Death In A White Tie [Mass Market Paperback]

Ngaio Marsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1997

The Social Event of the Season Has Death on Its Guest List

No one is more popular on London's champagne-and-caviar that charming Lord Gospell. However, on the morning after the year's most glittering ball, someone finds a reason to asphyxiate "Bunchy" Gospell in a taxi headed across town. Scotland Yard's Inspector Roderick Alleyn is called in to find out who killed his old friend, and to cleverly unwind a tangle of murky secrets that began far from the ballroom floor.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers Times Literary Supplement Ngaio Marsh's Death in a White Tie is the best detective story I have ever read... Dashiell Hammett [This book has] a distinction that puts the author in the front rank of crime story writers Times Literary Supplement A brilliant, vivacious teller of detective novels. News Chronicle --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

From her first book in 1934 to her final volume just before her death in 1982, Ngaio Marsh's work has remained legendary, and is often compared to that of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. During her celebrated fifty-year career, Marsh was made a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, was named Dame Commander, Order of the British Empire, won numerous prestigious awards, and penned 32 mystery novels.

Now St. Martin's Dead Letter Mysteries is thrilled to make all of Marsh's novels available again for old fans to relish and new ones to discover. So sit back, draw the curtains, lock the doors, and put yourself in the hands of Grande Dame of detective novels...

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (October 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312963610
• ISBN-13: 978-0312963613
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #571,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Society Murder with Plenty of Class, February 3, 2002

By 

Gary F. Taylor "GFT" (Biloxi, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death In A White Tie (Mass Market Paperback)

Although not in the same league with BLACK AS HE'S PAINTED or DEAD WATER, Ngaio Marsh's DEATH IN A WHITE TIE is a highly satisfying novel that meets the expectations readers have of this particular author: it is literate, witty, peopled with fully rounded characters, and set against an interesting backdrop--in this case the London debutant season.

In this particular novel, Inspector Allen is called upon to investigate rumors of a blackmailer at work in London's high society, and he accordingly recruits Lord "Bunchy," a well known and decidedly fatherly figure. Bunchy is quick to identify the blackmailer--but just as the blackmail plot seems about to unravel murder steps in, and Allen must not only uncover the blackmailer but a killer as well.

As is often the case in a Marsh novel, some readers will spot the killer long before the book's finish--but as typical of Marsh, getting there is most of the fun. A number of favorites return in this novel, including painter Agatha Troy, previously introduced in ARTISTS IN CRIME, and Allen's charming mother; the novel also includes a number of romantic subplots that Marsh handles with considerable effectiveness. Neither newcomers nor old fans will be disappointed; recommended.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dame Ngaio's best, July 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Death In A White Tie (Mass Market Paperback)

This is perhaps Ngaio Marsh's best example of an upper-crust English murder mystery. The characters are so finely drawn that it makes you wish they would show up in her other novels. Rory Alleyn is at his youthful best, with a convincing amount of restrained-British angst just to make him more loveable. This is a compelling whodunit, with more than enough great writing and humour along the way to make it look great as a novel, too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic English Mystery, December 1, 2000

By 

Christina P. Branson "Strixaluco" (Fort Collins) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death In A White Tie (Mass Market Paperback)

Chief Detective-Inspector Alleyn enlists the assistance of his well connected society friend Lord Robert 'Bunchy' Gospell to find out who is blackmailing several wealthy ladies. The charming Bunchy makes several interesting discoveries while making the rounds of "the London season," but is quite unfortunately murdered before he can and Alleyn can piece together the whole story.

As usual, Marsh places her clues very fairly but subtly. The backdrop of the debutante parties gives an interesting behind the scenes glimpse of 1930s London society, and if you like your mysteries peopled with lots of peers, this book is for you.