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Paperback There Came Both Mist and Snow: Volume 6 Book

ISBN: 1504092074

ISBN13: 9781504092074

There Came Both Mist And Snow

(Book #6 in the Sir John Appleby Series)

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Book Overview

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

Customer Reviews

4 ratings

Alternate title: "Comedy of Terrors"

"There Came both Mist and Snow" (1941---also titled "Comedy of Terrors") is very uncharacteristic Appleby in that he doesn't show up until the middle of the story. This novel is basically a British comedy of manners, thinly disguised as a whodunit. It is narrated in the first person by Arthur, one of the suspects who happens to be a writer: The aristocratic Arthur and his relatives gather for the Christmas holiday at Belrive Priory, the ancient family seat in the north of England. Much to their dismay, they learn that the current owner of Belrive, Arthur's cousin Basil, is planning to sell his estate to a brewer. Basil, the seventh Baronet of Belrive Priory, needs the money to fund an expedition to the Arctic. When Basil's nephew Wilfred is shot, every one wonders whether Basil had been the real target---and whether there would be a second, fatal attempt on the seventh Baronet's life. Inspector John Appleby happens to be a guest at dinner on the night of the shooting. The local constable is only too happy to turn the crime over to the young CID inspector, and so Appleby enters the fray with Arthur serving as his Watson and family historian. Michael Innes (pseudonym for John Innes Mackintosh Stewart) has out-Agatha'd Christie in this early Appleby. Each character is suspected in turn, and each has a plausible motive and opportunity. The story's climax is very typical Christie, wherein all of the suspects gather in the drawing room, and each explains his or her version of the `night of terror.' There are a couple of false confessions, and finally Appleby explains ALL. The mystery itself is very complex, and the solution rather contrived. Read "There Came both Mist and Snow" for its highly literate prose--Appleby solves the mystery only after he recalls a verse from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (hence the book's title)--and for its in-depth characterizations.

An upperclass literary whodunit

"Comedy of Terrors" (1941---also titled "There Came both Mist and Snow") is very uncharacteristic Appleby in that he doesn't show up until the middle of the story. This novel is basically a British comedy of manners, thinly disguised as a whodunit. It is narrated in the first person by Arthur, one of the suspects who happens to be a writer:The aristocratic Arthur and his relatives gather for the Christmas holiday at Belrive Priory, the ancient family seat in the north of England. Much to their dismay, they learn that the current owner of Belrive, Arthur's cousin Basil, is planning to sell his estate to a brewer.Basil, the seventh Baronet of Belrive Priory, needs the money to fund an expedition to the Arctic.When Basil's nephew Wilfred is shot, every one wonders whether Basil had been the real target---and whether there would be a second, fatal attempt on the seventh Baronet's life.Inspector John Appleby happens to be a guest at dinner on the night of the shooting. The local constable is only too happy to turn the crime over to the young CID inspector, and so Appleby enters the fray with Arthur serving as his Watson and family historian.Michael Innes (pseudonym for John Innes Mackintosh Stewart) has out-Agatha'd Christie in this early Appleby. Each character is suspected in turn, and each has a plausible motive and opportunity. The story's climax is very typical Christie, wherein all of the suspects gather in the drawing room, and each explains his or her version of the `night of terror.' There are a couple of false confessions, and finally Appleby explains ALL.The mystery itself is very complex, and the solution rather contrived. Read "Comedy of Terrors" for its highly literate prose--Appleby solves the mystery only after he recalls a verse from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (hence the book's alternate title)--and for its in-depth characterizations.

Appleby almost a no-show

"Comedy of Terrors" (1941---also titled "There Came both Mist and Snow") is very uncharacteristic Appleby in that he doesn't show up until the middle of the story. This novel is basically a British comedy of manners, thinly disguised as a whodunit. It is narrated in the first person by one of the suspects, who happens to be a writer.The aristocratic Arthur and his relatives gather for the Christmas holiday at Belrive Priory, the ancient family seat in the north of England. Much to their dismay, they learn that the current owner of Belrive, Arthur's cousin Basil, is planning to sell his estate to a brewer.Basil, the seventh Baronet of Belrive Priory, needs the money to fund an expedition to the Arctic.When Basil's nephew Wilfred is shot, every one wonders whether Basil had been the real target---and whether there would be a second, fatal attempt on the seventh Baronet's life.Inspector John Appleby happens to be a guest at dinner on the night of the shooting. The local constable is only too happy to turn the crime over to the young CID inspector, and so Appleby enters the fray with Arthur serving as his Watson and family historian.Michael Innes (pseudonym for John Innes Mackintosh Stewart) has out-Agatha'd Christie in this early Appleby. Each character is suspected in turn, and each has a plausible motive and opportunity. The story's climax is very typical Christie, wherein all of the suspects gather in the drawing room, and each explains his or her version of the `night of terror.' There are a couple of false confessions, and finally Appleby explains ALL.The mystery itself is very complex, and the solution rather contrived. Read "Comedy of Terrors" for its highly literate prose---Appleby solves the mystery only after he recalls a verse from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"--- and for its in-depth characterizations.

Comedy of Terrors ? alternate title

"There Came both Mist and Snow" (1941---also titled "Comedy of Terrors") is very uncharacteristic Appleby in that he doesn't show up until the middle of the story. This novel is basically a British comedy of manners, thinly disguised as a whodunit. It is narrated in the first person by Arthur, one of the suspects who happens to be a writer:The aristocratic Arthur and his relatives gather for the Christmas holiday at Belrive Priory, the ancient family seat in the north of England. Much to their dismay, they learn that the current owner of Belrive, Arthur's cousin Basil, is planning to sell his estate to a brewer.Basil, the seventh Baronet of Belrive Priory, needs the money to fund an expedition to the Arctic.When Basil's nephew Wilfred is shot, every one wonders whether Basil had been the real target---and whether there would be a second, fatal attempt on the seventh Baronet's life.Inspector John Appleby happens to be a guest at dinner on the night of the shooting. The local constable is only too happy to turn the crime over to the young CID inspector, and so Appleby enters the fray with Arthur serving as his Watson and family historian.Michael Innes (pseudonym for John Innes Mackintosh Stewart) has out-Agatha'd Christie in this early Appleby. Each character is suspected in turn, and each has a plausible motive and opportunity. The story's climax is very typical Christie, wherein all of the suspects gather in the drawing room, and each explains his or her version of the `night of terror.' There are a couple of false confessions, and finally Appleby explains ALL.The mystery itself is very complex, and the solution rather contrived. Read "There Came both Mist and Snow" for its highly literate prose--Appleby solves the mystery only after he recalls a verse from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (hence the book's title)--and for its in-depth characterizations.
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