Hare Sitting Up

A Cold War thriller centered on the disappearance of Professor Howard Juniper, a biological warfare scientist who may have absconded with a lethal disease sample. Detective John Appleby must locate the missing scientist while preventing public panic about the potential threat. The investigation involves Juniper's identical twin brother Miles, who agrees to impersonate the scientist to buy time. The search leads Appleby through various British locations, from an eccentric earl's estate to a classified rocket facility on a remote Scottish island. Set against the backdrop of 1950s Cold War tensions, this sixteenth entry in the John Appleby series combines elements of espionage, scientific intrigue, and classic British mystery. The plot draws inspiration from D.H. Lawrence's Women in Love and makes reference to contemporaneous Cold War films. The novel explores themes of identity, scientific responsibility, and the psychological pressures of living under the constant threat of global conflict. Through its narrative, it captures the paranoia and moral complexities of an era defined by technological advancement and international suspicion.

Readers note this is a more serious and straightforward mystery compared to other Michael Innes works, with less academic wordplay and literary allusions. The plot focuses on biological warfare and espionage. Readers appreciated: - Fast-paced second half - Scientific/medical aspects feeling authentic - Connection to Cold War tensions of the era - Return of Inspector Appleby character Common criticisms: - Slow start with excessive scene-setting - Less humor than typical Innes novels - Some find the scientific details tedious - Several readers mention the plot becomes convoluted Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (6 reviews) One reader on Goodreads noted: "Takes too long to get going but the payoff is worth it." Another commented: "Missing Innes' usual wit and academic atmosphere." The limited number of online reviews suggests this is one of Innes' less-discussed works among modern readers.

The IPCRESS File by Len Deighton The disappearance of scientists during the Cold War leads an unnamed British agent through a maze of counterespionage and brainwashing conspiracies.

Silverview by John le Carré A former spy chief investigates a potential intelligence leak centered around a mysterious Polish émigré in a British seaside town.

The Mind Readers by Margery Allingham Albert Campion investigates the death of a scientist involved in secret mind-reading experiments at a coastal research facility.

A Scientific Way of Death by Michael Gilbert A police inspector pursues a missing research scientist who vanishes with classified biological weapons data.

Operation Caribe by David Atlee Phillips A CIA operative tracks a defecting scientist across the Caribbean while racing against Soviet agents to secure dangerous medical research.

🔍 Published in 1959, "Hare Sitting Up" drew on contemporary fears about biological warfare during the height of the Cold War. 🎭 The author, Michael Innes, was actually the pen name of J.I.M. Stewart, a distinguished Oxford literary scholar who wrote detective fiction in parallel with his academic career. 🧬 The book's focus on biological warfare research was particularly timely, as the British government had been conducting secret biological weapons tests at Porton Down facility throughout the 1950s. 👥 Inspector John Appleby, the novel's protagonist, appears in 32 books by Michael Innes, making him one of the longest-running detective characters in British crime fiction. 🏰 The decaying aristocratic estate featured in the novel reflects a common theme in post-war British literature, symbolizing the decline of the traditional social order during a period of rapid modernization.