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applegnreads's review against another edition
3.0
One of the ones that I actually knew who did it before it happened.
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
It had been a long time since I listened to an Inspector Alleyn mystery. Ngaio Marsh rates right up there with the other great women of mystery - Christie and Allingham.
It took me awhile to get into this book - there was a long lead in to the mystery, but Alleyn came through and solved the crime. I will be getting another audiobook by Marsh soon.
It took me awhile to get into this book - there was a long lead in to the mystery, but Alleyn came through and solved the crime. I will be getting another audiobook by Marsh soon.
tigerb99's review against another edition
4.0
Complex! But best read for the wide variety of theatrical characters involved.
yetilibrary's review against another edition
4.0
This was really good--better than I thought it would be (I feel mean for saying that). The manner of death (murder) was obvious from the start, but the story played out in an entertaining way, and the characters were all engaging (even the ones who weren't particularly likable). Marsh writes excellent cozy mysteries and I look forward to reading another!
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
4.0
False Scent (1959) by Ngaio Marsh finds Inspector Roderick Alleyn investigating another murder in the theatrical world. This time the murder is completely off-stage--in all senses of the word. Mary Bellamy is a fading stage star...but still a star to be reckoned with. The scene opens on the day her friends and family and a few important personages have been invited to her home to celebrate her fiftieth birthday. But don't mention that dreaded number to our temperamental star.
"What's a cake without candles?" said Old Ninn.
"Fifty of them....Oh, wouldn't they look lovely!"
Miss Bellamy took the only possible action. She topped Old Ninn's lines by snatching up the ritual knife and plunging it into the heart of the cake. The gesture, which may have had something of the character of a catharsis, was loudly applauded.
But the mention of the number of her years by her former nanny isn't the only catalyst for a burst of temper. Her husband, Charles Templeton, has the temerity to tell her to tone it down on her favorite scent, Formidable, and to stop using Slaypest--a highly potent and very dangerous pest killer. She doesn't do either. Florence, her personal maid tries once too often to calm her down. Her dress designer and a second-tier actress (known for helping prop the star up to shine more brightly) have deserted ship for another production. And her ward, a young and upcoming playwright who has till now written plays [comedies] only for her, has ventured into new territory [the dramatic] and produced a script that has most obviously not been written with her in mind. He has also taken up with a lovely young actress for whom he has written the play.
Richard Dakers, the ward, can't see that Mary is not going to be pleased as punch to read a play that isn't for her. He can't fathom that she won't love Anelida (his young actress) as much as he does. And he is perfectly blind to the fact that bringing Anelida to Mary's birthday party and introducing her to a producer and director in theater world (and, most particularly, in Mary's theater world) right under Mary's nose just might make her really mad. So mad that she leaves her guests, tells him a few disturbing things about himself, and then...apparently sprays herself with Slaypest. Was it just a dreadful accident while she was in an incoherent rage? Or did one of the people she had told off that day have enough of her tantrums and stop them for good? Alleyn and Fox arrive on the scene and immediately see pointers towards murder--but which of the supporting players pulled down the curtain on the star?
Marsh's writing about theater personalities is some of her best. She portrays them with a depth and reality that comes from her personal experiences in the world of the stage. The set up is very good--she provides plenty of background and establishes the characters and their relationships to one another. We get a very good look at our murder victim--with all her faults and vanities on display. The way in which the murder is done is a bit obvious and it's disconcerting that Alleyn apparently doesn't catch on to it until very late in the book. But that is one of the few drawbacks. Over all, another enjoyable read from Marsh. As I have been rereading her mysteries in order, I have been reminded how much I enjoyed discovering them almost 40 years ago (really? could that be possible?). ★★★ and 3/4.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any review content. Thanks.
"What's a cake without candles?" said Old Ninn.
"Fifty of them....Oh, wouldn't they look lovely!"
Miss Bellamy took the only possible action. She topped Old Ninn's lines by snatching up the ritual knife and plunging it into the heart of the cake. The gesture, which may have had something of the character of a catharsis, was loudly applauded.
But the mention of the number of her years by her former nanny isn't the only catalyst for a burst of temper. Her husband, Charles Templeton, has the temerity to tell her to tone it down on her favorite scent, Formidable, and to stop using Slaypest--a highly potent and very dangerous pest killer. She doesn't do either. Florence, her personal maid tries once too often to calm her down. Her dress designer and a second-tier actress (known for helping prop the star up to shine more brightly) have deserted ship for another production. And her ward, a young and upcoming playwright who has till now written plays [comedies] only for her, has ventured into new territory [the dramatic] and produced a script that has most obviously not been written with her in mind. He has also taken up with a lovely young actress for whom he has written the play.
Richard Dakers, the ward, can't see that Mary is not going to be pleased as punch to read a play that isn't for her. He can't fathom that she won't love Anelida (his young actress) as much as he does. And he is perfectly blind to the fact that bringing Anelida to Mary's birthday party and introducing her to a producer and director in theater world (and, most particularly, in Mary's theater world) right under Mary's nose just might make her really mad. So mad that she leaves her guests, tells him a few disturbing things about himself, and then...apparently sprays herself with Slaypest. Was it just a dreadful accident while she was in an incoherent rage? Or did one of the people she had told off that day have enough of her tantrums and stop them for good? Alleyn and Fox arrive on the scene and immediately see pointers towards murder--but which of the supporting players pulled down the curtain on the star?
Marsh's writing about theater personalities is some of her best. She portrays them with a depth and reality that comes from her personal experiences in the world of the stage. The set up is very good--she provides plenty of background and establishes the characters and their relationships to one another. We get a very good look at our murder victim--with all her faults and vanities on display. The way in which the murder is done is a bit obvious and it's disconcerting that Alleyn apparently doesn't catch on to it until very late in the book. But that is one of the few drawbacks. Over all, another enjoyable read from Marsh. As I have been rereading her mysteries in order, I have been reminded how much I enjoyed discovering them almost 40 years ago (really? could that be possible?). ★★★ and 3/4.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any review content. Thanks.
verityw's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this a lot more than some of the others in the series leading up to this - I liked the compact nature of the story and its resolution and the cast of characters (which for once wasn't listed in the start - for reasons which became apparent) were interesting
missn80's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
carolsnotebook's review against another edition
4.0
I like Marsh when she sticks with small settings, and a limited cast. Here, all the action takes place in one day, and really only occurs in about three rooms in Mary's home and one room in the neighboring bookstore. It's almost claustrophobic, with the people being held in the home while Alleyn does his questioning. I can imagine sitting with all the others, not sure what's going on, suspecting one of them is the murderer. By the end of the evening, Alleyn has his murderer.
We've got suspects and red herrings, sneaking around and listening at closed doors, a bit of a romance. At 212 pages, it's an enjoyable little mystery. A traditional cozy. I was a bit disappointed by the motive, however. Even for that particular killer, I can think of better motives than the one suggested, but that's really a minor complaint.
We've got suspects and red herrings, sneaking around and listening at closed doors, a bit of a romance. At 212 pages, it's an enjoyable little mystery. A traditional cozy. I was a bit disappointed by the motive, however. Even for that particular killer, I can think of better motives than the one suggested, but that's really a minor complaint.
femmm's review against another edition
3.0
Dit was wel een leuk boek. Het begint als een 'normale' roman, totdat er op een gegeven moment iemand doodgaat. Tot op het laatste moment had ik niet zien aankomen wie de dader was. Leuk verhaal.