Dead Water

Rating:
Summary: Among Marsh's Finest Works
Review: Like many Marsh novels, DEAD WATER presents a truly unexpected plot. Portcarrow Island is little more than a sleepy fishing village until young Wally Trehern, afflicted with warts on his hands, stumbles upon a spring--where a strange woman dressed in green tells him to plunge his hands into the waters. Wally's sudden cure becomes the talk of the island, and when the story is picked up by the national press Portcarrow and the newly named Pixie Falls suddenly evolve into a minor-class Lourdes and a going business concern. Until, that is, the island is inherited by Miss Emily Pride, an elderly but formidable woman who takes an exceedingly dim view of the entire situation.

Throughout her long and memorable career, Ngaio Marsh was most greatly noted for her skill in rendering both character and locale, and this 1963 novel offers a remarkably fine example of her talents and joins them to a memorable plot as well. When Miss Pride arrives at Portcarrow, both Inspector Alleyn and murder soon follow, and the resulting puzzle will fascinate first-time readers. But still more remarkably, like many another Marsh novel, the entire novel is so well written that it bear a second, third, even a fourth visit--and that, in the field of mystery writing, is a very rare thing indeed. A personal favorite, very strongly recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Rating:
Summary: Marsh at her Best
Review: Marsh's talent for the creation of memorable characters is particularly notable in this novel, which features formidable spinster "Miss Emily," who--much to the lethal consternation of the residents--is determined to end further distasteful commercialization of the island property she has recently inherited. Marsh's eye for detail, a sure touch for dialogue, and a particularly clever puzzle make DEAD WATER among her finest works.

Rating:
Summary: bad
Review: One of Marsh's best, the story is a mixture of fun stuff -- faith healing, young love, amorous misadventures, and the crass commercialization of a pretty coastal village. When half-witted little Wally Trehern's warts dry up and fall off after a plunge in the local coldspring, "trippers" begin to zero in on Portcarrow seeking the cure. Just when everybody's making money, a starchy old spinster comes along and tries to spoil things. A classic, cozy mystery with writing that's way above average for the genre.

Rating:
Summary: Colorful characters and a quaint English fishing village.
Review: One of Marsh's best, the story is a mixture of fun stuff -- faith healing, young love, amorous misadventures, and the crass commercialization of a pretty coastal village. When half-witted little Wally Trehern's warts dry up and fall off after a plunge in the local coldspring, "trippers" begin to zero in on Portcarrow seeking the cure. Just when everybody's making money, a starchy old spinster comes along and tries to spoil things. A classic, cozy mystery with writing that's way above average for the genre.

Rating:
Summary: bad
Review: This was a horrible book. It had no meaning, no adventure, and litteraly was disgusting. I recommend You not to read this book.