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When in Rome (Roderick Alleyn, #26)

Ngaio Marsh

Start date: February 14, 2020

Finish date: March 10, 2020

Discussion: Archive: Ngaio Marsh Buddy Reads

Why we're reading this: We are continuing the Alleyn series as buddy reads after our two-year challenge.
[close] We are continuing the Alleyn series as buddy reads after our two-year challenge.

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Archive: Ngaio Marsh Buddy Reads

A Man Lay Dead
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What Members Thought

Feb 03, 2020 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: ngaio-marsh

Another book where Alleyn is working undercover, in Rome for Scotland Yard. This time he is on the trail of a drug syndicate, which he believes is run by a man called Sebastian Mailer. We meet Mailer at the beginning of the book, where he is involved with a famous author and the loss of a manuscript. When we next meet Mailer he is running a tour group of Rome, and we find he is running a blackmail business as well as a drugs racket. The story goes from there, with Alleyn being careful not to uns ...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Leslie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries

While I liked the Italian setting, the mystery itself was not one of Marsh's best. And some of the slang really dates the book! ...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Damaskcat rated it it was amazing

Superintendent Alleyn is in Rome doing some undercover sleuthing in connection with a drugs ring. He joins an organised tour run by the singularly unpleasant Sebastian Mailer.

When Mailer disappears during a tour of a Roman Basilica his tour party don't seem too bothered about it and some even seem relieved. In between liaising with the Italian police Alleyn does some digging of his own and finds himself the recipient of confidences from the rest of the party.

I enjoyed this very well plotted myst ...more

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Feb 06, 2017 Gillian Kevern rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, queens-of-crime, vintage, pure-fun, nz-author, 1970s, detective

4:14 A.M. Babysitting day two. The baby is wide awake and has been since two A.M. It has occurred to me that we are not going back to sleep. I give up on lulling baby back to sleep with Planet Earth documentaries, figure out how to put on Peppa Pig on Netflix and start When in Rome.

I finish it while she is having her nap. I attempted to nap and couldn't. Good mystery, but I rated this a three on account of Ngaio Marsh's attempts at groovy drug slang. I then added a star back because it's too hil ...more

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Jul 06, 2015 Shauna rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: modern-crime-uk, 2015

This is Ngaio Marsh's attempt at reflecting the 'Swinging Sixties' society and she really doesn't pull it off. Alleyn is on his own in Rome, on the trail of international drug-smugglers when he gets caught up in murder. The characters are straight from central casting( 1960's) with a spoilt rich kid, his world-weary, much-married aunt, an ex-Army major and some shifty but charming Italians. Marsh drops in words like 'groovy' but it doesn't feel at all natural and I found myself totally indiffere ...more

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Feb 15, 2020 Sandy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-classic, mystery-detective-grp, rread-2020

A great setting in Rome with the tour group visiting the ancient lower levels below a church. Very atmospheric with subdued lighting, a very deep well, and dramatic statues.

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