Roderick Alleyn

Latest release: December 14, 2021
Series
28
Books

About this ebook series

The first three Inspector Roderick Alleyn novels from “a peerless practitioner of the slightly surreal, English-village comedy-mystery” (Kirkus Reviews).
 
This volume includes three books in the classic detective series from the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master:
 
A Man Lay Dead: During a country-house party between the two world wars, servants bustle, gin flows, and the host, Sir Hubert Handesley, has invented a new and especially exciting version of that beloved parlor entertainment, The Murder Game . . .
 
Enter a Murderer: A policeman in the audience sees an all-too-real death scene on a London stage in a mystery “good enough to satisfy the most critical reader of detective stories” (The New York Times).
 
The Nursing Home Murder: A Member of Parliament has unexpectedly died on a visit the hospital, and any number of people could be suspects, including a sour surgeon, a besotted nurse, a resentful wife, and a cabinet full of political rivals . . .
 
“It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine
The Roderick Alleyn Mysteries Volume 1: A Man Lay Dead, Enter a Murderer, The Nursing Home Murder
Book 1 · Dec 2021 ·
0.0
The first three Inspector Roderick Alleyn novels from “a peerless practitioner of the slightly surreal, English-village comedy-mystery” (Kirkus Reviews).
 
This volume includes three books in the classic detective series from the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master:
 
A Man Lay Dead: During a country-house party between the two world wars, servants bustle, gin flows, and the host, Sir Hubert Handesley, has invented a new and especially exciting version of that beloved parlor entertainment, The Murder Game . . .
 
Enter a Murderer: A policeman in the audience sees an all-too-real death scene on a London stage in a mystery “good enough to satisfy the most critical reader of detective stories” (The New York Times).
 
The Nursing Home Murder: A Member of Parliament has unexpectedly died on a visit the hospital, and any number of people could be suspects, including a sour surgeon, a besotted nurse, a resentful wife, and a cabinet full of political rivals . . .
 
“It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine
A Man Lay Dead
Book 1 · Nov 2011 ·
4.2
Crime comes to a country house: “Any Ngaio Marsh story is certain to be Grade A, and this one is no exception.” —The New York Times

This classic from the Golden Age of British mystery opens during a country-house party between the two world wars—servants bustling, gin flowing, the gentlemen in dinner jackets, the ladies all slink and smolder. Even more delicious: The host, Sir Hubert Handesley, has invented a new and especially exciting version of that beloved parlor entertainment, The Murder Game . . .

“It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine

“A peerless practitioner of the slightly surreal, English-village comedy-mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews
Enter a Murderer
Book 2 · Dec 2012 ·
4.7
A policeman in the audience sees an all-too-real death scene on a London stage: “Good enough to satisfy the most critical reader of detective stories.” —The New York Times

Inspector Roderick Alleyn has been invited to an opening night, a new play in which two characters quarrel and then struggle for a gun, with predictably sad results. Even sadder, the gun was not, in fact, loaded with blanks. And when it comes to interviewing witnesses, actors can be a deceptive lot . . .

“It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine
Vintage Murder
Book 5 · Dec 2012 ·
4.0
A police inspector finds trouble during a trip to New Zealand: “It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine

Inspector Roderick Alleyn has taken a break from England and journeyed to New Zealand, and traveling along with him are the members of the Carolyn Dacres English Comedy Company. The actors' operatic intrigues offer an amusing diversion—until, unexpectedly, they turn deadly. And Alleyn learns, not for the last time, that while he may be able to leave his badge back in Blighty, he’s still a policeman, even on the other side of the world.

“Any Ngaio Marsh story is certain to be Grade A.” —The New York Times
Artists in Crime
Book 6 · Dec 2012 ·
0.0
A model is murdered in this “first-rate” detective story by the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master (Kirkus Reviews).

