A Man Lay Dead - SPOILER Thread

[Yorky]

Well mixed feelings on this one. I think I like Alleyn and hope there is a little more of his back story released in future books. The plot was interestly bizarre did I miss something as to why he had to slide down the bannister in his underwear? quite hard to explain if spotted? looking forwards to book two to see how the character develops and see if the plots are still a tad out there lol

[Susan]

Apparently, sliding down the bannisters was quite a usual occupation in that house, Yorky! One of the reasons, along with the 'horseplay,' why I said I would happily give a weekend house party there a miss...

[Judy]

I'm not sure why he was in his underwear either, Yorky - does anyone remember an explanation for this?! Was it to avoid getting blood on his clothes?

[Roman Clodia]

Partly the blood, Judy, but principally because the timing is so tight: remember he's supposedly having a conversation with Nigel through the bathroom wall as his alibi. He says that after the murder, he runs back upstairs, rips off his underpants, and is splashing around in the bath in seconds - I giggled immensely! 😊

[Judy]

Ah, thanks R.C, I'd forgotten that. Not the most believable plot twist I've ever come across, to be honest!

[Mark Pghfan]

Yes, I assumed that the underwear part was so he didn't have to disrobe completely to get back in the bath, which was his alibi. Stretching it a good bit. The plot, not the underwear!

[Susan]

I know that he was largely murdered for financial reasons, but I had some sympathy with the murderer, considering how badly he had been treated by the victim over the years. I hope Charles was surprised when he flew down the bannisters!

[Elinor]

I finished A man lay dead yeasterday. I really liked the concept of a murder occuring on a murder game (and I was surprised to learn that this game existed in that time !). I didn't know who was the murderer at all, I was more inclined toward Mrs. Wilde, however after finishing the book I tought that Mr Wilde was indeed the one with the strongest motive ! Good job with the alibi and everything, despite him being quite the pefect culprit I never once suspected him.
The all "how he did it" didn't convince me totally, neither did the recreation of the murder (well, just the part with his face being strange and all).
The Russian part was a bit strange in my opinion. Not bad, not really, just not what I expect from a Golden Age novel (but then I haven't read a lot of them yet).
As for the characters, they were quite good in my opinion and I someone said earlier quite quickly yet well portrayed. I am quite eager to see more of Alleyn, but I also hope Nigel and Angela will be back at some point, I found them really cute ^^
Overall, not a new favorite of mine, but it was a nice read.

Doris wrote: "Frances wrote: "I assumed that whole singing the death of Boris episode would have been some sort of false alibi-that they would find a turntable playing or some such-so was quite disappointed that..."

Same here ^^ I thought that at the very begining, but I wasn't really convinced with Tokaref (can't remember how it is written) as a culprit.

[Susan]

Good to hear you enjoyed the book, Elinor. There were a few possible suspects, which always makes a mystery more interesting.

[Mark Pghfan]

Nigel at least does come back, as he is in the February read.

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review)]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "Nigel at least does come back, as he is in the February read."

IIRC he is in at least one after that as well!

[Judy]

I've now watched the TV adaptation of this from the series starring Patrick Malahide as Alleyn, and was a bit disappointed, I must confess.

I had seen this episode in the past, but on revisiting I was really struck by just how different it is from the book. Troy, who hasn't come into the books yet at this stage, takes the place of Angela, Nigel hardly comes in, and the Russian subplot is replaced by a storyline about robbers stealing church treasures.

I do quite like Patrick Malahide as Alleyn and Belinda Lang as Troy, though, and, especially, William Simons as Fox.

I am recording the other episodes, anyway, and hope they may stick a bit closer to the books! There isn't an adaptation of Enter a Murderer, so the next TV episode for me will be The Nursing Home Murder.

[Judy]

Forgot to say, I am recording the series on the Alibi channel in the UK.

[Dan]

I just finished this book after discovering this group this week. My first Ngaio Marsh book, and I really enjoyed it! I think I like Alleyn. I'm looking forward to the next 30-something books. 🙂

That being said, the sliding head-first down a banister method of murder would NOT be my first choice if I were to take up that particular hobby.

[Tara]

Dan wrote: "I just finished this book after discovering this group this week. My first Ngaio Marsh book, and I really enjoyed it! I think I like Alleyn. I'm looking forward to the next 30-something books. 🙂

T..."

Marsh does seem to be a fan of outlandish murder methods Dan. I think it would be more plausible if the killer had been an acrobat in a former life.

[Sandy]

That bannister technique seems impossible and almost deterred me from continuing with Alleyn. Glad I persevered.

[Dan]

Tara wrote: "Marsh does seem to be a fan of outlandish murder methods Dan."

This one was wild! You would think a seemingly smart archaeologist would prefer an easier method than sliding down a banister in his underwear, detaching a knife from the wall, and aiming a precise stab at an unsuspecting victim. How about just clunking him over the head with something heavy?

I look forward to more outlandish behavior! 😄

[Tara]

Dan wrote: "Tara wrote: "Marsh does seem to be a fan of outlandish murder methods Dan."

This one was wild! You would think a seemingly smart archaeologist would prefer an easier method than sliding down a ban..."

But what would be the fun in that? If you're going to commit murder, you might as well do it with some panache :)

I think Marsh's writing gets stronger as you move through the series. I'm currently reading Death of a Peer and there is excellent character development (although I haven't gotten to the murder yet).

[Dan]

Tara wrote: "If you're going to commit murder, you might as well do it with some panache."

Yeah, you're right. I hope the next book has someone getting killed off in some Rube Goldberg-esque way. 😄

Tara wrote: "I think Marsh's writing gets stronger as you move through the series."

I'm looking forward to it! I have read the comments from the first book and had a tiny glance at the non-spoiler thread for the second book, and it seems everyone has been enjoying her books. I just started the second book this afternoon. I'm hoping that the excitement of finding this group will give me some momentum to knock out the first half-dozen or so Marsh books. It's so cool that this group is so active and has so many members!

[Judy]

Glad you enjoyed this so much, Dan, and that you are enjoying the group too. We have a great bunch of members!

[Dan]

Judy wrote: "Glad you enjoyed this so much, Dan, and that you are enjoying the group too. We have a great bunch of members!"

Thanks Judy! This has been fun. On to book #2!

[Bruce]

I just finished reading it recently, and although I enjoyed it, I agree with what others have said about the Russian plot. It sidetracked a bit. It also didn’t seem to accurate, as secret cultish societies like that would fit in more with Tsarism or other more religious societies, if anything.

Also, maybe no one else minded, but I thought the reason for the murder was a letdown and un exciting. Because his wife is a spendthrift, when he could have done it because she was fooling around with Rankin?

One thing I liked was that Alleyn was very well developed, even in his first book.