From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Death at the Bar (Roderick Alleyn, #9)

Ngaio Marsh

Start date: September 1, 2018

Finish date: September 30, 2018

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: Continuing our Ngaio Marsh challenge with book nine in the series.
[close] Continuing our Ngaio Marsh challenge with book nine in the series.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 168 topics — 7,798 comments total

Group Challenges

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
By Susan · 17 posts · 19 views

last updated 15 hours, 56 min ago

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) - SPOILER Thread
By Susan · 13 posts · 22 views

last updated Sep 16, 2025 12:58PM

showing 4 of 4 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Sep 03, 2018 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, series, country, england, murder, ngaio-marsh, roderick-alleyn

Two of my bookgroups on Goodreads are reading Ngaio Marsh this month—I read the first, a later title in the series, earlier on (technically, last month), and now, this one. Death at the Bar, published in 1939, is ninth in the Roderick Alleyn series by Marsh, and is also a reread for me. Compared to Clutch of Constables, the other title I read, this one has more the ordinary format (disliked chap gets killed, police called in, investigates, denouement), and while I liked the different format in C Two of my bookgroups on Goodreads are reading Ngaio Marsh this month—I read the first, a later title in the series, earlier on (technically, last month), and now, this one. Death at the Bar, published in 1939, is ninth in the Roderick Alleyn series by Marsh, and is also a reread for me. Compared to Clutch of Constables, the other title I read, this one has more the ordinary format (disliked chap gets killed, police called in, investigates, denouement), and while I liked the different format in Constables, this one for me was the more interesting read. In this one, London Barrister, Luke Watchman heads down to South Devon for a holiday with his cousin, actor Sebastian Parrish, and friend, artist Norman Cubitt. But while the innkeeper and publican Abel Pomeroy is welcoming, with other guests at the inn and local inhabitants, Watchman’s relations aren’t as cordial. While they don’t exactly wish him away, he manages to pick a fight or two and rub some of them the wrong way. There are tensions between others too, some over politics, and perhaps other more personal issues as well. A dart game on the second evening of Watchman’s visit goes very wrong, and one participant drops dead. A mystery is thus at hand, and when the local police can’t quite handle the matter, Alleyn and with him, Fox are called in.

Since I read the other Marsh book so close to this one, I can’t help comparing the two, and this one as I said stood out as the better one for me on more than one count. I found the mystery itself had much more meat to it—I certainly did not guess whodunit (having read it ages ago I didn’t remember it at all), and even on one of the side plots while I guessed somewhat in the right direction, the final answer was not what I thought but something very different. But another aspect was pretty much guessable not from the book itself but from the blurb at the back which was a little annoying (my ed. Was a 1975 Fontana ed.) But very satisfying as a mystery. Again the characters too I thought seem more strongly developed and interesting to read about, each with their secrets, insecurities, and stories. Another standout in this book for me were the touches of humour including Marsh poking fun at herself. She writes,

‘Your novelist too has passed the halcyon days when he could ignore routine. He reads books about Scotland Yard, he swots up police manuals. He knows that routine is deadly dull and hopelessly poor material for a thriller; so, like a wise potboiler, he compromises, He heads one chapter “Routine”, dismisses six weeks of drudgery in as many phrases, cuts the cackle, and gets to the ‘osses.’

This is an observation by Alleyn, in a chapter titled, what else, but ‘Routine’! There’s also another fun instance, involving the Local PC, Oates, but that I’ll leave to you to read when you read the book. All in all, this was a very enjoyable mystery read for me!
...more

27 likes · Like · see review

Aug 26, 2018 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The ninth Roderick Alleyn mystery sees three friends meet up for a holiday in Devon. Luke Watchman is a top London barrister, his cousin, Sebastian Parrish an actor and Norman Cubitt an artist. The three men spent last year staying at the Plume of Feathers, whose landlord is the friendly Abel Pomeroy; aided by his son, Will, who runs, ‘The Left Group,’ a political group with more members than you would expect in the small fishing village of Ottercombe.

Watchman is looking forward to the holiday ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

May 31, 2021 Lady Wesley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-golden-age-or-similar, listened, chirpbooks

Death at the Bar is not so much a whodunit as a howdunit. Once you figure out how the murder was committed, you will know who the killer was. I’ll bet you never figure out the how, but of course Inspector Alleyn does. Be prepared for an abrupt conclusion.

