Michael Innes Libros

Desde el momento en que el rector del St. Anthony’s College aparece muerto en su biblioteca, el escándalo está asegurado, pues las únicas personas con motivos para asesinarlo —una legión de excéntricos y grandilocuentes profesores— resultan ser aquellas que tuvieron la oportunidad de hacerlo. Los esfuerzos de sus colegas por ofrecer unas sólidas coartadas que sirvan a la vez para inculpar a sus enemigos académicos, así como sus particulares divagaciones intelectuales, harán que la tarea del inspector Appleby y el agente Dodd no resulte sencilla en absoluto, ya que nada en ese caso es lo que parece a simple vista, ni siquiera la muerte... Innes tomó como modelo el entorno docente de los antiguos colleges de Oxford que tan bien conocía para componer una esmerada trama detectivesca de corte clásico, a la par que una divertidísima burla de las costumbres de sus eruditos compañeros.

En Scamnum, el extraordinario palacio propiedad de los banqueros Crispin, se escenifica Hamlet, el drama shakespeariano. Los invitados, amigos de la familia y pertenecientes a la más alta sociedad, son los actores. En medio de la representación se oye un disparo y Polonio, oculto tras los cortinajes, cae muerto. Tres días antes, algunos de los asistentes habían recibido unos amenazadores mensajes escritos que hablaban de venganza. Pero optaron por pensar que era una broma.

When Inspector Appleby's car breaks down on a deserted road one dark night, he happens upon an imposing mansion, whose windows are all illuminated. His sense of curiosity gets the better of him when he discovers that the front door is wide open, and he gets a funny feeling of being watched as he wanders round this splendid house, looking for signs of life. When he finds an elaborate feast laid out, he wonders who is expected...

Clusters, a great country house, is troubled by bats, as Lord and Lady Osprey complain to their guests, who include first rate detective, Sir John Appleby. In the matter of bats, Appleby is indifferent, but he is soon faced with a real challenge - the murder of Lord Osprey, stabbed with an ornate dagger in the library.

During a walk to Elvedon House, palatial home of the Tythertons, Sir John Appleby and Chief Constable Colonel Pride are stunned to find a police van and two cars parked outside. Wealthy Maurice Tytherton has been found shot dead, and Appleby is faced with a number of suspects - Alice Tytherton, flirtatious, younger wife of the deceased; Egon Raffaello, disreputable art dealer; and the prodigal son, Mark Tytherton, who has just returned from Argentina. Could the death be linked to the robbery of some paintings several years ago?

Sir John Appleby is assigned to investigate the disappearance of Howard Juniper, a scientist who has been working with a deadly strain of bacteria

When young student David Henchman decides to escape his boisterous classmates by spending a day in the country, he doesn't count on coming across a man with a bullet hole in his head. Now it is up to the intuitive Sir John Appleby to solve the ingenious crime. Originally published by Dodd, Mead.

This collection features five notable works of classic crime fiction, showcasing the talents of prominent authors in the genre. The stories delve into intricate plots, exploring themes of morality, justice, and the human psyche. Josephine Tey's "The Franchise Affair" presents a gripping narrative centered on a wrongful accusation of kidnapping, examining societal prejudices and the quest for truth. Michael Innes's "Hamlet, Revenge!" blends elements of Shakespearean drama with a modern mystery, as a detective navigates a web of intrigue surrounding a theatrical production. Margery Allingham's "The Crime at Black Dudley" introduces the character of Albert Campion, an amateur sleuth who uncovers a murder during a weekend gathering at a country estate, highlighting themes of deception and class dynamics. Edmund Crispin's "The Moving Toyshop" features the eccentric detective Gervase Fen, who investigates a puzzling crime that combines humor with intellectual challenge. Lastly, G. K. Chesterton's "The Innocence of Father Brown" introduces the titular priest-detective, whose keen insight into human nature allows him to solve various crimes, emphasizing themes of faith and morality. Each story offers a unique perspective on crime and detection, reflecting the diverse approaches within classic literature.