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83rd out of 571 books
—
511 voters
Death of a Peer (Roderick Alleyn #10)
by
Ngaio Marsh
Murder becomes a family affair...
The Lampreys were a charming, eccentric happy-go-lucky family, teetering on the edge of financial ruin. Until the gruesome murder of their uncle-and unpleasant Marquis, who met his untimely death while leaving the Lamprey flat-left them with a fortune. Now it's up to Inspector Roderick Alleyn to sift through the alibis to discover which Lam...more
The Lampreys were a charming, eccentric happy-go-lucky family, teetering on the edge of financial ruin. Until the gruesome murder of their uncle-and unpleasant Marquis, who met his untimely death while leaving the Lamprey flat-left them with a fortune. Now it's up to Inspector Roderick Alleyn to sift through the alibis to discover which Lam...more
Paperback
Published
March 15th 1998
by St. Martin's Paperbacks
(first published 1940)
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A prime example of the Golden Age Mystery from Britain between the wars. Pull out the whole standard toolkit: A slightly-threadbare, to-the-manor-born family finds that being bankrupt puts a real strain on the entire dotty household- Lady, Lord, bairns, domestics, butler & chauffer. Even the usual bracing round of Charades won't lift the gloom. An inconvenient and nasty murder disrupts the disruptions already at hand, the Yard investigates with eyebrow raised, and suspicions fly. Add some th...more
Originally published on my blog here in June 1998.
This is one of my least favourite Ngaio Marsh novels. The crime is puzzling enough and the solution typically ingenious, and Roderick Alleyn is his usual urbane self; the problem is that I find it impossible to have any sympathy for the family at the centre of the story, the Lampreys.
The Lampreys are an upper class family always suffering from financial crises, yet unable to work or to save because of their frivolous background. Marsh keeps on e...more
This is one of my least favourite Ngaio Marsh novels. The crime is puzzling enough and the solution typically ingenious, and Roderick Alleyn is his usual urbane self; the problem is that I find it impossible to have any sympathy for the family at the centre of the story, the Lampreys.
The Lampreys are an upper class family always suffering from financial crises, yet unable to work or to save because of their frivolous background. Marsh keeps on e...more
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Of course, all of Marsh's books have the same protagonist, the very likable Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn, & he is the main reason the story happens. But to me, part of the fun of reading a series like this is meeting the completely new characters in each book, both for themselves & to see how Alleyn interacts with them. The Lamprey family, Alleyn's co-stars in this novel, are among my all-time favorites. An extremely quirky family full of charm headed by an aristocratic younger so...more
Thinking myself somewhat of a Golden Age Detective Novel aficionado, I was startled to say the least to only come across Ngaio Marsh a couple of weeks ago and am now working my way through her work. Charming and beautifully written, to the extent where I often find myself smiling with joy at her turn of phrase. Not quite Dorothy L Sayers, but leagues ahead of Agatha Christie. Very warmly recommended indeed.
There was much to like about this book, with a dotty charming English aristocratic family, and the sharp Scotland Yard Inspector Alleyn. He's the osrt of fellow who picks up a clue the reader should have seen, but didn't quite get. The murder takes place in a smallish apartment with elevator, and so much of the action is really cerebral - whose story talolies, and whose does not. The only annoying theme was Alleyn's constant referring to Insector Fox as "Brer Fox." which is unprofessional and cu...more
This book was originally published under the title A Surfeit of Lampreys which I think is a better title for it. I think this title gives away too much too soon. Much of this story goes on before Alleyn ever turns up, and before there is a murder, so knowing who the victim will be is a bit of a spoiler. Another Marsh book I read was structured this way as well (they may all be, I have only read a couple so far) and I found it a very satisfactory way to structure the story. We don't know who comm...more
This is one of my favorite Alleyn books. The Lamprey brood, aristocrats teetering on the brink of bankruptcy are in line to inherit a bundle from a much despised older brother. Lo and behold, the brother is murdered in a rather horrific manner and everyone falls under suspicion. Enter "Handsome" Alleyn and his loyal sidekick, Fox, and the chase is on to discover the answer. Mix together a little black magic, a game of charades, and budding romance and you have a cracking tale from one of the mas...more
I've been reading some Ngaio Marsh at the instigation of P.D. James' Talking About Detective Fiction. I just finished this one. If you come across a copy, pick it up and turn immediately to page 245. Alleyn stands at the edge of the Thames with a night cop on the beat, in conversation about the play Macbeth. For a page and a half, the night cop dissects the play from a professional perspective ("Not that there seemed to be anything like what you'd call an inquiry."). It is a delightful conversat...more
A classic style mystery set just before WWII. A nearly bankrupt family can be saved from ruin by the death of a relative. He is murdered in a such a way that only the family and servants could have done it.
While I whipped through it quickly to find out who-done-it, I found myself less satisfied than I usually am with this sort of mystery. I think the change is in me and the times. I once could enjoy these English upper-crust mysteries set in times gone by, but with the return of a huge wealth d...more
While I whipped through it quickly to find out who-done-it, I found myself less satisfied than I usually am with this sort of mystery. I think the change is in me and the times. I once could enjoy these English upper-crust mysteries set in times gone by, but with the return of a huge wealth d...more
This was my first Ngaio Marsh novel, and I liked it very much. Unfortunately, I liked Henry and Robin (really all the non-police characters) better than Inspector Alleyn. Actually, Alleyn wasn't particularly impressive to me, and he seemed to be a bit of a background character in this. A lot of the children seemed to be a younger than they were supposed to be, which I found really aggravating at first. Robin mentioned that they seemed to have not aged, as she had, and every one of the family age...more
Jan 15, 2009
rabbitprincess
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to rabbitprincess by:
previous experience
Shelves:
bought-secondhand,
2009
I know the saying is "don't judge a book by its cover", but the cover can indicate how low you should keep your expectations of a given book. In this case, we had:
- a spelling error in an endorsement: "Goulish enough to set the blood tingling, the scalp itching with apprehension..." Spelling errors are never a good sign.
