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      The Secret Vanguard

      by Michael Innes
      Published
      Oct 1990
      Main Genre
      Suspense Suspense
      Rating
      Pages
      226
      Buy on Amazon Book
      Series
      A Sir John Appleby Mystery Book 5

      About This Book

      A Scotland Yard detective investigates a peculiar case of murder, poetry, kidnapping, and German spies in this classic British wartime thriller.

      Insp. John Appleby is puzzled by the death of Philip Ploss. Who would want to kill such a harmless, quiet man known for writing mid-level nature poetry? . . .

      Poetry is what Sheila Grant overhears two men discussing on a train outside Edinburgh. Their whole conversation seems absurd to her, especially after one of them misquotes the poet Swinburne. Unfortunately, her discovery quickly places her in danger . . .

      Meanwhile back in London, Appleby learns of a kidnapping on a train in Scotland and senses a connection to Ploss's murder. Locating Sheila will certainly lead Appleby to Ploss's killer, but only if he finds her alive . . .
      "You'd let a cobra walk all over you before you'd put this one down to defend yourself." —The New Yorker

      "Very exciting, full of most painstakingly described violent action." —The Observer

      "For sheer excitement and picturesque melodrama The Secret Vanguard will delight everyone." —New Statesma

      Series Placement

      Book 5
      View full series order

      Genres & Themes

      Genres

      Suspense

      Subgenres

      Mystery

      Formats & Editions

      Browse the different covers, formats, and publication history for this title.

      Paperback

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      Paperback
      First Edition Jan 1990 HarperPerennial ISBN13 9780060805845 ISBN10 0060805846
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      Trade Paperback
      Sep 2008 Xlibris Corporation ISBN13 9781842327531 ISBN10 1842327534
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      Trade Paperback
      Dec 2017 Ipso Books ISBN13 9781912194162 ISBN10 1912194163
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      Trade Paperback
      Apr 2024 Open Road Integrated Media, Inc. ISBN13 9781504092005 ISBN10 1504092007
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      eBook

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      eBook
      Feb 2010 House of Stratus ISBN13 9780755121120 ISBN10 0755121120
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      eBook
      Nov 2010 House of Stratus ISBN10 B004DI7LMK
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      eBook
      Oct 2017 Agora Books ISBN10 B0765B66LG
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      eBook
      Jun 2023 Open Road Publishing ISBN13 9781504087889 ISBN10 1504087887
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      Audio

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      Audible
      Sep 2012 Audible Studios ISBN10 B009F12L66
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      MP3 CD
      Jul 2016 Brilliance Audio ISBN13 9781531843649 ISBN10 1531843646
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      Audio CD
      May 2019 Brilliance Audio ISBN13 9781978645325 ISBN10 1978645325
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      Large Print

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      Trade Paperback
      Jan 1991 MacMillan ISBN13 9781850578659 ISBN10 1850578656
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