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gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent! The characters in this one are great. You really should read the book before this one to appreciate it.
carvellie's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
thenovelbook's review against another edition
3.0
Not quite sure what I think about Ngaio Marsh. This was my first of her books. Especially since listening to the Shedunnit podcast, I've become aware that there are a few gaps in my knowledge of Golden Age mystery writers, and Ngaio Marsh was one of them. So I thought I'd just pick one that sounded interesting and give it a try.
And it was good, in a way! The solution was simple but easy to miss.
What I was a little flummoxed by was the fact that we spend so much time with the murder victim before he is killed. And I liked him! It changed the dynamic of the story from a mere puzzle to a tragedy, and that makes for heavier reading and a sadness that I don't usually equate with traditional mysteries. Surely that's a no-no on the list of Golden Age rules?
I also wasn't sure what Marsh was trying to accomplish in her barely-there side plot about the woman Inspector Alleyn loves. I think, if a writer is going to commit a character to a relationship that's supposed to carry some emotional heft, it probably deserves a fair amount of page time, as in the case of Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter. Otherwise, what's the point? The detective could just as well remain unattached and in his own little world, as Agatha Christie's Poirot does.
The mystery made for good reading, so I would try another Ngaio Marsh book sometime. Because the jury's still out on what I think of her style.
And it was good, in a way! The solution was simple but easy to miss.
What I was a little flummoxed by was the fact that we spend so much time with the murder victim before he is killed. And I liked him! It changed the dynamic of the story from a mere puzzle to a tragedy, and that makes for heavier reading and a sadness that I don't usually equate with traditional mysteries. Surely that's a no-no on the list of Golden Age rules?
I also wasn't sure what Marsh was trying to accomplish in her barely-there side plot about the woman Inspector Alleyn loves. I think, if a writer is going to commit a character to a relationship that's supposed to carry some emotional heft, it probably deserves a fair amount of page time, as in the case of Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter. Otherwise, what's the point? The detective could just as well remain unattached and in his own little world, as Agatha Christie's Poirot does.
The mystery made for good reading, so I would try another Ngaio Marsh book sometime. Because the jury's still out on what I think of her style.
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Seventh in the Inspector Roderick Alleyn vintage mystery series revolving around Alleyn's life. This one takes place in London, and it's early 1938.
My Take
Ooh, clothes shopping! Woohoo! Then comes the sad news that made me cry. Well, I did enjoy Death in a White Tie thoroughly, but the sadness continued throughout. Such a waste.
Bunchy sounds like an absolute love. Enjoying himself everywhere he goes and helping out everywhere. Quite the opposite of the selfish Sir Herbert. What a jerk he was!! Oh, lol, seems Sir Herbert's nerves were shot from the war . . . which he spent in Tunbridge Wells *more laughter*.
It's a combination of blackmail, unhappy debutantes, and running into debt. In particular, Lord Robert is most unhappy with Donald. Seems Donald can't survive on £4 a week. Times like these, I wish I could go back in time with my current income, lol. Seems this spoiled boy wants to have his cake and eat it too.
Who'd've thunk noticing the decorations around a house could be a clue? Nor, it seems, does it pay to ignore the past.
Poor Troy has her confession about love and relationships. We also learn what she has against Roderick. Poor sap.
Per usual, it's a lot of talk, as Alleyn interviews everyone from the ball and discusses his observations. He's not alone however, as Marsh uses third person global subjective point-of-view from a number of perspectives, so we learn quite a bit from a number of characters. I did crack up at Fox's upset over Carewe's labors, lol.
The Story
With Lady Carrados bringing out her daughter and Lady Alleyn, an old friend of hers, bringing out her granddaughter, the two friends are determined to bring the girls out together.
It seems the Season will be so much more exciting when they learn that there's a blackmailer about.
The Characters
Chief Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn is county, dahling. He was in the army, went the diplomat route, and is now a copper. Vassily is his servant (A Man Lay Dead, 1). And yes, he has Troy's painting from Suva (Artists in Crime, 6). His mother, Lady Alleyn, has quite a few hobbies and has decided to sponsor Sarah for the Season. George is the older son and a baronet. He's married to Grace, and Sarah is their daughter who is coming out. George Alleyn had been their father and had been in Halcut-Hackett's regiment.
The shy Agatha Troy is an artist with a show at the Wiltshire Galleries.
Scotland Yard
Alleyn's team includes Detective Inspector Fox, Detective-Sergeant Thompson, and Dr Curtis, who is the divisional surgeon. Detective-Constable James D'Arcy Carewe is a new chap who takes going undercover a bit far. Police-Constable Titheridge reported. The Assistant Commissioner (AC) weighs in. Harrington-Barr is a lawyer.
