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astrangerhere's review against another edition
3.0
Religious cults, heroin and even a few homosexuals thrown in for good measure in a book originally published in 1936. And yet, none of it felt dated or campy, save for a few turns of phrases here or there.
"Well put that on your needles and knit it."
"Well put that on your needles and knit it."
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
3.0
Death in Ecstasy (1936) by Ngaio Marsh finds Inspector Roderick Alleyn's some-time Watson, Nigel Strangeways, bored on a rainy, blustery London night. He gazes discontentedly out his window and notices a sign glinting in the light as the wind gusts and jostles it about: House of the Sacred Flame. A mysterious-sounding place and as he watches members of the obscure sect enter the sacred portals, he decides that attending the services of a strange religious group is just what he needs to liven up a dull evening. Who knows--there might even be a story in it. Little does he suspect just how much news he's going to find behind the doors.
This particular Sunday night was a special one--a monthly service in which The Chosen Vessel, in this case one Miss Cara Quayne, having been prepared through a month of preparatory sessions with Father Garnette--the founder, reaches a state of Ecstasy through ceremony. Bathgate watches as a sacred chalice is passed among the faithful. There's a bit of chanting, Cara drinks from the cup, and falls down at the feet of the priest.
My friends...My friends, our beloved sister has been vouchsafed the greatest boon of all. She is in ecstasy. Let us sing our hymn to Pan, the God-in-all.
But--as one of the Initiates points out...
It's not. It's not. She's dead. I touched her. She's dead!
Dr. Kasbek, a member of the congregation comes forward and confirms the Initiate's declaration. They are about to clear the House when Nigel suggests that no one should leave just yet and perhaps the police should be called. After all--the woman's mouth and eyes look a bit odd and there's a certain smell. The doctor investigates further and agrees with Nigel that it looks very like poison. The newsman uses the phone to call in his old friend Inspector Alleyn.
Alleyn walks into a place of mystery that is nonetheless full of very familiar worldly motives for murder--greed, jealousy, and lust to name a few. There are seven suspects all with reasons to want the lovely Cara dead--from those who were jealous of her chosen position with Father Garnette to those with a taste for the "special cigarettes" that light the way to ecstasy to those who were greedy for her wealth...either for themselves or to fill the coffers of the Sacred Flame. It's up to Alleyn with the help of Inspector Fox and Nigel to sift the clues and find those that point to the murderer.
Marsh does atmosphere very well in this one. Her theatrical background lends itself to creating the slightly over-the-top trappings of the Sacred Flame. A cult that embraces all the gods of everywhere and every time and the sacred words and chants of them all. And she presents it without it seeming like the incredible mishmash that it is. Alleyn may raise his eyebrows at it, but while the ceremony is in progress, even the worldly journalist Bathgate is swept up in the moment and lulled by the words of the priest. It's easy to see how the Initiates could be wrapped up in the cult.
Well-written with skillful plotting, though not quite as mystifying as her previous work.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
This particular Sunday night was a special one--a monthly service in which The Chosen Vessel, in this case one Miss Cara Quayne, having been prepared through a month of preparatory sessions with Father Garnette--the founder, reaches a state of Ecstasy through ceremony. Bathgate watches as a sacred chalice is passed among the faithful. There's a bit of chanting, Cara drinks from the cup, and falls down at the feet of the priest.
My friends...My friends, our beloved sister has been vouchsafed the greatest boon of all. She is in ecstasy. Let us sing our hymn to Pan, the God-in-all.
But--as one of the Initiates points out...
It's not. It's not. She's dead. I touched her. She's dead!
Dr. Kasbek, a member of the congregation comes forward and confirms the Initiate's declaration. They are about to clear the House when Nigel suggests that no one should leave just yet and perhaps the police should be called. After all--the woman's mouth and eyes look a bit odd and there's a certain smell. The doctor investigates further and agrees with Nigel that it looks very like poison. The newsman uses the phone to call in his old friend Inspector Alleyn.
