Scan barcode
casualdarings's review against another edition
4.0
The person that recommended this to me called it a "deliberately artistic novel" and I think I agree, the prose is beautiful and pretensious but in a good way? I kept reading some of the dialogue outloud to myself in my best English accent cause it needed it, y'know?
Anyway, I liked it, it was a fun little mystery.
Anyway, I liked it, it was a fun little mystery.
violinknitter's review against another edition
4.0
Aww, this is where he meets Troy!
Golden-Age delicious fun. (But wow, the whole “B*** Fox” thing did not age well.)
Golden-Age delicious fun. (But wow, the whole “B*** Fox” thing did not age well.)
jinjaritia's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Vomit, Drug use, and Cursing
Minor: Suicide, Abortion, Grief, and Pregnancy
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
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.
maggiekms's review
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 ;)