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" Ngaio Marsh's book is wonderful, but this audio recording is irritating because the reader mispronounces Alleyn's name throughout this book and others that she recorded. One of Marsh's books make a point of saying that Alleyn is pronounced like Allen, not like Alaine. Although I enjoy the books, it grates to hear this error repeatedly. "
- Catherine, 5/9/2021
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" My first Nagios Marsh book. I am looking forward to listening to many more. She has caught my attention and will keep it for sure. "
- christi, 6/1/2018
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" This review applies to anything written by Dame Marsh. If you enjoy murder mysteries, 1930s England, and complex characters, motives, and plots, this is the mystery writer for you. I've read Marsh and Christie. I prefer Marsh, hands down. "
- Winddancer, 2/20/2014
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" Ok, Rachel, yes, this is a good author. "
- April, 2/10/2014
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" Particularly written with great care, vivid and smooth. The murders are gruesome, but as usual, the people who most annoy get their comeuppance and that takes the sting out of their denouement. The blooming romance between Troy and Alleyn is as delicate as eyelash kisses. "
- aPriL, 2/9/2014
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" How Alleyn meets his future wife Troy and she "almost" loves him. "
- Kel, 2/8/2014
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" Since I've nearly exhausted Agatha Christie's oeuvre, I decided to try branching out into Ngaio Marsh's. This book was compelling and had many of the elements I most love from Christie's mysteries including a quirky cast of characters with complicated relationships and secret pasts, living in the English countryside in the era and social class of manservants and parlor maids. Like Christie's plot lines, most of the book is spent detailing the Scotland Yard interviews with duplicitous suspects and the brainstorming sessions of the detective team. I will definitely read some more from this author. "
- Melissa, 2/5/2014
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" Five stars for introducing us to the wonderful Troy. "
- John, 2/3/2014
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" (Date I finished my 2011 reread) This is one of my favorite of the Marsh novels, and the one that got me sucked into reading all of them. "
- Jasmine, 1/22/2014
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" I've enjoyed all of the Ngaio Marsh books, but this one in particular, if only because it offers an interesting insight into artistic circles c. 1940 Britain (apparently Marsh herself had formal training as a painter). This mystery is also particularly worth noting because we make the acquaintance here of Roderick Alleyn's love interest, Agatha Troy (who is apparently modelled somewhat on Marsh herself). Although they're not quite a Lord Peter Whimsey/Harriet Vane duo, it's still fascinating to watch the dynamics of their relationship unfold, and somewhat reminiscent of the Whimsey/Vane encounter in that their relationship starts off severely disadvantaged by one of the pair being a suspect in a murder mystery that the other is investigating. "
- Rosalyn, 1/22/2014
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" Listened to the audiobook read by Benedict Cumberbatch. Very well read (love how he does different, consistent voices for each character) and greatly enjoyed the story. Lovely old fashioned "who done it" that doesn't make the killer obvious, yet does give you clues in context as you go along. "
- Clare, 1/21/2014
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" (Tor's copy. I read this years ago.) Inspec. Roderick Alleyn, (Agatha) Troy--artist "
- LDuchess, 1/20/2014
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" Alleyn meets his lady love, hurray! :) "
- Rachel, 1/10/2014
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" This was a good mystery, full of twists and turns. But what made it especially interesting to me was that it took place in an artist's studio/school--very close to home for my family. Also, we get to watch Alleyn fall in love and really struggle with solving the crime as a result. "
- Elena, 1/3/2014
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" The best one, but then I'm a Troy fan and I like reading about painters :) The murderer is very obvious in retrospect, but that makes it a great book as you know who did it all along, you just don't get it until the reveal. Brilliant. "
- Kirsty, 12/15/2013
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" Marsh introduces a love interest for Inspector Alleyn in volume 4. Compared to how the mystery unravels, the love story develops rather clumsily. Hopefully future volumes won't be affected. "
- Huihan, 11/30/2013
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" I love Ngaio Marsh, and this one gets extra points for being the book where Roderick Alleyn meets Agatha Troy. "
- Mike, 11/2/2013
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" Childhood favourite. I must have read this a dozen times. Would it still hold up? "
- Hazel, 9/27/2013
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" I liked this book because I liked Agatha Troy so much. Besides, it was a British mystery about a working, successful artist - two of my favorite things! "
- Michealle, 3/1/2013
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" Marsh's plot lines are not a intricate as Agatha Christie's, but they are still a fun read. I feel they are similar to a Rex Stout novel, in that Stout is entertaining, but not a complex as a Dashiel Hammett. "
- Carrie, 2/15/2013
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" One of my favorite mysteries, mixing a surprising romance with a twisting mystery. "
- Michelledenisenorton, 7/10/2012
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" This book begins with Alleyn meeting Troy for the first time and progresses through an art based mystery.I also have this on dvd
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- Teotakuu, 5/7/2011
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" Marsh is really hitting her stride. And the more I read of Alleyn, the more I see Detective Inspector Adam Dalgliesh.
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- astrangerhere, 1/31/2011
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" (Date I finished my 2011 reread) This is one of my favorite of the Marsh novels, and the one that got me sucked into reading all of them.
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- Jasmine, 1/4/2011
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" Ok, Rachel, yes, this is a good author.
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- April, 12/13/2010
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" This review applies to anything written by Dame Marsh. If you enjoy murder mysteries, 1930s England, and complex characters, motives, and plots, this is the mystery writer for you. I've read Marsh and Christie. I prefer Marsh, hands down.
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- Winddancer, 9/13/2010
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" One of the Marsh's where I figured out "whodunit" long before the end. I also felt that the relationship between Alleyn and Troy was a dim shadow of the great Harriet/Peter relationship in Sayers.
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- Mmyoung, 4/30/2010
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" It's about time Alleyn found a love interest, & Troy is perfect. I love her somewhat prickly shyness.
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- Brett, 4/18/2010
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" I love Ngaio Marsh, and this one gets extra points for being the book where Roderick Alleyn meets Agatha Troy.
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- Mike, 11/10/2009
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" Very Good; Continuing character: Inspector Alleyn; murder among a group of artists, as a model is killed and Scotland Yard works to unmask the culprit
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- Joe, 9/7/2009
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