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Death in Ecstasy (Roderick Alleyn, #4)

Ngaio Marsh

Start date: April 1, 2018

Finish date: April 30, 2018

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: The 4th book in our Ngaio Marsh group challenge.
[close] The 4th book in our Ngaio Marsh group challenge.

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What Members Thought

Jun 28, 2018 Jan C rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018, used-book-sales, rtd-2018-ngaiomarsh-challenge

This one was a slow starter for me. But it did pick up. And I wound up enjoying it.

Here Alleyn's reporter friend, Nigel Bathgate, discovers that he is living across the street from a cult-type church. They won't let him in the first time - he was too late. So the next time he makes a point of being early. A suspicious death takes place and he calls in Alleyn.

It was interesting. I was stumped. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

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

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

Death in Ecstasy (1936) by Ngaio Marsh finds Inspector Roderick Alleyn's some-time Watson, Nigel Strangeways, bored on a rainy, blustery London night. He gazes discontentedly out his window and notices a sign glinting in the light as the wind gusts and jostles it about: House of the Sacred Flame. A mysterious-sounding place and as he watches members of the obscure sect enter the sacred portals, he decides that attending the services of a strange religious group is just what he needs to liven up Death in Ecstasy (1936) by Ngaio Marsh finds Inspector Roderick Alleyn's some-time Watson, Nigel Strangeways, bored on a rainy, blustery London night. He gazes discontentedly out his window and notices a sign glinting in the light as the wind gusts and jostles it about: House of the Sacred Flame. A mysterious-sounding place and as he watches members of the obscure sect enter the sacred portals, he decides that attending the services of a strange religious group is just what he needs to liven up a dull evening. Who knows--there might even be a story in it. Little does he suspect just how much news he's going to find behind the doors.

This particular Sunday night was a special one--a monthly service in which The Chosen Vessel, in this case one Miss Cara Quayne, having been prepared through a month of preparatory sessions with Father Garnette--the founder, reaches a state of Ecstasy through ceremony. Bathgate watches as a sacred chalice is passed among the faithful. There's a bit of chanting, Cara drinks from the cup, and falls down at the feet of the priest.

My friends...My friends, our beloved sister has been vouchsafed the greatest boon of all. She is in ecstasy. Let us sing our hymn to Pan, the God-in-all.

But--as one of the Initiates points out...

It's not. It's not. She's dead. I touched her. She's dead!

Dr. Kasbek, a member of the congregation comes forward and confirms the Initiate's declaration. They are about to clear the House when Nigel suggests that no one should leave just yet and perhaps the police should be called. After all--the woman's mouth and eyes look a bit odd and there's a certain smell. The doctor investigates further and agrees with Nigel that it looks very like poison. The newsman uses the phone to call in his old friend Inspector Alleyn.

Alleyn walks into a place of mystery that is nonetheless full of very familiar worldly motives for murder--greed, jealousy, and lust to name a few. There are seven suspects all with reasons to want the lovely Cara dead--from those who were jealous of her chosen position with Father Garnette to those with a taste for the "special cigarettes" that light the way to ecstasy to those who were greedy for her wealth...either for themselves or to fill the coffers of the Sacred Flame. It's up to Alleyn with the help of Inspector Fox and Nigel to sift the clues and find those that point to the murderer.

Marsh does atmosphere very well in this one. Her theatrical background lends itself to creating the slightly over-the-top trappings of the Sacred Flame. A cult that embraces all the gods of everywhere and every time and the sacred words and chants of them all. And she presents it without it seeming like the incredible mishmash that it is. Alleyn may raise his eyebrows at it, but while the ceremony is in progress, even the worldly journalist Bathgate is swept up in the moment and lulled by the words of the priest. It's easy to see how the Initiates could be wrapped up in the cult.

Well-written with skillful plotting, though not quite as mystifying as her previous work.

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

5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 01, 2016 Lemar rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery

Ngaio Marsh writes with wit and assurance. Death in Ecstasy centers around a cultish house of worship of which she dryly and accurately observes, "The phoenix of quackery arises again and again from its own ashes. Tonight we slam the door on this bit of hocus-pocus and tomorrow someone else starts a new sideshow for the credulous ." Sadly true.
This mystery came out in 1936 and already she observes what is true today (2016) that young people, "take refuge in irony, a commodity that should be res ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Mar 05, 2017 Jenn Estepp rated it liked it

Shelves: libraries-are-great, sleuths-and-gumshoes, kindling

Better than the last one, with only a wee bit to raise the modern eyebrow. I doubt I'll ever love Marsh as well as her contemporaries, but I'm enjoying my way through these. ...more

1 like · Like · see review