Mark Pghfan’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2014)

Mark Pghfan’s comments from the The Parlor PI's group.

I'm thinking that she felt she was not "paying" as much as "tipping" the steward for information.

Apparently the photo was so poor, it was thought no one would make the connection.

It seems to work on some, but not on others!

I totally agree. Asking myself whether the confusion is on purpose or just her style. She does appear to be a fairly complicated character, as we find out further in the book.

I am not sure whether it is the writing style, but I don't think things flow as easily as I read them, with Marsh's writing. It is probably a sign of how Christie is still so popular, when her peers are not, because she wrote in simpler English, with short sentences and short chapters.

Anastasia: I totally agree with you. Both the Father and Tim Makepiece are suspicious in my book, just because they seem not suspected!

I don't think I've read enough of Marsh to learn how tricky she can be. My problem is that with Christie, I know she is very tricky and so I suspect very unlikely people. With other writers, I tend to over-analyze things and miss the more obvious culprits!

Alleyn is working with Inspector Fox back at Scotland Yard, to confirm alibis. Meanwhile, we seems to find a lot of not-to-nice people and the nice ones seem suspicious to me!

I am!

I'm not ruling out anyone (except Alleyn!) And you forgot the psychiatrist among the male passengers. I keep getting him mixed up with the foul-tempered Merryman, because both their names begin with "M".

I am also assuming the killer is on board, though to early to even have a guess.

A sidebar on Troy. The actress who plays her in the TV versions (Belinda Lang) is married in real life to Hugh Fraser, of Poirot fame!

There are 8 available TV episodes of the Alleyn mysteries. I think there was one earlier one, but it is not available on DVD in the US, so I haven't seen it. Troy is in some of the episodes, but not married to Alleyn. There seems to be an on-going subplot that every time she and he plan to get together, there is a case which draws him away. She is often quite frustrated at this!

I also noted (though this may be in a future section) that Alleyn and Troy are now married. The only other Alleyn's I've read, and the TV shows, have them in a very slow relationship, but not married.

Sorry to be a bit late in getting started in this discussion, but I am well along in the book. Yes, it is nice that the murder occurs in the very beginning. Much of this first part deals with the really different characters gathering on the ship. And yes, I was wondering about the "best-male-friend" business and whether there was something there worth noting. And now, I'm wondering if there will turn out to be any significance to the singing and the flowers when the bodies are found? Nobody on the ship seems to associated with either (at least not yet!)

Ngaio Marsh is from New Zealand and Ngaio is a Maori name, from the people who once lived there! Your trivia for today!

I am in favor of the Ngaio Marsh title, because I like Alleyn mysteries. I also think the Marlene Dietrich title would be good, because I like the old Hollywood setting.

I finished last night. I figured it out, but only after the bit when Wilf was spotted at Holly's funeral.

And by the way, do you all agree that three ghosts need to visit Elizabeth on Christmas Eve?

I have a guess, but frankly no clues to back it up. I suppose that is why it is a "guess"!

About two third's of the way through already--it is a quick read. I am not sure whether the side turn into Holly's death and the problems with that are going to impinge on the actual murder by eggnog. I should have this done by tomorrow!