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lunaseline's review against another edition
3.0
Jag firar helst inte helgdagar, men brukar ära Påskekrim-traditionen med en nordisk deckare. Att Marsh är från Nya Zeeland säger något om hur länge - och långt jag fick leta, innan jag var det minsta sugen på att plocka upp en bok. Jag gillar fortfarande kriminalroman-konceptet, men är så förbenat trött på alla dåligt skrivna (för att inte tala om dåligt redigerade!) och överdrivna "nordic noirs" med stencilerade karaktärer.
Inte för att Marsh, i alla fall i denna etta i en polisserie, är mycket mer än Christie-kopia från andra sidan jordklotet - men jag har märkt att jag stör mig mycket mindre på de här småputtriga, ofta rätt menlösa, dramerna än på de nyproducerade "alla kan skriva"-varianterna.
Pussligt, posh:t och med tydliga karaktärer och känslor - man vet vad man får och överklassengelskan (vi befinner oss på en herregård, duh!) gör att både stavning och grammatik är helt korrekt (vilket tyvärr inte är något man kan ta för givet i dagens böcker).
Jag förstår folk som somnar av sånt här - det gjorde jag också några gånger under dagens lopp - men för mig är det kanske lite poängen. Hemtrevligt och tryggt, samtidigt med verklighetsflykt, så att säga.
P.s. Jag är inget Putin-fan, men jag känner ändå att jag behöver opponera mig mot exotifieringen/kriminaliseringen av ryssar i boken. Tänker att man inte visste bättre på 30-talet (vilket ju världen snart fick erfara...) D.s.
Inte för att Marsh, i alla fall i denna etta i en polisserie, är mycket mer än Christie-kopia från andra sidan jordklotet - men jag har märkt att jag stör mig mycket mindre på de här småputtriga, ofta rätt menlösa, dramerna än på de nyproducerade "alla kan skriva"-varianterna.
Pussligt, posh:t och med tydliga karaktärer och känslor - man vet vad man får och överklassengelskan (vi befinner oss på en herregård, duh!) gör att både stavning och grammatik är helt korrekt (vilket tyvärr inte är något man kan ta för givet i dagens böcker).
Jag förstår folk som somnar av sånt här - det gjorde jag också några gånger under dagens lopp - men för mig är det kanske lite poängen. Hemtrevligt och tryggt, samtidigt med verklighetsflykt, så att säga.
P.s. Jag är inget Putin-fan, men jag känner ändå att jag behöver opponera mig mot exotifieringen/kriminaliseringen av ryssar i boken. Tänker att man inte visste bättre på 30-talet (vilket ju världen snart fick erfara...) D.s.
jrenee's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bioniclib's review against another edition
3.0
This is a great example of the dry wit of British mysteries. Though it had a surprisingly gory scene, a dogleg plotline, and a twist that were all unusual. I thought it was a damn decent read.
Now for some spoilers to help me remember.
Nigel gets a tack driven under his fingernail. It wasn't a described scene but the fact that it happened at all wasn't something I'm used to reading about in books during the 1930s.
That scene took place when they were breaking the Russian brotherhood. It's how the murder weapon ended up with Charles but didn't have anything to do with the resolution of the murder.
Wilde confessed but wasn't believed...then it ended up being him after all. Fake-outs aren't something I'm used to during this time either!
Now for some spoilers to help me remember.
Spoiler
Nigel gets a tack driven under his fingernail. It wasn't a described scene but the fact that it happened at all wasn't something I'm used to reading about in books during the 1930s.
That scene took place when they were breaking the Russian brotherhood. It's how the murder weapon ended up with Charles but didn't have anything to do with the resolution of the murder.
Wilde confessed but wasn't believed...then it ended up being him after all. Fake-outs aren't something I'm used to during this time either!
itsmandaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ab98's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jaynecm's review against another edition
4.0
An intriguing and unusual method of carrying out the murder, with two crimes being played out simultaneously.
The detective was not fleshed out much as a character, but I am sure he will be in future books, of which there are 32!
The detective was not fleshed out much as a character, but I am sure he will be in future books, of which there are 32!
mindsplinters's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
It was... okay. Very twisty-turny and complicated and I'm not so sure the Brotherhood subplot was a wise choice but it read fast and introduces one to Alleyn... Who is pretty much a cypher because damn if I know what to think of him. However, this could be somewhat complicated by the fact that the story is told from the limited POV of Nigel Bathgate who only knows so much since he is neither a copper nor a trained brainiac. Overall, it was interesting enough and made for a change in my British Murder files but so far Christie and Sayers are still tops for me.
bishop's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
First in the Inspector Roderick Alleyn historical mystery series and revolving around a Scotland Yard chief detective inspector in the England of the 1930s.
My Take
Marsh introduces Alleyn and his future "accomplice", Nigel Bathgate. Marsh uses third person global subjective point-of-view, as we experience events from the perspectives of a variety of characters. Nigel's perspective is primary, as he is one of the guests; Alleyn's perspective is a close second.
Two rival explorers of mystery, the inspector and the journalist, compete and cooperate, building a relationship that will extend into future stories.
Charles may be a nice cousin, but he's a scummy guy. I would expect loyalty when planning on marriage. The complacent Wilde is simmering underneath. While Bathgate is fascinated by the detecting, he's squeamish about the dirtier aspects of investigation.
It's a romp through murder filled with red herrings in a country house whose guests are quite the assortment. Traps are set in the house and on the grounds with numerous trips up to London. Secret relationships abound.
The prose is a fun combination of flirtation, worry, and Alleyn's intelligence. And it's Alleyn's explanation at the end that is so fascinating about the murderer's cleverness.
