Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Search inside another edition of this book

Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Overture to Death [Mass Market Paperback]

Ngaio Marsh (Author)

4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews) |

Currently unavailable.
We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.

	Amazon Price		New from	Used from
Hardcover	--		--	--
See # more hardcovers
Show fewer hardcovers
Paperback	--		--	--
See # more paperbacks
Show fewer paperbacks
Mass Market Paperback	--		--	--
Mass Market Paperback, 1989	--		--	--
See # more paperbacks
Show fewer paperbacks
Audio, CD, Unabridged	$72.00		--	--
See # more audio books
Show fewer audio books
Unknown Binding	--		--	--
See # more other formats
Show fewer other formats
Audible Audio Edition, Unabridged	$16.95	or Free with Audible 30-day free trial
See # more audio downloads
Show fewer audio downloads

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Death of a Peer (Dead Letter Mysteries) by Ngaio Marsh
4.0 out of 5 stars (7)
Colour Scheme by Ngaio Marsh
4.2 out of 5 stars (5)

$17.95
Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh
3.6 out of 5 stars (7)
Artists in Crime (Dead Letter Mysteries) by Ngaio Marsh
3.7 out of 5 stars (9)
Enter A Murderer (Dead Letter Mysteries) by Ngaio Marsh
4.1 out of 5 stars (9)
Death at the Bar (Dead Letter Mysteries) by Ngaio Marsh
3.8 out of 5 stars (5)

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Canada, Limited (1989)
ASIN: B0017DGLSO

Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Ngaio Marsh Page

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

11 Reviews

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.1 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars howlingly funny - marsh at her best, September 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Overture To Death (Dead Letter Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

For Ngaio Marsh fans, this book is a must. The usual deft and scathing descriptions of small-town characters had me rolling on the floor. I can never play the Rachmaninoff opening bars again without collapsing in laughter. Tight plot, smoothly balanced progression to a classic Marsh finish. The book includes a sweet romantic sub-plot, handled nicely. Beware, if you are particularly sensitive about remarks that make fun of spinsters, you may not find this book as funny as I did.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deadly Rachmaninov, November 27, 2000

c. john evans (Northport, AL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Overture To Death (Dead Letter Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Death by a Rachmaninov Prelude is surely one of Marsh's most inspired murder methods. In addition, we have a great village setting, a good mystery plot and Marsh's typical wit. For Christie fans unfamiliar with Marsh, this one is a great introduction.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Marsh Mystery I've Read (so far)!, June 28, 2000

MK Writer "hedwig_owl" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Overture To Death (Dead Letter Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Overture to Death is Marsh's best for a few reasons: 1) The background of the murder (English village life) is extremely well drawn. 2) The characters are so well-defined, you feel as if you know them. 3) The method of murder is the cleverest I've seen yet, from Dame Marsh, and is completely plausible. One of the reasons that people look down on mystery novels, is that often they are about plot with scant attention paid to the literary aspects. Not so with Ngaio Marsh.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 11 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars a very slow start
Those familiar with Ngaio Marsh and her Roderick Alleyn novels know that her writing style isn't the frenzied roller-coaster ride so popular today. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Miss Ivonne

4.0 out of 5 stars English Village Murder
Scotland Yard's Inspector Rodrick Alleyn is called in to investigate the clever murder of Idris Campanula. Read more

Published 17 months ago by Nash Black

2.0 out of 5 stars An unfair, cruel attack against a fellow author; not a great read
In many ways, "Overture to Death" is a typical early Marsh mystery. Alleyn, with the help of his assistant, Inspector Fox, and his Watson, Nigel Bathgate, is called in by an... Read more

Published 18 months ago by Charlene Vickers

5.0 out of 5 stars Listening to the Unabridged Version of Overture to Death
I'm uncertain exactly where to locate a review of the unabridged audio version of the book but this seems about as good a place as any. Read more

Published 19 months ago by drkhimxz

5.0 out of 5 stars One of her best
I have read about a dozen Marsh mysteries and found this to be among her best, for several reasons. The characters are distinct, some almost Dickensian in quality. Read more

Published on February 14, 2009 by Lawyer

4.0 out of 5 stars Punny title--4.5 stars
Marsh introduces Nigel Bathgate (my favorite supporting character with the possible exception of Agatha Troy) in this book (and Troy by the device of a letter--similar to some of... Read more

Published on February 1, 2009 by Neal J. Pollock

4.0 out of 5 stars No One writes a puzzle mystery like Ms. Marsh.
Ms. Marsh is definitely one of the top writers of the classic English puzzle mystery, and this book bears that out. Read more

Published on August 10, 2004 by S. Schwartz

4.0 out of 5 stars Top of the genre.
An example of Marsh at her best (although not in the top 5, hence the 4 star rating) it contains every element that's wonderful about the Inspector Alleyn series. Read more

Published on October 19, 2003 by frumiousb

› See all 11 customer reviews...

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.

First Sentence:
JOCELYN JERNIGHAM was a good name. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
prompt corner, top lane, gravelled path, soft pedal, church lane, parish hall

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Miss Prentice, Miss Campanula, Eleanor Prentice, Idris Campanula, Dinah Copeland, Selia Ross, Miss Wright, Miss Copeland, Sergeant Roper, Georgie Biggins, Great Chipping, Henry Jernigham, Gladys Wright, Good Lord, Miss Dinah, Brer Fox, Inspector Fox, Master Henry, Venetian Suite, Jernigham Arms, Scotland Yard, Reading Circle, Jocelyn Jernigham, Duck Cottage, Good God

New!
Concordance | Text Stats

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 4 books:

What Of by Skip Fox on page 318
Final Curtain by Ngaio Marsh in Front Matter
Death of a Peer (Dead Letter Mysteries) by Ngaio Marsh in Front Matter
The Ball and the Cross by G. K. Chesterton on page 196

35 books cite this book:

on 4 pages
Light Thickens by Ngaio Marsh in Front Matter, and Back Matter
Spinsters in Jeopardy by Ngaio Marsh in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
Killer Dolphin by Ngaio Marsh in Front Matter, and Back Matter
A Wreath for Rivera by Ngaio Marsh in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)

See all 35 books citing this book

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

Death of a Peer (Dead Letter Mysteries) by Ngaio Marsh Mass Market Paperback
4.0 out of 5 stars (7)

A Man Lay Dead: Inspector Roderick Alleyn #1 (A Felony & Mayhem Mystery) by Ngaio Marsh Paperback
4.0 out of 5 stars (21)

$10.91

Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh Paperback
3.6 out of 5 stars (7)

Colour Scheme by Ngaio Marsh
4.2 out of 5 stars (5)

$17.95

› Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

(What's this?)

Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).

ngaio marsh(46)

british mysteries(34)

mystery(13)

police procedural(10)

inspector alleyn(7)

new zealand(7)

novels(5)

the best(3)

australia(3)

roderick alleyn(2)

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }