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A review by maplessence
Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh
4.0
4.5★
When I reread [b:Death at the Dolphin|13355758|Death at the Dolphin (Roderick Alleyn, #24)|Ngaio Marsh|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1376570736s/13355758.jpg|446445] I'll be interested to see how this earlier title compares. Death at the Dolphin was my favourite as a young reader, but this title was a first time read for me & this now feels like my favourite Marsh novel.
The main reason is it is a good story, well told & Marsh seems to have some understanding of the world of debutantes. I know back in the 60s/70s New Zealand had a debutante system as my four sister-in-laws were debutantes. So possibly Marsh grew up understanding the conventions.
Everything is very theatrical, but the best Marsh's generally are! & I think the debutantes' restricted world would have been theatrical in it's intensity.
What made this book more enjoyable for me is Alleyn's relationship with both Fox & Troy was far more natural than in the other Alleyn novels. He is not patronising or arch with Fox. & Rory & Troy aren't circling each other like a pair of skittish fauns. There is even *gasp!* a hint of passion.
I have knocked half a ★ off because I kept getting two of the male characters muddled & because I guessed the murderer quite early.
But glad to find a Marsh that I can wholeheartedly recommend!
When I reread [b:Death at the Dolphin|13355758|Death at the Dolphin (Roderick Alleyn, #24)|Ngaio Marsh|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1376570736s/13355758.jpg|446445] I'll be interested to see how this earlier title compares. Death at the Dolphin was my favourite as a young reader, but this title was a first time read for me & this now feels like my favourite Marsh novel.
The main reason is it is a good story, well told & Marsh seems to have some understanding of the world of debutantes. I know back in the 60s/70s New Zealand had a debutante system as my four sister-in-laws were debutantes. So possibly Marsh grew up understanding the conventions.
Everything is very theatrical, but the best Marsh's generally are! & I think the debutantes' restricted world would have been theatrical in it's intensity.
What made this book more enjoyable for me is Alleyn's relationship with both Fox & Troy was far more natural than in the other Alleyn novels. He is not patronising or arch with Fox. & Rory & Troy aren't circling each other like a pair of skittish fauns. There is even *gasp!* a hint of passion.
I have knocked half a ★ off because I kept getting two of the male characters muddled & because I guessed the murderer quite early.
But glad to find a Marsh that I can wholeheartedly recommend!