Michael Innes (1906-1994) was the pen name used by John Innes Mackintosh Stewart to write around 50 crime novels and collections of mystery short stories. He published contemporary fiction and literary criticism under his given name. He released around 35 books about Sir John Appleby of Scotland Yard between 1936 and 1987. Another anthology of previously uncollected short stories was published in 2010. Charles Honeybath, a well-known portrait painter and sometime sleuth, was another of Innes’s creations. He featured in three novels and shared billing with Appleby in his fourth outing, Appleby’s 33rd, called Appleby and Honeybath (Dodd, Mead, 1983).
Honeybath has been commissioned to paint the portrait of Terence Grinton, the current owner of a vast country house. He is staying at Grinton Hall to get started on the task, along with Appleby and his wife Judith, who was a distant relation, and assorted other guests. Honeybath entered the seldom-used library for the first time and was considerably startled to find a dead man sitting in one of the big reading chairs.
By the time Honeybath made his way through the sprawling building and returned with reinforcements, the body had vanished. Appleby brought in the local police, who were inclined to think that Honeybath was dreaming, but Appleby knew better. The two of them find hidden rooms off the library and a treasure trove of old manuscripts and books. Honeybath discovers references to sketches and watercolors acquired by a Grinton forebear on his Grand Tour. They realize that while the current owner may not be interested in the library, other people are and for good reason.
An amusing read if not much of a mystery. The characters are the best part of the story. Terence Grinton is irascible, uneducated and proud of it, and very much his own worst enemy. Honeybath is an excellent vehicle to spout a good deal of information about painting and 18th century artists, while serving as second chair to the retired police superintendent Appleby. The butler deserves a story all by himself. For fans of Innes.