From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Enter a Murderer (Roderick Alleyn, #2)

Ngaio Marsh

Start date: February 1, 2018

Finish date: February 28, 2018

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: The second book in our Ngaio Marsh challenge
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* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
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What Members Thought

Mar 01, 2013 Abbey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: myst-set-andor-auth-uk, myst-police, reviewed, favorites, series, vintage, myst-fems-project

1935, #2 Chief Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn, London; first of her eight theatre-centered novels, old-fashioned but nicely sly; classic theatre mystery - really three-and-a-half stars, not four.

Arthur Surbonadier was a rotter who happened to also be a pretty good, not great, actor. Passed over for a role that he thought was his, *ought* to have been his, he resorts to several nefarious methods to push out the Nice Guy actor Felix Gardiner, who did get the role. And both of them are "intere 1935, #2 Chief Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn, London; first of her eight theatre-centered novels, old-fashioned but nicely sly; classic theatre mystery - really three-and-a-half stars, not four.

Arthur Surbonadier was a rotter who happened to also be a pretty good, not great, actor. Passed over for a role that he thought was his, *ought* to have been his, he resorts to several nefarious methods to push out the Nice Guy actor Felix Gardiner, who did get the role. And both of them are "interested" in the same woman, lovely Leading Lady Stephanie Vaughan. Lots of scope for mischief there, yep. So when the unlovely Arthur gets himself murdered on-stage in front of a full audience during one night's performance, members of the cast and their friends are shocked, but not truly surprised. The problem is, it looks like Nice Guy Felix did it, and everybody truly *likes* Felix!

Another large problem (for the murderer, that is) is that Detective Inspector Alleyn was in the audience that night, and saw the whole thing, even though it's a rather complex murder and not easily - nor immediately - identifiable just exactly what did happen, even by an alert and intelligent policeman. Arthur got shot, yes, and it does appear that Felix shot him. So far, so good. But appearances can be deceiving, especially on-stage.

This is a juicy, nicely convoluted "mystery tale of the theatre", told by a writer who would become a master at this sub-genre and who, even at this early point in her career, was awfully good at spinning a web. There are a few tropes and awkward bits here certainly, but most of them only reflect the period in which the novel was written, and don't affect the essentially good plot, the fairly good pacing, and the superb characterizations.

Marsh worked extensively in the theatre and obviously loved Theatre Folk and all their trappings, methods, and moods. She's nicely biting here with beautifully sharp remarks about Actors and the profession, about hubris and talent - or the lack of it when coupled with a large ego. All together the mix is a lot of fun, if a bit slow in spots, and there are a couple of little niggle-y bits that bugged me.

Firstly, the character of Nigel Bathgate, semi-literate Watson (and budding newspaperman) is front and center, occupying a good portion of the activity, as he accompanies Alleyn along on most of his interrogations and investigations. I've never much liked this character, as he's sweet, wimpy-ish, and a total waste of space IMO - her time would have been better served giving us more of the delightful Mr. Fox or Bailey the fingerprint expert, as she does in later novels. Fox and Bailey are truly interesting and almost real people, where Mr. Bathgate is a pure caricature - the Nice Oxford Chap thrust into The Real World to Make His Way, often relying upon Those In The Know that he knows... you know what I mean. That sort of stock character may have been entertaining in the 1930s but he's boring now, and slows down almost every scene that he's in.

And there's the almost obligatory (for mysteries of the period) love-connection between Alleyn and a suspect! *Totally* unusual for this series over its long run, as Marsh rarely used this bit again except for Alleyn's initial meeting with Troy, who would later play such a large role in his life and in the series, and with the Troy first encounter the bit "works". One of the things I enjoy most about Marsh's writing is that in most of the novels there is a lack of both a sappy Watson character and of the lead policeman endlessly falling in love with totally unsuitable types; unfortunately both are quite present in this early novel.

Marsh becomes a much better, and a cleaner writer, with her future novels, thankfully, and is one of my very favorite writers from the period. IMO she's a smoother, more purely enjoyable writer than Christie, although Christie was a far superior plotter and tended to "do up" differing environments/settings far better. But Marsh "did" people far better, with concise, precise characterizations filled with nicely sharp bits, often slipping the edge of the knife in very gently, subtly, perfectly. So if you tend to enjoy literate, kindly detection with a nicely wicked psychosocial edge to it, then Marsh is the one to read.

