On this page

This page lists novels, short story collections and omnibus editionsthat feature the English policeman John Appleby. At the start of the series of novels Appleby is a Detective Inspector based at Scotland Yard. Subsequently he is Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police (Sir John Appleby), and then a retired policeman who still solves crimes.

Cover images are usually of an early UK edition and a more recent digital or paperback edition.

Death at the President's Lodging

Michael Innes

1936

A John Appleby novel. Some US editions have the title Seven Suspects.

"The members of St Anthony’s College awake one bleak November morning to find the most chilling of crimes has happened in their quiet, contained college. Josiah Umpleby, President of the college, has been shot in his room during the night. The college buzzes with supposition and speculation. Orchard Ground and the lodgings are particularly insulated: only a limited number of senior staff have access and even fewer have their own keys. With the killer walking among them, Inspector John Appleby of the New Scotland Yard is called in to investigate. As tensions rise and accusations abound, can Appleby determine which of the seven suspects had motive and malice enough to murder a colleague in cold blood?."

Hamlet, Revenge!

Michael Innes

1937

A John Appleby novel.

"A vast and glittering party, attended by the pinnacles of society, is held at the expansive Seamnum Court. The high-profile guests mill about the sweeping estate. All is pleasant and cordial. Or is it? As the guests prepare for their amateur production of Hamlet, thinly veiled threats are secretly delivered among attendees. As tensions mount, the Duke of Horton, The Lord Chancellor of England, is killed during his portrayal of Polonius. With the spectre of war looming, it seems that espionage may be afoot. The Prime Minister dispatches Inspector John Appleby to investigate. But within hours of Appleby’s arrival, he has another body on his hands. Acting on orders, Appleby attempts to locate a sensitive government document. But as he searches for clues, he finds he may be stuck in a calculated game of personal vengeance. In this closed quarters party, Appleby must unearth the motive to find the killer with a deadly grudge."

Lament for a Maker

Michael Innes

1938

A John Appleby novel.

"Something is amiss at a remote castle isolated in the Scottish Highlands. Raving recluse Ranald Guthrie, much despised laird of Erchany, has been wandering his halls obsessively reciting an old Scottish poem: Timor mortis conturbat me. Fear of death disturbs me… In the depths of a howling winter night, Guthrie falls to his death from the tower of his castle. Inspector Appleby is called in to investigate this deadly accident. Immersing himself in the lonesome world in which Guthrie spent his final days, Appleby must separate dreadful truth from chilling legend to determine what really happened on that terrible night. Was this truly an accident? Was Guthrie driven mad enough to take his own life? Or does something darker lurk within this gothic castle?"

Stop Press

Michael Innes

1939

A John Appleby novel. Some US editions published as The Spider Strikes.

"Richard Eliot has written bestselling crime novels for years. Begun as means to fund his son’s education at Eton, his protagonist 'the Spider' started out as a cunning criminal and later evolved into an ingenious investigator. Despite the series success, Mr Eliot is tiring of his own invention and is looking forward to retiring. But there’s someone out there who doesn’t want him to stop… When Eliot’s manuscripts start rewriting themselves overnight, it seems the Spider has stepped right off the page and into real life. He commits a crime only to provide an anonymous tip to solve the case. Things get even more bizarre when the Spider starts enacting plots that only ever existed in the author’s mind. Harangued within an inch of his sanity, Eliot calls in Inspector John Appleby to get to the bottom of this twisted game. With the line between fact and fiction so tangled, will Appleby be able to unravel the mystery before the Spider strikes again?."

The Secret Vanguard

Michael Innes

1940

A John Appleby novel.

"On an ordinary train journey to Scotland, Sheila Grant becomes embroiled in a plot that is anything but: a chemist has gone missing, an artist has been kidnapped, and a poet has been murdered. As Sheila begins to understand the enormity of the situation, she realizes her life is in grave danger and must flee across the Scottish Highlands in search of assistance and a man named Appleby. In London, Appleby is trying to piece together a kidnapping, a death, and a disappearance as the world wavers on the brink of another war. He has no idea he is Sheila’s best hope of survival. When the clock is ticking and no one is quite who they claim to be… will Appleby find Sheila before it’s too late?"

There Came Both Mist and Snow

Michael Innes

1940

A John Appleby novel. Some US editions published as A Comedy of Terrors.

"It’s coming on Christmas, and Arthur Ferryman is headed to his ancestral home, Belrive Priory. Looking forward to a peaceful holiday, Arthur’s serenity is quickly interrupted by a horde of his cousins brandishing revolvers. Shooting, it seems, is their hobby du jour. This ancient estate has remained unchanged for centuries. As the area is invaded by neon signs, textile factories, and smells from the brewery, Belrive Priory has timelessly stood its ground. But when the family learns that their cousin Basil intends to sell the estate, fault lines begin to appear. Furtive glances, cryptic rumours, and clandestine meetings abound. A secret family quarrel and anticipation of the mysterious Mr X’s arrival keep everyone on their toes, and it seems none of the trigger-happy relations can be trusted when one of the party is found shot. With Arthur harbouring secrets and a few grudges of his own, will Inspector Appleby be able to crack this case before any further 'accidents' transpire or will the shooter finally hit his mark?"

Appleby on Ararat

Michael Innes

1941

A John Appleby novel.

"Inspector Appleby is stranded on a very strange island, with a rather odd bunch of people - too many men, too few women (and one of them too attractive) cause a deal of trouble. But that is nothing compared to later developments, including the body afloat in the water, and the attack by local inhabitants."

The Daffodil Affair

Michael Innes

1942

A John Appleby novel.

"In the midst of the Blitz, a house in Bloomsbury disappears. In York and London, two young girls have been kidnapped. And in Harrogate, a cab horse named Daffodil has gone missing. Appleby is sent to look into the Daffodil affair, while vice detective Hudspith investigates the cases of human trafficking. But they must work in tandem to piece this mystery together. And they soon find that the links among the disappearances are odder than they could possibly imagine: the house is haunted, one is girl a witch, the other has multiple personalities, and the horse can count. Whoever is behind this is trafficking in marvels. Appleby and Hudspith pursue their victims deep into the South American jungle where they discover the terrifying sprawl of this bizarre vision. Surrounded by rivers filled with alligators and the swirling mist of the Amazon, the pair are confronted with questions of magic and the supernatural. But when the madman’s machinations turn to the two police officers, Appleby must race against the clock to stop this weird experiment before it costs him his life."

The Weight of the Evidence

Michael Innes

1943

A John Appleby novel.

"Nesfield University has awoken to a bizarre discovery: Professor Pluckrose is dead, apparently struck down by a falling meteorite. Inspector Appleby is called and it soon becomes clear that the meteorite didn’t fall from the sky, but from the tower looming above a courtyard in which the Professor routinely took his breaks. Was Pluckrose’s death an unfortunate accident? Or is there a murderer lurking in Nesfield’s hallowed halls? Navigating the competing accounts of rival academics, each with their own motivations, agendas and egos, Appleby struggles to join the dots. And when every conversation unveils a new suspect Appleby feels the truth slipping further and further from his grasp. Drawn in to the suffocating world of university jealousies and obsessions, will Appleby reveal the truth… or has he finally met his intellectual match?"

Appleby's End

Michael Innes

1945

A John Appleby novel.

"Strange things have been happening in Snarl: missing animals have been replaced with marble effigies; ominous tombstones have arrived predicting future deaths. Detective Inspector John Appleby is travelling by train to consult on the case. His journey is interrupted, however, when the inscrutable Mr. Raven informs Appleby that he won’t make his connection, and seems more than keen to offer Appleby a place to sleep for the night. Appleby is charmed by this kindness, but is soon plagued by second thoughts. As the train compartment fills, Appleby notices a striking resemblance between the passengers: the same long nose, the same cold eyes… soon he is faced with the entire Raven family. What could these strangers possibly want with Appleby? As Appleby learns more about the Ravens and their novelist relative, Ranulph, he begins to suspect a connection to his case. Do the Ravens have sinister intentions, or are they the key to solving the mystery? In this bizarre little town filled with curious characters and troubling tales, should Appleby feel safe, or should he have seen the signs?"

A Night of Errors

Michael Innes

1947

A John Appleby novel.

