From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Photo Finish (Roderick Alleyn, #31)

Ngaio Marsh

Start date: July 17, 2020

Finish date: August 7, 2020

Discussion: Archive: Ngaio Marsh Buddy Reads

Why we're reading this: We are nearly at the end of our read through all Ngaio Marsh's mysteries! …more
[close] We are nearly at the end of our read through all Ngaio Marsh's mysteries!

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 64 topics — 2,094 comments total

Archive: Ngaio Marsh Buddy Reads

A Man Lay Dead
By Susan · 77 posts · 91 views

last updated Apr 11, 2021 04:44AM

A Grave Mistake - SPOILER Thread
By Susan · 12 posts · 29 views

last updated Nov 17, 2020 12:10PM

What Members Thought

Jul 15, 2020 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

These later Inspector Alleyn mysteries are really good. This is the thirty first in the series and published in 1980. Ngaio Marsh has some uncomfortable moments, with Alleyn offering some, out of character, mild cursing and there is some stereotyping of a homosexual character, I can only assume that this is Marsh attempting to be more modern, but to hear Alleyn utter even the blandest swear word seemed almost as unlike Wimsey taking a corner carefully…

That said, you can see this as a mid-Eightie ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Aug 13, 2016 Teri-K rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, great-to-re-read

This is an excellent mystery series that I've read many times. This particular book is one of the New Zealand ones, which are some of my favorites. A vain opera star is being chased by a paparazzi so she retreats to a private island in New Zealand. The famous British portrait painter, Agatha Troy, comes to paint the diva, bringing her husband, the Scotland Yard Detective along. The story is a bit over-the-top for me, much like opera is, but it's still good fun. And any time I can have Alleyn and ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Sep 18, 2021 Peggy added it · review of another edition

A return to New Zealand but just not interesting. I honestly didn’t care who did it. This was written maybe four years before her death. I hate to say it, but she should have stopped with the last one. There is one more in the series. I almost hate to open it. I love Alleyn and Troy and it’s sad to see them dealt with so perfunctorily.

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 13, 2020 Tracey rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ngaio-marsh-challenge

Almost at the end of the Ngaio Marsh challenge. We are back in New Zealand for this one, where Troy is to paint an opera singer. Published in 1980, it maintains an older feel, complete with a Noel Coward reference. Although in this book Alleyn flies to New Zealand, rather than take the boat, as he had previously. I enjoyed Dr Carmichael playing the Fox role, and the ever helpful Bert. The mystery however felt a bit lacking.

Like · see review