Death in Esctasy, Part 1, Chap 1-8

[Mark Pghfan]

Feeling bored one evening, Nigel Bathgate, Inspector Alleyn's faithful sidekick, wanders in his neighborhood and ends up at a pseudo-religious church, called The House of the Sacred Flame. There are seven "initiates" in the church and, during a ritual, one of them, Cara Quayne suddenly falls dead, having drunk from a cup used in the ritual. The Inspector is called in to investigate.

This is the fourth in Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Alleyn golden age mysteries.

[Anastasia]

Hi P.Is, I'd like to join in on this one. I kept a record of all the books I read and looks like I read this about 40 years ago. Unfortunately I don't own the book, but since it is on Audible, will listen to it. Even though I have purchased a kindle I am still yet to read an ebook.

[PugMom]

I'm going to start this book tonight as soon as I get my jammies on!
It's great to have you join us Anastasia!!

[Anastasia]

I am enjoying the audible version so far. The narrator is giving a great performance with the different voices for the characters. With her connections to theatre, I think that Ngaio Marsh's books are especially suited to be performed and there are already a lot of of references to theatre as the ceremony itself is compared to a performance.

[Mark Pghfan]

Anastasia, that is a good point, about the theatricality of Marsh, and the help a great narrator can make with that.

[Anastasia]

The House of the Sacred Flame is sounding like a major con. Looking like it may be a front for drug distribution. It would be interesting to know more of the leaders background.

[Tina]

Anastasia! G'day, Mate. Great to see you again!

[Nicole]

I’m caught up and listening via Audible as well! I agree that the narration is great. Wondering if Cara was killed for her $$$.....

[Nicole]

Or should I say her £££...? ;-)

[Anastasia]

Tina wrote: "Anastasia! G'day, Mate. Great to see you again!"
Hi Tina, G'day to you too.

[Anastasia]

Nicole wrote: "Or should I say her £££...? ;-)"

Yes the slimy guru seems the obvious suspect. He seems to have got a lot of money out of her already .

[Anastasia]

I love that Alleyn points out the clues.Wondering whether the almond incense was just a lucky coincidence or whether the murderer purposely arranged it.

[Mark Pghfan]

I read a few Marsh books in the last few months, and I'm still not comfortable about how tricky she is with the culprits. I'm like this with most new authors! Sometimes the obvious person DOES turn out to be the villain, but sometimes we are led down with garden path, to be tricked.

[Anastasia]

It funny how she mentions the other authors and their detectives and compares their methods

[PugMom]

Ok, I'm caught up on this section. What a crew of suspects! Does anyone know if Nigel is a recurring character in Marsh's books or he just makes an appearance in this book. Alleyn seems to trust his judgement.

[Anastasia]

Nigel appears in only a few of the books. Fox is the main sidekick.

[Mark Pghfan]

Nigel appears in the first few of the books. I guess Marsh got tired of him early on. I kind of liked the concept of the reporter-sidekick and inspector team. As Anastasia noted, Fox stays with the series for quite a ways. (I'm not tremendously familiar with Marsh, but I've read maybe six of them.)