3.5★

This 19th entry in the Appleby series was a more traditional police-based mystery though I hesitate to call it a police procedural as very little procedure is followed! Sir John is drawn into investigating a potential case of forged forgeries (!) just as Sir Gabriel Gulliver, an old family friend of his wife, asks him to look into the willful disappearance of a beautiful girl with an unknown Rembrandt. Some aspects of the plot were a little predictable but there were enough twists to keep me satisfied. ( )

If the forgeries of a master-forger become collectible, is it worth faking them? Apparently so. But who would have thought it would lead to murder? Fortunately, Sir John Appleby is on the case.

The thoroughly enjoyable erudite lunacy of Michael Innes at his best is on show here. ( )

This 19th entry in the Appleby series was a more traditional police-based mystery though I hesitate to call it a police procedural as very little procedure is followed! Sir John is drawn into investigating a potential case of forged forgeries (!) just as Sir Gabriel Gulliver, an old family friend of his wife, asks him to look into the willful disappearance of a beautiful girl with an unknown Rembrandt. Some aspects of the plot were a little predictable but there were enough twists to keep me satisfied. ( )

I thought this was much better the first time I read it. Innes' always erudite Appleby has to track down the bad guys who are killing art experts. The story unfolds in a slow, almost dreamlike pace, and it's always a bit startling when Appleby barks out a command, or does something outside of his usual mild demeanor. The book stops short about thirty pages before a modern mystery would end. The book will be most appealing to those who can easily follow all the references to art, literature, and poetry, but it's not required to enjoy the story. ( )

Appleby is asked to look into a series of art forgeries. But his involvement gets a little too personal when his wife disappears. ( )