The Long Farewell

Detective John Appleby finds himself drawn into a complex case while visiting Verona, where he meets with renowned Shakespeare scholar Lewis Packard. The meeting seems ordinary at first, but it marks the beginning of a sequence that leads to Packard's death months later in England. The investigation centers on Packard's apparent suicide at his Dorset mansion, where police conclude he shot himself after the discovery of his bigamous marriages to two younger women. Appleby's instincts tell him there's more to the case than meets the eye, leading him to conduct his own inquiry. The story moves between Italy and England, incorporating elements of academic intrigue, Shakespeare scholarship, and the hidden lives of seemingly respectable figures. Inspector Appleby must navigate through layers of deception to uncover the truth about Packard's death. This fifteenth installment in the Appleby series explores themes of identity, scholarly ambition, and the sometimes fatal consequences of leading a double life. The academic setting provides a backdrop for examining how the pursuit of knowledge can intersect with human weakness.

Reviews indicate many readers find The Long Farewell less engaging than Innes' earlier Inspector Appleby mysteries. Readers appreciated: - Complex literary references and wordplay - Oxford academic setting details - Classic 1950s British mystery atmosphere Common criticisms: - Plot moves too slowly - Characters lack depth - Too much academic dialogue - Less suspense than typical Innes novels Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 3.3/5 (12 ratings) Multiple reviewers noted the book focuses more on academic discussions than mystery elements. One reader commented "The scholarly debates overshadow any actual detective work." Another wrote "Feels more like a literature lecture than a whodunit." Several long-time Innes fans expressed disappointment, with comments like "Not up to his usual standards" and "Skip this one and read his earlier works instead."

Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh A murder investigation in London high society combines detective work with academic expertise while unraveling complex social relationships.

The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin A literature professor turns detective in Oxford when a body vanishes from a toyshop, mixing scholarly knowledge with criminal investigation.

Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers Set in an Oxford college, this mystery explores academic life and murder through the lens of scholarly pursuits and hidden motivations.

Death of an Academic by Robert Barnard A professor's murder at a British university reveals the dark undercurrents beneath the surface of academic life.

A Scholar of Death by Ellis Peters The investigation of a Cambridge scholar's death leads to revelations about secret lives in the academic community.

🎭 The author Michael Innes was actually the pen name of John Innes Mackintosh Stewart, who taught English Literature at prestigious universities while writing detective fiction. 📚 The character of Detective John Appleby appears in 32 novels written between 1936 and 1986, making him one of the longest-running detective series protagonists in British crime fiction. 🏰 Verona, one of the book's settings, is famously the location of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," making it a fitting backdrop for a mystery involving Shakespeare scholarship. ✒️ Before becoming a mystery writer, Michael Innes wrote serious literary criticism under his real name, giving him unique insight into the academic world he portrays in the novel. 🎓 The author drew from his experiences at Oxford University, where he taught from 1949 to 1973, to create authentic depictions of academic politics and scholarly rivalries.