DEATH AT THE CHASE

First impression of the true first edition. ***Near fine in red cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to spine. Pages clean. Spine tight. ***In a near fine yellow, black and magenta titled dustwrapper that has not been price-clipped, showing original publisher's price of 21/- net. Edges of dustwrapper slightly creased and rubbed. Dustwrapper bright. ***192mm x 130mm. 175 pages. ***'In his last book, A Family Affair, Michael Innes provided us with a splendid surprise: the arrival on the scene of Appleby's engaging undergraduate son, Bobby, who soon revealed that he has much of his father's flair as a detective. Here he is again - and playing a bigger role this time, though the great Sir John still holds the centre of the stage and provides the solution of a particular knotty case. ***The story opens with Michael Innes's characteristic extravagance and panache. Appleby is taking a country walk and, amiably trespassing, has a curious encounter with the lord of a neighbouring manor, the aged Martyn Ashmore. Ashmore is in a state of belligerent fear and accuses Appleby of having designs on his life. Appleby probes a little and learns that during the war Ashmore once cracked under Nazi interrogation and torture, which led to the massacre of many Resistance fighters, and that ever since on the anniversary of that day, an attempt is made on his life.' (Quote from inside front of dustwrapper blurb). ***Prof John Innes Mackintosh Stewart HFRSE DLitt (1906 - 1994) was a Scottish novelist and academic. Michael Innes is the pseudonym of J. I. M. Stewart, who was a lecturer at Queens College, Belfast and later was an Oxford University professor. Under his pseudonym, Michael Innes, he wrote nearly fifty crime thrillers between 1936 and 1986. His most famous character is Sir John Appleby, a Scotland Yard Detective Inspector. He is known for his works of literary criticism and literary novels published under his real name, and for his crime fiction books published under his pseudonym of Michael Innes. Readers knew of Michael Innes crime thrillers; other readers knew the literary novels and short stories and literary criticism under the name of J. I. M. Stewart, but not many people were aware this was the same author. However, his crime thrillers, although he considered these to be entertainments, make frequent literary allusions. ***First impression of the true first edition in is original dustwrapper, in nice collectable condition. ***Of interest to collectors of Michael Innes first edition titles and J. I. M. Stewart. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.…