George Gadberry is resting, which is a nice way of saying that he is an out-of-work actor. He's really down on his luck, the Inspector of Taxes wants to talk with him (which is equivalent to being called out on the carpet by the IRS) and he's behind on his rent. All things being equal, Gadberry's solution is to pack his bags and leave town. It might not keep him save for long, but maybe just long enough for him to earn some dosh, pay off some of his debts, and get back on his feet. Things don't however go exactly as planned...
For starters, Gadberry lucks out and gets an unexpected, and lucrative offer to play the role of the lifetime. The gig is for him to impersonate Nicholas Comberford, and to ingratiate himself to Comberford's great-aunt Prudence, all for the purpose of ensuring that Comberford is named her heir. Comberford is unable to do this himself because his is a self-acknowledged drunk with no desire to get on the sobriety bandwagon, and great-aunt Prudence is a card-carrying teetotaller - at least according to Comberford. There is no way that she would show any favor to him, hence the 'need' to trick her into believing that he's a stalwart, upstanding young man who will make proper use of her immense wealth. In reality, if Comberford gets the money, he plans on squandering it on drink, his mistress, and an extravagant lifestyle in the south of France. If Gadberry is successful in his mission, Comberford has assured him that he'll never have to worry about the tax man again, as he is offering a fifty-fifty share in any inheritance that he receives from his great-aunt. Gadberry knows that he will have his work cut out for him, but doesn't realize until too late just how dangerous a job he has accepted.
A Change of Heir, by Michael Innes is a fast paced mystery. Most of the action takes place in Bruton Abbey, an old Cistercian monastery that Prudence uses as her home. Before accepting the job, Gadberry was told that Prudence was virtually on death's door, she isn't, in fact she is in rather rude health. This is but the first of many surprises that await Gadberry upon his arrival at the abbey. To further spice up this novel, Innes has incorporated a varied cast of characters into the story, such as the devious Miss Bostock who serves as Prudence's companion and who tries her hand at blackmailing Gadberry. Things only go from bad to worse when great-aunt Prudence attempts to arrange a marriage between her supposed heir and the daughter of a neighbor!
From the start, this is a humourous and witty story. While it can definitely be categorized as a mystery, this novel can also stand on its own feet as a comedy-of-manners novel. Gadberry is so over his head in this story that you cannot help but feel sorry for him, while also wondering just how the story will play out in the end and what Comberford was really up to. A Change of Heir was first published in 1966, but this story is not dated in the least. In fact, if I had not noticed the earlier publication date on the book's copyright page, I'd have thought that this was a contemporary novel.
A Change of Heir can be purchased directly from Ulverscroft, the parent company of Dales Large Print Books.
Related Reviews:
The Club of Queer Trades, by G. K. Chesterton.
A collection of six interrelated, humorous mysteries that revolve the members of a unique Victorian social club where each member follows a unique profession - that they invented.
The Saltmarsh Murders, by Gladys Mitchell.
Noel Wells, curate in the sleepy village of Saltmarsh, likes to spend his time dancing in the study with the vicar's niece until one day the vicar's unpleasant wife discovers her unmarried housemaid is pregnant and trouble begins...
