Some of the very fine mysteries written by Michael Innes have truly memorable characters. Some have plots which very nearly veer off into fantasy. Some have impossibilities built into them which must be accepted at face value. Most are funny, even if in a dark-humored way.
And then there is "A Night of Errors," which combines all of these elements and more in a witty, fascinating and macabre way. It is the subject of this week's review on the Classic Mysteries podcast, and you can listen to the full review by clicking here.
Written in 1948, and with very clear and direct ties to some of the characters (and events) in Shakespeare's, "A Comedy of Errors," "A Night of Errors" follows the fate of the Dromio family, an eccentric (to the point of insanity) English family. The titular head of the family is found murdered - his body partially burned in a fireplace in his family mansion. The dead man was one of identical triplets – and the only survivor, as a baby forty years earlier, of a fire that apparently killed his brothers and may have been set by his father, who later died insane. The local police ask for help from now-retired Scotland Yard inspector John Appleby, who reluctantly agrees to help.
In one amazing and quite fantastic night, Appleby is presented with a series of crimes and an embarrassment of eccentric suspects. Fire plays a central role in the mystery, and it is through fire that the ultimate truth will be revealed.
The book is also quite notable for one of the most memorable butlers in any "country home" mystery, the rather loathsome Swindle, who tends to terrorize the family and keep them under control even in his senility. He is a marvelously comic character, and he plays an extremely important part in the events of this one very peculiar night.
If you have read Innes, you know what to expect. Once again, though, if you have never read any of him, this may not be the place to start. But for those who enjoy fine vintage mysteries, and who know Innes, his sudden twists, his eccentric characters and his marvelously entertaining plots, "A Night of Errors" really should not be missed.
Haven't read this yet, Les. Thanks for the reminder that there are still plenty of Innes books I haven't read. They're not that easy to find though. You'd think the library would have a bunch but no.
Posted by: Yvette | August 30, 2011 at 02:47 PM
Yvette, the old House of Stratus imprint (which I thought had gone out of business) is still publishing Innes and other authors - I think on a Print On Demand basis. I know that Amazon, for one, has them available, and I suspect that other indie booksellers can get copies as well - they're pretty inexpensive and, always, great fun to read.
Posted by: Les Blatt | August 30, 2011 at 06:21 PM
How could I not want to read a book with a butler named Swindle? Even if I weren't already a big Innes fan. Thanks for another great review, Les. I still have a stack of Innes books sitting in the TBR pile. But this one isn't among them--another to add to the Must Fine & Own list!
Posted by: Bev@ My Reader | August 31, 2011 at 09:26 AM
Bev: I love good butler names. (Swindle is a great one!) I think I'm going to do a post about this little known specialty. Ha.
My favorite butler name is: Guppy. From a novel by Catherine Coulter, I believe. :)
Posted by: Yvette | September 01, 2011 at 11:20 AM
How very strange. I've just found a copy of A NIGHT OF ERRORS on my shelves. And what's more I don't think I've read it.
Hmmm....!
Oh well, no time like the present. :)
Posted by: Yvette | September 01, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Bev and Yvette, among the many descriptions of Swindle in the book, I am very fond of this one: "Swindle's was not an amiable disposition. By Pride or Covetousness he was not notably distinguised. But of the five remaining Deadly Sins he was a very sufficient licentiate of four, while to the fifth it was believed that he had said good-bye only round about his eightieth birthday." He is, I promise you, a memorable character.
Posted by: Les Blatt | September 03, 2011 at 01:27 PM