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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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* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
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What Members Thought

Mar 14, 2018 Susan rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is the fourth Inspector Alleyn novel and was published in 1936. Again, we have the input of Alleyn’s young friend, journalist Nigel Bathgate, who spies people arriving at a nearby building from his apartment. His interest piqued, he ventures out, on the wet and windy evening, and discovers the House of the Sacred Flame, an unorthodox religious group. Intrigued, he gains entrance, and witnesses a religious rite going on inside – with the group crying out the names of pagan gods and passing r ...more

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

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

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

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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

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Dec 31, 2020 Christine PNW rated it liked it · review of another edition

I just love these little tongue-in-cheek bits we get in so many Golden Age mystery novels:

“Look here,” said Nigel suddenly, “let’s pretend it’s a detective novel. Where would we be by this time? About halfway through, I should think. Well, who’s your pick.”
“I am invariably gulled by detective novels. No herring so red but I raise my voice and give chase.”
“Well, never mind, who’s your pick?”
“It depends on the author. If it’s Agatha Christie, Miss Wade’s occulted guilt drips from every page. Dor ...more

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May 19, 2018 ShanDizzy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

An intriguing start to this next Inspector Alleyn mystery - In Chester Terrace the wind caught Nigel broadside-on...the rain pelted down on his umbrella and the street lamps shone on the wet pavement. He felt adventurous and pleased that he had followed his impulse to go on such a night. Knocklatchers Row seemed an exciting street. Its name sounded like a password to romance. Who knows, he thought hopefully, into what strange meeting-house I may venture? It should be exotic and warm and there sh ...more

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Jun 14, 2020 Vanessa rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1930s

This is the first in this series that really worked for me. I have started thinking of these books as more of a 1930s comedy that happens to be about murder rather than a mystery novel. The cult plot is wacky without being unbelievable. I am hoping that this series will ease up on the offensive subjects over the next few books.

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Oct 19, 2021 Sarah G rated it it was ok

Very subpar for Ms Marsh - flimsy mystery, flimsy characters, uninteresting and at times downright peculiar.

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Mar 23, 2018 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: ngaio-marsh

I enjoyed this fourth book in the series probably better than those that came before.There were some quite controversial characters, effeminate altar boys, stereo-type American, but think this quite usual for the time when it was written, so doesn't bother me at all. The setting of the location was different and well described, the plot was good and had me guessing. Fox took a more prominent role, which was amusing as far as his learning french. Not sure I liked Allyen calling him Foxkin, as I f ...more

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