The Parlor PI's discussion
Singing in the Shrouds Chapters 4-6
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PugMom
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Jan 10, 2017 12:18PM
What do our PI's think of this next section of the book. The story is progressing!
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Seems to be focusing a lot on everyones alibis. Apart from the captain no one else has really been eliminated
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I thought it was a clever way of getting everyone to talk of their alibis. The priest seems to know Alleyn and is sucking up to him. Very suspicious. Isn't that what murderers seem to do? Try to get involved in the investigation some way to find out what information the detectives have.
I also thought the letter that Alleyn wrote to his wife was a nice way that the author summarises the investigation so far.
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My nom for perp knew how much a certain flower cost (most men don't have that info on finger tip).
Made a slightly off color comment about "women."
Exited boat for a while. A bit vague as to when he exited was the deed done yet or did he leave to commit crime and then return before ship launched?
My pick so far is Mr. Cuddy. Not sure of motive yet. Maybe jilted by a lover or mother issues.
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I see...so does the savvy perp. ;-)
Well, Mrs. Cuddy told the grout that Mr. Cuddy is allergic to flowers...can he be eliminated? Or is that a clever ruse? Hmmm...What do you all think about the notion that peoples' favorite flowers have something to do with what their scent reminds them of? What is your favorite? I love the scent of lilacs but detest lilies!
Quite a few weird happenings. A bit strange with the doll being 'murdered'. Was it Mrs DB dancing on the deck in the moonlight or was it someone else? Looks like there are four main suspects with two being eliminated with their alibis. I don't think Mr. Cuddy can be eliminated with his flower allergy- apparently he just comes over queer. Maybe that is the trigger.
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I have too many favorites to pick just one. Some are lilac, lily of/valley, rose, hyacinth, tulip (not that they offer much fragrance) to name a few. If I had to pick just one...I can't. :-(
Does anyone still suspect Miss Abbott? Earlier within the first 4 chapters she did have in her suitcase a page or two of music on it. Is it possible that the song that the Flower Murderer sings over his (or her) murder victims is from that page of musical notes?
How is everyone liking this book thus far?
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Hmmm? Maybe the witnesses could give identity to the song and see if they match the music she has in her possession.
I didn't place too much suspicion on Miss Abbott but then I often get led down the path that is wrong, Hastings.
I like the book enough. Better than one we read at the old place.
Tina wrote: "I like the book enough. Better than one we read at the old place. "Did we read the first Ngaio Marsh book "A Man Lay Dead" on the A&E Forum?
LovesMysteries wrote: "Does anyone still suspect Miss Abbott? Earlier within the first 4 chapters she did have in her suitcase a page or two of music on it. Is it possible that the song that the Flower Murderer sings ove..."Oooo - I had not thought of that. Miss Abbott does seem slightly "off" to me. Maybe it's her singing over the victims?
Roses and Lilacs are my favorites but I like pretty much all flowers. They need to be very strong scented for me. I would love the whole room filled with flowers.
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I am enjoying this book, and in fact I've finished (no spoilers from me, though. I needed to get the book back to the library.) There are lots of things to come, nevertheless!
I renewed my copy so I have until January 31st!!
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Did we read the first Ngaio Marsh book "A Man Lay Dead" on the A&E Forum?"
I don't recall the title, LM. I never finished it.
Tina wrote: "LovesMysteries wrote: "Tina wrote: "I like the book enough. Better than one we read at the old place. "Did we read the first Ngaio Marsh book "A Man Lay Dead" on the A&E Forum?"
I don't recall t..."
Do you know if it was the first Marsh book?
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Pghfan wrote: "A Man Lay Dead is indeed the first Alleyn book. I think we did read it years ago at our old site."I think you said that you finished "Singing In The Shrouds". Without spoilers which one did you prefer: the book we're currently reading or A Man Lay Dead?
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Pghfan wrote: "Hard to say, it was a long time ago that I read AMLD. I seem to remember an awkward ending to it. This seemed more straight forward, so I guess the answer is "Shrouds"."If you were to read another Ngaio Marsh mystery which would you try next?
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Did we read the first Ngaio Marsh book "A Man Lay Dead" on the A&E Forum?"
I d..."
I don't believe it was. Maybe Pghfan or J would recall more. Sorry.
I see that now. Pghfan does recall the title. Yey, Pghfan!
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This is my first book so I have no others to compare it to but I am enjoying it. Very different from the cozies I usually read.I thought it was interesting that one character said that some people are attracted to crime stories because it sort of keeps them from committing the crime themselves. They just like to read about them.
Are we ready to move to the next section??