On a ship traveling back to England, Miss Agatha Troy finds Inspector Roderick Alleyn tedious and dull; he thinks she’s a bohemian cliché. They may be destined for romance, but there’s a murder in the way: No sooner has Alleyn settled in to his mother’s house, eager for a relaxing end to his vacation, than he gets a call that a model has been stabbed at the artists’ community down the road. And the talented Miss Troy is one of the community’s most prominent and outspoken members . . .

“The doyenne of traditional mystery writers.” —The New York Times
Death in a White Tie
Book 7 · Dec 2012 ·
5.0
A high-society homicide is the talk of the London season . . .“Marsh’s writing is a pleasure.” —The Seattle Times

It’s debutante season in London, and that means giggles and tea-dances, white dresses and inappropriate romances . . ..and much too much champagne. And, apparently, a blackmailer, which is where Inspector Roderick Alleyn comes in. The social whirl is decidedly not Alleyn’s environment, so he brings in an assistant in the form of Lord “Bunchy” Gospell, everybody’s favorite uncle. Bunchy is more than lovable; he’s also got some serious sleuthing skills. But before he can unmask the blackmailer, a murder is announced. And everyone suddenly stops giggling . . .

“It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine

“[Her] writing style and vivid characters and settings made her a mystery novelist of world renown.” —The New York Times
Overture to Death
Book 8 · Dec 2012 ·
3.8
A local busybody is silenced for good in this tale by “a peerless practitioner of the slightly surreal, English-village comedy-mystery” (Kirkus Reviews).

In their Dorset village, neither Miss Campanula nor her friend Miss Prentice are known as lovable little old ladies. They’re waspish, gossiping snobby little old ladies, passionate only about their amateur theatrical productions, their narrowly defined opinions about how everyone else should behave . . ..and, perhaps, about the local vicar. But could one of them have been sufficiently unpleasant to provoke a murderer? For Miss Campanula has perished on her piano bench—and it’s unclear whether Miss Prentice may have been the actual intended victim . . .

“A goodie.” —Kirkus Reviews

“It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine

“In her ironic and witty hands the mystery novel can be civilized literature.” —The New York Times
Death at the Bar
Book 9 · Feb 2013 ·
0.0
At an English pub, a dart becomes a deadly weapon: “Any Ngaio Marsh story is certain to be Grade A.” —The New York Times

A game of darts does involve some danger, but it’s rarely lethal. There are exceptions, however, like the famous barrister who was enjoying a pint at the Plume of Feathers pub, and is now residing at the morgue. But Inspector Roderick Alleyn has a growing hunch that this peculiar “accident” can be traced to an old legal case . . .

“A peerless practitioner of the slightly surreal, English-village comedy-mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews
Surfeit of Lampreys
Book 10 · Dec 2012 ·
3.0
A suspicious inheritance comes to the rescue of a cash-strapped aristocratic family: “Entertaining and devious . . . Plenty of red herrings.” —Kirkus Reviews

The upper-crust Lamprey family exemplifies charm, wit, and a chronic lack of funds. Their only source of hope is the wealthy but unpleasant Lord Wutherwood, and the Lampreys may perhaps be forgiven for doing a little jig when his Lordship is killed and the resulting inheritance saves their bacon. Inspector Roderick Alleyn wouldn’t dream of judging the Lampreys’ joy. But he would like to figure out whether they murdered their benefactor . . .

Also published under the title Death of a Peer

“It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine

“A mystery novelist of world renown.” —The New York Times
Death and the Dancing Footman
Book 11 · Dec 2012 ·
3.0
This tale of murder at a snowed-in country house is a “constant puzzle to the end . . . alive with wit” (The New York Times).

The unspeakably wealthy (and generally unspeakable) Jonathan Royal has decided to throw a party and, just for fun, has studded the guest list with people who loathe one another. When a blizzard imprisons them all in Royal’s country house, murder ensues, and there are nearly as many suspects as there are potential victims. Eventually, Inspector Alleyn makes his way through the snow to put things right, in this classic whodunit by the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master.