"On a hot summer night, Sir John Appleby is dragged from his newly-wedded bliss to investigate a disturbing crime that predates itself. It seems the Dromio family history is steeped in both legend and tragedy. With a long-unbroken tradition of twin male heirs, Sir Romeo Dromio lost his mind when his wife gave birth to triplets. In a fit of madness, he set the nursery on fire and rescued only one of his infant sons. Now, the family business is failing, and the surviving triplet Oliver has gone abroad in search of a solution to their ailing fortunes. Lady Dromio and her adopted daughter, Lucy, anxiously await his return, and tensions run high as his arrival home draws near. Lady Dromio fusses over the service, the Reverend is hallucinating, Lucy’s odd remarks become sinister threats, and Mrs Gollifer is hiding something. The household squabbles are drawn to an abrupt halt when Oliver is found dead in the study, his body smoldering in the fireplace. And when another body shows up, Appleby must sift through family secrets, spurned lovers, and false confessions to identify the killer before the whole thing goes up in flames."

Operation Pax

Michael Innes

1951

A John Appleby novel. Some US editions published as The Paper Thunderbolt.

"On the outskirts of Oxford, a hapless criminal, Alfred Routh, lurks outside the walls of the intriguing Milton Pocorum, considering the likely riches within. But after a knock on the head, Routh comes to within the walls only to find it entirely bizarre and possibly life-threatening. Tame lions, sinister laboratories, and talk of a mysterious ‘director’ have Routh fleeing for his life. Meanwhile, Sir John Appleby is on his way to Oxford – the fiancé of his sister, Jane, is missing. Geoffrey Ourglass is something of an academic marvel at Bede’s College: a war hero and burgeoning scientist, his disappearance has the dons in a state. Rumours of a man on the run buzz around Oxford, enigmatic notes appear, cryptic phone calls roll in, and the spate of disappearances continues… something unsettling is afoot, and Jane suspects it all might be connected to her missing fiancé. In an adventure that tumbles through the stacks of the Bodleian Library to the bowels of the city of Oxford, Appleby and his heartbroken sister must unravel a series of increasingly baffling clues in pursuit of the maniacal madman at the centre of it all."

A Private View

Michael Innes

1952

A John Appleby novel. Published in the US as One-Man Show. Some US editions possibly published as Murder Is an Art.

"Sir John Appleby is annoyed at being dragged to a private view of a young artist’s work. But when he is told the exhibition is for Gavin Limbert, recently found shot dead in his apartment, his suspicions are piqued. When Limbert’s most famous piece is stolen during the show, Appleby finds himself plunged in the dark and dangerous world of art smuggling. With one masterpiece missing and others disappearing, can Appleby solve this mystery in one night before any more art – or any more lives – are lost forever?"

Appleby Talking: 23 Detective Stories

Michael Innes

1954

John Appleby short stories. Published in the US as Dead Man's Shoes.

"Arbuthnot is paying for a rash decision - he recently married a beautiful but slightly amoral girl whose crazy antics caught his rather cynical professional interest. His wife has taken a lover, Rupert Slade, and Arbuthnot wants nothing more than to see him dead - but the last thing he expected was that he'd walk into his living room and find just that! Inspector Appleby shares the details of this and many other fascinating crimes in this un-missable collection."The stories are:

• Appleby's First Case
• Pokerwork
• The Spendlove Papers
• The Furies
• Eye Witness
• The Bandertree Case
• The Key
• The Flight Of Patroclus
• The Clock-Face Case
• Miss Geach
• Tragedy Of A Handkerchief
• The Cave Of Belarius
• A Nice Cup Of Tea
• The Sands Of Thyme
• The X-Plan
• Lesson In Anatomy
• Imperious Cæsar
• The Clancarron Ball
• A Dog's Life
• A Derby Horse
• William The Conqueror
• Dead Man's Shoes
• The Lion The Unicorn
• Dead Man's Shoes

Appleby Talks Again: 18 Detective Stories

Michael Innes

1956

A John Appleby novel.

"In typical Appleby fashion, these mysteries are as comical as they are perplexing and endlessly entertaining."The stories are:

• A Matter Of Goblins
• Was He Morton?
• Dangerfield's Diary
• Grey's Ghost
• False Colours
• The Ribbon
• The Exile
• Enigma Jones
• The Heritage Portrait
• Murder On The 7.16
• A Very Odd Case
• The Four Seasons
• Here Is The News
• The Reprisal
• Bear's Box
• Tom, Dick And Harry
• The Lombard Books
• The Mouse-Trap

Appleby Plays Chicken

Michael Innes

1957

A John Appleby novel. Published in the US as Death on a Quiet Day.

