3.5*

A good country house murder mystery with retired Appleby still on the top of his form. ( )

An Appleby of the murder-in-a-large-country-house variety. Initially, I had some trouble really getting into it; Innes's elegant prose required more concentration than usual. ( )

Appleby may have retired from the yard but mysteries are still coming his way. this one has murder, art theft, and plenty of suspects. Also a number of literary references which add to the enjoyment of the mystery. I hadn't read one of this series in a long time and had forgotten that I rather liked them.

A good country house murder mystery with retired Appleby still on the top of his form. ( )

this is very much typical of late period innes - a master of his craft, not so much caring about writing a masterpiece but enjoying stretching his writing muscles and setting a fiendish puzzle. "appleby's other story" is no classic like "appleby's end", although it is delightfully witty and as light as a souffle. but it is... well... how do i put this? okay... the solution is perhaps the most stunningly cheeky bit of crime writing i have ever read. seriously, only a truly brilliant writer, fully aware of their own skills could bring off a bit of... well, sheer gall like the end of this book. it's astonishing. once i'd realised what innes had done i basically sat and shook with laughter and admiration that anyone could get away with it. i can't tell you anymore, but when you've finished it hopefully you'll see what i mean. cheeky sod! ( )