Customer Reviews

Final Curtain

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3 star:		(3)
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Troy Alleyn is commissioned to paint a portrait of the great actor Sir Henry Ancred. Though thanks to journalist/friend Nigel Bathgate she has some idea of what's in store for her, nothing fully prepares her for the amount of in-fighting, jealousy and histrionics the Ancred family can provide. Against this backdrop, Troy is reunited with her husband, Inspector Alleyn, who has been away on CID business for a couple of years. This book is one of the more interesting novels, in that: A) You get to see the beginning of the mystery from Troy's point of view. B)Marsh really knows how to write about awkward reunions and C) You get to see something of the artist's process (not surprising, I suppose, since Marsh herself painted). Another good read by Marsh.

Perhaps it is because I love the character of Troy, Superintendent Alleyn's wife, that this book has over time become one of my favorites in the series. But as with all of Marsh's books, this entry has twists and turns that left this veteran mystery reader guessing until at least two thirds of the way through.

The first third of the book follows Troy as she accepts an assignment to paint the portrait of a famous Shakespearan actor at his family estate. The cast of characters is drawn vividly and humorously, and yet as the house party continues, an ominous tone begins to creep into the proceedings, in the best gothic manner.

Of course, as Marsh wrote these books over the course of several decades, she allows the characters to age and mature as she does. In the previous several novels, Alleyn, the main detective hero of her novels, had been away from England doing Foreign Office work during World War II. This is the first book following the war. The post WWII reunion of Troy and Alleyn is therefore a highlight. Marsh never hesitates to let the real and messy emotions of her main characters from entering into the story. To me, this is what particularly elevates this book and this series from the sterile-solve-it-by-the-numbers mysteries that can sometimes be associated with early 20th century British mystery novelists.

A very good big-family-run-by-hated-rich-old-patriarch mystery, complete with a gloomy old house and lots of poison. Has one of Marsh's engaging "mystery queens." While stereotypical, these characters are always amusing and witty, if nasty as well. Unlike Christie, Marsh often alluded to homosexuality in her books. Lots of Troy, which will be a plus or a minus depending on how you feel about her.

While waiting for her husband to return from the war after too long apart, Agatha Troy accepts a commission to paint the eccentric actor Sir Henry Ancred at his family home Ancreton.

While the book has many strong points, the plot becomes exceedingly muddled at the end, and I'm not sure that Troy by herself is strong enough to carry a mystery novel on her own as a central character. Even though Alleyn appears near the end, he's not involved for long enough to provide his typical witty effect.

On the other hand, the characters here are among her most vivid-- including ringworm-ridden Panty and the smarmy Cedric. For stronger Marsh I'd recommend Artists in Crime, Death and the Dancing Footman, or Died in the Wool.

This novel is both similar & dissimilar to Marsh's other novels. It includes most of the usual cast of detectives (esp. Alleyn & Fox) and has a setting involving theatricals. It also includes both Agatha Troy (Alleyn's wife & esteemed artist) & references to Nigel Bathgate--both of whom add much to other novels in supporting roles. However, in this book, virtually the 1st ½ is devoted to Troy's interactions with the rather histrionic Ancred family--many of whom are theatrically connected. Further, its emotional content is not limited to the somewhat-over-the-top Ancreds, but also to the reunion of Troy & Alleyn after a WWII-related separation of 3 years--following their marriage. Thus, while this is a somewhat atypical Marsh mystery--the others either don't have Troy, describe the courtship, or include her as Mrs. Alleyn, this volume is the transitional one - demonstrating the strength of their relationship. Thus, it delves far more deeply than others into their feelings both for each other & for their work--esp. Troy's adjustment to the necessities of Alleyn's job as a detective--who must send suspects to capital trials. I believe that, therefore, this book is quite a success though for someone new to Marsh it might seem a bit drawn out and/or overdrawn. I'd recommend beginning with other novels. There are, however, collections that include this one which might help: The Roderick Alleyn Mysteries: The Nursing Home Murder; Death in a White Tie; Final Curtain & The Alleyn Mysteries: " Nursing Home Murder " , " Man Lay Dead " , " Final Curtain ". This mystery has the usual Marsh characteristics--lots of possible culprits, subtle clues, aristocratic characters, humor, eccentricities, great interplay between Fox & Alleyn, and a wrap-up at the end. Best of all is Marsh's use of English. My favorite quotes are: p. 235: "She also had an intimidating air of utter sanity" & p. 247: "I always think it's so unfair to call earthquakes & tidal waves Acts of God & not bumper crops & people like Leonardo & Cezanne" as well as the deliciously subtle scene on p. 16 in which it's said, "Not a second of the precious discomfort should be left unrelished" & "How unreal seem the activities of people one leaves behind in railway stations."

Inspector Alleyn returns from three years absence to find his wife, Troy involved in a suspected murder.
Agatha Troy is commissioned to paint a portriat of aging actor, Sir Henry Ancred at his ancestrel home. Sir Henry manages to bring his entire extended family including his mistress into the picture.
Ngaio Marsh paints an impossing picture of a theatrical family, each member of whom must take center stage in FINAL CURTAIN.
This mystery is complex, few of the characters are appealing, the plot is hairbrained, the murder weapon ingenius, and the ending a surprise. A great read in any kind of weather.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS.