"David was hiking across Dartmoor, pleased to have escaped the oppressively juvenile and sometimes perilous behaviour of his fellow undergraduates. As far as he could tell, he was the only human being for miles - but it turns out that he was the only living human being for miles. At least, that is what he presumed when he found a dead man on top of the tor."

The Long Farewell

Michael Innes

1958

A John Appleby novel.

"Lewis Packford, the great Shakespearean scholar, was thought to have discovered a book annotated by the Bard - but there is no trace of this valuable object when Packford apparently commits suicide. Sir John Appleby finds a mixed bag of suspects at the dead man's house, who might all have a good motive for murder. The scholars and bibliophiles who were present might have been tempted by the precious document in Packford's possession. And Appleby discovers that Packford had two secret marriages, and that both of these women were at the house at the time of his death."

Hare Sitting Up

Michael Innes

1959

A John Appleby novel.

"When a germ-warfare expert goes missing, his twin brother impersonates him as a cover-up, but for how long can this last? Inspector Appleby is sent on a series of wild goose chases, which take him to a preparatory school, to the estate of an eccentric earl, and to a remote Atlantic rock, before a truly shocking climax."

Silence Observed

Michael Innes

1961

A John Appleby novel.

"Respected Fine Art experts are deceived in one of the most intriguing murder cases Inspector Appleby has ever faced, beginning with Gribble, a collector of forgeries whose latest acquisition is found to be a forged forgery! In the words of Appleby himself: Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad. Just a little mad, for a start. Inclined, say, to unreasonable jokes in the course of business. But later - well, very mad indeed."

A Connoisseur's Case

Michael Innes

1962

A John Appleby novel. Published in the US as published as The Crabtree Affair.

"When John Appleby's wife, Judith, sets eyes on Scroop House, she insists that they introduce themselves to the owners - a suggestion that makes her sometimes reserved husband turn very pale. When Judith hears the village gossip about the grand house, she is even more intrigued; but when a former employee is found dead in the lock of the disused canal, and the immense wealth of Scroop's contents is revealed, Appleby has a gripping investigation on his hands."

The Bloody Wood

Michael Innes

1966

A John Appleby novel.

"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."

Appleby at Allington

Michael Innes

1968

A John Appleby novel. Published in the US as Death by Water.

"Sir John Appleby dines one evening at Allington Park, the Georgian home of his acquaintance Owain Allington, who is new to the area. His curiosity is aroused when Allington mentions his nephew and heir to the estate, Martin Allington, whose name Appleby recognises. The evening comes to an end but just as Appleby is leaving, they find a dead man - electrocuted in the son et lumière box which had been installed in the grounds."

A Family Affair

Michael Innes

1969

A John Appleby novel. Published in the US as Picture of Guilt.

"Over a period of twenty years, a series of highly elaborate art hoaxes have been perpetrated at carefully time intervals, and in each case, the victim has a very good reason for keeping quiet. Inspector Appleby's interest is kindled by an amusing dinner-party anecdote - when he enlists the help of his wife and son, the ensuing investigation is truly a family affair. The scenes shift swiftly between glorious stately homes and the not-so-glorious art gallery of the irrepressibly dubious Hildebert Braunkopf."

Death at the Chase

Michael Innes

1970

A John Appleby novel.

"When master sleuth, Appleby, leaps over a stile during a country stroll, he is apprehended by an irate Martyn Ashmore, owner of the land on which Appleby has unwittingly trespassed. But when the misunderstanding is cleared up, eccentric, aged Ashmore reveals that he is in fear for his life - once every year, someone attempts to murder him. Is it the French Resistance, or a younger Ashmore on the make? When Martyn dies, Appleby sets out to find who exactly is responsible."

An Awkward Lie

Michael Innes

1971

A John Appleby novel.

"Sir John Appleby's son, Bobby, assumes his father's detective role in this baffling crime. When Bobby finds a dead man, in a bunker on a golf course, he notices something rather strange - the first finger of the man's right hand is missing. A young girl approaches the scene and offers to watch the body while Bobby goes for help, but when he returns with the police in tow, the body and the girl are missing."

