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book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
Book number three in the Roderick Alleyn mystery series by renowned New Zealand writer Ngaio Marsh. This time Inspector Detective Alleyn is called to investigate the death of a Britain’s Home Secretary. Sir Derek O’Callahan had been complaining of abdominal pain for some days, but it wasn’t until he collapsed that he went to hospital. By then his abscessed appendix had burst and emergency surgery was needed. The operation was a success but Sir Derek died shortly thereafter. His wife insisted on an inquest and the results showed an overdose of a particular drug. But who administered it?
As is typical of Marsh’s writing there is little exposition or description and a lot of dialogue and repetition. There are plenty of suspects – including a vengeful surgeon, a nurse (whose a former lover), an unhappy wife, and a host of political foes - and more than few red herrings. There’s also a subplot involving Bolsheviks that clearly places the reader in the time frame.
Marsh is frequently compared to the other “Queens of Crime” of the early 20th century (Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers for example). Her work has endured for nearly a century, but I am not much of a fan. This is the third of her books I’ve read and the third time I’m giving one of her books two stars.
As is typical of Marsh’s writing there is little exposition or description and a lot of dialogue and repetition. There are plenty of suspects – including a vengeful surgeon, a nurse (whose a former lover), an unhappy wife, and a host of political foes - and more than few red herrings. There’s also a subplot involving Bolsheviks that clearly places the reader in the time frame.
Marsh is frequently compared to the other “Queens of Crime” of the early 20th century (Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers for example). Her work has endured for nearly a century, but I am not much of a fan. This is the third of her books I’ve read and the third time I’m giving one of her books two stars.
lelia_t's review
2.0
I could barely keep my eyes propped open for this book. I've read other Ngaio Marsh books and enjoyed them, especially Tied up in Tinsel (perhaps because Alleyn's wonderful wife Troy features prominently). But this one left me dozing, barely able to keep my eyes open long enough to find out (or care) who the murderer was.
bllowns's review
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
vstewart76's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
tarshka's review against another edition
2.0
Like many of Ngaio Marsh's other books, it's fine but I forgot most everything about it after a couple months.
nekreader's review
3.0
I liked this Marsh mystery better than the first two. It was easier to get into right from the beginning, and I enjoyed the set up and reveal at the end. nce again, Marsh injects a bit of the British political scene once again. After the first two books in the series, I wasn't a real fan, but I'll try the fourth book and see how it goes.
bluestarfish's review
3.0
The Bolsheviks are back! If horror films are meant to represent the anxieties of an age I think murder mysteries are too. As soon as someone starts writing about anarchists though I can't help but thinking of G.K. Chesterton's 'The Man Who Was Thursday' and the comparison usually isn't favourable.
That aside I think I'm starting to like Inspector Alleyn more, and there was less of the perky Nigel/Angela combo. This murder is set in a private nursing home which is what existed before the NHS (although that's mind-blowing in itself) when a patient get through surgery and then dies a couple of hours later. The patient being the home secretary you would think there would be a few more questions asked, but it is his wife kicking up a fuss that leads to a post mortem and the discovery of ill-doing.
That aside I think I'm starting to like Inspector Alleyn more, and there was less of the perky Nigel/Angela combo. This murder is set in a private nursing home which is what existed before the NHS (although that's mind-blowing in itself) when a patient get through surgery and then dies a couple of hours later. The patient being the home secretary you would think there would be a few more questions asked, but it is his wife kicking up a fuss that leads to a post mortem and the discovery of ill-doing.
violinknitter's review
4.0
I don’t know how I’ve managed to read practically all the Christie & Sayers I could get my hands on, & never even come across Marsh, let alone read her mysteries. I can tell it’s going to be fun catching up on my Golden Age mystery reading.
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
An early entry in this series. Inspector Alleyn still does not seemed fully formed as a character yet but the plot was entertaining enough and I enjoyed the narration of the audio by Philip Franks.
missmary98's review
4.0
This was a fun little mystery, and I really got a great feel for the different characters and their personalities in this one (never mind that this is the 9th one I read...)