Evelyn O'Brien Carrados née Curtis, a.k.a. Lady Carrados and "Donna". Her first husband was Captain Paddy O'Brien. She's currently married to the vain and pompous Sir Herbert "Bart" Carrados. Bridget is Evelyn's daughter with Paddy. The focused and touchy Miss Violet Harris, the third daughter from a large family of a Buckinghamshire clergyman, is Evelyn's new secretary. Sophie is Lady Carrados' maid. General Arthur Marsdon is Evelyn's uncle and is loaning out his house. Anthony Banks had been Paddy's dearest friend in Australia.
Lord Robert "Bunchy" Gospell loves parties and society and is asked everywhere. He also enjoys helping the police. Mildred, Lady Potter, is his sister; Donald Potter is her spoiled son and Bunchy's nephew, who is interested in pursuing a medical degree — on his terms. He's dating Bridget and Carrados disapproves. Archery seems to be a house of Donald's near Edinburgh. The sixteen-year-old Broomfield is Bunchy's oldest nephew?? I'm assuming it's via a Gospell brother.
The kind but not very bright General Halcut-Hackett and his mean, common wife, a much younger American actress, are bringing out Rose Birnbaum, a.k.a. Poppet, a very plain and unhappy girl. Poppet wants to be an art student; her grandfather had been Joseph Birnbaum, a known painter.
The eighty-year-old Lucy, Lady Lorrimer, the Dowager Marchioness of Lorrimer, is deaf, eccentric, rich, and speaks very loudly. Sir Daniel Davidson is Evelyn's doctor on Harley Street. The Comstocks threw a bridge party for charity. The Gainscotts. Kremorn shot himself. The Debs' Delight is a reference to those gentlemen whom the ladies like. Percy Percival and Trelawney-Caper are friends. Lady Jennifer Trueman was at the ball.
There is/was a hospital at Falconbridge in Buckinghamshire where Dr Bletherly attended Paddy. Miss Harris' uncle Walter Harris was the rector here; Edith is his wife. Canon Worsley of All Saints, Chipton, is a friend of Walter's. Young Hockley is in trouble.
Captain Maurice Withers, a.k.a. Wits, is accepted but not universally liked, especially by Bunchy. He's running a not-so-secret gambling club in Leatherhead.
Columbo Dimitri owns the very popular catering company, Shepherd Market. François Dupont is Dimitri's confidential servant. Hughie Bronx's Band plays at Lady Carrados' ball. Smithy is Miss Harris' flatmate. The Matador is a club where Cuthbert is the manager. Simmons is a cloakroom attendant. The Peeping Tom of Peckham has a surprising identity. Thomas is a medical school in London.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a range of toasty browns, starting with the gradient in the upper half of the cover with a reverse gradient of cream to pale brown in the title. The ubiquitous banner that seems to be blowing in the wind is the creamy brown with the author's name centered in it in its mash-up of dark brown to cream with the linear textures in the Art Deco font. On the sides, primarily in the lower half, are the one-sided scalloped lines of white that radiate from the bottom out to the sides, framing their own gradients of deep brown to toasty. The graphic centered in the charcoal gray background below the banner is a wooden hourglass with the sand running out. Crossing the bottom of the hourglass is an arched milk coffee banner with the series info in white.
The title is sadly true, for he was done to Death in a White Tie.
My Take
Ooh, clothes shopping! Woohoo! Then comes the sad news that made me cry. Well, I did enjoy Death in a White Tie thoroughly, but the sadness continued throughout. Such a waste.
Bunchy sounds like an absolute love. Enjoying himself everywhere he goes and helping out everywhere. Quite the opposite of the selfish Sir Herbert. What a jerk he was!! Oh, lol, seems Sir Herbert's nerves were shot from the war . . . which he spent in Tunbridge Wells *more laughter*.
It's a combination of blackmail, unhappy debutantes, and running into debt. In particular, Lord Robert is most unhappy with Donald. Seems Donald can't survive on £4 a week. Times like these, I wish I could go back in time with my current income, lol. Seems this spoiled boy wants to have his cake and eat it too.
Who'd've thunk noticing the decorations around a house could be a clue? Nor, it seems, does it pay to ignore the past.
Poor Troy has her confession about love and relationships. We also learn what she has against Roderick. Poor sap.
Per usual, it's a lot of talk, as Alleyn interviews everyone from the ball and discusses his observations. He's not alone however, as Marsh uses third person global subjective point-of-view from a number of perspectives, so we learn quite a bit from a number of characters. I did crack up at Fox's upset over Carewe's labors, lol.
