Michael Innes has a flair for painting the scene. He is a gifted wordsmith. This Inspector Appleby mystery does occasionally get bogged down in extraneous detail. but overall the action and humor roll smoothly. This tale is set in post war Britain in the mid 20th century and the atmosphere and dialogue ring true to that era. An enjoyable read.

What I like about the Inspector Appleby novels is that they're all different - they vary from action packed to being full of cerebral problem solving. This one satirises the art world and modern art, with lots of unusual detail, including a Victorian themed nightclub, eccentric aristocrats and starving artists. All finished off with a nail biting chase at the end. A great and enjoyable read.

I posted a full review for this book on Amazon.

I cannot c/p into this form on a Kindle and Net Valley will not let me access the site on my desktop.

This book, like other Appleby mysteries I have read, is a mixed bag of boredom and pretentious language, suddenly enlivened by wonderful action..

The main plot involves an art theft and murder and several gangs of crooks. When Lady Judith Appleby joins the hunt the story picks up and becomes entertaining and well done.

There are a few too many coincidences for this to be a great mystery. But, it is a good one.

I had read some of the earliest Appleby stories and really liked them. Then I got bogged down in a couple that were very introspective, slow paced and almost boring at times. However not all were like that. So, when I was offered this a
s a free read for my review, I naturally jumped on it.

Pleasantly surprised was I. I loved the pace, the wrenching involvement of Lady Appleby and the intricacy of the plot. The plotline was so twisted that it was impossible for me to unravel. And I frequently do. But the opening of books like this should always be regarded!

Worth your time, you readers of Golden Age writers!

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. A murder mystery with lots of adventure, twists, humour and wit.
The first chapter sets the tone, with a touch of P G Wodehouse. The action fairly zips along. I've only read a couple of "Appleby" stories but this has been the best so far and has left me wanting more.

I was full of praise for Operation Pax but thought A Private View was less successful. A young artist is found murdered. Two valuable paintings are stolen from a stately home. Sir John Appleby and his wife Judith visit a private view of paintings by the late artist. Somehow, these events are connected and it’s quite a puzzle to see how everything fits. What put me off the book was that Sir John and his wife seem to take leave of their senses. On the very same evening, each does some private investigation which puts them in serious danger. I couldn’t believe that a sane, intelligent woman (especially one with a baby at home), would go poking around dark corners of London at night and alone. Of course, neither can contact the other so Judith doesn’t even have the comfort of hoping that her husband will rescue her. She does find out a lot of useful information which will help to fit together the pieces of the puzzle but Sir John’s activities are nothing but reckless derring-do. All the real police work is done by Appleby’s trusty deputy, Cadover, a very impressive chap. The best thing in the book is a long nighttime car chase through the English countryside, with Judith in a dream-like state. My favourite character was the down-to-earth Duke of Horton, owner of the missing paintings. I read this as a member of the Crime Classics Review Club.

This is a cracking Michael Innes novel, showcasing the novelist at his best. Both Appleby and his wife, Judith, are integral to the plot. That is, if they hadn’t been at a private view of pictures by a new, sadly recently murdered, artist, there would have been no story.

Innes skewers the pretentiousness of the artistic world by putting phrases like “A determined effort to disintegrate reality in the interest of the syncretic principle”. He is also very perceptive about how an ambition to be an artist is completely at odds with an ambition to be artistic. Very subtle and very very illuminating when you read his suggestions (as expounded by the characters in the novel, of course).

Oh, how I loved the scene where Appleby is taking on thugs in a junk shop! The villain biting Appleby in the leg; the exchange of missiles: a plaster fish, the stack of dinner plates; the “veritable jungle growth of mangles, whatnots, and jardinières.” And, of course, the marbles: “Not Gulliver in Brobdingnag was more cruelly assaulted. Old Moe – it would have been possible upon reflection to guess - had been planning a commercial operation of major importance: nothing less than that of securing a corner in children’s marbles. And now the entire stock was running down through space…” When you buy the book and reach this bit, slow down, take a breath and savour the description of the battle. Picture it with the middle-aged hero of your choice pitted against a gang: maybe Stratford Johns vs George Cole? David Niven vs the Marx Brothers? Choose your weapon? I choose dinner plates!

And then the more serious armed battle at the end of the book with Appleby inside a van parked over a fire… Yes, Judith ensures he gets free – what a woman!

If I could give this six stars, I would…

I wasn’t too sure of this book at the beginning but it developed into an engaging and entertaining read. Although the personal element threatened to dominate, Innes never loses the narrative imperative, the clues, the intellectual engagement and the chase. Judith develops from a seemingly focused arty socialite to an observant, determined minor participant.

I found her sleuthing annoying in places - visiting crime scenes in the dark on impulse, for example, taking risks that are likely to end up diverting police resources. On the other hand, this is no more than her trained and respected husband does, so why wouldn’t she?

Against this is the emergence of Cadover as a reliable, clear-thinking, thorough and intelligent operative, restoring some balance, analysis and process, that in the end ensures the information gained from risk can be put to use. This balancing of forms of intelligence, assessment of personality and nuanced psychology is a good part of the book.s strength and charm.

This series has matured and developed in the books I have read - another plus.

Yeah. I couldn't get into this one. Mostly for two reasons...I didn't read the first 12 books in the series and the subject matter is kind of boring to me.
I tried really hard. I finished the book. It was a struggle if I'm honest. And I kinda feel bad for that.

Appleby reluctantly accompanies his artist wife to a private viewing of the works of an artist whose death is under investigation, when one of the works of art is stolen from right under his nose. But all is not as it seems and adventure awaits. The story features many wonderfully intelligent characters, including Mrs. Appleby and the intrepid Inspector Cadover, an intriguing interwoven plot and many hilarious situations. Great fun!

Michael Innes is one of my favorite authors! His writing is both erudite and accessible, and always a joy to read. This novel is especially fun if you've read others in the Inspector Appleby series, as it includes a window into Appleby's private life and we get to know more about his wife. The mystery takes place in the London art world of the 1950s and is a fascinating glimpse into a way of life very different from what most people experience in 2018.

A very clever written book, and not only is the puzzle intriguing but we et to see more of the family life of Sir John Appleby, a bit older but the same cleverness.
Michael Innes generally always pleases, written in the style of the golden age, this book really appeals to fans of classic mystery fiction. I really enjoy the book, had a lot of trouble putting it down, and when I finished it, I was very satisfied.

This is my first Inspector Appleby novel which are being re-issued and I'll be buying the others in the series.

Inspector Appleby is taken to an exhibition for a young artist who was recently found murdered. During the exhibition a painting is stolen and Appleby becomes embroiled in the art smuggling world. Theres a sense of fun to the book and a cast of weird and wonderful characters with bizarre situations.

I found this a slow burner but it drew you in and I enjoyed the story as it went along. I wanted to know how it would finish which kept me perserveing.

Another bizarre and fantastic case for Appleby, this time involving art fraud. Innes has much satirical fun at the expense of modern art and artists, and his scathing wit is in clear evidence throughout. This probably isn't the best in terms of pure detection but the weird universe of Innes' crime novels is just so much fun! Wonderful that these books are being reissued on Kindle.