From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Artists in Crime (Roderick Alleyn, #6)

Ngaio Marsh

Start date: June 1, 2018

Finish date: June 30, 2018

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: The next book in our Ngaio Marsh challenge, considered by many people to be one of her best.
[close] The next book in our Ngaio Marsh challenge, considered by many people to be one of her best.

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Group Challenges

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

Jun 02, 2018 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

After struggling a little with Ngaio Marsh’s previous mystery, “Vintage Murder,” I was pleased to discover that I enjoyed the sixth in the series, “Artists in Crime,” a great deal more. In “Vintage Murder,” Roderick Alleyn was travelling and, in this book in the series, we see him returning to the UK. On board ship he meets, and falls for, artist, Agatha Troy. Miss Troy turns out to live at Tatler’s End House, close to Lady Alleyn, in Bucks.

Alleyn goes to visit his mother, while Agatha Troy has ...more

21 likes · Like · see review

Jun 05, 2021 Lady Wesley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: listened, mystery-with-a-touch-of-romance, mystery-golden-age-or-similar

I am on a Ngaio Marsh audiobook jag, and this one was delightful. There is a great mystery, although especially gruesome, and Detective Superintendent Alleyn meets his future wife. Forward.

6 likes · Like · see review

Jan 29, 2021 Jazzy Lemon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: new-zealand-authors, classics

An artist's model is killed in plain sight - but what happened? ...more

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Jun 17, 2018 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: bought-2016, vintage-mystery, mystery, mount-tbr-2018, british-mystery, marsh-challenge

In Artists in Crime (1938) Ngaio Marsh introduces Inspector Roderick Alleyn to his future wife. It's not exactly an auspicious beginning to a romance. Alleyn is on his way back to England by boat from his extended leave and encounters Agatha Troy on the boat deck where they both had sought solitude--he for a quiet, contemplative pipe and she to do a bit of painting away from the other passengers.

"I had an idea," said the painter, "that if I worked up here on this hideously uncomfortable perch, In Artists in Crime (1938) Ngaio Marsh introduces Inspector Roderick Alleyn to his future wife. It's not exactly an auspicious beginning to a romance. Alleyn is on his way back to England by boat from his extended leave and encounters Agatha Troy on the boat deck where they both had sought solitude--he for a quiet, contemplative pipe and she to do a bit of painting away from the other passengers.

"I had an idea," said the painter, "that if I worked up here on this hideously uncomfortable perch, I might possibly have the place to myself for a bit."

She definitely makes him believe that she doesn't care for him at all.

Then when they've both returned to England, she heads to her country home, Tatler's End, where she paints and hosts students and fellow painters. He stops at his mother's home not far away for a final respite before returning to London, the Yard, and work. They are brought together again when the artist's model hired for the latest class is killed by the very method demonstrated in response to an illustration that one of the students needs to do for a book. A knife was driven through the modeling dais and when Sonia Gluck (the model) was pushed into position the blade went through her heart. Who did it? Was it the sculptor who had tired of their affair? Was it one of the women who were jealous of Sonia's way with men? Maybe it was the man with a title who dabbled in art and who had his own secrets with Sonia. There are hints of blackmail, a whiff of poison, and motives galore. Will Alleyn manage to find the murderer among Troy's friends without alienating the woman he's begun to love?

A clever little mystery with plenty of red herrings and interwoven motives to distract the reader. In addition to reading this, I also listened to an audio novel version read by Benedict Cumberbatch. He does a very good job giving voice to all of the characters--making it quite easy to keep them all straight. A thoroughly enjoyable story in both mediums.

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

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Jun 16, 2018 ShanDizzy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

An interesting case for the team - Alleyn, Fox, Bailey and Thompson - who murdered Sonia Gluck, a model hired to pose for the artists? She was killed (Alleyn's words) "in an ingenious, dirty, deliberated bit of work, this."

Alleyn said "Let us take what used to be called a 'lunar' at the case. In a little while I must start interviewing people, but I'd like you fellows to get as clear an idea as possible of the case as we know it. At the moment we haven't got so much as a smell of motive. Very we ...more

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