A Night of Errors (The Inspector Appleby Mysteries Book 11) by Michael Innes (Oct/Nov 23)

[Susan]

Welcome to our Oct/Nov 23 buddy read of A Night of Errors . Book 11 in the Inspector Appleby series this was published in 1947.

A gruelling night of shrouded motives and confused identities develops when the last of the Dromios is found murdered, with both of his hands burnt off. He was one of triplets, whose brothers had died in a fire forty years previously. Inspector Appleby wrenches the facts from a melodrama in which the final solution is written in fire.

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

[Judy]

Just opening up this buddy read - who is reading our latest Innes? I've just picked up an old hardback from the library, as the Kindle books are now quite expensive in the UK.

I took a peek inside and was immediately hooked - not very far in yet, but I'm really enjoying it so far.

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Rosina]

I have just started re-reading it.

I am loving all the literary references - the ones that I get, that is. I'm sure that there must be a lot that I just don't recognise.

I particularly liked the fact that with triplets, the Dromios could now have a little Socialist as well!

[Judy]

I rather like the fact that the triplets' father was called Sir Romeo Dromio! Rosina, I'm also enjoying the humour and the literary references, though there must be a lot that I don't recognise too.

[Judy]

I'm now about halfway through - finding this an easier read than some of the other Innes books we've read, but still very weird!

[Sarah]

I just started reading it, after getting an ancient copy through Link+ from the Oakland (CA) Public Library. It was given to me with the label "water damage/stain" and "worn cover/torn cover" boxes checked, with a written note: "Please handle with care." I don't think it's been checked out since December, 1963! I'm almost paranoid to turn the pages, but eager to read. Appleby hasn't appeared yet, and I'm on chapter 4.

[Sandy]

Sarah wrote: "I just started reading it, after getting an ancient copy through Link+ from the Oakland (CA) Public Library. It was given to me with the label "water damage/stain" and "worn cover/torn cover" boxes..."

How nice that the library trusted you to take it out, Mine would make me read it in the library.

[Sarah]

I'd feel as if I were reading a book at The British Library in London, asking for a library pass and ticket for one of J.I.M. Stewart's novels! In Oakland, California, they had to dig it up from their basement stacks. At least they didn't junk it. My own city library in Berkeley had a huge to-do in 2015 when community members discovered that 50,000 volumes were being "discarded" every year; the Director was fired and Board of Trustees voted out at the next election. I treasure the experience of holding this "water damaged, torn covered" book at home, handling with the utmost care, especially since Inspector Appleby has now arrived on the scene.