A review by thereadingbel
A Wreath for Rivera by Ngaio Marsh

3.0

Lord George Pastern, renowned for extreme eccentricity, seems to have finally lost his sanity when he builds up a murder case against himself. Lord Pastern has gotten into jazz and playing the drums convincing Breezy Bellair to let him do a special piece with Bellair’s famous jazz band. They do a musical number in which they intend to use a revolver and blanks. However, neither Lord Pastern nor Carlos Rivera, the villainous accordionist star of the band who has given an ultimatum to George’s step-daughter, Felicite, to announce their engagement, can agree on who will pretend to fall over dead. At the time of the performance, Rivera unexpectedly falls over despite the group’s decision to do the other routine. When Bellair bends over the musician as part of the act, he looks concerned and gets the ushers to carry Rivera out, only for the man to die before the doctor in the audience can reach him. Inspector Alleyn and Fox encounter jazz, drugs and a gossip magazine clashing with a dysfunctional society family.