Product DescriptionA body in the back of a taxi begins an elegantly constructed mystery, perhaps the finest of Marsh's 1930s novels. The season had begun. Debutantes and chaperones were planning their luncheons, teas, dinners, balls. And the blackmailer was planning his strategies, stalking his next victim. But Chief Detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn knew that something was up. He had already planted his friend Lord Robert Gospell at the scene. But someone else got there first...
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Muddling Marsh
Not one of Marsh's best to my way of thinking. Excepting perhaps Detective Alleyn, the book is full of characters that one does not care about, engaged in an uninteresting sequence of events. This is exacerbated by the fact that it is unclear as to which character has what significance. Also there is not much of a sense of atmosphere. Disappointing.
Rating: - A Society Murder with Plenty of Class
Although not in the same league with BLACK AS HE'S PAINTED or DEAD WATER, Ngaio Marsh's DEATH IN A WHITE TIE is a highly satisfying novel that meets the expectations readers have of this particular author: it is literate, witty, peopled with fully rounded characters, and set against an interesting backdrop--in this case the London debutant season.
In this particular novel, Inspector Allen is called upon to investigate rumors of a blackmailer at work in London's high society, and he accordingly ... Read More
Rating: - A Classic English Mystery
Chief Detective-Inspector Alleyn enlists the assistance of his well connected society friend Lord Robert 'Bunchy' Gospell to find out who is blackmailing several wealthy ladies. The charming Bunchy makes several interesting discoveries while making the rounds of "the London season," but is quite unfortunately murdered before he can and Alleyn can piece together the whole story.
As usual, Marsh places her clues very fairly but subtly. The backdrop of the debutante parties gives an interesting ... Read More
Rating: - Dame Ngaio's best
This is perhaps Ngaio Marsh's best example of an upper-crust English murder mystery. The characters are so finely drawn that it makes you wish they would show up in her other novels. Rory Alleyn is at his youthful best, with a convincing amount of restrained-British angst just to make him more loveable. This is a compelling whodunit, with more than enough great writing and humour along the way to make it look great as a novel, too.
- Muddling Marsh
- A Classic English Mystery
