysterious guest attends a memorial service for an eccentric legal reformer, and Appleby must determine who actually died--or was murdered."Two on a Tower"--One of Appleby's fellow-vacationers falls to his death from an Italian tower. Is it murder or suicide?"Beggar With Skull"--On a motor tour of the West Country, Judith Appleby insists on stopping at Roydon Abbey to view a famous El Greco, which mysteriously vanishes. "The Exploding Battleship"--While sitting in front of Florian's café in Venice, Lady Appleby makes out a list of presents for her children. A stranger is uncommonly curious about one of her choices of gift. When he is later found dead, Appleby investigates."The Body in the Glen"--Appleby's friend, the Laird of Mervie invites the Applebys up for a holiday in the