Clutch of Constables / When in Rome / Tied Up in Tinsel

by Ngaio Marsh

Commemorating 75 years since the Empress of Crime's first book, the ninth volume in a set of omnibus editions presenting the complete run of 32 Inspector Alleyn mysteries.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Murder Mystery, Golden Age Mystery

672 pages, Paperback

First published January 7, 2010

About the author

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 alone survived to publish in the 1980s. Over a fifty-year span, from 1932 to 1982, Marsh wrote thirty-two classic English detective novels, which gained international acclaim. She did not always see herself as a writer, but first planned a career as a painter.

Marsh's first novel, A MAN LAY DEAD (1934), which she wrote in London in 1931-32, introduced the detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn: a combination of Sayers's Lord Peter Wimsey and a realistically depicted police official at work. Throughout the 1930s Marsh painted occasionally, wrote plays for local repertory societies in New Zealand, and published detective novels. In 1937 Marsh went to England for a period. Before going back to her home country, she spent six months travelling about Europe.

All her novels feature British CID detective Roderick Alleyn. Several novels feature Marsh's other loves, the theatre and painting. A number are set around theatrical productions (Enter a Murderer, Vintage Murder, Overture to Death, Opening Night, Death at the Dolphin, and Light Thickens), and two others are about actors off stage (Final Curtain and False Scent). Her short story "'I Can Find My Way Out" is also set around a theatrical production and is the earlier "Jupiter case" referred to in Opening Night. Alleyn marries a painter, Agatha Troy, whom he meets during an investigation (Artists in Crime), and who features in several later novels.

Series:
* Roderick Alleyn

Reviews

[Martin Pilkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent three books in The Alleyn series. I particularly liked the fact that in two of the three novels, and in the short story Chapter and Verse, we get more of Troy than we usually do. in the one where she is not involved, When in Rome, Ngaio Marsh uses one of my favourite places in Rome, the Basilica of St Clement as a major setting.

All of the books are well written but the first one especially feels very much of its time and I liked the least. I did get a feel of the late 60s in its portrayal of racism but my 2020 sensibilities were offended a little.

Very easy to read, as all of the books in the series have been. Just two omnibuses and 5 stories to go!

[John Frankham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a Christmas re-read of Tied Up In Tinsel, on of my favourite late Ngaio Marsh whodunnits.

Xmas at Halbards, just a small gathering, including Det Ch Insp Roderick Alleyn's wife there to paint the host's portrait. But the five servants are all released murderers. The snow envelops the house and grounds. When the Druid in the Xmas party procession disappears, and a blood-stained poker is found ........

Luckily, Alleyn arrives back from abroad to meet his wife.

Lovely stuff!

[Matt Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good collection of three stories by Ngaio Marsh, my personal favourite was Tied Up In Tinsel. I had heard a lot about the author and was lucky enough to come across this collection at my local library and thoroughly enjoyed all three novels. Classic whodunnits full of mystery and suspense. I look forward to reading much more of her work when I get the chance

[Christine Hassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd never read any of her stories before. I like both the inspector and his wife, who has a prominent roll in two of the stories. Good mysteries.

[Pers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable.

[Steven Heywood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three slow burners and a neat little short story as a bonus.

[Harriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 classic Alleyn stories. My favourite was 'Tied up in Rome'. Effortlessly enjoyable.