“A smooth yarn.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Colour Scheme
Book 12 · Dec 2012 ·
0.0
A mystery with “atmosphere, humor . . .and a group of characters, English, Maori, and New Zealander, who are fascinating and completely credible.” —The New York Times

During World War II, Colonel Claire—a tremendously nice fellow and a disastrously bad businessman—runs a mud-baths resort in rural New Zealand. But the place is on the brink of being taken over by a local blowhard who may be a Nazi spy. Inspector Alleyn has been sent in to sort things out—and don a disguise in order to blend in the resort’s motley cast of characters—in this classic tale of detection from the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master.

“It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine
Died in the Wool
Book 13 · Dec 2012 ·
0.0
The inspector digs into a cold case on a New Zealand sheep farm in this “well-sustained crime story” from the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master (Kirkus Reviews).

Flossie Rubrick, a highly opinionated and influential member of the New Zealand Parliament, was last seen heading off to one of the storage sheds on her sheep farm. Three weeks later, she turned up dead and packed in a bale of her own wool. What happened on the night of her long-ago disappearance? In the country on counterespionage duty, Inspector Roderick Alleyn is happy to lend a hand.

“The doyenne of traditional mystery writers.” —The New York Times
Final Curtain
Book 14 · Dec 2012 ·
0.0
A Shakespearean actor shuffles off his mortal coil in this “skillfully wrought” country-house mystery (The New York Times).

Sir Henry Ancred, a celebrated Shakespearean actor, has arranged to have his portrait painted by Agatha Troy, wife of Inspector Roderick Alleyn. But when Ancred is killed at his own birthday party, leaving behind a family full of suspects, Troy’s work ends and Inspector Alleyn’s begins . . .

“It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine

“A peerless practitioner of the slightly surreal, English-village comedy-mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews
Swing, Brother, Swing
Book 15 · Dec 2012 ·
0.0
Murder strikes a sour note at a jazz concert in this classic detective novel from the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master.

Lord Pastern and Bagott is given to passionate, peculiar enthusiasms, the latest of which is drumming in a jazz band. His wife is not amused, and she is even less so when her daughter falls for Carlos Rivera, the band’s sleazy accordion player. Nobody likes Rivera very much, so there’s a wealth of suspects when he is shot in the middle of a performance. Happily, Inspector Alleyn is in the audience, ready to make a killer face the music.

Also published under the title A Wreath for Rivera

“A succulent novel.” —The New York Times
Night at the Vulcan
Book 16 · Dec 2012 ·
0.0
“The theatre plays backdrop to romance and murder . . . Good reading.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Newly arrived from New Zealand and in need of funds, Martyn Tarne takes a job as a dresser to the Vulcan Theater’s leading lady. Along with a paycheck, this also provides her with a ringside seat to the backstage circus—and the eventual murder that occurs on opening night. Inspector Alleyn is soon called to solve the case and put a stop to all the drama . . .

“To my thinking, no other writer evokes ‘the incense of the playhouse’ or describes the technical details of stage production with the degree of authenticity that Dame Ngaio achieved in novels like Enter a Murderer, Killer Dolphin, Night at the Vulcan and Light Thickens.” —Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times

“The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers.” —Times Literary Supplement

Also published under the title Opening Night
Spinsters in Jeopardy
Book 17 · Nov 2014 ·
0.0
A British police detective looks into sinister doings in the South of France in a crime thriller with “more than a little excitement” (Kirkus Reviews).

Inspector Roderick Alleyn has decamped for the South of France on a family vacation—though for him, the vacation will involve some official poking around. Unfortunately, the object of his poking—the cultish denizens of a sinister and luxurious chateau—are not fond of being poked, and they have a particularly unpleasant way of getting their point across . . .

