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bmip666's review against another edition
challenging
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
vkaz's review against another edition
4.0
Ngaio Marsh, where have you been all my life? I had read Agatha Christie over the years, but never Marsh. I love the sense of humor and wry wit, the handling of the characters. The setting in the 1930s era of wacky cults and pseudo religions was a lot of fun. I've seen other writers touch on the subject, but Marsh is so playful with it and yet adds insight as to why someone would join up with one of these groups. Well written and fun. I'm definitely going to check out the library for more Marsh!
vstewart76's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
missmary98's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a second to get into this, but once I got going, it was fantastic. I can't wait to read more. A high four stars.
meganc30's review against another edition
3.0
So often, with Marsh's books, I just keep waiting for Alleyn to arrive: I always feel more comfortable when he enters the plot. Happiky, this one starts with another familiar character, Nigel, and brings Alleyn in almost immediately. From there, it's just a good Ngaio Marsh book. I think some reviewers are bothered by her dialogue, but I'm perfectly happy with it as a certain kind of "modern" talk in the 30s. Just let it wash over you: it's very pleasant to the "ear."
sandin954's review
2.0
Inspector Alleyn is called in to investigate a suspicious death during a religious ceremony at the House of the Sacred Flame. A fairly bland mystery with mostly annoying characters made this only an OK listen. Audio narration was performed by James Saxon whose excellent job helped me get through to the end.
michael5000's review against another edition
2.0
A really dumb topical mystery.
This detective series is officially on probation. If it doesn't shape up in the fifth installment, I'm giving it the axe.
This detective series is officially on probation. If it doesn't shape up in the fifth installment, I'm giving it the axe.
eososray's review against another edition
3.0
Just a bit over the top with strange religious practices and so many shifty characters it's hard to decide which one is guilty.
we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition
3.0
Four books in and I'm getting a little impatient for Inspector Alleyn to develop a solid personality. Also it has become clear that yes, he really will have a reporter as a Watson, or maybe I should say as a Hastings.
A moment I loved between the two of them: Nigel suggests to Alleyn that they think about the case as if it were a detective novel. Who would be the suspect in a book? And Alleyn says -
"It depends on the author. If it's Agatha Christie, Miss Wade's occulted guilt drips from every page. Dorothy Sayers's Lord Peter would plump for Pringle, I fancy. Inspector French would go for Ogden. Of course, Ogden, on the face of it, is the first suspect.”
So I guess it's good to know that even if Alleyn's own personality is minimal, he does enjoy reading about colleagues with a bit more character to them.
A moment I loved between the two of them: Nigel suggests to Alleyn that they think about the case as if it were a detective novel. Who would be the suspect in a book? And Alleyn says -
"It depends on the author. If it's Agatha Christie, Miss Wade's occulted guilt drips from every page. Dorothy Sayers's Lord Peter would plump for Pringle, I fancy. Inspector French would go for Ogden. Of course, Ogden, on the face of it, is the first suspect.”
So I guess it's good to know that even if Alleyn's own personality is minimal, he does enjoy reading about colleagues with a bit more character to them.