Disappointing narrator

I love other female narrators for Ngaio Marsh's work (Nadia May for example) but Jane Asher's delivery was ponderous and dull and she mispronounces Alleyn throughout. Even if the reader is unaware that it is 'Allen' and not 'Allain', the publisher should be. A bit slapdash and shoddy. A shame, because the story is a corker.

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1 person found this helpful

As with many 'Golden Age' detection stories,you must adopt a more credulous state of mind before chapter one.

This doesn't stray from the genres norm in that person/people murdered tend not to be the nicest characters,that coincidence runs rampant & usually 'The Yard' gets it's 'man' on flimsy circumstantial evidence, leading to a dramatic last minute confession.
As interesting/bonkers as the stories may be, there are rich pickings on the social mores from background descriptions,e.g. unsympathetic descriptions of mental health,frequent kicking dogs,the class system,the necessary cigarette in every sentence.
Jane Asher does read it well,maintaining characterisation throughout,however her portrait of the elegant Chief Inspector Alleyn is sadly very stilted. Still for me an enjoyable listen.

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Brilliant Story

Well narrated, loved the "voices" and we'll developed story! A great escape from reality! Great story telling, characters suit, easy listening.

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1 person found this helpful

Good story

The storyline was ingenious but I would have expected more from the narrator. Her attempt at the accents was very poor and she just sounded too “ladylike”. Other narrators have done much better with the Ngaio Marsh books

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3 people found this helpful

Solid Ngaio Marsh story, narration sometimes jarring

I found the narrator’s voice for both Alleyn and Fox jarring, unfortunately, as got in the way of what, for other characters, was fine

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Well read, intriguing story

I love Jane Asher as a reader, she lends an air of mystery to the reading. I agree that Alleyn's voice is a bit high, she has done this with other male roles, but after a bit you get used to it!

The story has lots of twists and kept me wanted to listen all the way through.

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Sounds best at a lower speed

I listened at speed 85 and found this very much improved the reading. I loved the various voices although the Chief Inspector was rather more aloof than I'd have preferred. Like in the case of one or two other readers of Marsh's novels, his name was mispronounced which was an unnecessary minor irritation.

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Good story badly read

Jane Asher not a good reader. Mispronounces Alleyn throughput - this continues to irritate from beginning to end

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Wet,wet and wetter!

This may have been as good a Ngaio Marsh as any other of her mystery books except for the ghastly, amateurish narration. What ever possessed Jane Asher to think she was able to narrate this or any other book. She gabbled, drawled and was unable to read character. It made the whole thing so dreadfully thin. Unable to hold my attention at all and found myself 'zoning out' as the weakness of the delivery was like tepid tap water. Surely she went to drama school. Perhaps she was absent the day they did 'reading from the page'. Pausing and emphasis, slowing and speeding the text to show you actually understand what is written. How have you managed as an actress thus far. I shall be happy to read the book again as I am very disappointed with this version. The other Ngaio Marsh readers do a fantastic job.

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