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The New Sonia Wayward
Colonel Ffolliot Petticate's predicament begins when his novelist wife, Sonia, drowns during a sailing trip in the English Channel. A dramatic cover-up ensues in a tale full of humour, irony and devastating suspense.
186 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
78 people want to read
About the author
Michael Innes
121Ìýbooks87ÌýfollowersMichael Innes was the pseudonym of John Innes MacKintosh (J.I.M.) Stewart (J.I.M. Stewart).
He was born in Edinburgh, and educated at Edinburgh Academy and Oriel College, Oxford. He was Lecturer in English at the University of Leeds from 1930 - 1935, and spent the succeeding ten years as Jury Professor of English at the University of Adelaide, South Australia.
He returned to the United Kingdom in 1949, to become a Lecturer at the Queen's University of Belfast. In 1949 he became a Student (Fellow) of Christ Church, Oxford, becoming a Professor by the time of his retirement in 1973.
As J.I.M. Stewart he published a number of works of non-fiction, mainly critical studies of authors, including Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling, as well as about twenty works of fiction and a memoir, 'Myself and Michael Innes'.
As Michael Innes, he published numerous mystery novels and short story collections, most featuring the Scotland Yard detective John Appleby.
He was born in Edinburgh, and educated at Edinburgh Academy and Oriel College, Oxford. He was Lecturer in English at the University of Leeds from 1930 - 1935, and spent the succeeding ten years as Jury Professor of English at the University of Adelaide, South Australia.
He returned to the United Kingdom in 1949, to become a Lecturer at the Queen's University of Belfast. In 1949 he became a Student (Fellow) of Christ Church, Oxford, becoming a Professor by the time of his retirement in 1973.
As J.I.M. Stewart he published a number of works of non-fiction, mainly critical studies of authors, including Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling, as well as about twenty works of fiction and a memoir, 'Myself and Michael Innes'.
As Michael Innes, he published numerous mystery novels and short story collections, most featuring the Scotland Yard detective John Appleby.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 6, 2022
Michael Innes doesn't get nearly enough praise -- especially not his standalone novels like The New Sonia Wayward. In fact, the only reason you're seeing it today is because I'm killing two challenge stones with one book -- my "I" author and a title that features a name. I kind of knew that I would be going back to Innes for the author angle, but I had figured that I would be continuing his Inspector Appleby series and, therefore, the name would have been Hamlet as I still have only read the first out of thirty-six (not at all daunting a task). I checked my library app before Kindle, for some reason, and I'm awfully glad that I did. At least most of the Appleby series is on Kindle Unlimited, but I've only seen The New Sonia Wayward digitally via NYPL and archive.org
"Sonia Wayward" was the pen name of Colonel Ffolliot Petticate's wife, a popular romance novelist. She died while the two of them are alone on a yachting trip and rather than try to explain to the authorities what happened (which was natural causes and not murder), Petticate put a swim suit on her and rolled her into the water for a "burial at sea" of sorts. Her latest novel was a work-in-progress and she was actually mid-sentence when her heart gave out. He decided to finish it ... and continue writing under her name ... and to not tell anyone anything.
She was a famous author with fans and publicists and staff so you can probably imagine how easy of a charade that was.
Let me tell you, you might be able to imagine, but I doubt you would be able to put it into words as well as Innes. Hence, get the book. Read the book. Then get more Innes and read those, too. [Digitals may be few and far between, but used paperbacks are not.]
"Sonia Wayward" was the pen name of Colonel Ffolliot Petticate's wife, a popular romance novelist. She died while the two of them are alone on a yachting trip and rather than try to explain to the authorities what happened (which was natural causes and not murder), Petticate put a swim suit on her and rolled her into the water for a "burial at sea" of sorts. Her latest novel was a work-in-progress and she was actually mid-sentence when her heart gave out. He decided to finish it ... and continue writing under her name ... and to not tell anyone anything.
She was a famous author with fans and publicists and staff so you can probably imagine how easy of a charade that was.
Let me tell you, you might be able to imagine, but I doubt you would be able to put it into words as well as Innes. Hence, get the book. Read the book. Then get more Innes and read those, too. [Digitals may be few and far between, but used paperbacks are not.]
