Vintage Murder

By: Ngaio Marsh

Narrated by: James Saxon

A touring theatre company in New Zealand forms the basis of one of Marsh’s most ambitious and innovative novels.

New Zealand theatrical manager Alfred Meyer wanted to celebrate his wife’s birthday in style. The piece de résistance would be the jeroboam of champagne which would descend gently into a nest of fern and coloured lights on the table, set up onstage after the performance.

But something went horribly wrong. Chief Detective Inspector Alleyn witnessed it himself. Was Meyer’s death the product of Maori superstitions? Or something much more down to earth?

©1937 Original Text of 1937 by Ngaio Marsh (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers." ( Times Literary Supplement)

"The theatre detail is engrossing." (Margaret Lewis)

"A far more ambitious novel than anything Marsh had attempted before." ( American Journal of Popular Culture)

"Her work is as nearly flawless as makes no odds. Character, plot, wit, good writing, and sound technique." ( Sunday Times)

"The finest writer in the English languange of the pure, classical puzzle whodunnit. Among the crime queens, Ngaio Marsh stands out as an Empress." ( The Sun)

Old School Mystery

Too complicated, too many characters. That said, the characters were well drawn and well developed. The narrator was faultless - super job of giving each character a unique voice. I got this as it was the selection of the month for a book club. I did enjoy it and would recommend it if you want a cozy mystery that is not easy to figure out.

Performance and story

Normally I love Ngaio Marsh’s books. This on however was so very long. I liked the characters and the plot but had trouble with how long it took to just get through the whole thing. I’m not averse to a 12 hour listen so that wasn’t the problem. I think the reader was a bit too over the top for me.

A bit dull

I used to love reading Ngaio Marsh and I think several of her mysteries are more compelling than this one. But I’m afraid I found this one a little dull, Roderick Alleyn (who I considered a literary dreamboat) a little over the top, and the reader didn’t do much for me. He was skillful in his performance but he sounds like a rather fusty old-school BBC announcer.

Mystery Maven

Excellent series but this go around had, what I considered, a very annoying female character and the antics to get her to tell what she knew were ridiculous. Great narration, and with all of the characters was required.

Great Inspector Allyn mystery.

This is a typical Marsh yarn, with plenty of suspects playing to type. Red herrings abound! The reader’s mastery of accents is delicious! I thought that it was easy to keep up with the large cast of characters due to emphasis in the writing and in the superb narration!