From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

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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Group Challenges

* Oct 25: A Murder Is Announced (1950) by Agatha Christie
By Susan · 2 posts · 6 views

last updated 2 hours, 27 min ago

* Oct 25: A Murder Is Announced (1950) - SPOILER Thread
By Susan · 1 post · 7 views

last updated Sep 14, 2025 10:32PM

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What Members Thought

Jul 12, 2018 Adrian rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: detectives-challenge-nm-2018, det-ngaio-marsh, zz-paper-books

Review to follow

And eventually it did follow. :)

I am enjoying this Inspector Alleyn mysteries challenge, although I am still 3 behind where I should be, oh bother.

The characterisations are good and the murders themselves are all so different, so every story is a breath of fresh air and fun (if murder can be fun ??). As with all the rest (well 3 so far) I have given 4 stars, a good read in my rating system, and I look forward to catching up with the rest of the group in the next couple of months ...more

22 likes · Like · see review

May 24, 2020 John rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ngaio-marsh

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. A solid 3 golden mystery tale. The last paragraph reveals the murderer in the review so do not read further if you want to work out who is the killer.

The wealthy attractive Cara Quayne drops dead after drinking the ritual wine at the House of the Sacred Flame. It’s a shame that nowadays writers and publishers do not do a list of the suspects and a schematic of the scene where the murder took place.

Nigel Bathgate a journalist lives opposite the temple and in a stormy night decides on impulse to ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

Apr 28, 2018 Sahifa rated it it was ok

Shelves: ngaio-marsh-challenge

So the book started with Nigel Bathgate in the very first chapter and I really loved this part. I always have more affinity towards the "Watson" of the mystery ,Nigel Bathgate in this case.
The story starts with some mysterious organization and the bizarre rituals happening there.however a death during one of the ceremonies started the case.
The beginning was really promising and I was conpletely hooked to the book till the end. But it was the ending that disillusioned me. The conclusion was borin ...more

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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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