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Spinsters in Jeopardy (Roderick Alleyn, #17)

Ngaio Marsh

Start date: May 1, 2019

Finish date: May 31, 2019

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: The latest book in our Inspector Alleyn challenge.
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Group Challenges

* Oct 25: A Murder Is Announced (1950) by Agatha Christie
By Susan · 6 posts · 10 views

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* Oct 25: A Murder Is Announced (1950) - SPOILER Thread
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What Members Thought

Apr 28, 2019 Susan rated it liked it · review of another edition

I have been reading through the Roderick Alleyn novels and am still a little undecided about what I think of them. Undoubtedly, Ngaio Marsh at her best is very good. I prefer Roderick Alleyn’s wife, Troy, to Wimsey’s Harriet (that is not Harriet’s fault, but the never ending, unrequited love story got rather trying) and have to admit that I prefer a Poirot, unencumbered by anyone, other than Hastings, to a married sleuth. In this novel, Alleyn is not only joined by Troy, but by a six year old so I have been reading through the Roderick Alleyn novels and am still a little undecided about what I think of them. Undoubtedly, Ngaio Marsh at her best is very good. I prefer Roderick Alleyn’s wife, Troy, to Wimsey’s Harriet (that is not Harriet’s fault, but the never ending, unrequited love story got rather trying) and have to admit that I prefer a Poirot, unencumbered by anyone, other than Hastings, to a married sleuth. In this novel, Alleyn is not only joined by Troy, but by a six year old son, Ricky, who appears precociously fully formed.

Although Marsh is excellent at times, there are simply too many books where she is quite average. This is one of those times. In terms of style, this is like an early Campion, with gangs and sects, secret ceremonies and strange goings on abroad. Bizarrely, Alleyn determines to link up an investigation in Europe, with a family holiday. Troy has a distant cousin who has been sending her letters and she is keen to put a face to the name. Therefore, despite the fact this could be a dangerous investigation into a drug gang, Alleyn, Troy and Ricky head off towards the Alps, by train.

Even before they arrive, both Alleyn and Troy witness a crime from the window of their train, while an elderly lady is taken ill on the train and, of course, the only doctor is staying at the house where they saw the crime happening. Enter odd group of, mainly English, eccentrics, mysterious and sinister leader and a lot of suspicious behaviour. Then, Ricky goes missing.

Although Marsh throws herself into a serious crime – the kidnapping of a young child, she is torn between revealing Troy’s obvious horror and reassuring the reader that all will be well. Another child has previously been kidnapped the local police commissioner informs Troy, and he enjoyed the experience so much he wanted to stay with the kidnappers! Surprisingly, this does not reassure Troy at all and her response is, by far, the most realistic part of this novel. Overall, I am not a great fan of gangs in Golden Age crime novels – the reason why I stumbled over the early Campion novels. If I had not read much better mysteries by Marsh, this one might have stopped me in my tracks, but, as it is, I know she could do better.

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Sep 07, 2019 Leslie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, mysteries, thriller-suspense

This entry in the series has a lot of Troy (and little Ricky) which I liked but was less of a mystery than a suspense/thriller.

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May 30, 2019 ShanDizzy rated it liked it · review of another edition

[A conversation between Alleyn and Raoul- the driver in Roqueville who picked up Alleyn and family from the train station]

"...It is known to the police here and in London that the Chevre d'Argent is used as a place of distribution in a particularly ugly trade."
"Women, Monsieur?"
"Drugs. Women, it seems are a purely personal interest. A sideline. I believe neither Dr. Baradi nor Mr. Oberon is a drug addict. They are engaged in the traffic from a business point-of-view. I think they have cultivated ...more

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Apr 29, 2019 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: ngaio-marsh

Well, this book certainly broke away from the others books I have read of Marsh's. We get "gangs" kidnapping, drugs and a religious cult. Allyen decides to take his family with him to France, where he will be working undercover for MI5. Right from the start they are pulled into the affairs of the gang he has been sent to investigate.
I thought the kidnapping was dealt with pretty poorly. At first the parents acted as you would think they would, but then they seemed to be very casual about it. Th ...more

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Jan 31, 2013 ChrisGA rated it really liked it

Shelves: x-read-in-2016

First of her books I've read--Loved the details of family life with little Ricky. The storyline was a bit far-fetched, but an enjoyable adventure if you just go with it. ...more

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