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Rating: 
Summary: Good, but ends too abruptly
Review: As usual, I enjoyed another excellent mystery from the pen of Dame Marsh. I particularly liked the fact that Detective-Inspector Fox was given more stage-time. However, while I find the motive for the murder perfectly plausible, I'm not so sure I believe in the efficacy of the method. The plot is similar to _Enter a Murderer_, in that what is supposed to be a joke or "staged" murder, turns out to be the real thing, in front of a dozen witnesses. Still, even though this set-up is similar, Marsh populates the novel with an altogether different cast of people. The only thing I wish is that when the book ended, it would give the reader a clue as to what happens to the various characters, and not just reveal who the murderer is.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but ends too abruptly
Review: As usual, I enjoyed another excellent mystery from the pen of Dame Marsh. I particularly liked the fact that Detective-Inspector Fox was given more stage-time. However, while I find the motive for the murder perfectly plausible, I'm not so sure I believe in the efficacy of the method. The plot is similar to _Enter a Murderer_, in that what is supposed to be a joke or "staged" murder, turns out to be the real thing, in front of a dozen witnesses. Still, even though this set-up is similar, Marsh populates the novel with an altogether different cast of people. The only thing I wish is that when the book ended, it would give the reader a clue as to what happens to the various characters, and not just reveal who the murderer is.
Rating:
Summary: Ms. Marsh is a genius in her genre!
Review: I have read most of Ms. Marsh's books, and I am rereading some of them again. She is a master in her genre. In this book we see a little bit of a digression for her. Most of her books take place on the stage with actors and actreses as the protagonists. This one is on the stage, but it's with a swing band this time, not a play. Alleyn and Fox are trying to solve what does appear to be a very "fancy" murder as Fox puts it. A musician who plays an accordian dies on stage at the end of one of the band's numbers. When Fox and Alleyn start investgating they find that this Rivera is a very unsavoury character, and there could be lots of suspects. Most of the suspects they follow are from one family, and what a family it is! Talk about eccentrics! Fox and Alleyn get through all the window-dressing and unmask the real murder. Good stuff here.
Rating: 
Summary: Agatha Christie who?
Review: Ngaio Marsh is definitely an overlooked mystery writer. Christie, Sayers, Allingham - all get more mention as a general rule but Marsh is not to be overlooked. Her Inspector Alleyn mysteries are among the finest out there. Full of wit, plot twists, and fascinating characters, don't miss out on this or any of her library. A must have for any mystery-phile's collection.
Rating:
Summary: Agatha Christie who?
Review: Ngaio Marsh is definitely an overlooked mystery writer. Christie, Sayers, Allingham - all get more mention as a general rule but Marsh is not to be overlooked. Her Inspector Alleyn mysteries are among the finest out there. Full of wit, plot twists, and fascinating characters, don't miss out on this or any of her library. A must have for any mystery-phile's collection.
Rating: 
Summary: A very tricky murder mystery
Review: No one would be expected to shed any tear when piano-accordionist Carlos Rivera was killed during a performance. His boss Breezy Bellairs could replace him. His team mates weren't too keen on him. Even his unofficial fiance Felicite De Suze seemed to have changed her mind about him just before the performance. To all appearances, Carlos was killed by a make-shift dart fired from a gun held by Lord George Pastern as part of the performance, minus the dart of course.Inspector Alleyn happened to be among the spectators and of course, he was asked to take the lead in the investigation. It would be a tricky investigation. Lord Pastern was known to be eccentric and showy, changing hobbies like seasonal fashion. His wife had been determined to break off her daughter's facsination with Carlos, and Lady Pastern had roped in two relatives, Carlisle Wayne and Edward Manx, to support her. Ngaio Marsh painted an almost comical family of misfits with the Pasterns and relatives. In all appearances, their interrelationship were critical to the solution of the mystery. However, this was where Marsh could not measure up to the other great mystery writers such as Sayers and Christie. Her investigators went painstakingly over the details several times. However, experienced mystery readers would quickly be able to identify non-relevant details, which for some reason Marsh repeated in more than one chapter. Her analysis were also not as brilliant. Evidently, the family members had turned to a magazine columnist known only as G.P.F. (Guide, Philosopher and Friend) for confidential advice. I had correctly deduced the true identity of G.P.F. while Marsh's Alleyn had been badly misled. Given the clues he had, how he could have jumped to the errornous conclusion was unforgivable. The only saving grace, besides creating an interesting family such as the Pastern, was the murder was a real mystery worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: A very tricky murder mystery
Review: No one would be expected to shed any tear when piano-accordionist Carlos Rivera was killed during a performance. His boss Breezy Bellairs could replace him. His team mates weren't too keen on him. Even his unofficial fiance Felicite De Suze seemed to have changed her mind about him just before the performance. To all appearances, Carlos was killed by a make-shift dart fired from a gun held by Lord George Pastern as part of the performance, minus the dart of course. Inspector Alleyn happened to be among the spectators and of course, he was asked to take the lead in the investigation. It would be a tricky investigation. Lord Pastern was known to be eccentric and showy, changing hobbies like seasonal fashion. His wife had been determined to break off her daughter's facsination with Carlos, and Lady Pastern had roped in two relatives, Carlisle Wayne and Edward Manx, to support her. Ngaio Marsh painted an almost comical family of misfits with the Pasterns and relatives. In all appearances, their interrelationship were critical to the solution of the mystery. However, this was where Marsh could not measure up to the other great mystery writers such as Sayers and Christie. Her investigators went painstakingly over the details several times. However, experienced mystery readers would quickly be able to identify non-relevant details, which for some reason Marsh repeated in more than one chapter. Her analysis were also not as brilliant. Evidently, the family members had turned to a magazine columnist known only as G.P.F. (Guide, Philosopher and Friend) for confidential advice. I had correctly deduced the true identity of G.P.F. while Marsh's Alleyn had been badly misled. Given the clues he had, how he could have jumped to the errornous conclusion was unforgivable. The only saving grace, besides creating an interesting family such as the Pastern, was the murder was a real mystery worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Laurels for Ngaio
Review: Probably Marsh's very best mystery plot. Underestimated by those looking for details on New Zealand or the theatrical world. Those who love good, traditional English mystery plots will love this one.
Rating:
Summary: Laurels for Ngaio
Review: Probably Marsh's very best mystery plot. Underestimated by those looking for details on New Zealand or the theatrical world. Those who love good, traditional English mystery plots will love this one.
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