8 likes · Like · see review

Aug 25, 2013 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audionovel, british-mystery, cozy, vintage-mystery, mystery

Death at the Bar by Ngaio Marsh is a "reread" for me. Reread is in quotes because I actually listened to it this time. Our local library had clear out of all their books on tape about this time last year and I scooped up this 8-cassette rendition read by James Saxon. Saxon, by the way is terrific to listen to. He manages to give all of the characters their own distinct voice (although I think it was a good thing that there were only two ladies--one of whom had a nice Irish brogue). I am not, gen Death at the Bar by Ngaio Marsh is a "reread" for me. Reread is in quotes because I actually listened to it this time. Our local library had clear out of all their books on tape about this time last year and I scooped up this 8-cassette rendition read by James Saxon. Saxon, by the way is terrific to listen to. He manages to give all of the characters their own distinct voice (although I think it was a good thing that there were only two ladies--one of whom had a nice Irish brogue). I am not, generally speaking, an audio-book kind of reader. Not that I have anything against them, I just process the books much better in print (particularly on a first go-round). But when faced with a weekend trip in the middle of a read-a-thon I thought listening would be a great way to stay on track for the 'thon. And as mentioned I thoroughly enjoyed Saxon as the reader.

But down to cases: Attorney, Luke Watchman is headed to Devon and the Plume of Feathers pub for an annual holiday with his cousin Sebastian Parish and his friend Noman Cubitt. On the way there he has a minor mishap with another motorist. Watchman jumps out of his car to berate the other man on his driving habits and the driver mutters an apology at him and tries to avoid being seen clearly. Watchman is somewhat mollified, but gets the impression that he might know the other man and that the driver definitely doesn't want to be seen by him.

Watchman arrives at the Feathers and once settled he meets up with Parish and Cubitt in the private bar--where he regales them with the tale of his accident and his impressions of the other man. The other man is none other than Robert Legge--a fellow guest of the pub and a man who has been sitting in a secluded part of the bar. Watchman tries to engage him in conversation, but it is clear that Legge does not want to be sociable.

During the course of the evening it is revealed that Legge is a "masterpiece" with the darts and can do all sorts of tricks with the darts and board--from playing Round the Clock (hitting point sections in order) to a circus-type move where he can outline a person's hand with darts. Watchman doubts his skill--challenging him to repeat exactly a set of dart moves from the previous evening (and losing money on the bet) and then a game of Round the Clock, but shying away from presenting his hand for the circus trick. The next evening Watchman changes his mind and says that if Legge can beat him at Round the Clock again, then he will let Legge do his dart and hand trick with him--he figures the worst that can happen is a prick from the dart and he's gotten a bit of courage from the brandy bottle produced by the proprietor.

He would be wrong...by the end of the night Watchman is dead and a trace of cyanide found on the dart. There was plenty of the stuff about the place--Abel Pomeroy, the pub owner, had been using the deadly poison to dispose of rats. Someone decided to use it to dispose of Watchman. But who? The obvious person is Legge because he threw the dart. But there are several witnesses to swear that he could not possibly have smeared poison on the instrument. When Inspector Roderick Alleyn and Detective Sergeant Fox arrive to assist the local constabulary, they find all sorts of motives lurking about--there's Decima Moore and her boyfriend, Will Pomeroy who differ on politics and who don't appreciate Watchman's attentions to the lovely Decima; Parish and Cubitt are legatees under Watchman's will; and there are a couple of people who had dealings with Watchman in court. The difficulty is that those with the most motive seem to have the least opportunity. Fox will get a taste of poison himself (and be saved by Alleyn) before they can bring the crime home to the culprit.

The last time I read this one Marsh fooled me. She did it again and (this is embarrassing) I'm pretty sure she fooled me in the same way. I latched onto a particular character and, just as one of the characters kept bleating on about how Abel Pomeroy has tried to poison them all (he hasn't), I could not get that character out of my head as the villain of the piece. Marsh managed to force the clues on me and I still missed them. I thoroughly enjoyed having the wool pulled over my eyes. Four stars.

