From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
*
White Nights by Ann Cleeves (Shetland #2) (August/Sept 25)
By Susan · 29 posts · 12 views
By Susan · 29 posts · 12 views
last updated Sep 04, 2025 12:17PM
*
White Nights - SPOILER Thread - (Shetland #2) (August/Sept 25)
By Susan · 17 posts · 12 views
By Susan · 17 posts · 12 views
last updated Aug 24, 2025 11:29PM
What Members Thought

Jun 14, 2017
John Frankham
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime-detective
An early Michael Innis crime mystery with Inspector Appleby.
"Famous writer Richard Eliot has written numerous detective novels, featuring The Spider, a daring, clever criminal in earlier books, and an equally canny private investigator in later ones. But when he comes to life—first to burgle an odd neighbor, then to harass the Eliot family, and finally to attend his own “birthday party”—Inspector John Appleby is sent to investigate."
Full of Innis' characteristic literary and philosophical fun an ...more
"Famous writer Richard Eliot has written numerous detective novels, featuring The Spider, a daring, clever criminal in earlier books, and an equally canny private investigator in later ones. But when he comes to life—first to burgle an odd neighbor, then to harass the Eliot family, and finally to attend his own “birthday party”—Inspector John Appleby is sent to investigate."
Full of Innis' characteristic literary and philosophical fun an ...more

Feb 2023 reread:
Even having read this book before, it was still more perplexing than was enjoyable. Even Appleby's explanation at the conclusion of the book was a bit hard to follow....
------
A non-murder mystery but too convoluted! This 4th entry in the Appleby series rivals The Daffodil Affair for one of the most bizarre mysteries I have ever read. ...more
Even having read this book before, it was still more perplexing than was enjoyable. Even Appleby's explanation at the conclusion of the book was a bit hard to follow....
------
A non-murder mystery but too convoluted! This 4th entry in the Appleby series rivals The Daffodil Affair for one of the most bizarre mysteries I have ever read. ...more

An author thinks his creation, The Spider, has come to life when things keep happening which bear a strong resemblance to events detailed in the books. Richard Eliot’s son, Timmy and one of his tutors pay a visit to the rambling country house in which the author and his relatives live. At nearby Shoon Abbey an eccentric millionaire is also hosting a house-party and Eliot’s visitors are invited. Locals also are involved. John Appleby is invited by his sister Patricia, who has a job working for th
...more

The plot was good, being a non-murder mystery, but I find this author rambles so much. This made for a long read which was really too long to really hold my attention. I'm pretty much glad it is over, although I have learnt some new words. I still think his first was the best (Death at the President's Lodging).
The characters in this book were quite a mixture, but not very likable so I did find myself not bothered about the outcome ...more
The characters in this book were quite a mixture, but not very likable so I did find myself not bothered about the outcome ...more





