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nocto's review against another edition
The only other Ngaio Marsh book I've read was little like a crime novel for the first half and then launched into the investigation for the second half. So I wasn't surprised at this pattern in this book though I'm told that all of her books don't go like this.
I enjoyed the slow start wondering what would happen and who was going to die at the Dolphin Theatre. In fact I probably enjoyed the first half more than the second. Inspector Alleyn's investigation got a bit tedious in parts as he conducted interview after interview without uncovering any clues that made much sense to me. I didn't really think the resolution of the plot made much sense but I enjoyed the cast of characters and the theatrical setting.
Enjoyable, but at the end of the day, this book was nothing very special.
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
4.0
May 14, 2011 review:
Killer Dolphin by Ngaio Marsh is a mystery whose title hold a double meaning. The Dolphin refers in part to the Dolphin Theatre which has been recently restored and opens to the public with a brand new play by Peregrine Jay. It also refers to the odd murder weapon used to dispatch the nightwatchman at the theatre. One of a pair of statuettes given by the theatre's patron upon its opening--it is quite heavy and quite deadly. Murder occurs when a thief tries to make off with the recently discovered Shakespearean glove and letters which have inspired Peregrine's play The Glove. Someone realizes that there are unscrupulous collectors who will pay large sums without worrying too much about how the item was obtained. But who among the small cast of suspects had the opportunity? It is up to Inspector Roderick Alleyn to sort among the beautiful femme fatale, the terribly vain leading man, the sharp-tongued supporting actor, the woman scorned, the actor with a penchant for puzzles (and figuring out combinations), the house manager, and the patron who prefers to remain in the background yet was in his box on the fateful night.
Although this mystery takes a while to get to the main action--there is no murder till about half-way through--the lead up is very interesting. It gives plenty of background on the theatre itself and several of the main characters and provides several small clues and possible red herrings for later. Alleyn and Inspector Fox work well off one another as usual. The only slightly tedious bit is sitting through all the interviews. A very nice, tidy, little mystery. Ngaio Marsh really enjoys the theatre and it shows. (four stars when read in 2011)
December 18, 2019 review:
As I noted the last time I read this, the mystery takes quite a while to get to the main action--there is no murder until about half-way through. But the lead-up is quite interesting. Peregrine Jay's first visit to the theater and his encounter with Conducis provide a nice back-drop to the main story. I also enjoyed the build-up of the story and play surrounding Shakespeare and the glove that was supposed to belong to his son. Jay is able to make the items and the incident into a very affecting play. The characters of the actors are perhaps a bit stereotyped, but it does make for a lot of sarcastic back-chat and witty in-fighting.
I was a tad disappointed this time round that Marsh wasn't able to fool me at all--often if it has been long enough I'm able to read some of these vintage mysteries and still be unsure of the solution. This particular plot I remembered right down to the last detail. But overall I still enjoyed the set-up and the interactions of the characters enough that I've nearly given it the same rating as before. ★★★ and 1/2 for this go-round.
Killer Dolphin by Ngaio Marsh is a mystery whose title hold a double meaning. The Dolphin refers in part to the Dolphin Theatre which has been recently restored and opens to the public with a brand new play by Peregrine Jay. It also refers to the odd murder weapon used to dispatch the nightwatchman at the theatre. One of a pair of statuettes given by the theatre's patron upon its opening--it is quite heavy and quite deadly. Murder occurs when a thief tries to make off with the recently discovered Shakespearean glove and letters which have inspired Peregrine's play The Glove. Someone realizes that there are unscrupulous collectors who will pay large sums without worrying too much about how the item was obtained. But who among the small cast of suspects had the opportunity? It is up to Inspector Roderick Alleyn to sort among the beautiful femme fatale, the terribly vain leading man, the sharp-tongued supporting actor, the woman scorned, the actor with a penchant for puzzles (and figuring out combinations), the house manager, and the patron who prefers to remain in the background yet was in his box on the fateful night.
Although this mystery takes a while to get to the main action--there is no murder till about half-way through--the lead up is very interesting. It gives plenty of background on the theatre itself and several of the main characters and provides several small clues and possible red herrings for later. Alleyn and Inspector Fox work well off one another as usual. The only slightly tedious bit is sitting through all the interviews. A very nice, tidy, little mystery. Ngaio Marsh really enjoys the theatre and it shows. (four stars when read in 2011)
December 18, 2019 review:
As I noted the last time I read this, the mystery takes quite a while to get to the main action--there is no murder until about half-way through. But the lead-up is quite interesting. Peregrine Jay's first visit to the theater and his encounter with Conducis provide a nice back-drop to the main story. I also enjoyed the build-up of the story and play surrounding Shakespeare and the glove that was supposed to belong to his son. Jay is able to make the items and the incident into a very affecting play. The characters of the actors are perhaps a bit stereotyped, but it does make for a lot of sarcastic back-chat and witty in-fighting.
I was a tad disappointed this time round that Marsh wasn't able to fool me at all--often if it has been long enough I'm able to read some of these vintage mysteries and still be unsure of the solution. This particular plot I remembered right down to the last detail. But overall I still enjoyed the set-up and the interactions of the characters enough that I've nearly given it the same rating as before. ★★★ and 1/2 for this go-round.
missn80's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
carolsnotebook's review
4.0
It's an enjoyable mystery and I like the glimpse of the theater, fictional though it may be. It's a fun read, not great, but just what I was looking for. Marsh is one of my favorite mystery writers.
jlmb's review
1.0
Oh my. What happened? If this was the first Marsh book I had ever read, then I would never pick up another. I can't believe I am giving a book in this series one star but it is just so poorly executed I had to.
First of all, what a ridiculous title. It sounds like the mystery should take place at an aquarium or near the sea. Nope, it takes place at a renovated London theater name The Dolphin Theater. I think Marsh forgot she was supposed to be writing a mystery and instead was writing one about theater life.
I was reading this as an ebook so I got to see that the crime does not occur until the book is 50% over! That's quite a lot of backstory before getting to the meat of the plot. Alleyn doesn't appear until 55% in. The final explanation of the crime is rushed and packed into the last few pages. Not that I really cared at that point.
Boy, I'm glad that's over. Usually these books take me a day or maybe two to read but this one dragged on for a week because I just couldn't make myself pick it up and start reading.
First of all, what a ridiculous title. It sounds like the mystery should take place at an aquarium or near the sea. Nope, it takes place at a renovated London theater name The Dolphin Theater. I think Marsh forgot she was supposed to be writing a mystery and instead was writing one about theater life.
I was reading this as an ebook so I got to see that the crime does not occur until the book is 50% over! That's quite a lot of backstory before getting to the meat of the plot. Alleyn doesn't appear until 55% in. The final explanation of the crime is rushed and packed into the last few pages. Not that I really cared at that point.
Boy, I'm glad that's over. Usually these books take me a day or maybe two to read but this one dragged on for a week because I just couldn't make myself pick it up and start reading.
singinglight's review
3.0
Inspector Alleyn mystery. One of Marsh’s theatre mysteries, but not my favorite. Almost no one comes off well, and the whole thing seems sort of awful. [July 2011]
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