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This is the second Inspector Appleby book, following on from, “Death at the President’s Lodging.” This mystery was published in 1937 and has a classic, Golden Age setting, with much of the action taking place in a country house, where there is a production of “Hamlet,” taking place. Before the play is staged, there are warning messages received. Then, during the performance, there is a cry of help and a pistol shot…
A very distinguished guest has been killed and Inspector Appleby is sent to inves ...more
A very distinguished guest has been killed and Inspector Appleby is sent to inves ...more
“He thinks he won’t but he will.” This statement by a female character said about the male detective’s probable bias is typical of how insightful Michael Innes is. In a recent book by Michael Lewis, the Undoing Project, Lewis discusses emerging evidence that people are highly controlled by their preconceptions even in the face of overwhelming statistics. Innes figured this out 80 years ago. As a Scotsman writing about English high society, Innes has just enough objectivity and familiarity to wri
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This is the second book in the Appleby series. Giles Gott – who featured in the first book in the series as Appleby’s Dr Watson – reappears in this one as a guest of the Duke of Horton at Seammum Court. He is directing an amateur performance of Hamlet which includes the Lord Chancellor as Polonius. When the Lord Chancellor is murdered during the play enemy action is suspected and Appleby is sent with all haste to investigate the crime.
With a huge cast of suspects this crime novel threatens to be ...more
With a huge cast of suspects this crime novel threatens to be ...more
Seems I'm in the minority here, but this book just didn't appeal to me. I know the author has to set the scene at the beginning , but this went on for 25% before anything actually got underway. I thought the quoting of Shakespeare was put in for padding , where he could have said the play commenced. I admit I had no idea who was the murderer, but by that time I had given up caring. I have read the first book in the series and that introduced Appleby to me, who I quite liked , even though he did
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I finally finished this mystery. It was slow going for me but it has helped me to remember why I have passed on reading this series. I am not a Shakespeare nut so much of the dialogue was lost on me, though I was certainly able to follow the murder mystery. Since I do not enjoy reading this series, this may be the last one for me, at least for awhile.
‘Death at Scamnum Court!’
Appleby, who had already begun a swift exploration, paused. ‘Yes?’
‘It would be a learned joke. Perhaps somebody’s havin ...more
‘Death at Scamnum Court!’
Appleby, who had already begun a swift exploration, paused. ‘Yes?’
‘It would be a learned joke. Perhaps somebody’s havin ...more
Hamlet, Revenge is the first mystery novel I've read by Michael Innes. It was published in 1937 and stars Inspector Appleby. The first half of the novel focuses on Scamnum Court, the family is producing a private showing of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Family, family friends, friendly acquaintances will star in this tragedy. Of course, from the start, readers know that all will not go well. (It is a mystery, after all. But there is plenty of foreshadowing in the introductory chapters.) The second half
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An entertaining read of a murder at a country house during the presentation of Shakespeare's Hamlet.
A brief write up over here:
http://inkquilletc.blogspot.in/2012/0...
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A brief write up over here:
http://inkquilletc.blogspot.in/2012/0...
...more
Nov 04, 2011
Jane
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