This early Marsh novel is a good, not great, story, and although it's one of her lesser novels IMO, it's still an entertaining read. ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Feb 07, 2018 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: british-mystery, marsh-challenge, bought-2018, mystery, vintage-mystery

Alleyn and Bailey were on their knees by the prompt box. Bailey was busy with an insufflator and the inspector seemed to be peering at the floor through a magnifying glass. Beside him, opened, was the bag they had brought him from the Yard. Nigel looked into it and saw a neat collection of objects, among which he distinguished magnifying glasses, tape, scissors, soap, a towel, an electric torch, rubber gloves, sealing wax, and a pair of handcuffs.
"What are you doing?" asked Nigel.
"Being a dete Alleyn and Bailey were on their knees by the prompt box. Bailey was busy with an insufflator and the inspector seemed to be peering at the floor through a magnifying glass. Beside him, opened, was the bag they had brought him from the Yard. Nigel looked into it and saw a neat collection of objects, among which he distinguished magnifying glasses, tape, scissors, soap, a towel, an electric torch, rubber gloves, sealing wax, and a pair of handcuffs.
"What are you doing?" asked Nigel.
"Being a detective. Can't you see?"

Inspector Roderick Alleyn's journalist pal Nigel Bathgate is friends with Felix Gardener, leading man in the up-and-coming London play The Rat & the Beaver. Felix gives Nigel two tickets to a second week performance and, since Nigel's best girl is out of town, the journalist decides to ask Alleyn if he'd like to join him. In the play, Gardener plays the Rat who "shoots" his fellow actor Arthur Surbonadier (aka the Beaver). The gun is normally loaded with dummies--not just blanks, because the shooting takes place at close range and would still ruin Surbonadier's costume. But tonight--somebody has replaced the dummies with the real thing and Surbonadier's death scene becomes the final performance of his life.

Off-stage, Surbonadier is the nephew of the theatre owner, but even his relationship to the owner couldn't give him the part he coveted--that of the Rat. The rivalry between the two men wasn't limited to their roles, however. They were also rivals for the attentions of the leading lady, Stephanie Vaughn. So, when murder happens, it's not too surprising. But everyone in the play would have been less surprised if Surbonadier had shot Gardener--after all, he thought Gardener had stolen his part and the affections of the actress. And the disgruntled actor was more the murderous type than the well-liked Gardener.

But did Gardener load the pistol with real bullets? Or did someone else do the switch and let Gardener do their dirty work for them? That's what Alleyn will have to determine. And it soon becomes apparent that plenty of people had good reason to want Surbonadier out of the way--everyone from his rival to the props man to his own uncle to the other actress he had made advances to. But who had the nerve...and the opportunity...to make the switch and change a prop into a real murder weapon?

Marsh's second novel is as entertaining as the first. Having such a love and interest in the theater, she provides a very realistic portrayal of the quirks and foibles of the actors, actresses, and sundry supporting backstage folk. Bathgate is a bit more annoying in this one--primarily because his friend Gardener is in the hot seat. I was relieved to see that Inspector Fox plays a larger role and I look forward to future installments when he will play "Watson" to Alleyn instead of Bathgate. Alleyn is also more flippant (and, at times, bordering on ridiculous) this time out, particularly in the beginning, but his character seems to settle down towards the end. I will be interested to see how Marsh presents him in the third novel.

The plot is intricate--in that it relies on who had access to the desk where the gun and bullets were kept and who was where during the crucial time period. And Marsh ends the story in grand dramatic style most suitable to its theatrical setting.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Mar 29, 2018 Lemar rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery

I love English mysteries, where else do you get to read phrases like, “you fatuous old bag of tripe!”

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 22, 2022 Ruskoley rated it liked it

Shelves: 1930s, mystery, book-2

Marsh is clearly a theatre-expert. She knows her way around a stage like a boss. She also knows the temperments, tendencies, and traditions of the theatre. There is nothing that is lacking in her detail of the setting and background for this story.

Recommended to general readership and vintage mystery fans. I intend to read more in the Alleyn series, of course.

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 29, 2019 Zander rated it liked it

Shelves: classic-queens-of-crime, ngaio-marsh

Written in 1935 this has all the things we think are "classic" plots, femme fatale, overdramatic actors and lots of drugs. At the time the twist would have seemed quite unique but without going to into spoilers the conceit is so common. The second book starring Alleyn we see more of him and his personality but since we are still getting to know him it's harder to know to what he will do and what is an the actions of professional we know he is as the series goes on. Here he seems a bit of a prat ...more

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Mar 02, 2018 Yorky Caz rated it it was amazing

Brilliant. I loved that this one was set in a theatre with lots of references to behind the scenes and insider info. Great cast of characters and as ever Chief Detective Inspector Alleyn is on the case...

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Oct 18, 2016 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: british-golden-age-mysteries

I'm currently attempting to neutralize stress by compulsively reading British golden age mysteries. This was a fun one! I like Inspector Alleyn -- I'll definitely stick with this series. ...more

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