The Story
It starts with a house party and the parlor game of Murder with five guests.
Until the fun ends with a real murder, and Scotland Yard's Inspector Roderick Alleyn arrives to find a complete collection of alibis, a missing butler, and an intricate puzzle of betrayal and sedition.
The Characters
Chief Detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn is with Scotland Yard although he had originally been in the Diplomatic Service. Christina Alleyn, a chemist, is his cousin.
Scotland Yard
Inspector-Detective Boys. Detective-Sergeant Bailey is the fingerprint expert. Detective-Sergeant Smith is in charge of the camera. Police Constable Bunce. Alfred Bliss is one of Alleyn's. Mr Sumiloff has been working with Alleyn on the Russian side of the case. Inspector Fisher is with the local police. Dr Young is the local divisional surgeon.
The poor Nigel Bathgate is a journalist with the Clarion. Charles Rankin is his 20-years-older cousin.
Frantock is . . .
. . . the country estate of Sir Hubert Handesley, a former diplomat and current cabinet minister with a fascination for historic fighting tools, has unique and delightfully original house-parties. Vassily Vassilyevitch has been Sir Hubert's butler for the past twenty years. Mary is the between-maid. The intelligent Ethel is the second housemaid. Roberts is the pantry man. Stimson is the third gardener; his daughter is Sissy.
His guests this weekend include Dr Foma Tokareff; the archeologist Arthur Wilde and his wife, Marjorie; Angela North is Sir Hubert's niece (Florence is her maid); and, Rosamund Grant.
The Frantock Arms is an inn in Little Frantock.
Jamison is Bathgate's boss at the Clarion. Mr Benningden is the Rankin family solicitor. Kuprin leads a seditious group, the Brotherhood; Alexis Andrevitch, Erik Yansen (a Scandinavian), and Krasinski (a Pole) are also members. Masters is the Wildes' butler. Miss Sandilands is a sewing maid who occasionally does work for Marjorie. Joyce is a friend of Rosamund's.
The Cover and Title
The cover is an Art Deco style with a grayed-blue background and white ripples angling up and out to the side in front of a stylized country house in a slightly darker blue with all the lights lit up. At the top is the title in a gradated white to blue. The author's name is very deco in a combination of gray and deep blue with a spread-out white shadow against a shaped pale blue banner. At the very bottom is a paler gray blue banner with the series info in white.
The title is accurate, for A Man Lay Dead.
My Take
Marsh introduces Alleyn and his future "accomplice", Nigel Bathgate. Marsh uses third person global subjective point-of-view, as we experience events from the perspectives of a variety of characters. Nigel's perspective is primary, as he is one of the guests; Alleyn's perspective is a close second.
Two rival explorers of mystery, the inspector and the journalist, compete and cooperate, building a relationship that will extend into future stories.
Charles may be a nice cousin, but he's a scummy guy. I would expect loyalty when planning on marriage. The complacent Wilde is simmering underneath. While Bathgate is fascinated by the detecting, he's squeamish about the dirtier aspects of investigation.
It's a romp through murder filled with red herrings in a country house whose guests are quite the assortment. Traps are set in the house and on the grounds with numerous trips up to London. Secret relationships abound.
The prose is a fun combination of flirtation, worry, and Alleyn's intelligence. And it's Alleyn's explanation at the end that is so fascinating about the murderer's cleverness.
The Story
It starts with a house party and the parlor game of Murder with five guests.
Until the fun ends with a real murder, and Scotland Yard's Inspector Roderick Alleyn arrives to find a complete collection of alibis, a missing butler, and an intricate puzzle of betrayal and sedition.
The Characters
Chief Detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn is with Scotland Yard although he had originally been in the Diplomatic Service. Christina Alleyn, a chemist, is his cousin.
Scotland Yard
Inspector-Detective Boys. Detective-Sergeant Bailey is the fingerprint expert. Detective-Sergeant Smith is in charge of the camera. Police Constable Bunce. Alfred Bliss is one of Alleyn's. Mr Sumiloff has been working with Alleyn on the Russian side of the case. Inspector Fisher is with the local police. Dr Young is the local divisional surgeon.
The poor Nigel Bathgate is a journalist with the Clarion. Charles Rankin is his 20-years-older cousin.
Frantock is . . .
. . . the country estate of Sir Hubert Handesley, a former diplomat and current cabinet minister with a fascination for historic fighting tools, has unique and delightfully original house-parties. Vassily Vassilyevitch has been Sir Hubert's butler for the past twenty years. Mary is the between-maid. The intelligent Ethel is the second housemaid. Roberts is the pantry man. Stimson is the third gardener; his daughter is Sissy.
His guests this weekend include Dr Foma Tokareff; the archeologist Arthur Wilde and his wife, Marjorie; Angela North is Sir Hubert's niece (Florence is her maid); and, Rosamund Grant.
The Frantock Arms is an inn in Little Frantock.
Jamison is Bathgate's boss at the Clarion. Mr Benningden is the Rankin family solicitor. Kuprin leads a seditious group, the Brotherhood; Alexis Andrevitch, Erik Yansen (a Scandinavian), and Krasinski (a Pole) are also members. Masters is the Wildes' butler. Miss Sandilands is a sewing maid who occasionally does work for Marjorie. Joyce is a friend of Rosamund's.
The Cover and Title
The cover is an Art Deco style with a grayed-blue background and white ripples angling up and out to the side in front of a stylized country house in a slightly darker blue with all the lights lit up. At the top is the title in a gradated white to blue. The author's name is very deco in a combination of gray and deep blue with a spread-out white shadow against a shaped pale blue banner. At the very bottom is a paler gray blue banner with the series info in white.
The title is accurate, for A Man Lay Dead.