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lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
fast-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
3.25
This is my first Ngaio Marsh, and her first!, and while it generally left a favorable impression, there are definitely some odd parts. There is the normal classism and racism of the time, and the whole Russian political cult is incredibly ridiculous and to go from an English country house murder scene to torture at the end was a weird change of topic, genre, flavor, etc . I did think the person with the greatest motive was likely the murderer, but it seemed kind of obvious that it was possible, so I thought there would be another twist coming. I guess the twist was the absolute ridiculous series of events that needed to happen for the murder to occur in about 30 seconds. The characterization of the detective is also all over the place, by the book, humorous, wry, mean, etc. The saving grace of the story is there are several funny lines or pieces of dialogue. I might read more Marsh, but I will probably only pick one up if the mystery sounds especially good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Classism, Racial slurs, Torture, Racism, and Bullying
siria's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.5
A quick read, a fairly standard English Country House mystery. Ngaio Marsh's writing has some verve to it, and the characters of Nigel and Angela were some fun as Bright Young Things who assist Inspector Alleyne in figuring out whodunnit. But even allowing for the fact that what is cliché now was fresh once, <i>A Man Lay Dead</i> is a deeply silly book. The howdunnit just didn't work, and Alleyne's procedural methods had me scratching my head and wondering if any part of his case would stand up in court. I know that the Thirties were a different time—but <i>that</i> different? Then you add in a lot of classism and the xenophobic subplot that went nowhere involving the religious-yet-also-somehow-Bolshevik centuries-old secret society that is hinted to engage in (presumably gay?) orgies and/or castrations and sometimes immolates its members in locked houses , and you have me rolling my eyes a bit as I close the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Classism
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