Friday, June 29, 2018

Vintage Murder

Vintage Murder. Ngaio Marsh. 1937. 256 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: The clop and roar of the train was an uneasy element somewhere at the back of the tall man's dreams.

Premise/plot: Inspector Alleyn can't escape work on his vacation to New Zealand. He finds himself in company with a company--a touring theatre company. He socializes with them on the train to their shared destination. He keeps on socializing with them once they arrive. A few are aware of who he is--the famous Inspector--but many are not. At a big party after their opening show, a planned surprise turns deadly. Inspector Alleyn witnesses the 'surprise' along with most of the cast, crew, and invited guests. Will he be able to solve the crime and determine the motive?

My thoughts: This mystery novel is set in New Zealand, in a theatre in New Zealand. For mystery lovers looking for a more 'exotic' setting than the English countryside, this one may prove quite satisfying. Its peopled with quirky characters and I must admit it kept me guessing up until the end. I found it a quick and enjoyable read.
"It's human nature," he said. "Wondering! People spend half their time wondering about each other. That's what sells this detective fiction, I reckon." (97)
© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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