There Came Both Mist and Snow - Michael Innes (Dec/Jan 2021)

[Susan]

Welcome to our buddy read of There Came Both Mist And Snow first published in 1940 and the sixth in the Inspector Appleby series.

Stunning Belrive Priory, consisting of a mansion, park and medieval ruins, is surrounded by the noise and neon signs of its gaudy neighbours - a cotton-mill, a brewey and a main road. Nevertheless, Arthur Ferryman is pleased to return for a family Christmas, but is shocked to discover that his cousins have taken up a new pastime - pistol-shooting. Inspector Appleby arrives on the scene when one of Ferryman's cousins is found shot dead in the study, in a mystery built on family antagonisms.

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

[Judy]

Family tree for There Came Both Mist and Snow

Sir Basil Roper

Sister Margaret (deceased?)
Two sons: Wilfred Foxcroft, banker
Cecil Foxcroft, headmaster of a public school

Brother Hubert, painter
Son: Geoffrey, painter

Sister Lucy, popular novelist, widow of Charles Chigwidden

Arthur Ferryman, novelist – son of Basil’s aunt, Mary Roper
Niece: Anne Grainger, only daughter of Arthur’s deceased
sister Jean. Ward of Wilfred and in love with Geoffrey

Other visitors
Sir Mervyn Wale, doctor
Horace Cudbird, owner of brewery
Ralph Cambrell, owner of mill

[Judy]

Just opening up this thread ahead of the weekend. Who is reading this one? I've finished it and found it a very enjoyable read on the whole.

I had a couple of reservations with later plot twists which I'll mention in the spoiler thread, but I really liked the characters and the writing style once I got past the first chapter or so, which was a bit slow to get going. I hope the family tree/cast that I've posted in message 2 will be of some use to others.

[Abigail]

I started last night but was too tired and fell asleep very quickly. While I was still conscious, it was such a pleasure to fall back into the involutions of Michael Innes’s sentences! Thank you for this holiday treat!

[Rosina]

I am re-listening to this, read by Matt Addis (whose audio narration I find excellent). The family tree is very useful, though, in confirming who is who.

I like that we learn just a little of Appleby's background - and that he isn't a scion of a noble family, but a scholarship boy whose grandfather was a baker. Such a change from so many Golden Age detectives.

[Judy]

Glad you are both reading it, Abigail and Rosina. I think Appleby is fun in this although it is a while until he comes in.

[ChrisGA]

Sounds intriguing but can't find it on Scribd so will pass on this one.

[Judy]

It's on Kindle Unlimited (in the UK anyway) if you spot any free trials going, Chris.

[Sandy]

Also on Kindle Unlimited in US

[Judy]

Rosina has just mentioned in the spoiler thread that there is also an alternative US title, A Comedy of Terrors, if that helps anyone searching for a copy.

[ChrisGA]

Judy wrote: "It's on Kindle Unlimited (in the UK anyway) if you spot any free trials going, Chris."

Thanks for the info, Judy and Sandy