From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Off With His Head (Roderick Alleyn #19)

Ngaio Marsh

Start date: July 1, 2019

Finish date: July 31, 2019

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: Next in our Inspector Alleyn challenge. This book is also known as Death of a Fool.
[close] Next in our Inspector Alleyn challenge. This book is also known as Death of a Fool.

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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

Jul 03, 2019 Susan rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is the nineteenth, Roderick Alleyn novel, in what is a slightly infuriating series. If any author could be called inconsistent – often brilliant, but too often banal, then Marsh is that author. Some of her mysteries are fantastic and there have been many that I have really enjoyed. However, this book, published in 1957, feels to be almost written by rote.

We have a small village, a winter solstice, and – bizarrely – morris dancing. Add a stereotypical German folk specialist, a pair of lover ...more

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Jul 08, 2019 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, vintage-mystery, british-mystery, bought-2019, marsh-challenge, mount-tbr-2019

Set just after World War II, Marsh represents a rural village in England that still hangs on to the ways of the past....the long ago past. For centuries the village of South Maridan has celebrated the winter solstice with a Wednesday Sword Dance. Outsiders are not generally welcomed to the festivities which features the "Dance of the Five Sons" and revolves around the death and resurrection of the father figure (the Fool), played by William Anderson or the Guiser as he's known--the local black s Set just after World War II, Marsh represents a rural village in England that still hangs on to the ways of the past....the long ago past. For centuries the village of South Maridan has celebrated the winter solstice with a Wednesday Sword Dance. Outsiders are not generally welcomed to the festivities which features the "Dance of the Five Sons" and revolves around the death and resurrection of the father figure (the Fool), played by William Anderson or the Guiser as he's known--the local black smith. The parts of the sons are taken by his own sons with two additional parts, "Crack" (who chases and tries to "tar" the young women) and the "Betty" (a teasing figure who also tries to woo the ladies), played by Simon Begg (ex-military son of the local grocer) and Ralph Stines (son of the local clergyman). But Mrs. Bunz, an eccentric German researcher of such ancient rites, comes rolling into the village and is determined to see all there is to see and makes a general nuisance of herself as William Anderson and his sons and friends rehearse for the big day.

Also in the mix is Dr. Otterly who plays the fiddle for the dance, Dame Alice Maridan who hosts the Sword Dance every year at Maridan Castle and also Ralph's aunt, Dulcie who is companion to Dame Alice, Trixie--a local barmaid, dalliance of Ralph's but planning to wed one of the blacksmith's sons though the old Guiser doesn't approve, and Camilla Campion--daughter of William Anderson's wayward daughter and serious love interest for Ralph. Camilla has recently come to South Maridan to see if she can patch things up with the grandfather who virtually disowned his daughter when she ran off to marry a "popish" man.

Ernie, the youngest son, has a run-in with his father just before the dance. The young man, who is a bit mentally handicapped, is quite attached to his mongrel of a dog. It's not explained exactly what is wrong with the animal, but his brothers and father all tell him that the dog should be put down. The Guiser finally does shoot the animal and this sends Ernie into a crying rage. He's also jealous of his father's central part in the Sword Dance. He's quite sure that he could dance the Fool even better than his father and is very put out that he must be the "Whiffler" (who whisks his sword back and forth in pantomime to clear the way for the revered Fool).

His brother Chris also has a dust-up with the Guiser in the days leading up to the dance. Chris is Trixie's intended, but the Guiser doesn't want to see his son wedded to such a girl. (The Guiser really is an awful snob all 'round.) And the brothers as a group are a bit put out with the old man over a scheme to sell the smithy--which really doesn't pay like it did in the days before automobiles--and start up a gas station/garage. They, of course, are in favor of a more profitable venture and he stubbornly refuses to give up the old ways.

And so comes the day of the dance. All goes well until the Fool is supposed to rise up from behind the rock where he has fallen after a mock beheading at the hands of his sons. When he doesn't get up on cue, the sons investigate only to find that William Anderson has actually been beheaded in truth. The local Superintendent and Sergeant of police were among those in the audience and everyone (including them) present--dancers and audience alike--are positive that no one came near the Guiser once he fell down, perfectly alive, behind the stone. So, how could he have been killed? Superintendent Carey and his Chief Constable have the good sense to realize that they need the help of the Yard...and the Yard has the good sense to send Inspector Roderick Alleyn to figure out the mystery of the impossible beheading.

Marsh always sets her scene well. The reader immediately gets the feel of the village from the moment Mrs. Bunz shows up in her little car--all eager to join in the festivities and completely missing that the chilly nature of her reception by the inhabitants has nothing to do with winter weather. The characters come to life and I definitely got the flavor of the dance and music performed for us all. I was slightly disappointed that I spotted the villain of the piece early on--but for the life of me I couldn't see how the thing was done, so I can't say the mystery was spoiled for me altogether. Really a quite interesting study of small village life in rural England.

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

Listened to audio version--finished 3/4/24. New review on my blog My Reader's Block. ...more

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Jan 31, 2014 Lemar rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, novel

Ngaio Marsh, in the second of her mysteries I have read, shows herself to be a master of human observation. Marsh combines that with the ability to describe her well drawn characters using humor and engaging them actions that hint at the psychology underneath.

The murder mystery is a perfect genre for someone able to portray the smallest ripples of emotion and perception. One of these characters is capable of murder. In this mystery she has her detective, Alleyn, say "Motive, I detest motive!" Of ...more

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Jul 01, 2019 Susan in NC rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Just ok (2 stars on my personal scale). I listened to this one on Audible and although Nadia May is usually a favorite narrator, the rural accents of some characters were almost unintelligible and the constant descriptions of folk dances didn’t make sense. I don’t know if reading the book would’ve helped me to make sense or be more interested!

I found it more interesting once the murder occurred during a performance of a folk dance, and Inspector Alleyn and crew arrived to investigate. Then i5 be ...more

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May 16, 2011 Abbey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, myst-cosies, myst-fems-project, favorites, vintage, myst-police, own, myst-set-andor-auth-uk, reviewed

1956, #19 Roderick Alleyn, CID, rural village of South Mardian; classic village cosy/police procedural. Novel also published as DEATH OF A FOOL in US 1957.

The Winter Solstice celebrations in the odd little village of South Mardian are ancient, very well-respected, and very private, seen by invitation only. But they become extremely public when the lead dancer gets his head cut off during the sword dance.

Absolutely perfect setting, tone, characterization and mood, with classic characterizations ...more

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Sep 14, 2018 Carol Evans rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

Death of a Fool takes place around the winter solstice. In South Mardian, a sword dance/fertility ritual/mummer play is performed every year, but this time, the fool (the father) is actually beheaded. I don't know anything about English folk dances, but the dance featured in Death of a Fool is interesting. Granted, it's a fictional dance, but the author tells us that she did use elements from a variety of traditional dances. Reading about the rehearsals, the performance, the costume and the hist ...more

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Jan 06, 2017 Teri-K rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, mystery-golden-age

I've read all the books in this series several times, and listened to a few. I love most of them, but this one isn't a favorite. This time I listened to it, narrated by Wanda Macedon (who is also Nadia May, a favorite of mine). I enjoy her voice and found myself liking the book more than when I last read it.

The story itself seems to belong more to Appalachia than England, and it contains a little prejudice that I dislike. (This time it's about epilepsy.) There's a great sense of place, but to m ...more

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Jul 01, 2019 ShanDizzy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

'Has it ever occurred to you,'Alleyn said,'that the progress of a case is rather like a sort of thaw? Look at that landscape.'
He wiped the mist from their carriage window. Sergeants Bailey and Thompson...stared out with the air of men to whom all landscapes are alike. Mr. Fox, with slightly raised brows, also contemplated the weakly illuminated and dripping prospect.
'Like icing,' he said, 'running off a wedding cake. Not that I suppose it ever does.'
[Alleyn replied]'Such are the pitfalls of anal ...more

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

Shelves: fiction, mysteries-thrillers-espionage, series, british, fiction-1950s, 2018read

An ancient local, traditional Winter Solstice rite conducted by the men of one family in the village - that ends with a beheading of the patriarch (not part of the ceremony). Who done it?

Discoveries:
-'cupboard sorrow'
-'the silly season'
-'stick chair' ...more

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