A Private View

'Seated at a café table, in the syrupy warmth of out-of-season Nice, he reviewed his life and found it to be alarmingly empty.' George Bland had planned to spend his retirement in leisurely travel and modest entertainment with his friend Putnam. When Putnam dies George is left attempting to impose some purpose on the solitary end of his life. Then Katy Gibb appears as a temporary resident, perhaps even squatter, in a neighbouring apartment. Greedy, selfish, sometimes alluring, often manipulative, Katy exerts a strange influence on George, forcing him to recognize that his own careful, fastidious life has shown a distinct lack of passion and daring. As the realization takes hold, George must decide how much - or how little - he can do to transform the status quo .

'Seated at a café table, in the syrupy warmth of out-of-season Nice, he reviewed his life and found it to be alarmingly empty.' George Bland had planned to spend his retirement in leisurely travel and modest entertainment with his friend Putnam. When Putnam dies George is left attempting to impose some purpose on the solitary end of his life. Then Katy Gibb appears as a temporary resident, perhaps even squatter, in a neighbouring apartment. Greedy, selfish, sometimes alluring, often manipulative, Katy exerts a strange influence on George, forcing him to recognize that his own careful, fastidious life has shown a distinct lack of passion and daring. As the realization takes hold, George must decide how much - or how little - he can do to transform the status quo .

From a British Golden Age author "in a class by himself among detective story writers," Sir John Appleby solves an art world crime ( The Times Literary Supplement ). When Sir John Appleby is persuaded by Lady Appleby to attend an art exhibit, he believes he is only appeasing his wife, a sculptress herself, and quite the art collector, too. But when Appleby learns the show is a memorial exhibition for recently murdered artist Gavin Limbert, his interest is piqued, to say the least. Especially when Limbert's latest masterpiece is stolen from the gallery right under his nose. But this is no matter for Scotland Yard's most brilliant inspector. Once Appleby puts his clever mind to the case, he'll follow every twist and turn in this mystery until he uncovers the astonishing truth. Praise for Michael Innes and the Inspector Appleby series "Wickedly witty." -- Daily Mail "As farfetched and literary as Sayers." -- The Cambridge Companion to Crime Fiction

From a British Golden Age author "in a class by himself among detective story writers," Sir John Appleby solves an art world crime ( The Times Literary Supplement ). When Sir John Appleby is persuaded by Lady Appleby to attend an art exhibit, he believes he is only appeasing his wife, a sculptress herself, and quite the art collector, too. But when Appleby learns the show is a memorial exhibition for recently murdered artist Gavin Limbert, his interest is piqued, to say the least. Especially when Limbert's latest masterpiece is stolen from the gallery right under his nose. But this is no matter for Scotland Yard's most brilliant inspector. Once Appleby puts his clever mind to the case, he'll follow every twist and turn in this mystery until he uncovers the astonishing truth. Praise for Michael Innes and the Inspector Appleby series "Wickedly witty." -- Daily Mail "As farfetched and literary as Sayers." -- The Cambridge Companion to Crime Fiction