On a late Saturday in April, the venerable Roman church of San Tommaso in Pallaria became the site of a most curious assemblage. A superannuated jet-setter and her junkie nephew, a bad-tempered, ultra-British Major, a boisterous Baron and Baroness bearing an astonishing resemblance to one another, and an extremely reticent bestselling author were being gathered together for an exclusive tour of Rome’s ancient ruins that was promised to be “most unconventional.” Which, indeed, it would be. All sorts of new activities, plus some surprises. Like murder, blackmail, and drug-running. Superintendent Roderick Alleyn, brought to Italy by an international probe of drug smuggling, finds himself in the middle of the most baffling case of his career, an intricate web in which each and every one of his suspects could be a killer—or a victim. Or both.
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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 (4 out of 5 stars)
"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. "
“Blackmail and drug-dealing on the Tiber...Fastidious writing, telling character sketches, a fine appreciation of place.”
“Excellent Roman detailed background...a lively thriller whodunnit.”
“One of her best books for a long time...keeps us guessing most craftily.”
" When in Rome by Ngaio Marsh (1999) "
" This book reminded me a lot of Agatha Christie...good mystery. Gives the reader a good sense for being a tourist in Rome. "
" Dated, of course, and therefore easy to lose track of what is going on. Not her best book. "
" I love Ngaio Marsh and have most of her books. Having said that, I must add that this book was a huge disappointment. It is one of her later books. She is writing in a decade in which she is not quite comfortable and it shows. Plot was very thin as well as character development. "
" This book didn't really hold my interest. "
" One of the few multiple death books, and uses a trope which crops up at least once in almost all of the longer detective series: the benevolence of the detective. An entertaining read, but not one which moves me intensely. "
" I do like this author. I did know who did it though. Ah well. "
" The only mystery novel of which I have ever predicted the ending. That can't say much for my subtlety or that of the books clues. The dated '70s patter is remarkably silly. "
" Outstanding, again! Ngaio Marsh is fabulous murder-mystery writer. I can't believe I hadn't heard of her till now. Better than Agatha Christie - tighter plot lines, more interesting writing. "
" A murder mystery set in a fictionalized version of the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome. I had fun with this one. "
" I haven't figured out if Bond stole the plot device from Marsh or if she stole it from a Bond film. "
" I enjoyed it even though I guessed the killer and his secret early on. "
" The language is very rich though her over use of the word "ejaculation" instead of using the word "said" can be a little off putting, though quaint. She was after all in her 70's when she wrote it. "
" excellent as usual. I like mysteries being solved without someone having to be arrested. "
" Another mystery that kept me guessing right up to the end "
" There are definitely times when I like Marsh better than Christie...this was not one of them. It was still a nice comfy mystery, perfect for vacation. "
" Murder and drug-trafficking. The people murdered were all schmucks and it was hard to feel bad that they were killed. Alleyn let one of the murderers to, which was a surprise. When in Rome. . .? "
" an atmospheric whodunit. set in Rome. Ngaio skilfully brings the city and history to life. The story is well plotted with enough twists to keep it interesting. "
" This book begins with Alleyn meeting Troy for the first time and progresses through an art based mystery.I also have this on dvd "
" Marsh is really hitting her stride. And the more I read of Alleyn, the more I see Detective Inspector Adam Dalgliesh. "
" (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. "
" Ok, Rachel, yes, this is a good author. "
" 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. "
" It's about time Alleyn found a love interest, & Troy is perfect. I love her somewhat prickly shyness. "
" I love Ngaio Marsh, and this one gets extra points for being the book where Roderick Alleyn meets Agatha Troy. "
" 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 "
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.
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.
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