Customer Reviews

Photo Finish

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Marsh was noted for her ability to draw memorable characters, and PHOTO FINISH is no exception, with the novel revolving around famous opera soprano "La Sommita"--an individual of such colorful bombast that her presence dominates both every one around her and the novel as a whole. Coaxed into assisting "La Sommita" when his artist wife is asked to paint her, Inspector Allen begins the case in an effort to track down a photographer who has made a career of photographing the diva in the most unflattering ways possible--and then selling the photographs to newspapers in cities where she is appearing. Upsetting for the diva--and extremely amusing for the reader--but is there actual danger afoot? There most certainly is, and once more Allen is called upon to investigate a particularly nasty murder, this time with possible Mafia connections. Some readers may spot the killer long before the inspector himself, but even so Marsh's vivid way with words makes PHOTO FINISH a vastly entertaining read.

This book has another of those delicious, overwrought artists that are always so well-done by Marsh (she must have known many in her long career in the theater). In what's probably a take-off on the Maria Callas-Aristotle Onasis relationship, a dripping-rich magnate and a perpetually hysterical singer create the perfect setting for her genius on a remote island, where the murder occurs during (you guessed it) a storm that cuts the island off from civilization just long enough for Our Hero to figure out whodunit. Hey, that kind of thing still works for me. The improbable ending diappointed me a little, but that's hardly a criticism in the genre, and it's a darn good read anyway.

In Ngaio Marsh's "Photo Finish", Inspector Alleyn travels to Marsh's back yard -- New Zealand -- to consult with an Opera diva who is being stalked by a mysterious photographer. Unflattering photos of 'The Sommita', as she is known, have driven her -- as well as her 'patron' and his staff -- to distraction. Alleyn, along with his artist wife, Agatha Troy (who is to paint a portrait of the singer), journey to a remote island hideaway where murder -- no surprise -- quickly occurs. Marsh peppers the story with well-drawn characters: a young composer, surly Italian servants, mysterious millionaire...but frankly, I guessed who the murderer was early on, as well as the motive. The novel is still enjoyable, but other Alleyn mysteries are more exciting and more, well, 'mysterious'.

This book is Ngaio Marsh's last, and it is even more remarkable that she wrote it in her seventies. She still shows throughout the book that she deserves the title of "Queen of the Straight Crime Novel". In this book more than any of her others, we see her love for her adopted country of New Zealand. Her descriptions of this wild and beautiful land are wonderful. We also see her entering bravely into a "modern" setting. She discusses Diva misbehaviour and the curse of the paparazzi like a pro. In this book we have Alleyn and his wife Troy visiting a very rich man on his private island right smack off a lake in the New Zealand wilderness. The guests include this man's mistress - a world famous opera soprano, and her entourage. Of course murder occurs, and Alleyn is left to deal with it entirely on his own, since the mansion has been cut off by a storm. I missed B'rer Fox, but still the story didn't suffer. I am very sad that I have completed reading all of Miss Marsh's wonderful books. I do recommend them to anyone who loves detective stories. She is remarkably good, and it's sad that she's no longer with us.

A wonderful mystery setting (New Zealand house party, cut off from the outside world) in one of Marsh's wittiest, best-written books (at the age of 85!). Ending was a bit disappointing, but otherwise wonderful. Her penultimate book, better than her last, Light Thickens.