“Charming, cultivated, witty—and none the less terrifying . . .a pure thriller . . .you’re not apt to find a better evening’s entertainment.” —The New York Times
Scales of Justice
Book 18 · Nov 2014 ·
5.0
An aristocrat dies under fishy circumstances in this tale by “the finest writer in the English language of the pure, classical puzzle whodunnit” (The Sun).

In an almost unspeakably charming little English village, one of the local aristocrats turns up dead next to the local trout-stream with, in fact, a trout at his side. Everyone is dreadfully upset, of course, but really, just a tad irritated as well—murder is so awfully messy. Inspector Alleyn doesn’t quite fit in among the inbred gentry, but they’ll allow him to do his work and clear the matter up—though they do wish he didn’t feel compelled to ask quite so many questions . . .

“The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers.” —Times Literary Supplement

“A peerless practitioner of the slightly surreal, English-village comedy-mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Any Ngaio Marsh story is certain to be Grade A.” —The New York Times
Death of a Fool
Book 19 · Nov 2014 ·
5.0
Folkways turn fatal in a very old-fashioned English village, in this witty mystery filled with “ingenious” detective work (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

The village of South Mardian likes the old ways. The very old ways. This may be 1957, but South Mardian still features a blacksmith, a village idiot, and an elaborate fertility ritual performed at the winter solstice. There’s squabbling, of course, and worse—like when one of the ritual’s main players is found beheaded, everything north of his neck having been neatly lopped off by a ritual sword. Inspector Alleyn does have to contain a certain incredulous amusement at the village’s fetishistic embrace of the eighteenth century—he does not, for example, have a real passion for morris dancing—but he’ll try to keep a straight face long enough to find the killer and let South Mardian return to the warm embrace of pre-Industrial Britain.

“A peerless practitioner of the slightly surreal, English-village comedy-mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews

“The doyenne of traditional mystery writers.” —The New York Times
Singing in the Shrouds
Book 20 · Nov 2014 ·
0.0
It’s foul play on a freighter: “Enthralling . . .keeps the reader on tenterhooks until the dramatic finale.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The good ship Cape Farewell is steaming out to sea, with a passenger-list and crew fairly littered with the shifty, the twitchy, the peculiar, and the up-to-no-good. Arguably the up-to-no-goodest is a strangler with a romantic streak: He likes to leave his ladies with a flower and a charming little song. The latest of the ladies is currently lying on a fogbound London dock, mute witness to the fact that Inspector Alleyn—long on the strangler’s trail—has so far failed to catch his man. A wintertime sailing on a low-rent cargo ship is not Alleyn’s idea of a terrific time, but he nevertheless boards the Cape at Portsmouth, determined that no one else is going to get strangled on his watch . . ..

“This is the Classic Puzzle at its purest . . .embellished by literate dialogue and attractive characterization.” —The New York Times
False Scent
Book 21 · Feb 2015 ·
5.0
This tale of an actress’s dramatic demise, and a police detective trying to sniff out a killer, is “one of Ngaio Marsh's best yarns” (Kirkus Reviews).

Mary Bellamy is the sweetheart of the London stage—everyone simply adores darling Mary. So her fans and friends are heartbroken when somehow Mary manages to spritz herself not with her favorite perfume but with a deadly insecticide meant to be sprayed on the azaleas. What Inspector Alleyn smells is something fishy, especially since everything he learns about lovely, fragile Mary suggests that in fact she was a rather vicious battleax. And with a bit more investigation, he quickly starts smelling something different: a rat . . .

“It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine

“[Her] writing style and vivid characters and settings made her a mystery novelist of world renown.” —The New York Times

Bundles

The Roderick Alleyn Mysteries Volume 2: Death in Ecstasy, Vintage Murder, Artists in Crime
Ngaio Marsh
Mystery & thrillers
$35.99
The Roderick Alleyn Mysteries Volume 3: Death in a White Tie, Overture to Death, Death at the Bar
Ngaio Marsh
Mystery & thrillers
$38.99