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david_megginson's review against another edition
3.0
Partway through, I'm still struggling to see why people put Ngaio Marsh on the same level as Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie as the "Grande dames" of golden-age mystery. Her books are competent, and I enjoy reading them, but they lack the spark that carries you through a Sayers or Christie novel (even when they're being formulaic) and tend to drag in the middle. Perhaps her later novels are much better.
michael5000's review against another edition
4.0
The best and best-written so far in the amiable season. Is it a spike, or is Marsh hitting his stride?
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
5.0
If I ever finish my book, and manage to have an audio edition, I want Benedict Cumberbatch reading it. Even with all the other readers I've come across whose voices I've fallen for, BC is a little bit spectacular. And I'm not even a "Cumberbitch". This is an abridged version of the novel, which normally I feel is an abomination, but for Cumberbatch's narration? I'm in.
This was the book I heard a clip of on Tumblr, the moment when Cumberbatch "does" the voice of an American woman with a heavy Southern accent who flirts heavily with Rory Alleyn, Our Hero. It was completely ridiculous – and I pretty much headed straight to Audible to buy it. I've come to be fans of several audiobook readers, but the acting chops BC brings to the job are just marvelous. On a page, this would probably be a solid four-star read; the fifth star is all Cumberbatch.
As for the book itself: it's one I read long ago, and not since, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. This is where Marsh's detective hero meets his artist lady love, and where she is brought back into his life when a model she has employed for a workshop is murdered. This is an abridged edition, but it's well done; it's coherent and lean. I loathe abridgements, but … Cumberbatch. It's pure fun.
This was the book I heard a clip of on Tumblr, the moment when Cumberbatch "does" the voice of an American woman with a heavy Southern accent who flirts heavily with Rory Alleyn, Our Hero. It was completely ridiculous – and I pretty much headed straight to Audible to buy it. I've come to be fans of several audiobook readers, but the acting chops BC brings to the job are just marvelous. On a page, this would probably be a solid four-star read; the fifth star is all Cumberbatch.
As for the book itself: it's one I read long ago, and not since, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. This is where Marsh's detective hero meets his artist lady love, and where she is brought back into his life when a model she has employed for a workshop is murdered. This is an abridged edition, but it's well done; it's coherent and lean. I loathe abridgements, but … Cumberbatch. It's pure fun.
eososray's review against another edition
3.0
This may not have been the best of this series to start with, based on my better experiences with others.
The relationship between Roderick and Agatha was odd and not really believable, the murder was far fetched and the whole story felt stilted. Though, it was fun and often amusing.
I think the series as a whole will be a good one.
The relationship between Roderick and Agatha was odd and not really believable, the murder was far fetched and the whole story felt stilted. Though, it was fun and often amusing.
I think the series as a whole will be a good one.
criminally_yours's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
maggiekms's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
mithrilreads's review against another edition
4.0
3 stars for the actual story but Benedict's narration deserves 5. So I'm averaging ;)
danta's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
I have a love hate relationship with Ngaio Marsh. I find her writing is often a mixture of snobbery (it's not her characters – Marsh herself comes across as believing the aristocracy should have special privileges. Mixed up in a murder mystery – faugh, how common) & there is often a touch of 'cultural cringe' (believing NZ culture is inferior to other cultures, usually the UK or the States)
This particular book also tested my desire to read uncensored work!
Page 17 Miss Katti Bostock, the well-known painter of....Negro musicians
Acceptable for the times.
Page 23 Alleyn writing to his mother “No darling I didn't not lose my heart in the Antipodes. Would you have been delighted to welcome a strapping black Fijian lady?”
Hmmm...
Page 29 & this is in the narrative. ...Troy's Australian protege, was a short & extremely swarthy youth, who looked like a dago in an American talking picture.
Wow.
But yes, I do still want to read uncensored or you wonder what else has been changed. For example, also on page 29 is digesion. Digestion? & I spotted some other typos as well. My copy is 1962 – I wonder how far back they go?
& this is the start of the Alleyn/Troy romance which I found painful to read – in all the Marsh books I read not just this one. Marsh never married & I think she just wasn't comfortable writing about love - & it shows.
& maybe British police had a lot more latitude but;
Police carrying hip flasks on duty. Possible I suppose.
The method of murder in one death just seems so unlikely
So why do I still read Marsh, even if my teeth are sometimes grinding in frustration?
Marsh can write descriptive passages beautifully.
Her narrative, when it's not being stalled by Alleyn or his upper class suspects objecting to the beastly business of murder, moves quite briskly.
I like Alleyn's Mum!
& Marsh isn't so nastily contemptuous of female servants as some of the Golden Age writers are.
& this book in a slice of life from the 1930s & Marsh's own background as an artist & in theatre means she knew these worlds.
So, not a whole hearted recommendation, but not a complete waste of time either.
This particular book also tested my desire to read uncensored work!
Page 17 Miss Katti Bostock, the well-known painter of....Negro musicians
Acceptable for the times.
Page 23 Alleyn writing to his mother “No darling I didn't not lose my heart in the Antipodes. Would you have been delighted to welcome a strapping black Fijian lady?”
Hmmm...
Page 29 & this is in the narrative. ...Troy's Australian protege, was a short & extremely swarthy youth, who looked like a dago in an American talking picture.
Wow.
But yes, I do still want to read uncensored or you wonder what else has been changed. For example, also on page 29 is digesion. Digestion? & I spotted some other typos as well. My copy is 1962 – I wonder how far back they go?
& this is the start of the Alleyn/Troy romance which I found painful to read – in all the Marsh books I read not just this one. Marsh never married & I think she just wasn't comfortable writing about love - & it shows.
& maybe British police had a lot more latitude but;
Spoiler
Some of the access journalist (& Alleyn's Watson) Bathgate got seemed unethical.Police carrying hip flasks on duty. Possible I suppose.
The method of murder in one death just seems so unlikely
So why do I still read Marsh, even if my teeth are sometimes grinding in frustration?
Marsh can write descriptive passages beautifully.
Her narrative, when it's not being stalled by Alleyn or his upper class suspects objecting to the beastly business of murder, moves quite briskly.
I like Alleyn's Mum!
& Marsh isn't so nastily contemptuous of female servants as some of the Golden Age writers are.
& this book in a slice of life from the 1930s & Marsh's own background as an artist & in theatre means she knew these worlds.
So, not a whole hearted recommendation, but not a complete waste of time either.