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Last Ditch Audiobook
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(3.02) - 365 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Young Ricky Alleyn has come to the picturesque fishing village of Deep Cove to write. Though the sleepy little town offers few diversions, Ricky manages to find the most distracting one of all: murder. For in a muddy ditch, he sees a dead equestrienne whose last leap was anything but an accident. And when Ricky himself disappears, the case becomes a horse of a different color for his father, Inspector Roderick Alleyn.
Legendary novelist Ngaio Marsh was made a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America and was named Dame Commander, Order of the British Empire, during the course of her career. Pull up a chair and get swept away by her brilliant storytelling.
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"I enjoyed this Inspector Alleyn mystery but it was a little diffused or maybe less coherent because of the multiple viewpoints--told at times from his son's perspective but then ending up mostly from Alleyn's. Good story overall."
— Elena (4 out of 5 stars)
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“One of the best stories by the doyenne of mystery writers in the traditional British style.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Rich, raffish, engagingly eccentric.”
— Daily Express (London) -
“Age does not wither Dame Ngaio, nor custom stale her infinite variety…she writes as beautifully as ever.”
— Sunday Times (London) -
“Polished and enjoyable as ever.”
— Sunday Telegraph (London) -
“The New Zealand author scores another hit with her new, impeccably written and suspenseful mystery.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“As comforting and satisfying as a cup of Earl Grey tea. With the deft touch of a master, Marsh paints her highly visual English countryside sets and charming, gracious characters…[Wanda McCaddon] is unfaltering in carrying off this wonderful work which, in its simplicity, is a throwback to a less complicated, more gently paced period.”
— AudioFile
Last Ditch Listener Reviews
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" It was very interesting to meet little Ricky all grown up. And, like his mother so often did, dragging Alleyn accidentally into a case of murder. "
— John, 12/31/2013 -
" I like the way the same characters or relatives of characters are woven into these stories "
— Lesley, 12/6/2013 -
" I prefer the Inspector Alleyn mysteries set a bit earlier in time; the 1970s isn't my favorite time setting. I did enjoy Ricky, Alleyn's grown son, and the plot was interesting. "
— Linda, 11/28/2013 -
" Last Ditch is a solid mystery in Marsh's usual Golden Age style. It's a little funny to see that style translated to the 1970s (this is one of her later novels), as Marsh describes things like leisure suits and heroin smuggling in a manner better suited to country houses and parlour maids. "
— Kristen, 3/13/2013 -
" I'd been avoiding Marsh, since she's always compared to Agatha Christie and I HATE Agatha Christie, but this was good! More believable characters and everyday humor. "
— Kellyann, 12/22/2011 -
" Not one of her best, only to be read by fans, but interesting to see how someone who started publishing in the 1930s dealt with the 1970s. "
— Avril, 11/11/2011 -
" One of my favorites of the series. "
— Moira, 11/8/2011 -
" Rory's son takes center stage. "
— April, 12/2/2010 -
" I feel badly. I love Alleyn and Troy and I just don't care at all about their kid.... "
— Kyrie, 11/5/2010 -
" I'd been avoiding Marsh, since she's always compared to Agatha Christie and I HATE Agatha Christie, but this was good! More believable characters and everyday humor. "
— Kellyann, 2/13/2010 -
" I prefer the Inspector Alleyn mysteries set a bit earlier in time; the 1970s isn't my favorite time setting. I did enjoy Ricky, Alleyn's grown son, and the plot was interesting. "
— Linda, 3/25/2008
About Ngaio Marsh
Ngaio Marsh (1895–1982), born in New Zealand, wrote over thirty detective novels. Many of her stories had theatrical settings, as her real passion was for the theater. She was both an actress and a producer and almost single-handedly revived the New Zealand public’s interest in live theater. In 1966 she was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
About Wanda McCaddon
Wanda McCaddon (d. 2023) narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, sometimes with the pseudonym Nadia May or Donada Peters. She earned the prestigious Audio Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.