Review by Nick Fuller
3/5
When one reads in the first chapter descriptions of “the dark curled abundant hair below” and of “Charles’s sex,” one would be forgiven for thinking that the “gay” in the title meant that Innes had taken up a new line of fiction. Fortunately, it reverts to straight detective fiction, even though not very good detective fiction. While the book begins promisingly, leading the reader to expect an inverted of the quality of The New Sonia Wayward, the energy and invention soon flag, causing the book to run out of steam and end rather flatly. The villain does nothing but passively respond to the actions of others, and we never see anything of his life under blackmail, except through hearsay. In short, a rather missed opportunity.
A man impersonates his brother, who has died in a boat accident. This situation is an Innes specialty, and well done here. The deception becomes more and more complicated, with blackmail, shady financiers, etc. The crooked butler Bread (aka Butter) is a well-drawn character. Most this takes place in the environs of Dream, hence the retired and curious Appleby's involvement. ('Gay' did not have its present connotation then, or at least not to Innes. Here, it is the name of a boat.)
Wyatt James
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