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Sir John Appleby #21
The Bloody Wood
An assorted party of guests have gathered at Charne, home of Charles Martineau and his ailing wife, Grace, including Sir John Appleby and his wife, Judith. Appleby's suspicions are soon aroused with the odd behaviour of Charles, and the curious last request of Grace - who desires that upon her death, Charles marries her favourite niece, Martine. When Charles and Grace die on the same day, foul play is suspected.
178 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
About the author
Michael Innes
119 books80 followersMichael Innes was the pseudonym of John Innes MacKintosh (J.I.M.) Stewart (J.I.M. Stewart).
He was born in Edinburgh, and educated at Edinburgh Academy and Oriel College, Oxford. He was Lecturer in English at the University of Leeds from 1930 - 1935, and spent the succeeding ten years as Jury Professor of English at the University of Adelaide, South Australia.
He returned to the United Kingdom in 1949, to become a Lecturer at the Queen's University of Belfast. In 1949 he became a Student (Fellow) of Christ Church, Oxford, becoming a Professor by the time of his retirement in 1973.
As J.I.M. Stewart he published a number of works of non-fiction, mainly critical studies of authors, including Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling, as well as about twenty works of fiction and a memoir, 'Myself and Michael Innes'.
As Michael Innes, he published numerous mystery novels and short story collections, most featuring the Scotland Yard detective John Appleby.
He was born in Edinburgh, and educated at Edinburgh Academy and Oriel College, Oxford. He was Lecturer in English at the University of Leeds from 1930 - 1935, and spent the succeeding ten years as Jury Professor of English at the University of Adelaide, South Australia.
He returned to the United Kingdom in 1949, to become a Lecturer at the Queen's University of Belfast. In 1949 he became a Student (Fellow) of Christ Church, Oxford, becoming a Professor by the time of his retirement in 1973.
As J.I.M. Stewart he published a number of works of non-fiction, mainly critical studies of authors, including Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling, as well as about twenty works of fiction and a memoir, 'Myself and Michael Innes'.
As Michael Innes, he published numerous mystery novels and short story collections, most featuring the Scotland Yard detective John Appleby.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 23, 2020
It amazes me how, using the same rather ornate style, Innes can produce humorous or suspenseful or deeply tragic stories. Grace Martineau knows she is dying. But before she succumbs, she hosts a small house party--just a few old friends and family. She also wants to take care of some business, like firing the butler, whose sinister activities have just been brought to her attention, and persuading her devoted husband Charles to marry her adopted niece Martine when Grace is no more. Charles has no intention of marrying again, and he'd rather thought Martine should marry his nephew and heir Bobby. But when Grace dies, it's not in the comfort of her own room, and the police are not sure that the death is of natural causes. There's a second death, to boot. Luckily, John and Judith Appleby are among the guests at the house party, and are able to step in to stop a murderer from getting away with fell deeds.
January 8, 2018
Hmm, well, a fun country house murder mystery with all the expected tropes. Nicely written.
May 28, 2011
The Bloody Wood by Michael Innes was first published in 1966 and is the twenty-first Appleby mystery out of about 37. This one involves the deaths of Grace and Charles Martineau, by drowning and bullet respectively. Grace Martineau was already a dying woman--did someone hasten her death or did she take the easy way out of a slow, painful ordeal? Or perhaps her husband helped her along and then took his own life? But then there are also other motives--filled with greed and fear. There is a large estate to inherit and there are secrets to be kept hidden. Sir John Appleby, Inspector with Scotland Yard, is on the scene and it will take all of his deductive powers to get to the bottom of the tangled mystery.
Generally speaking, I enjoy the Appleby mysteries by Michael Innes. They are literate and witty, albeit sometimes odd. I actually enjoy the more surreal stories. But this one, although it starts out very beautifully with literary references to nightingales and an undercurrent of the sinister, just really didn't do much for me. I spotted the culprit right away and found the investigation to be handled rather clumsily. At this point in Appleby's career, he has enough experience that the case should go down much more smoothly. And, apart from Appleby and his wife, Judith, there were no sympathetic characters. There was no one that it really mattered to me if they were the guilty party or not. If I were wrong in fingering the culprit, it would have made no difference to me. Any of the cast of characters could have been carted off to jail and it would not have mattered one bit. A thoroughly disappointing read by one of my favorite authors. Two stars.
Generally speaking, I enjoy the Appleby mysteries by Michael Innes. They are literate and witty, albeit sometimes odd. I actually enjoy the more surreal stories. But this one, although it starts out very beautifully with literary references to nightingales and an undercurrent of the sinister, just really didn't do much for me. I spotted the culprit right away and found the investigation to be handled rather clumsily. At this point in Appleby's career, he has enough experience that the case should go down much more smoothly. And, apart from Appleby and his wife, Judith, there were no sympathetic characters. There was no one that it really mattered to me if they were the guilty party or not. If I were wrong in fingering the culprit, it would have made no difference to me. Any of the cast of characters could have been carted off to jail and it would not have mattered one bit. A thoroughly disappointing read by one of my favorite authors. Two stars.
August 23, 2017
Blurb from Anthony Boucher describes Innes as "our most Jamesian mystery novelist." Actually not an unjustified claim, even if it might mislead.
October 16, 2017
Charles Matineau and his sickly wife Grace are having a house party though Grace doesn't have long to live. Included are John Appleby who worked for Scotland Yard and his wife. This book was very boring. Nothing happens for the first hundred pages. Even once a murder does occur the investigation is boring. I'm not sure why I won this book but I definitely won't read more in the series.
September 24, 2019
Too clever to follow. Lots of “fill in the gap” situations, requiring one to pay more attention than one really wanted to. It just wasn’t that riveting or coherent. I haven’t read any other of his books, but don’t think I’ll pursue them.
November 7, 2019
A bit of a meandering murder mystery, that seemed to just plod along.
A country house, a murder (or two) and of course the usual suspects all make for a good read but it did fail to keep me gripped.
Well written but just missing something in my opinion
3 solid stars 😉
A country house, a murder (or two) and of course the usual suspects all make for a good read but it did fail to keep me gripped.
Well written but just missing something in my opinion
3 solid stars 😉
June 29, 2023
A good read. I like Michael Innes' style. Style seems to be lacking in a lot of modern murder mysteries or at least good style. Lots of twists and turns until the end. I think the butler business could have been used better.
May 22, 2011
A country house murder, that almost can't be detected as a murder. Luckily, Appleby and his wife are there, and follow the threads. The story gives you all the details as they are discovered. I guessed some of the implications but was pleased that there were still surprises in store.
January 30, 2015
Old school mystery in a country home setting (there's even a mysterious butler!)
May 7, 2014
A good read. It did remind me of Downton Abbey.
November 8, 2014
I didn't find the storyline very strong, maybe I picked a bad one from the series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews