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Sir John Appleby #30
The Gay Phoenix
When tycoon, Charles Povey, is killed in a bizarre boating accident, his corrupt, look-alike brother, Arthur, adopts his identity and his financial empire. But the charade becomes complicated when one of Charles's many mistresses sees through the guise and blackmails Arthur. Enter retired detective, Sir John Appleby?
Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
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72 people want to read
About the author
Michael Innes
126 books90 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
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January 22, 2018This is a hardcover edition of the Gay Phoenix.
September 15, 2020
Although Sir John Appleby, a long-time series sleuth, plays a role here, this book is largely a character study of Arthur Povey, who is hit by the falling mast that kills his brother Charles as they share a Pacific voyage. It occurs to Arthur that it would be nice to be Charles, a very rich man with no inclination to share his money with an impecunious brother. By the time the injured man sails the boat to Australia, he's really ill, and the doctors are willing to convince him that he is Charles. When he gets back to England, though, there are a few people who recognize him as Arthur. As Charles' financial empire starts to collapse, it seems hard for Arthur himself to keep track of who he really is.
January 13, 2016
Very British! An appealing plot with with some British humor- a character named Butter goes "under cover" and calls himself Bread. It's a twist on crime novels. Instead of unfolding the solution to a crime, we know it at the beginning and watch the perpetrator get tangled in his clever cover ups. Inspector Appleby applies his usual logic to get at the truth - or does he?
December 7, 2020
One never knows what the reader will get from an Appleby book. Now that he's retired from the police and living in a manor in rural England, Appleby doesn't do any more detecting or policing. But he still keeps being involved in odd cases because Innes kept thinking up new ideas.
In this one, you get almost all the story before Appleby even shows up: a man decides he'll take his wealthy brother's identity. The story is told in segments alternating between Appleby's domestic, er, bliss and the antagonist's struggles to maintain his new identity.
Its kind of a clever idea, but not easy to see stretched into a full book, and Appleby spends most of the book a bystander not even involved. Ultimately, there's not even a crime, and I was not very happy with the book. Its well written of course, and interesting things happen but it just isn't a mystery or a crime novel in any sense.
In this one, you get almost all the story before Appleby even shows up: a man decides he'll take his wealthy brother's identity. The story is told in segments alternating between Appleby's domestic, er, bliss and the antagonist's struggles to maintain his new identity.
Its kind of a clever idea, but not easy to see stretched into a full book, and Appleby spends most of the book a bystander not even involved. Ultimately, there's not even a crime, and I was not very happy with the book. Its well written of course, and interesting things happen but it just isn't a mystery or a crime novel in any sense.
August 4, 2020
Somewhat unsatisfactory as an Inspector Appleby book. More sordid than usual, and an untidy finish.
Still, Innes is so good at wordplay I can't regret having read it. I do tend to regret owning rather than regret owning rather than borrowing this one.
Still, Innes is so good at wordplay I can't regret having read it. I do tend to regret owning rather than regret owning rather than borrowing this one.
May 13, 2018
The first part is an uncomfortable tale of a stolen identity and I had to put it aside for awhile. Then the retired Sir John Appleby steps in and the tale picks up as he figures out what is going on.
January 17, 2023
25 pages of plot in a 171 page bag.
May 25, 2016
Charles and Arthur Povey set out on a boating adventure. Charles is the rich brother who can afford to keep a yacht and Arthur is the less affluent brother with the sailing skills. His skills prove useless, however, when they run into a storm which leaves the boat mast-less and one brother dead (courtesy of the falling mast). When the remaining brother is picked up and brought to the hospital in Adelaide, Australia, he seems a bit delirious and insists that he is Arthur. But all the physical evidence (including a missing index finger) seems to prove that the survivor is actually Charles. The doctors actually seem (as Povey puts it) to "bully" him into being Charles. So, who really survived? Has Arthur, as he has been wont to do throughout his life, taken advantage of a golden opportunity to slip into a more cushy way of life? Has he pulled a double-bluff--forcing the doctors to change his identity for him? And, if so, will he get away with it scot-free? It would seem not--people from the brothers' past keep popping up--with blackmail on their minds. They all want a ride on the gravy train--hush money to keep them from telling what they know. About Arthur. About Charles. And about somebody else called Alcorn.
And then there's retired detective Sir John Appleby. He just happens to live in the area where Arthur/Charles winds up going to ground (at the instigation of a few of those blackmailing folks). Appleby is at loose ends with little to keep him occupied and his new neighbor draws his attention. What little he finds out about him reminds Appleby of a story a doctor in Australia told (with names change to protect the "innocent") and the retired detective's instincts tell him there's more to the story than meets the eye. He finally figures out which brother survived....or does he?
The Innes detective novels have a way of veering off the beaten mystery path. This is one of the more bizarre offerings and I must admit it's not really my cup of tea. We know from the beginning what happened and to whom/by whom (or do we?) and we're waiting throughout the novel to see if Povey will be exposed. But the journey to the end isn't particularly interesting or engaging to the crime fiction fan. The best bits are the portions devoted to Appleby and his wife. Lady Appleby is a lovely character and the book is worth it just for her interactions with Jane Birch-Blackie in the in Linger Stores. Not exactly my idea of a detective story--but a fairly good character study.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
And then there's retired detective Sir John Appleby. He just happens to live in the area where Arthur/Charles winds up going to ground (at the instigation of a few of those blackmailing folks). Appleby is at loose ends with little to keep him occupied and his new neighbor draws his attention. What little he finds out about him reminds Appleby of a story a doctor in Australia told (with names change to protect the "innocent") and the retired detective's instincts tell him there's more to the story than meets the eye. He finally figures out which brother survived....or does he?
The Innes detective novels have a way of veering off the beaten mystery path. This is one of the more bizarre offerings and I must admit it's not really my cup of tea. We know from the beginning what happened and to whom/by whom (or do we?) and we're waiting throughout the novel to see if Povey will be exposed. But the journey to the end isn't particularly interesting or engaging to the crime fiction fan. The best bits are the portions devoted to Appleby and his wife. Lady Appleby is a lovely character and the book is worth it just for her interactions with Jane Birch-Blackie in the in Linger Stores. Not exactly my idea of a detective story--but a fairly good character study.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews