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vstewart76's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
nekreader's review against another edition
2.0
I am trying hard to like Marsh's mysteries, but having a difficult time getting started. The characters don't seem sharply drawn enough to stand out and the plots take a while to get going. Still, I liked this Roderick Alleyn mystery better than the first in the series, and I'll starting number three shortly.
bluestarfish's review against another edition
3.0
Second Roderick Alleyn detective story and the action happens in a theatre when a prop gun fires a real gun during a play. Having been invited along to the play by the hero of the last book, Nigel Bathgate, Alleyn is in the right place at the right time to help solve the murder. Theatre works as a much better backdrop for the mystery for Ngaio Marsh than the country house. Nigel just seems to hang around to be a Watson for Alleyn and is a rather irritating character this time, and is also a journalist who meekly submits his articles for censorship by the police before publication? (I guess he gets a few scoops out of it but it still sounds odd these days. Suspension of disbelief and all that I suppose.) The other irrelevant point that caused me to wonder was the play at the Unicorn Theatre. It is about rats and beavers but it did sound a bit grown up for a supposedly children's theatre? Although that point was merely something interesting to think about alongside trying to guess whodunit.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
4.0
I love the theatrical mysteries by Marsh, but the ending of this one rather cheeses me off--there were so many better people to be the murderer!
fyre_flies's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
elisabeth1's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
magicalrocketships's review against another edition
4.0
Impeccable cover, delightful choice of mystery novel for the start of the Christmas holidays (nb no Christmas content just ACTING and a perfect edition).