- a quote on the back cover featuring an event that does not match the event depicted on the front cover. This is the case with my edition (Fontanta / Collins, Sixth Impression 1...more
- a spelling error in an endorsement: "Goulish enough to set the blood tingling, the scalp itching with apprehension..." Spelling errors are never a good sign.
- a quote on the back cover featuring an event that does not match the event depicted on the front cover. This is the case with my edition (Fontanta / Collins, Sixth Impression 1...more
A Roderick Alleyn, Scotland Yard chief detective inspector mystery. Alleyn is called in when a British peer is murdered while leaving his younger brother's residence and has to sort through all the information gleamed from interviews and on the scene evidence to solve the murder. As usual, the witnesses withhold or give misleading information to make things more complicated.
There is a lot of humor in this mystery which is produced by the peer's bother and his family who thrive on being eccentric...more
There is a lot of humor in this mystery which is produced by the peer's bother and his family who thrive on being eccentric...more
Comfort reading in its best form. I'm a major fan of the golden age of detective fiction, and the Lamprey family is my favorite example of the quirky, loveable nobility reliably found in English country house mysteries. However, in this great example, it is a modified flat in London rather than a country house. I feel I occupy the place of Roberta Grey as the family's number one fan and promoter.
6/28/10
I'm 3/4 of the way through reading through all of Ngaio Marsh's mysteries, which means re-reading the ones I can't quite remember. For Death of a Peer (which I apparently read almost exactly two years ago!), I could remember on my own that it was about a crazy family, but couldn't remember for the life of me whodunit. Which makes a lot of sense, since the crazy family sends Alleyn on a wild good chase after the actual truth. I was pleased to note, though, that I did find the one "aha!" cl...more
I'm 3/4 of the way through reading through all of Ngaio Marsh's mysteries, which means re-reading the ones I can't quite remember. For Death of a Peer (which I apparently read almost exactly two years ago!), I could remember on my own that it was about a crazy family, but couldn't remember for the life of me whodunit. Which makes a lot of sense, since the crazy family sends Alleyn on a wild good chase after the actual truth. I was pleased to note, though, that I did find the one "aha!" cl...more
Ah, this book did not disappoint! A wonderful British manor house type murder with a lot of quirky suspects - loved it. Probably not my favorite Ngaio Marsh plot of all time but like all her works, well-written and an absorbing read.
Inspector Alleyn, Nigel, and Fox get called in when some old guy gets killed. His family are entertainingly kooky.
I didn't solve this one at all, but new information is revealed toward the end that provides the motive.
I didn't solve this one at all, but new information is revealed toward the end that provides the motive.
I say this too often, but part of Marsh's appeal is her insight into the social settings of England as well as the mystery and it's the same here. The Lampreys are also so ridiculous, they're charming, and hard to resist.
A really satisfying puzzler. First you fall in love with the Lampreys (or at least in like; I found them a bit tiresome to be honest), then you're forced to consider whether they're murderers. A solid performance from Handsome Alleyn and the stolid Fox, the prototype for Sgt. Lewis.
I love Ngaio -- such a treat to plow through one of her mysteries just when you're feeling a bit bored with whatever else you're reading.
The gentlemen detective investigates the gruesome death of the head of a spendthrift aristocratic family. Stars Jeremy Clyde.
Mar 02, 2011
Teotakuu
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nz-author,
personal-collection
A strong NZ flavour to this book. I got misled by red herrings several times before the murderer was revealed finally
From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
Lord Wutherford meets a nasty death at the home of the Lampreys.
Lord Wutherford meets a nasty death at the home of the Lampreys.
The best Marsh novel so far. The earlier ones were on the dry side, but here she really begins to do a better job with characterization and capturing the feel of WWII Britain.
Death of a Peer (Roderick Alleyn Mysteries) by Ngaio Marsh (1998)
Another solid example from the golden age of British mysteries.
Definitely Marsh's best work. Charming characters.
The Lampreys are fun but can get a bit wearing. This is an enjoyable Roderick Alleyn episode.
back cover:
The Lampreys had plenty of charm - but no cash. They all knew they were peculiar - and rather gloried in it. The double and triple charades, for instance, with which they would entertain their guests - like rich but awful Uncle Gabriel, who was always such a bore. The Lampreys thought if they jollied him up he would bail them out - yet again. But Uncle Gabriel died instead. And Chief Detective...more
back cover:
The Lampreys had plenty of charm - but no cash. They all knew they were peculiar - and rather gloried in it. The double and triple charades, for instance, with which they would entertain their guests - like rich but awful Uncle Gabriel, who was always such a bore. The Lampreys thought if they jollied him up he would bail them out - yet again. But Uncle Gabriel died instead. And Chief Detective...more
It's kind of funny and not a bad crime case.
One of the best of her books.
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Dame Ngaio Marsh, born Edith Ngaio Marsh, was a New Zealand crime writer and theatre director. There is some uncertainty over her birth date as her father neglected to register her birth until 1900, but she was born in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand.
Of all the "Great Ladies" of the English mystery's golden age, including Margery Allingham, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh...more
More about Ngaio Marsh...
Of all the "Great Ladies" of the English mystery's golden age, including Margery Allingham, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh...more
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