Tied Up in Tinsel - SPOILER Thread

[Susan]

Welcome to the 27th Roderick Alleyn mystery, published in 1972.

Christmas time in an isolated country house and, following a flaming row in the kitchen, there's murder inside. When a much disliked visiting servant disappears without trace after giving presents to the local children, foul play is at once suspected -- and foul play it proves to be. Only suspicion falls not on the staff but on the guests - among whom is Troy, painting a portrait of the house's owner. When Superintendent Roderick Alleyn returns unexpectedly from a trip to Australia, it is to find his beloved wife in the thick of an intriguing mystery...

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

[Jill]

Another one of Marsh's better books in my opinion. At first I did think oh no not another one where Troy is put in danger, but it didn't work out that way so was a relief. I thought we were given a good idea of the lay-out of the castle and also of the characters involved. The Christmas celebration was well described, so it was easy to realise what was going on. The older generations language was apt for who they were but I felt Marsh came unstuck with Cressida's (the younger generation) way of talking. I had a good idea who the murderer was, but could not see a motive, so was continually dismissing my idea.

[Susan]

I would agree with you, that Cressida was not a very successful character. Her speech grated and it did sound false.

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "I would agree with you, that Cressida was not a very successful character. Her speech grated and it did sound false."

Jill and Susan, I thought the audiobook reader did a good job of making her speech sound very 1970s, but on the page it doesn't work so well! Although I enjoyed this novel overall, I find Cressida rather an unlikely killer - after her fear of cats has been played up so much, is it just supposed to be fake? (I remembered it was her from a previous read, so am not sure if I would have guessed.)

I also find it odd that Hilary just believes she is from an upper-crust family because of a fake surname - given his level of snobbishness, wouldn't he have been busy checking Who's Who and finding out exactly who she was related to before getting involved in the first place?!

[Leslie]

I reread this in December due to the Xmas setting. Though I always like it when Troy is involved, I didn't think that it was one of Marsh's better books. I don't mean that it was poor or that I didn't enjoy reading it but I liked others in the series better.

One aspect that contributed to this feeling was the whole idea that Hilary staffed his house with released (? paroled?) murderers. It just was too weird an idea for me to take seriously.

[Nick]

Another one that I enjoyed. Yes, it had a weird setup with the oncers as servants, but that allowed the amusing moment at the end when Hilary realised that it’s one thing to staff one’s house with oncers, it’s another to ... [marry one!]

I also found the solution to be satisfactory - fairly clued with everything hanging together. The revelation that Cressida is Moult’s daughter had to be left right at the end in order that whodunnit wasn’t too obvious. But there were enough clues along the way... yet another Ngaio Marsh novel where snobbishness plays a role!

[Tracey]

I suspected Cressida due to the character being a little too fake for my liking.

Where is Ricky? I seem to have missed any reference to him. There was at one point mentioned Troy either spending Christmas alone or at Hilary's (before Alleyn came back early). I'm assuming Ricky is at boarding school (although I've lost track of his age), would he not be home for Christmas?

[Tara]

Tracey wrote: "I suspected Cressida due to the character being a little too fake for my liking.

Where is Ricky? I seem to have missed any reference to him. There was at one point mentioned Troy either spending ..."

I wondered that as well, but figured he was away at school. It was also a bit strange that Troy was the center of the novel for about 75%, and then completely disappeared when Rory showed up. I know he wanted to keep her out the case, but it seemed abrupt.

[Judy]

I had forgotten about Ricky, I must admit! I have a feeling I've read that he turns up again at some point.

[Susan]

I think Ricky is central to one of the later novels. I haven't read it, but saw it mentioned.

[Susan]

It's Last Ditch
Horseplay turns deadly...
Young Ricky Alleyn has come to the picturesque fishing village of Deep Cove to write. Through the sleepy little town offers few diversions, Ricky manages to find the most distracting one of all: murder. For in a muddy ditch, he sees a dead equestrienne whose last leap was anything but an accident. And when Ricky himself disappears, the case becomes a horse of a different color for his father, Inspector Roderick Alleyn.

[Tracey]

Good to know he still exists. I was beginning to wonder if I'd forgotten him coming to an early end!

Tara - I agree, Troy seemed to be sent to her room for the majority of time that Alleyn was there. Apart from when she picked up the vase pieces, she almost disappeared.