A review by lelia_t
Artists in Crime by Ngaio Marsh

4.0

My favorite Roderick Alleyn mysteries are the ones that feature Agatha Troy and this book is our (and Alleyn's) introduction to her. Amid rather horrific murders, we get to see Alleyn in love, which is a treat. We also meet his mother, a regal old lady, who seems to have a talent for turning all the men (Fox, Bathgate, even Alleyn himself) into fawners. (Eudora Welty, in a letter to Ross MacDonald, describes how Alleyn goes to his mother's home each night "sits on her bed and lets her guess what's happened and pronounce on who couldn't possibly be the murderer, while they drink sherry and call each other 'Darling.' He is just meeting Troy in time...") Fox is fabulous as always. Nosy reporter Nigel Bathgate is tedious as usual. The mystery is fairly fun, though. I've read this one twice and enjoyed the investigation even more the second time, knowing who'd done it.