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Ngaio Marsh second to last novel. Set entirely in New Zealand at a remote lake house on the West Coast of the South Island. Inspector Alleyn with his wife Troy there for her to paint a portrait of Isabella Sommita a world famous temperamental opera singer who thanks to a paparazzi photographer is at the end of her tether. Her millionaire boyfriend, Montague Reece, owns the luxurious lake house and has taken her there to recover.
She also plans to perform an aria written just for her– by Rupert h ...more
She also plans to perform an aria written just for her– by Rupert h ...more
Read in the hardcover omnibus "Ngaio Marsh: 5 Complete Novels"
Once again Marsh takes us to New Zealand, this time with Alleyn accompanying Troy on a commission to paint a famous soprano (with of course some commission of his own from the Chief Commissioner!). I liked the setting and I am always glad when Troy is involved but for some reason this late entry in the series seemed to lack some of the spark that her earlier books had. Maybe I am missing Fox? ...more
Once again Marsh takes us to New Zealand, this time with Alleyn accompanying Troy on a commission to paint a famous soprano (with of course some commission of his own from the Chief Commissioner!). I liked the setting and I am always glad when Troy is involved but for some reason this late entry in the series seemed to lack some of the spark that her earlier books had. Maybe I am missing Fox? ...more
Not one of Marsh's best. Rather boring and with a very unoriginal solution.
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I do think that this book is one of Marsh's better ones. These later books have,to me, been improving along the series. This one features both Alleyn and his wife Troy, and is set on an island in New Zealand. Troy has been asked to paint an extremely famous opera singer who resides there, and Alleyn has been asked by his superior officer to go along and find out what, if anything has been going on with these people, as an assignment. The opera singer is going to give a performance to an elite gr
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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.
A good plot with Alleyn having to work under severe restraints given his non-official status, but even better for the portrayal of their marriage and the care they take of each other. The setting and atmosphere are great: the lyrical description of New Zealand combined with the power of the storm that cuts off the island.
Jul 08, 2017
Rachel Burke
marked it as own
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
own-physical,
carmen
Aug 14, 2020
Ruth
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
golden-age-and-vintage
Apr 02, 2021
ChrisGA
marked it as to-read
