"I boggle at the cloak."

I first discovered Ms.Marsh's detective stories over half a century ago, was mesmerized by, and loved, them. Her characters spring to life, like watching them through a telecope, one which also allows for the conversations to be hrard, and her detailed accuracy of location, be it driving in a a snow and ice covered countryside to the interior of a house room bring the surrounding clearly into focus with minimum effort. Even though set in an earlier era - the isolated country house of seventy years ago - Death and the Dancing Doorman didn't even really feel dated. Despite the largely unpleasant characters within, the book was thoroughly enjoyable, a who-dun-it peppered with clues to allow the reader to get the solution before the reveal.

I have mixed feelings about the narrator, James Saxon, whose deep, rich timbre seemed very fitting for the time of original publication (1942), somewhat reminiscent of broadcasters of that era. Although giving a good performance, with fine upper class English accent except when a protagonist foreign accent was required,, and maintaining good verbal texture throuhout, a lighter timbre was needed to lift this story of the party arranged for drama deliberately gone horribly wrong.The

A very enjoyable read, overall, and recommended to all appreciating the closed house, who-dun-it detective novels, similar to, but arguably better than, Agatha Christie.

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Death and the Dancing Footman

Intricately plotted, vividly written and richly portrayed by the reader, the late James Saxon. Another absorbing taken on the Alleyne series.

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Not much Alleyn in it.

The story rambles on from the beginning as do other books in the series, introducing characters and muddying the waters. So far, so usual but Alleyn appears very late in the proceedings and plays, I think, a lesser part than previously. The story is still a good one and the confusions are not resolved until the last few minutes but I didn't feel it was quite as good as the earlier books.

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7 people found this helpful

Ngaio Assuming The Port Of Marsh.

This Warlike Harry is the mother of all evil, midwife to oblivion, and a muse of fire accending the dreary drizzel spun up of the satanic Cow with with the "how you say, ze zychology of the village idiot"

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Fine Traditional Murder Mystery!!

An excellent Golden Era murder/mystery, written by one of the finest writers of the genre. Thoroughly enjoyable.

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1 person found this helpful

A superb reading of an excellent story

I much prefer Ngaio Marsh to Agatha Christie, and this is my favourite of her Inspector Alleyn books. Her story telling is wonderful and she creates a thoroughly authentic atmosphere. Although the culprit is perhaps the most obvious of her murderers, the story is so well told that it really doesn't matter. James Saxon is, as always, magnificent in his characterisations, and it really is easy to forget he is one man, rather than a whole cast.

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Dissatisfaction incorrect narrator

Not the advertised narrator. This is narrated by James Saxon. Audible appear unable to correct this despite repeated complaint.

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4 people found this helpful

Interminable

I've loved this series so far but for most of this novel we are stuck in the snow at a house party with some of the most tedious and unpleasant characters Marsh could imagine, who hold endless circuitous conversations about which one of them is attempting to kill someone. Finally, Alleyn appears two thirds of the way through. If I'd known, I'd have given this title a miss and progressed to the next in the series. A rare stumble for Saxon as the narrator as well - his languid and guttural delivery of the Austrian characters' speech added to the lack of urgency.

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don't bother

Book one to book ten in this series are fabulous and easy to listen to but THIS one is not worth the effort, Started three times but could not pass chapter ten. It is overly complicated and painfully slow. I would like to return it, if I only KNEW how.

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2 people found this helpful

My least favourite Audible Book

Story slow to get going. Allen didn't appear until last half of book. Narration was at times indistinct making it hard to distinguish between characters' names which were being discussed. I didn't find the plot plausible.

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