I've also finished the book. Even though it is a reread for me, because I read it over 30 years ago it is like reading it the first time. Have enjoyed it the second time around although miss Fox and Troy who only have minor parts this time around.
Pghfan wrote: "I find that a lot of the time, the first book in a long series is somewhat different from the subsequent ones. Probably the author is still trying to get the right feel for the character. NOT true ..."Ngaio Marsh didn't care much for A Man Lay Dead. It's a shame that the book starts out with an interesting premise and kind of fizzes out but it's her first book so it's forgivable, though it might deter many readers from reading her other Inspector Alleyn mysteries.
Poirot has been very consistent from the very beginning as you have noted, though in The Mysterious Affair At Styles, Agatha Christie does refer to Poirot having a limp that is never referred to again. But that wouldn't be the same as Christie not having a feel for the character. This limp was just a temporary trait that healed and left. Poirot was a refugee from Belgian so it's safe to say while he traveled from his home country to England something happened that resulted in his limp. I don't recall reading anything that said Poirot fought in the war like Hastings did.
OK, next section will be up as soon as my little fingers can type it!
Nicole wrote: "This is my first book so I have no others to compare it to but I am enjoying it. Very different from the cozies I usually read."How is "Shrouds" different to the other cozies you previously read?
LovesMysteries wrote: "Pghfan wrote: "Hard to say, it was a long time ago that I read AMLD. I seem to remember an awkward ending to it. This seemed more straight forward, so I guess the answer is "Shrouds"."If you were..."
I think I might go back to the beginning and read the first one. I'm very OCD and like to read things in order. I might decide to read the first one in another of Marsh's series though...
How is "Shrouds" different to the other cozies you p..."Well, they don't usually give you a list of the suspects right away. Is it unusual that the Detective has been sent onboard a ship under cover to solve the crime?
Allison wrote: "I think I might go back to the beginning and read the first one. I'm very OCD and like to read things in order. I might decide to read the first one in another of Marsh's series though..."The only series Marsh wrote was the Inspector Alleyn series. The first one is "A Man Lay Dead" and the book starts out with an interesting, typical English mystery premise but to my memory it fizzes out a bit, but I was really young when I first read it. If I read re-read it now after all these years it's possible my views might change. But I remember hearing that Ngaio Marsh didn't think it was her best book but it was her first book so she can be cut some slack here.
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Has anyone ever made their own list? Just jotting down a few characters to keep them straight? I know I hate when several characters have names with the same first initial. Maybe it's just me and I get confused a lot!
Nicole wrote: "Has anyone ever made their own list? Just jotting down a few characters to keep them straight? I know I hate when several characters have names with the same first initial. Maybe it's just me and I..."If you had your own actual copy of the book instead of one from the library, would you jot down some information about the characters on the "cast of characters" page OR would you jot down a list on another sheet of paper?
I believe Ngaio Marsh was involved with the theatre and that is why she has a cast of characters
@Anastasia, I believe that it was Ngaio Marsh's conscious decision to include a cast of characters list in her books just as you said because of her involvement in the theatre, unlike some of the older copies of books from an author like Agatha Christie which includes a list of characters which I believe was considered by the publisher rather than Christie herself.
LovesMysteries wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Has anyone ever made their own list? Just jotting down a few characters to keep them straight? I know I hate when several characters have names with the same first initial. Maybe it'..."Probably just on a piece of paper and maybe use it as a bookmark just to have on hand! I haven't done this but I've been tempted a few times when I had to write reviews and got confused with the characters.
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The feeling I get when I'm reading this book is different and also I find I have to read more carefully. Most cozies I can just read quickly and get the gist of everything. I guess it's that way for me with Christie too. Maybe since I'm not familiar with the language of the time I have to just pay more attention. Even if a book (written today) is set in that time period, it just "feels" different. I can't really explain it more!
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I have to read this one more slowly as well. Seems there are areas that are a bit hazy to understand. Not a good thing for a slow reader like me.
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Tina wrote: "Nicole wrote: "The feeling I get when I'm reading this book is different and also I find I have to read more carefully. Most cozies I can just read quickly and get the gist of everything. I guess i..."It's probably due to Marsh's writing style and it's different compared to say, Agatha Christie, whose style is more easier to understand. As Pghfan said, this is probably why Christie's work still endures in popularity compared to other mystery writers. But Ngaio Marsh is definitely not a mystery writer to miss out on because her plots are interesting.
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Yes, they are, LM. :-)
Now, I thought after they found the doll, someone may have thought to give Mrs. Blick a quick looking in on just as a precaution. I thought for sure she'd be missing at breakfast the next morning.
That makes sense LM. It must be her writing style. It's different but in a good way.