September 2, 2014
In the best Michael Innes by far, Innes plays a hilarious cat-and-mouse game with the reader who knows they are being bamboozled, but just can't be sure how; after a while giving in and settling back to enjoy the flow of this fast-paced comedy mystery. The title has multiple ironic meanings. Perfect holiday reading. I recommend Benidorm, where I read it.
July 18, 2023
So much fun! Clever writing, great plot, British wit--I really must read more of this author.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
January 5, 2015
While I prefer Innes's Appleby detective stories, this little book, telling of a man, his wife, and... his wife (no, that's not an error!), viewed through the lens of a literary career, makes for enjoyable reading.
August 24, 2016
I read somewhere that Michael Innes' whimsical style can wear thin after a while. That may be, but it hasn't happened for me yet. I continue to thoroughly enjoy his unique narrative voice and unusual (not to say outrageous?) plots.
August 30, 2014
Definitely one of Innes' best. As the narrative more or less follows the Allingham rule it kept my interest throughout. This is one of those books that has you saying: 'Just what the doctor ordered!'
February 3, 2020
Amusing and clever mystery that made me laugh out loud several times.
June 2, 2022
An amusing mystery. The last paragraph made me laugh.
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February 17, 2025FAH: Snob-like turn of phrase, which is genuinely funny, not just because people don't use subtly differentiated multi-syllable words anymore.
I've read this book decades ago, after the frustratingly small bibliography of another writer led me to Michael Innes. This stand-alone ("literary thriller comedy") had both had me on tenterhooks, because I felt stressed about the imposter Sonia as much as the husband who'd let the body of the real one disappear, and entertained by subtly hilarious twists. Now of course I fear I might not be amused at all, sadly haven't been so far despite seeing a spread of adjectives similarly to my run-on sentences having the potential to be funny.
The reason I'm rereading this one book is that back then, after getting a really brownish old copy I had bought this one to give to a friend and can't decide if the pristinely cut crisp black on white is actually better in it's self-published look - also the original has another title and it's not mentioned inside! READERS BEWARE, that happened a few times with Innes.
ETA: the most hilarious bit I remembered was rather different, and when new Sonia finally came onto stage, the book was quickly finished. In a way I'm glad because I didn't enjoy the Colonel getting himself into the worst possible situation and had remembered more inward grrrarghing on my part. Of course the flip side is no longer revelling in unexpected outrageousness either. The disappointment is all my own fault for having read it before. I would have given it four stars in memory and can't decide on three now.
He's a very good writer, and this is even an edition without mistakes.
I can recommend Innes' novels in general, I don't know his academic non-fiction.
I've read this book decades ago, after the frustratingly small bibliography of another writer led me to Michael Innes. This stand-alone ("literary thriller comedy") had both had me on tenterhooks, because I felt stressed about the imposter Sonia as much as the husband who'd let the body of the real one disappear, and entertained by subtly hilarious twists. Now of course I fear I might not be amused at all, sadly haven't been so far despite seeing a spread of adjectives similarly to my run-on sentences having the potential to be funny.
The reason I'm rereading this one book is that back then, after getting a really brownish old copy I had bought this one to give to a friend and can't decide if the pristinely cut crisp black on white is actually better in it's self-published look - also the original has another title and it's not mentioned inside! READERS BEWARE, that happened a few times with Innes.
ETA: the most hilarious bit I remembered was rather different, and when new Sonia finally came onto stage, the book was quickly finished. In a way I'm glad because I didn't enjoy the Colonel getting himself into the worst possible situation and had remembered more inward grrrarghing on my part. Of course the flip side is no longer revelling in unexpected outrageousness either. The disappointment is all my own fault for having read it before. I would have given it four stars in memory and can't decide on three now.
He's a very good writer, and this is even an edition without mistakes.
I can recommend Innes' novels in general, I don't know his academic non-fiction.
July 18, 2011
Not one of Innes' best. I thought it was a good idea for a story...but it just didn't keep my interest throughout.
March 12, 2015
Maybe I'd read this before ... maybe it was just extremely predictable. Not sure.
Want to read
January 6, 2019Synopsis: Colonel Petticate's predicament begins when his novelist wife, Sonia, drowns during a sailing trip in the English Channel.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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