Sheiks and Adders
– Michael Innes
Sir John Appleby starred as the hero police detective in
the mysteries of Michael Innes. Author Innes, a college professor, wrote
erudite droll mysteries for discerning readers who may have felt a little
embarrassed to be caught reading a mystery. In the early Appleby stories of the
1930s, Innes worked with vogue elements of whodunit tradition (locked rooms,
elaborate engines of death, dotty characters) but added many modernist
flourishes and writerly stunts. The later ones, written in the 1980s, if you
can believe it, featured less literary, lighter frolics that amuse and soothe middle-aged
fans.
In fact, this odd little entertainment conjures not much
mystery. Our retired Sir John feels rather bored gardening and one can’t read
all day. So he finds himself easily coaxed by a fetching young person to attend
a fête at the improbably named Drool Court. The costume party, organized to
raise funds for charity, is to be outside, on the estate of the fetching YP’s
father Richard Chitfield. The rich father has warned off his daughter's
boyfriend from wearing a sheik costume. Nonplussed Sir John observes various
male guests dressed up like the Saudi royal males.
He stumbles onto the fact that the fake-sheiks camouflage
a genuine sheik who is having a hush-hush meeting with Chitfield.
The requirement of camouflage implies the possibility of
fire from terrorists and enemies. Appleby, a protector of the Queen’s peace,
takes on the mission to help the real sheik out of his jam. The climax explains
the punny title, a take-off on the game Snakes and Ladders (sheik and snake rhyme,
by the way; sheik doesn’t rhyme with sneak). Innes fires off not only punny
in-jokes but also lets loose literary allusions by the score. Pat yourself on
the back when you recognize them, don’t fret over what you know are allusions
but can’t approximate the source.
Highly recommended for readers looking for a short,
donnish novel.
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