The Open House

Michael Innes

1972

A John Appleby novel.

"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?"

Appleby's Answer

Michael Innes

1973

A John Appleby novel.

"Author of detective novels, Priscilla Pringle, is pleased to find that she is sharing a railway compartment with a gentleman who happens to be reading one of her books - Murder in the Cathedral. He is military officer, Captain Bulkington, who recognises Miss Pringle and offers her £500 to collaborate on a detective novel. To everyone's surprise, Miss Pringle is rather taken with Captain Bulkington - is she out of her depth?."

Appleby's Other Story

Michael Innes

1974

A John Appleby novel.

"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?."

The Appleby File

Michael Innes

1975

John Appleby short stories.

"A collection of short stories of Sir John Appleby, Commisioner of Metropolitan Police (and, later, retired), which shows his creator on top form, metaphorically producing rabbits from hats & sawing girls in half with the expertise of a houdini."The stories are:

• The Ascham
• Poltergeist
• The Fishermen
• The Conversation Piece
• Death By Water
• A Question Of Confidence
• The Memorial Service
• Two On A Tower
• Beggar With Skull
• The Exploding Battleship
• The Body In The Glen
• Death In The Sun
• Cold Blood
• The Coy Mistress
• The Thirteenth Priest Hole

The Gay Phoenix

Michael Innes

1976

A John Appleby novel.

"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?."

The Ampersand Papers

Michael Innes

1978

A John Appleby novel.

"While Appleby is strolling along a Cornish beach, he narrowly escapes being struck by a body falling down a cliff. The body is that of Dr Sutch, an archivist, and he has fallen from the North Tower of Treskinnick Castle, home of Lord Ampersand. Two possible motivations present themselves to Appleby - the Ampersand gold, treasure from an Armada galleon; and the Ampersand papers, valuable family documents that have associations with Wordsworth and Shelley."

Sheiks and Adders

Michael Innes

1982

A John Appleby novel.

"When half of the guests at a charity masquerade fête at Drool Court turn up dressed as sheiks, it must be more than pure coincidence. One of them is the real thing, however, and Sir John Appleby, master detective, discovers that he is in grave danger. When one of the pseudo-sheiks if murdered, Appleby finds himself in the midst of an international political crisis."

Appleby and Honeybath

Michael Innes

1983

A John Appleby novel.

"Every English mansion has a locked room, and Grinton Hall is no exception - the library has hidden doors and passages and a corpse. But when the corpse goes missing, Sir John Appleby and Charles Honeybath have an even more perplexing case on their hands - just how did it disappear when the doors and windows were securely locked? A bevy of helpful houseguests offer endless assistance, but the two detectives suspect that they are concealing vital information. Could the treasures on the library shelves be so valuable that someone would murder for them?."

Carson's Conspiracy

Michael Innes

1984

A John Appleby novel.

"Businessman Carl Carson decides to make a dash for South America to escape the economic slump, leaving his home and his barmy wife. But he has a problem - if his company were seen to be drawing in its horns, it wouldn't last a week. His solution is his wife's favourite delusion - an imaginary son, named Robin. Carson plans to stage a fictitious kidnapping - after all, what could be more natural than a father liquidating his assets to pay the ransom demand? Unfortunately, Carson has a rather astute neighbour - Sir John Appleby, ex-Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police."

Appleby and the Ospreys

Michael Innes

1986

A John Appleby novel.

"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."

Appleby Talks About Crime

Michael Innes

2010

John Appleby short stories.

"Appleby Talks About Crime includes 18 previously uncollected stories, often told by Appleby himself to the six-member Mystery Club, and all have the marvelous gloss of superb storyteller. The book includes an introduction by the editor, an essay on Appleby by Michael Innes, a reminiscence of her father by Dr. Margaret Macintosh Harrison, and a complete list of all the Appleby short stories."

Appleby Intervenes: 3 Tales From Scotland Yard

Michael Innes

1965

A John Appleby omnibus. Only published in the US.

This omnibus editions brings together the three US published novels: One-Man Show; A Comedy Of Terrors; and The Secret Vanguard.