Operation Pax (The Inspector Appleby Mysteries Book 12) - SPOILER Thread - (Feb/March 24)

[Susan]

Welcome to our Feb/March 24 buddy read of Operation Pax aka The Paper Thunderbolt). This is Book 12 in the Inspector Appleby series and was first published in 1951.

Petty con man Alfred Routh thinks a place like Milton Manor outside Oxford will have something nice to steal. When he learns what is inside, however, he is desperate to steal away with his life . . .

Meanwhile, Sir John Appleby from Scotland Yard is headed to Oxford to help his sister Jane. Her fiancé, a war hero and promising academic, has gone missing and many are concerned for his safety. But he’s not the only recent disappearance in the area.

As Appleby’s investigation begins, things only get more bizarre. The trail of clues leads him and Jane through the city of Oxford to the grounds of Milton Manor and the terrifying secrets within . . .

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

[Jill]

This really was action-packed! There wasn't that much about Oxford, as most of it took place just outside, however the description of the Bodleian Library was quite something. I wouldn't know how reliable it was, but it sounded plausible to me. Appleby didn't really have a large part in it, but his sister did, and I really liked Roger Remnant, so was pleased that she ended up with him.
This is the first of Innes books I have given 4 stars.

[Judy]

Jill wrote: "This really was action-packed! There wasn't that much about Oxford, as most of it took place just outside, however the description of the Bodleian Library was quite something...."

I agree, Jill - this was quite hard to put down, which I haven't found with the other Innes books so far. The whole section in the Bodleian Library was very tense and I felt the book would make a great film.

I also liked both Jane and Roger Remnant, and was hoping Geoffrey would turn out to be a villain to leave the way clear for Roger!

[Abigail]

Finished, and with mixed feelings. I tend to prefer Innes’s more grounded, everyday plots to his stories that envision vast criminal conspiracies; there’s always too strong an element of the ridiculous about the latter. Nevertheless, the book’s twists and turns kept me riveted by suspense, and I always love Innes’s prose.

I suspect that Bultitude was initially envisioned as the villain, but while writing, Innes became so enamored of Remnant’s character that he made a last-minute change.

My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

[Judy]

Bultitude did seem as if he must be a villain, but I took it that he was a brilliant red herring! Great review, Abigail. I would have said I also preferred more grounded plots, but got really caught up in this one and loved it.

[Abigail]

Thanks for the kind words!

[Ellen]

When Bultitude drove out of the manor and met Appleby I thought he was guilty and wondered why he was allowed to get away. I so very seldom get the villain right.