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

6 likes · Like · see review

Sep 29, 2018 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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

As part of the Ngaio Marsh Reading Challenge, I am rereading her first 12 Inspector Alleyn books (one per month). I read nearly all of these back in junior high school when I had run through all of the Agatha Christies that our public library had and was looking for more classic crime. This was my first time sitting down with Death at the Bar (1945) since then. I did listen to it as an audio novel several years ago and I have watched the televised version with Patrick Malahide, so the culprit di As part of the Ngaio Marsh Reading Challenge, I am rereading her first 12 Inspector Alleyn books (one per month). I read nearly all of these back in junior high school when I had run through all of the Agatha Christies that our public library had and was looking for more classic crime. This was my first time sitting down with Death at the Bar (1945) since then. I did listen to it as an audio novel several years ago and I have watched the televised version with Patrick Malahide, so the culprit did not come as such a surprise as it did in the past. As I mentioned in my review of the audio novel, Marsh managed to get me to focus on the same red herring both when I first read it and when I listened--but it hadn't been long enough this time for her to pull that trick again.

But down to cases: Attorney, Luke Watchman is headed to Devon and the Plume of Feathers pub for an annual holiday with his cousin Sebastian Parish and his friend Noman Cubitt. On the way there he has a minor mishap with another motorist. Watchman jumps out of his car to berate the other man on his driving habits and the driver mutters an apology at him and tries to avoid being seen clearly. Watchman is somewhat mollified, but gets the impression that he might know the other man and that the driver definitely doesn't want to be seen by him.

Watchman arrives at the Feathers and once settled he meets up with Parish and Cubitt in the private bar--where he regales them with the tale of his accident and his impressions of the other man. The other man is none other than Robert Legge--a fellow guest of the pub and a man who has been sitting in a secluded part of the bar. Watchman tries to engage him in conversation, but it is clear that Legge does not want to be sociable.

During the course of the evening it is revealed that Legge is a "masterpiece" with the darts and can do all sorts of tricks with the darts and board--from playing Round the Clock (hitting point sections in order) to a circus-type move where he can outline a person's hand with darts. Watchman doubts his skill--challenging him to repeat exactly a set of dart moves from the previous evening (and losing money on the bet) and then a game of Round the Clock, but shying away from presenting his hand for the circus trick. The next evening Watchman changes his mind and says that if Legge can beat him at Round the Clock again, then he will let Legge do his dart and hand trick with him--he figures the worst that can happen is a prick from the dart and he's gotten a bit of courage from the brandy bottle produced by the proprietor.

He would be wrong...by the end of the night Watchman is dead and a trace of cyanide found on the dart. There was plenty of the stuff about the place--Abel Pomeroy, the pub owner, had been using the deadly poison to dispose of rats. Someone decided to use it to dispose of Watchman. But who? The obvious person is Legge because he threw the dart. But there are several witnesses to swear that he could not possibly have smeared poison on the instrument. When Inspector Roderick Alleyn and Detective Sergeant Fox arrive to assist the local constabulary, they find all sorts of motives lurking about--there's Decima Moore and her boyfriend, Will Pomeroy who differ on politics and who don't appreciate Watchman's attentions to the lovely Decima; Parish and Cubitt are legatees under Watchman's will; and there are a couple of people who had dealings with Watchman in court. The difficulty is that those with the most motive seem to have the least opportunity. Fox will get a taste of poison himself (and be saved by Alleyn) before they can bring the crime home to the culprit.

I don't have a lot new to say about Death at the Bar. It is one of my favorite Alleyn novels. I particularly like the setting and the variety of characters. Since I remembered who the culprit was, I was able to focus more on the descriptions of the village and to watch the interactions between the characters. Overall, it still ranks as a ★★★★ outing.

One (totally minor but kindof annoying) thing that stood out to me on this reading was Marsh's over-use of the word "masterpiece." I get that she was trying to produce the flavor of the area's idiomatic language--but absolutely everything that was out of the ordinary was a "masterpiece"--from Legge's abilities in dart-throwing to the thunderous rain storm that hits the night of the murder to Alleyn and Fox, who have "the witty brains of those masterpieces at Scotland Yard."

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

...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 10, 2018 ShanDizzy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Chapter VI - Inquest The Illington Coroner was James Mordant, Esq., M.D. He was sixty-seven years old and these years sat heavily upon him, for he suffered from dyspepsia. He seemed to regard his fellow men with brooding suspicion, he sighed a great deal, and had a trick of staring despondently at the merest acquaintances. He had at one time specialized in bacteriology and it was said of him that he saw human beings as mere playgrounds for brawling micrococci. It was also said that when Dr. Mord ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 14, 2016 Melinda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Waivered between rating this 3 stars or 4 mainly because I found the lead in dry and difficult to stick with. But as always when Fox and Alleyn show up things get moving. So 3 stars for the first bit and 4 for the bit that follows Alleyn showing up.

Like · see review