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The gay phoenix (A Red badge novel of suspense)

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Golden Age British Mystery Author, Michael Innes was very fond of the `assumed identity' plot. He employed it in "The Gay Phoenix" (1976), A Change of Heir(1966), Going It Alone(1980), and (in a sense) The New Sonia Wayward(1960).

Arthur Povey is down on his luck and agrees to go cruising on his wealthy brother, Charles' yacht, `The Gay Phoenix.' He might not have a penny to his name, but he is the better sailor of the two. Unfortunately during a storm in mid-Pacific, the yacht's mainmast snaps, killing its owner and leaving the improvident Arthur adrift well away from the shipping lanes. Once he steals his brother's identity disk and heaves Charles' body over-board, Arthur is alone with a crazy, half-formed plan as his only company.

Many months later, a battered, jury-rigged yacht wanders into port in Adelaide, Australia, its sole occupant very near death from exposure. His mind also seems to have been damaged by his long sea voyage. At times, he claims to be wealty businessman, Charles Povey. At other times he believes himself to be Charles' younger brother, Arthur. His physicians discover his identity disk, and slowly bring him back to health and sanity as `Charles.'

`Charles' returns to England and eventually buys back the old family estate, which makes him the neighbor of retired New Scotland Yard Commissioner, Sir John Appleby.

Oops.

Michael Innes has produced another amusing, but sharp-edged comedy-of-manners that had me smiling when I wasn't commiserating with the false Charles. He seemed like a better sort of minor crook, whose wealthy, deceased brother turned out to be a villain of much greater scope. `Charles' is beset by blackmailing former servants, lovers, unwed mothers, and business partners as soon as he returns to England. I had to keep reading to find out if Innes's somewhat weak-willed anti-hero would wriggle out of the blackmailing clutches of his staff and his deceased brother's former lovers.

Will Sir John Appleby, Innes' most famous serial detective discover which brother has moved in to Brockholes Abbey? What will he do if he does?

Don't be too sure. "The Gay Phoenix" has a rather unusual twist at its end.