The Story
With Lady Carrados bringing out her daughter and Lady Alleyn, an old friend of hers, bringing out her granddaughter, the two friends are determined to bring the girls out together.
It seems the Season will be so much more exciting when they learn that there's a blackmailer about.
The Characters
Chief Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn is county, dahling. He was in the army, went the diplomat route, and is now a copper. Vassily is his servant (A Man Lay Dead, 1). And yes, he has Troy's painting from Suva (Artists in Crime, 6). His mother, Lady Alleyn, has quite a few hobbies and has decided to sponsor Sarah for the Season. George is the older son and a baronet. He's married to Grace, and Sarah is their daughter who is coming out. George Alleyn had been their father and had been in Halcut-Hackett's regiment.
The shy Agatha Troy is an artist with a show at the Wiltshire Galleries.
Scotland Yard
Alleyn's team includes Detective Inspector Fox, Detective-Sergeant Thompson, and Dr Curtis, who is the divisional surgeon. Detective-Constable James D'Arcy Carewe is a new chap who takes going undercover a bit far. Police-Constable Titheridge reported. The Assistant Commissioner (AC) weighs in. Harrington-Barr is a lawyer.
Evelyn O'Brien Carrados née Curtis, a.k.a. Lady Carrados and "Donna". Her first husband was Captain Paddy O'Brien. She's currently married to the vain and pompous Sir Herbert "Bart" Carrados. Bridget is Evelyn's daughter with Paddy. The focused and touchy Miss Violet Harris, the third daughter from a large family of a Buckinghamshire clergyman, is Evelyn's new secretary. Sophie is Lady Carrados' maid. General Arthur Marsdon is Evelyn's uncle and is loaning out his house. Anthony Banks had been Paddy's dearest friend in Australia.
Lord Robert "Bunchy" Gospell loves parties and society and is asked everywhere. He also enjoys helping the police. Mildred, Lady Potter, is his sister; Donald Potter is her spoiled son and Bunchy's nephew, who is interested in pursuing a medical degree — on his terms. He's dating Bridget and Carrados disapproves. Archery seems to be a house of Donald's near Edinburgh. The sixteen-year-old Broomfield is Bunchy's oldest nephew?? I'm assuming it's via a Gospell brother.
The kind but not very bright General Halcut-Hackett and his mean, common wife, a much younger American actress, are bringing out Rose Birnbaum, a.k.a. Poppet, a very plain and unhappy girl. Poppet wants to be an art student; her grandfather had been Joseph Birnbaum, a known painter.
The eighty-year-old Lucy, Lady Lorrimer, the Dowager Marchioness of Lorrimer, is deaf, eccentric, rich, and speaks very loudly. Sir Daniel Davidson is Evelyn's doctor on Harley Street. The Comstocks threw a bridge party for charity. The Gainscotts. Kremorn shot himself. The Debs' Delight is a reference to those gentlemen whom the ladies like. Percy Percival and Trelawney-Caper are friends. Lady Jennifer Trueman was at the ball.
There is/was a hospital at Falconbridge in Buckinghamshire where Dr Bletherly attended Paddy. Miss Harris' uncle Walter Harris was the rector here; Edith is his wife. Canon Worsley of All Saints, Chipton, is a friend of Walter's. Young Hockley is in trouble.
Captain Maurice Withers, a.k.a. Wits, is accepted but not universally liked, especially by Bunchy. He's running a not-so-secret gambling club in Leatherhead.
Columbo Dimitri owns the very popular catering company, Shepherd Market. François Dupont is Dimitri's confidential servant. Hughie Bronx's Band plays at Lady Carrados' ball. Smithy is Miss Harris' flatmate. The Matador is a club where Cuthbert is the manager. Simmons is a cloakroom attendant. The Peeping Tom of Peckham has a surprising identity. Thomas is a medical school in London.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a range of toasty browns, starting with the gradient in the upper half of the cover with a reverse gradient of cream to pale brown in the title. The ubiquitous banner that seems to be blowing in the wind is the creamy brown with the author's name centered in it in its mash-up of dark brown to cream with the linear textures in the Art Deco font. On the sides, primarily in the lower half, are the one-sided scalloped lines of white that radiate from the bottom out to the sides, framing their own gradients of deep brown to toasty. The graphic centered in the charcoal gray background below the banner is a wooden hourglass with the sand running out. Crossing the bottom of the hourglass is an arched milk coffee banner with the series info in white.
The title is sadly true, for he was done to Death in a White Tie.
valefimbres's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? No
3.5
nancie's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
annacantcook's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sjruskin's review against another edition
3.0
Lots and lots do characters with quirky English names. Had a bit of trouble keeping it all straight, but still good classic detective story.
claudia_mary's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-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? No
5.0