Some of Dame Ngaio's recent mysteries seemed to be making a stab at
keeping up with the times, but not this one: it's a grand old
frolic in Marsh's earliest vein, gently bubbling with theatrical
types, glittery milieus, and twinkling amusement. Roderick Alleyn
(still gorgeous, of course) and artist wife Troy (still the nth
degree in taste and talent) are both invited to the New Zealand
paradise-island estate of tycoon Montague Reece and his platonic
mistress, legendary opera star Isabella Sommita. Troy is supposed
to paint "La Sommita"; Alleyn is supposed to protect her from a
nuisance photographer (like the one who badgered Jackie O.). But
once there, it's murder, naturally: on the night of the private
premiere of an awful opera by Isabella's miserable young live-in
lover, the star is found with a knife through both her heart and
the latest photo by that elusive photographer! Alleyn has no
jurisdiction, of course, but a storm has cut the island off from
all authorities, so sleuth he must - researching a longtime
blood-feud involving Isabella's family, questioning the frenetic
supporting cast (including one of Marsh's old-fashioned,
whispered-about homosexuals), and hiding in a closet to catch one
of the culprits doing something incriminating with a key. The
puzzle's only so-so, perhaps, but the effortless social comedy
reeks with charm, and the unforced pacing is a marvel. Marsh in
rare old form - quite a treat. (Kirkus Reviews)
Murder and mayhem strike when a small group of people are confined
to an island in the middle of a New Zealand lake in one of Ngaio
Marsh's last - and best - novels. The luxury mansion on New
Zealand's Lake Waihoe was the ideal place for the world-famous
soprano to rest after her triumphant tour. Chief Superintendent
Alleyn and his wife were among the house guests - but theirs was
not a social visit. When tragedy struck, the peace of the island
was shattered. With a houseful of suspects, now isolated by one of
the lake's sudden storms, Alleyn was to face one of his trickiest
cases...
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