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Sir John Appleby #34
Carson's Conspiracy
Businessman Carl Carson decides to make a dash for South America to escape the economic slump, leaving his home and his barmy wife. But he has a if his company were seen to be drawing in its horns, it wouldn't last a week. His solution is his wife's favorite delusion—an imaginary son, named Robin. Carson plans to stage a fictitious kidnapping. After all, what could be more natural than a father liquidating his assets to pay the ransom demand? Unfortunately, Carson has a rather astute neighbor, Sir John Appleby, ex-Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
170 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
About the author
Michael Innes
130 books92 followersMichael Innes was the pseudonym of John Innes MacKintosh (J.I.M.) Stewart (J.I.M. Stewart).
He was born in Edinburgh, and educated at Edinburgh Academy and Oriel College, Oxford. He was Lecturer in English at the University of Leeds from 1930 - 1935, and spent the succeeding ten years as Jury Professor of English at the University of Adelaide, South Australia.
He returned to the United Kingdom in 1949, to become a Lecturer at the Queen's University of Belfast. In 1949 he became a Student (Fellow) of Christ Church, Oxford, becoming a Professor by the time of his retirement in 1973.
As J.I.M. Stewart he published a number of works of non-fiction, mainly critical studies of authors, including Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling, as well as about twenty works of fiction and a memoir, 'Myself and Michael Innes'.
As Michael Innes, he published numerous mystery novels and short story collections, most featuring the Scotland Yard detective John Appleby.
He was born in Edinburgh, and educated at Edinburgh Academy and Oriel College, Oxford. He was Lecturer in English at the University of Leeds from 1930 - 1935, and spent the succeeding ten years as Jury Professor of English at the University of Adelaide, South Australia.
He returned to the United Kingdom in 1949, to become a Lecturer at the Queen's University of Belfast. In 1949 he became a Student (Fellow) of Christ Church, Oxford, becoming a Professor by the time of his retirement in 1973.
As J.I.M. Stewart he published a number of works of non-fiction, mainly critical studies of authors, including Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling, as well as about twenty works of fiction and a memoir, 'Myself and Michael Innes'.
As Michael Innes, he published numerous mystery novels and short story collections, most featuring the Scotland Yard detective John Appleby.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 23, 2025
An odd book. It seemed to be part of Golden Age literature until I noticed it was written in 1984. It’s prejudices are far older than that.
Carl Carson is a self-made man who has made his money in the City and business, not always quite legally and certainly not morally. You know he is a baddun because Innes makes it clear that his great grandfather was a waterman and his father and grandfather worked their way up in the docks. Clearly, he is not the proper sort. Innes points this out whenever Carson meets ‘people of quality’ as he always uses the wrong words and phrases showing his inferiority.
One of those people of quality is Sir John Appleby, ex Commissioner of Scotland Yard. Carson’s lovely wife is also mocked for always referring to Sir John as a “Commissionaire”. (Please note that the lower classes are always ignorant and uneducated.)
And then in the middle of all this, one of the posh people, the Chief Constable no less, then suddenly uses a vile racist word apropos nothing. We knew that was an unacceptable word 10 years before this book was written but Innes is happy to continue using racist words alongside his snobbery.
Carl Carson is a self-made man who has made his money in the City and business, not always quite legally and certainly not morally. You know he is a baddun because Innes makes it clear that his great grandfather was a waterman and his father and grandfather worked their way up in the docks. Clearly, he is not the proper sort. Innes points this out whenever Carson meets ‘people of quality’ as he always uses the wrong words and phrases showing his inferiority.
One of those people of quality is Sir John Appleby, ex Commissioner of Scotland Yard. Carson’s lovely wife is also mocked for always referring to Sir John as a “Commissionaire”. (Please note that the lower classes are always ignorant and uneducated.)
And then in the middle of all this, one of the posh people, the Chief Constable no less, then suddenly uses a vile racist word apropos nothing. We knew that was an unacceptable word 10 years before this book was written but Innes is happy to continue using racist words alongside his snobbery.
December 31, 2019
Innes is always odd, so the twists and turns are par for the course; but the ending fell flat, leaving far too much unexplained.
January 12, 2017
Number 35 in a series and competently done, with a great twist or two at the end.
June 24, 2012
Originally published on my blog here in March 2000.
Carl Carson has made a fortune in dodgy dealing, and has bought himself a country house and gentility. The main disappointment in his life is the growing eccentricity of his life, who is reaching the point where her strangeness is becoming obvious even to relatively mild acquaintances. She is obsessed with the career of her son Robin, working in the States after graduating from Harvard - yet the Carsons have no children.
Things are not rosy on the business front, either; it looks as though Carson's ventures will soon fail or be exposed. He cannot get together the money to flee the country, which seems to be the only way out, without drawing unwelcome attention from the others involved in his schemes even if not the police. He is suddenly inspired with a plan which takes advantage of his wife's strangeness: he arranges a visit from his imaginary son, only to stage a kidnapping to enable him to have an excuse to gather his resources in cash.
The one thing that he hasn't reckoned with is, of course, the interest of his neighbour, retired policeman Sir John Appleby. There are still surprises in store right up to the end of this cleverly plotted story. It is not, perhaps, one of Innes' best, and is farfetched in places, but still well worth reading.
Carl Carson has made a fortune in dodgy dealing, and has bought himself a country house and gentility. The main disappointment in his life is the growing eccentricity of his life, who is reaching the point where her strangeness is becoming obvious even to relatively mild acquaintances. She is obsessed with the career of her son Robin, working in the States after graduating from Harvard - yet the Carsons have no children.
Things are not rosy on the business front, either; it looks as though Carson's ventures will soon fail or be exposed. He cannot get together the money to flee the country, which seems to be the only way out, without drawing unwelcome attention from the others involved in his schemes even if not the police. He is suddenly inspired with a plan which takes advantage of his wife's strangeness: he arranges a visit from his imaginary son, only to stage a kidnapping to enable him to have an excuse to gather his resources in cash.
The one thing that he hasn't reckoned with is, of course, the interest of his neighbour, retired policeman Sir John Appleby. There are still surprises in store right up to the end of this cleverly plotted story. It is not, perhaps, one of Innes' best, and is farfetched in places, but still well worth reading.
September 11, 2007
I was enjoying this book. I like Sir John Appleby. Michael Innes's mysteries are sophisticated and quirky. Anyway, it was pretty good, then I got to the ending and wow! What a surprise! I had to give it 5 stars.
Appleby's neighbor, Carl Carson, has a loopy wife and lots of money troubles. He decides the only way out of his problems is to arrange for the kidnapping of his son. One problem--He doesn't have a son.
If you've never read an Appleby book, this might not be the best place to start, but it's still great.
Appleby's neighbor, Carl Carson, has a loopy wife and lots of money troubles. He decides the only way out of his problems is to arrange for the kidnapping of his son. One problem--He doesn't have a son.
If you've never read an Appleby book, this might not be the best place to start, but it's still great.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews