From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Hand in Glove (Roderick Alleyn, #22)

Ngaio Marsh

Start date: October 1, 2019

Finish date: October 31, 2019

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: Next in our Inspector Alleyn challenge.
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Group Challenges

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
By Susan · 14 posts · 17 views

last updated Sep 02, 2025 12:08AM

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) - SPOILER Thread
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last updated Sep 01, 2025 04:16PM

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What Members Thought

Sep 19, 2019 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is the 22nd in the Roderick Alleyn series, published in 1962. Having been working my way through this series, I have had mixed reactions to some of the books. As such, it was good to find one that I got utterly engrossed in and read in a day – it has been a while since that has happened and reminds me why I so love reading.

We begin with a young lady, called Nicola (friend of Alleyn and Agatha Troy) who is going to do some typing for a fussy old man, called Percival Pyke Period, who shares h This is the 22nd in the Roderick Alleyn series, published in 1962. Having been working my way through this series, I have had mixed reactions to some of the books. As such, it was good to find one that I got utterly engrossed in and read in a day – it has been a while since that has happened and reminds me why I so love reading.

We begin with a young lady, called Nicola (friend of Alleyn and Agatha Troy) who is going to do some typing for a fussy old man, called Percival Pyke Period, who shares his house with a retired lawyer, called Harry Cartell. On the train journey, Nicola meets Cartell’s step-son, Andrew Bantling, a young man who wants to give up the Guards to buy an art gallery and, of course, falls heavily for Nicola.

This is set in a small village, with a group of people who are all related. We have Andrew’s mother, Lady Bantling, and her third husband, Bimbo (there are some gloriously Thirties names in this mystery). Also, Cartell’s sister, Connie, and her ward, ‘Moppet’ and her boyfriend, the rather frowned upon, Leonard Leese. Leonard is ‘known to the police,’ as the expression says. With his colourful clothes, constant whistling and slang terms, he causes consternation in the village and trouble between Mr Period and Mr Cartell; especially when a cigarette case goes missing.

Although set in the early Sixties (not quite swinging just yet, although the Beatles first single would be released later in the year), this reads as though it is set in the Fifties. Jeans appear, as does a Jazz record and one suspect is ‘watching the telly,’ but we still have a healthy dose of snobbery, the sense of belonging to the right people, with the correct behaviour, and a good array of servants – perhaps a little more modern, but still deferential and caring, with the automatic, ‘thank YOU, Sir,’ dropping from Mr Period’s manservant. A fun, interesting read, with a dose of comedy and a sense that Ngaio Marsh was not ready to give up, as she reached a new decade.
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Dec 30, 2021 Lady Wesley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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

Review of the audiobook narrated by Jeremy Sinden

This is a charming, perplexing mystery in a small village with lots of interesting suspects. Written in the 1960s, it is one of Marsh’s better late-career books.

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 26, 2019 ShanDizzy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Utterly deplorable characters but a decent mystery

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Dec 01, 2017 dmayr rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime-detective-series, murder-in-the-village, books-i-liked, crime-in-vintage

One of Marsh's more interesting mysteries. I think I've read this before although I really can't remember the plot, so I went for the obvious suspect with the obvious motive. I was mistaken though, so it's delightful to still be surprised. ...more

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Sep 30, 2019 Sandy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-detective-grp, mystery-classic, rread-2019, zngaio-challenge-2019

Excellent entry in the series with a good dollop of humor supplied by misbehaving dogs, one in heat who creates a fracas each time she escaped. There are a pair of petty criminals, the man more experienced with breaking the law and his girl friend, in training for a future life of crime. Both seem well beyond redemption and not likeable enough to be worth the effort.

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Sep 29, 2019 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: ngaio-marsh

Finished this and did enjoy it. I found it to be one of the better books in the series. I do wish though that the authors of this time wouldn't make the doubtful characters Cockneys
Marsh did include quite a bit of humour in this, and some pretty eccentric characters, even extending this to the dogs. ...more

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