Reviews

Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh

nocturne_21's review against another edition

4.0

A good, classic murder mystery. I remember reading one of her novels when I was a teenager and just remembered it, and thought I'd give some of her other books a shot. I love Marsh's style of writing; how she tells the story and the way you get to know all the characters before the crime is even committed.

criminally_yours's review against another edition

dark mysterious

3.5

maplessence's review against another edition

3.0

"It's like one of those affairs in books," said Bailey disgustedly."Someone trying to think up a new way to do a murder. Silly, I call it."

"What do you say, Roper?" said Alleyn.

"To my way of thinking, sir," said Sergeant Roper, "these thrillers are ruining our criminal classes."

The humour in this novel (Miss Marsh's 8th Alleyn title) is its saving grace. That and some excellent dialogue. This book has a slow (and quite dull) start, Nigel Bathgate (the world's most annoying Watson) and

Spoiler

Marsh is determined to shoehorn Troy into the plot - even when she doesn't appear. And all that repressed sexual tension - oh my!

This is a Marsh I haven't read before and I'm quite sure I won't read again.

katiepyne23's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious

3.5

shlee64's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

the_maggieg's review

dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.5

caroparr's review against another edition

3.0

Alleyn is always a treat, though this features one of those hysterical spinsters that occasionally inhabit her books. She always did have a taste for the grotesque (remember how the man was killed in A Surfeit of Lampreys, one of my favorites??).

nichola's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I missed Alleyn! I didn't even realise how much until now! 

I love Fox. This was so much fun. I do think that I wanted someone else to be the murderer, but it all made sense in the whole text. 

I loved the Sherlock references, I am wondering why this book had so many. I did love that this one didn't take itself to seriously. It was nice to have a lighter Alleyn book. 

sadiqua_fatima's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

indywonder05's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this book. I figured out who the murderer was pretty early on but I could not figure how the deed was done. It kept me wondering, guessing and playing along even though I knew (or was pretty sure I knew).