From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Tied Up In Tinsel (Roderick Alleyn, #27)

Ngaio Marsh

Start date: March 13, 2020

Finish date: April 8, 2020

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: We're carrying on with the Inspector Alleyn mysteries as buddy reads.…more
[close] We're carrying on with the Inspector Alleyn mysteries as buddy reads.

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Buddy reads

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last updated Sep 20, 2025 02:26PM

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What Members Thought

Dec 14, 2015 Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-murder-crime-20th-century, aotearoa-authors, christmassy

Even after finishing, & even though I'm still not sure if I've read this one before, I'm giving this one a solid 4*. I think this was one of Marsh's better books.

I really liked the way Christmas pageantry was described in this book (unlike my Christmas read from last year

by Cyril Hare where Christmas was just an excuse to bring the characters together)

& the Troy/Roderick romance wasn't as irritating as usual although there was still (view spoiler) ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Dec 11, 2021 John rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ngaio-marsh

A Xmas mystery. An isolated house where all the servants were once convicted of murder. Troy is painting Hillary the owner and an avowed eccentric snob keen on the rehabilitation of criminals. Moult the Colonels manservant disappears after delivering presents. Where is he? What has happened?

Moult was hated by the servants and the colonel and his wife are reticent with Smith the partner of Hillary a bit of a joker. Cressida Totternam the beautiful fiancé and actress of Hillary is to good to be t ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Nov 23, 2013 John Frankham rated it it was amazing

Shelves: crime-detective

Re-read of this excellent Xmas-time whodunnit - it stands an annual wallow very well!

A very good Alleyn mystery - murder in a restored country house staffed by released murderers, with an eccentric Christmas house party to boot. Delicious.

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 06, 2017 Gillian Kevern rated it really liked it

Shelves: detective, vintage, queens-of-crime, 1970s

Reinforcements arrived and took the baby to the park. I did the dishes, the laundry and started Tied up in Tinsel. I finished it at home in my own bed, my babysitting marathon successfully concluded. I think the fact that I am not traumatised or overwrought by this experience is entirely due to the reinforcements, Ngaio Marsh and the packet of mint thins I hid in the pantry.

Enjoyable murder. I enjoyed the fact that none of the convicted murderers turned out to be guilty. Cressida's slang was to ...more

Like · see review