Tied up in Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh Narrator: Wanda McCaddon
Series: Roderick Alleyn #27
on September 14, 2005
Source: Audible Plus
Genres: Vintage Mystery
Length: 7 hrs 59 mins
Pages: 254
Format: Audiobook
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A Christmas pageant turns unholy.
Holed up at Hilary Bill-Tasman's manor estate for Christmas, Troy Alleyn is to paint the man's portrait and, while she's there, view the Druid Christmas pageant. Along with a pack of eccentric guests, Troy enjoys the festivities-- until one of the pageant's players mysteriously disappears into the snowy night. Did the hired help-- each a paroled murderer from the nearby prison-- have a deadly hand in this Christmas conundrum? Inspector Roderick Alleyn arrives to join his wife in finding the lost man-- and unraveling the glaring truth from the glittering tinsel.
Tied Up in Tinsel was a reread for me. I always enjoy Marsh’s mysteries and this is no exception. Troy is spending Christmas at Hillary’s manor house, painting his portrait. We meet all the other guests and staff, most of whom were former convicts. And then, of course, someone is killed. Well, someone disappears, but this is a Marsh book, we know he’s dead, it’s just a matter of finding him. Alleyn of course comes to the house and takes over the investigation.
Reading Tied Up in Tinsel is like spending the holidays with old friends. Honestly, murders at country houses during the holidays are my favorites. The house guests and staff are an eccentric lot and almost all could be considered suspects. There were also enough clues that we could put it together, which is not always the case when Alleyn is investigating. We don’t always know what he’s thinking or clues he notices.
Maybe I’ll go back and reread a few more of Marsh’s books in the new year.
About Ngaio Marsh
Dame Ngaio Marsh (23 April 1895 – 18 February 1982), born Edith Ngaio Marsh, was a New Zealand crime writer and theatre director. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1966.
Internationally Marsh is known primarily for her creation Inspector Roderick Alleyn, a gentleman detective who works for the Metropolitan Police (London). Thus she is one of the “Queens of Crime” alongside Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Gladys Mitchell, and Margery Allingham.
I really like Ngaio Marsh but I reread this one just about a year ago and found the characters a bit too creepy for me. Which was probably her intention! My favorites are the ones with a theater theme.
I enjoy her theater ones too. I think that she had so much experience in the theater herself really adds a lot to them.
I haven’t read any of the Ngaio Marsh books, should do a series read. Perhaps, in 2022? 🙂 Happy 2022 ahead to you, wishing you lots of great reads your way.
I really enjoy Marsh’s books for the most part. There are a few that I’d skip, but can’t think of the names off-hand.
Have a great 2022!