Dame Ngaio Marsh has been one of my favorite detective story writers since her wartime novel, Colour Scheme, set in her native land. In the ensuing 65 years, I have read her new ones and re-read her old, with undiminished pleasure. I don't believe younger readers will find her at all dated nor her characters stale. She writes well, draws interesting portraits of her characters, creates intriguing plots, and has made a star of her appealing detective, Alleyn.
This early work focuses on an actor and actors family, a setting well suited for one who had a long and productive relationship with the theater herself. Troy Alleyn, noted painter, agrees to do a rushed portrait of one of England's most distinguished actors for his 75th birthday. To do so, she is required to join his household, gathered together for the event, at his baronial estate. Odd theatrical people, indeed, they provide the backdrop for murder. Alleyn, returning from a wartime assignment in New Zealand, long parted from Troy by the war, finds himself, by chance, assigned to find out if it was murder, not just an ordinary death. Troy finds herself witness with vital background to provide at the same time as they are trying to re-unite personalities as they are physically re-united after years of separation.
The reader for the audio-book, Nadia May, had performed many such works, including mysteries by Dorothy Sayers, another Grande Dame of the British Detective Story. She is good with vocal character portrayal and, particularly important, articulates in a manner which is understandable to the American listener.
New readers should find themselves attracted to Dame Ngaio's drama as they have themselves a good read (listen). Those familiar with other works, will be gratified by this one.

Enjoyed reading this intriguing mystery. Did not know the murderer till the last few pages.

As a fan of Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie, I was disappointed with the beginnings in Final Curtain. Perhaps it is because this is the first time I read Ngaio Marsh.

Sayers and Christie were skilled in narrating upper British class society in a very comfortable and convincing manner. Marsh on the other hand, though her characters were supposed to be British, did not realistically convey her portrayal of the upper-class Ancred family from a native's perspectives. In this aspect, it was unfortunate for Marsh that she was a New Zealander and a first time reader like myself would conclude that was at least partially responsible for her characters not being genuinely British enough.

The story began with Mrs Alleyn, nee Troy, wife of Inspector Alleyn who was one of Marsh primary detective character, being commissioned to paint a portrait of Sir Henry Ancred, an aristocrat equally proud of his background in the dramatic arts.

Arriving at the manor of the baronet, Troy discovered a menagerie of Andreds, by blood and by law, in a highly tensed family situation. While tension was a familiar atmosphere in a family with most members from theatrical background, the severity increased significantly with the widowed Sir Henry being taken by third-rate actress Sonia Orrincourt, and therefore placing the inheritance of his children and grandchildren at risk.

Despite a series of practical pranks and family bombshells, Troy managed to complete the portrait, just before the subject was found dead several hours later.

No foul play was suspected at that time, and Troy resumed her life, meeting with her husband who had been away for nearly two years. For Marsh fans, this would be a significant reunion, and Marsh did not disappoint them by being economical with the details, I suspect.

Shortly after that though, the focus returned to the Ancreds whom all except Sonia received anonymous letters saying the death of Sir Henry was murdered contrived by the one who benefitted the most. Inspector Alleyn was charged with sorting through the menagerie in the Ancred household, from the widowed daughter-in-law who kept the house, to the love-struck first cousins, to the precocious granddaughter, a wide range of colourful characters who couldn't seem to stop being dramatic off stage.

The mystery itself was rather disappointing. Agatha Christie's Poirot would lament at the lack of pattern. However, a positive point to be made was Marsh did not have her detective over-analyse the suspects as Christie was sometimes prone to do.

WWII has ended at last, and Chief Detective-Inspector Alleyn is coming home from his wartime work on the far side of the world. His wife Troy, free of her wartime work of mapmaking, takes on a portrait-painting job in the country to pass the last 3 weeks before Alleyn's return. Some realistic character development is presented throughout the story, as both Alleyn and Troy are nervous about their relationship after more than 3 years of enforced separation.

Troy is to paint Sir Henry Ancred in the character of Macbeth. (Troy asks him about the superstition that it's an unlucky play - while he avoids speaking the name, he says it was far from unlucky for *him*.) Sir Henry is 75, handsome, a cooperative sitter - and lively, as the frequent interfamily bouts of temperament, and his recently-installed young mistress (or fiancee?) Sonia Orrincourt, bear witness. Most of Sir Henry's family - those not still on active military service - live in the Ancred mansion, and generally make a point of demonstrating how highly-strung they are. They've suspended their normal feuds to ally against Sonia. Sir Henry keeps matters stirred up, having not only his own formidable artistic temperament, but indulging a rich oldster's hobby of revising his will at regular intervals - and publicly presenting Sonia with valuable family jewelry soothes no feathers.

Sir Henry's 10-year-old grandaughter Patricia, is currently out of favor due to a rash of crude practical jokes - but did an elder relative engineer them to discredit her? Fenella and Paul, as distant cousins, want to marry, over the old man's objections. How much would they - or their parents on their behalf - want to secure their inheritance? Cedric, as next in line to the title (and with an overdone effeminate manner, a stock figure in Marsh's work) is a disappointment to his grandsire, and may be cut to the bare bones of the entailed estate now that Sir Henry might remarry. In contrast to the usual stereotype, Sonia is more a more sympathetic character than most of the family - no pretentions as an actress or a person, making a refreshing change from most of the Ancreds.

On the evening of Sir Henry's birthday, everything comes together: Alleyn is due back, Troy's painting is complete, Sir Henry's solicitor is present to make a new will - and sure enough, one of the party is found dead in suspicious circumstances. Alleyn must finally face his personal problem with keeping Troy and his work in separate compartments. Inspector Fox, once again, is shown to be a full partner on the police team, not merely a sidekick and foil.