Alleyn walks into a place of mystery that is nonetheless full of very familiar worldly motives for murder--greed, jealousy, and lust to name a few. There are seven suspects all with reasons to want the lovely Cara dead--from those who were jealous of her chosen position with Father Garnette to those with a taste for the "special cigarettes" that light the way to ecstasy to those who were greedy for her wealth...either for themselves or to fill the coffers of the Sacred Flame. It's up to Alleyn with the help of Inspector Fox and Nigel to sift the clues and find those that point to the murderer.
Marsh does atmosphere very well in this one. Her theatrical background lends itself to creating the slightly over-the-top trappings of the Sacred Flame. A cult that embraces all the gods of everywhere and every time and the sacred words and chants of them all. And she presents it without it seeming like the incredible mishmash that it is. Alleyn may raise his eyebrows at it, but while the ceremony is in progress, even the worldly journalist Bathgate is swept up in the moment and lulled by the words of the priest. It's easy to see how the Initiates could be wrapped up in the cult.
Well-written with skillful plotting, though not quite as mystifying as her previous work.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
georgefrogbooks's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
felicitydisco's review against another edition
funny
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? It's complicated
4.25
This was a fun and funny one! The Alleyn/Fox/Bathgate combination is delightful.
dan78's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it but I didn't love it.
Not my favourite Marsh but I still enjoyed its unique location and setting, it took me a while to get use to the way some of the dialogue was written and yes it's dated a little but a good read none the less (although I guessed who did it early on, which so far I've not been able to do)
Still I'm loving Ngaio Marsh very much.
Not my favourite Marsh but I still enjoyed its unique location and setting, it took me a while to get use to the way some of the dialogue was written and yes it's dated a little but a good read none the less (although I guessed who did it early on, which so far I've not been able to do)
Still I'm loving Ngaio Marsh very much.
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
Roderick-Alleyn-regular Nigel Bathgate is bored one rainy night. His boredom and a neon sign lead him to the House of the Sacred Flame. There are guards at the door to the temple which Nigel does eventually sneak manage to sneak into. Unfortunately, one of the parishioners dies. But Nigel has a Detective Inspector of Homicides' number memorized and Roderick Alleyn is brought into the mystery.
The woman who died was incredibly wealthy and fairly young (in her thirties). She recently changed her will to leave her money to the House of the Sacred Flame. But is that a good enough motive? Or could their be others.
I actually made it through this book faster than some in this series. It was tightly written and engaging. You can start to see some of the drug mania of the time that Marsh will start to infuse her books with.
The woman who died was incredibly wealthy and fairly young (in her thirties). She recently changed her will to leave her money to the House of the Sacred Flame. But is that a good enough motive? Or could their be others.
I actually made it through this book faster than some in this series. It was tightly written and engaging. You can start to see some of the drug mania of the time that Marsh will start to infuse her books with.
notthatbuffy's review against another edition
3.0
Finally one of these is a decent read. Cults, heroin, and no Bolsheviks. Some unpleasant period homophobia though. A good mystery.
em_beddedinbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Listened to it in installments while jogging in the evenings. Was an okay cozy mystery, not as great as I expected, as the author is Ngaio Marsh, one of my favorites. This deals with secret pagan Church societies, death of a rich woman during a ritual wherein she was supposed to be initiated as a novice, and who had willed her considerable fortune to the sect. The other 8 people who were with her when she died are the mains suspects, as it was an instantaneous death due to cyanide poisoning. The story slowly unravels to show the different suspects' lives and motives, and finally the killer evolves.
nichola's review against another edition
4.0
I love Alleyn. He isn't Poirot or Dalgliesh but he is a special kind of gentleman detective.
He is charming and clever and at times forceful.
He is charming and clever and at times forceful.
scorpionturtle's review against another edition
3.0
Viewed as a satire of gothic and mystery novels this works well. Everything is way over the top.