Death in a White Tie is a reread for me. I discovered Ngaio Marsh back at my hometown Carnegie Library (more moons ago than we need to count) and I promptly read through all the Marsh books they had. Later, about twenty years ago, I read some of them again and Death in a White Tie was one simply because it's one of my favorites. There are so many things I enjoy about this tale of murder and blackmail amongst the London Society at the height of the Season--from the witty dialogue, to the scenes at the various society dos (debutante balls and teas and Agatha Troy's one-man art show), to the understate romance between Alleyn and Troy, to his affection for his mother, to the undercurrents of gossip in the chaperone circle at the dance. It's all so veddy, veddy British and elegant and well-done. And Marsh presents us with one of the most sympathetic victims--who doesn't want Bunchy's killer found and punished to the full extent of the law?The story begins with Inspector Roderick Alleyn asking Lord Robert "Bunchy" Gospell to assist him in tracking down a despicable blackmailer who is at work among the cream of London society. Bunchy moves through society like everyone's favorite uncle. He can talk to anyone and go anywhere and no one would suspect that behind his twinkle and rather high, almost silly voice lies a very sharp brain that has helped the officials with other difficult problems in the past. His first assignment--to attend a performance of Bach at one of the new concert-rooms and attempt to find out who collects the blackmail money which the latest victim has been instructed to leave in her purse stuffed into a blue sofa. As Alleyn tells him:Bunchy, let nothing wean you from the blue sofa. Talk to Mrs. Halcut-Hackett. Share the blue sofa with her and when the austere delights of Bach knock at your heart pay no attention...Lord Robert does his job well and becomes convinced he knows the blackmailer's identity even though the lights were dimmed when the bag was collected. But he wants to be sure of his facts and confirmation comes at the next society function, a ball held by Lady Carrados for her daughter's coming-out. He calls up Alleyn before he leaves (to be sure the Inspector will still be at the Yard) and, unfortunately, someone walks in on his conversation. Two hours later, a taxi rushes up to the Yard with the driver announcing that his fare's been murdered. He's right...and the murdered man is Lord Robert Gospell.Alleyn is dismayed and clearly shaken, not because he's lost a vital witness but because he's lost a very dear friend. He also feels directly responsible since Lord Robert was involved purely at his behest and he gives us a bit of the avenging hero speech when he speaks to Bunchy's sister.I tell you this, Mildred, if it takes me the rest of my life, and if it costs me my job, by God! if I have to do the killing myself, I'll get the murderer and see him suffer for it.He quickly realizes the melodrama of his words and says, "Good Lord, what a speech! Bunchy would have laughed at it." But, with the aid of Detective-Inspector Fox, he sifts through the movements of each suspect and makes good on his vow--bringing the crime home to murderer in less than two days.This is, I believe, one of Marsh's best novels. It doesn't matter that I've read it before and know who the culprit is. I enjoy every minute that I spend in the company of the dashing gentleman policeman, Roderick Alleyn. ★★★★ for a lovely vintage read. First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
I will admit that the original purpose of choosing this particular book was because the audio version had an amazing narrator, Benedict Cumberbatch. While it is true that I swoon at the sound of his voice, he also happens to have a wonderful talent for reading. I especially enjoy that he does voices. Listening to the audiobook was more like listening to a radio show done by many people and less like a book being read by one man. As someone who has a hard time staying interested in one thing for very long, this helped immensely.As for the book itself, it was wonderful! I started this book not knowing what I was getting into. I went into it completely blind. I knew nothing of the subject matter, the author, or even when it was written. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was a murder mystery written in 1938. I have found myself gravitating to a lot of murder mysteries as of late and this had the added bonus of almost being like a period piece to me.Since the word death is in the title one can assume that murder is implied. However, the story starts with detective inspector Roderick Alleyn investigating a blackmailing case. It takes a little bit getting into the actual murder and central plot of the story. It takes a little too long to be honest. I almost started doubting that any death was actually going to occur. This serves its purpose though. Marsh uses the lengthy beginning to set you up to get attached to a particular character who is exceedingly charming only to rip them away. After the murder takes places it starts to get fun for the reader. There are so many clues, twists, and turns that your head starts spinning with hypotheses. Before the end of the book I had made 3 separate guess as to who was the guilty party. What really makes this book is you really don't suspect the person who did it at all which is exactly what what you want from a murder mystery.It seems to be an easy series to pick up. I started on book #7 and completely understood what was going on. I'm almost curious as to if these are all just one off stories featuring the same characters. There was one small aspect I was a little curious about and it was about a particular love interest aspect. It is clear there is history between two characters, but it is not explained in this particular book other than it involving another case. It's such a minor aspect of the story though that it was not problematic.There are several more mysteries by Ngaio Marsh starring inspector detective Roderick Alleyn, and I know I will be going back for more.
What do You think about Death In A White Tie (1999)?
My dear departed grandmother was a fan of murder mysteries, and she had hundreds of books like this. I found this one at my parents', it having once belonged to my grandmother, and I nabbed it to read in honor of her.I have problems with the genre. To me, the English upper classes are a bunch of useless twits, parasites on society, proof that Karl Marx was onto something; and murder is a horrible and repulsive crime. To fans of the genre, the high society is a pleasant backdrop, and murder is an interesting problem to be solved. Also, the authors of such stories apparently try to entice the reader to deduce whodunit, which never turns out to be possible. The characters are nearly interchangeable twits and fops who firmly believe they deserve their exalted places in society, who anxiously hold secrets that seem rather tame.That being said, if you can get around the conventions of the genre, then this is a well-made story. DCI Alleyn does a wonderful job of teasing out the threads of the case without stepping on any high-society toes, and I found myself becoming interested in the story halfway through the book despite myself. The pace of the second half is nice and brisk, and the ending is suitably surprising.
—Rob
I believe this is book #7, set during the debutante season in London and involving blackmail among the gentry. Marsh writes about both grief and love in a way that is unsentimental but unexpectedly moving in a detective novel; she has original and deeply perceptive insights on these emotions. This is the second appearance of both Lady Alleyn and Troy, the future Mrs. Alleyn. The love scenes between Troy and Rory are extraordinary; Troy is so guarded and says such remarkable things about her fear and lack of comprehension of “physical love.”
—Nancy Butts
I’m slowly working my way through all of this wonderful series, reading in order for the most part. I was vaguely surprised when I realized that this book had been published in 1938, because there is nothing in it about World War Two looming on the horizon, and it’s set in London, England. However, as much as it’s set in the real world, this story also takes place, for the most part, in quite an enclosed world – the world of the British upper middle classes, with a focus on debutante daughters, in particular.“The season” is happening in London, and mothers and grandmothers and aunts and patronesses are carefully grooming the young ladies in their lives to make their fresh, appealing appearances on the society scene, hopefully to make a good marriage match. There is a darker side to all of the parties and balls and concerts, however – a blackmailer is at work, and some of the women who are old enough to have histories that aren’t without scandal, are terrified of being found out.When one of these women goes to Chief Detective Inspector Alleyn seeking help for her threatened “friend”, Alleyn enlists the aid of his friend Lord Robert Gospell, more familiarly known as “Bunchy”. Bunchy moves smoothly through high society circles, and begins to keep his eyes and ears open for the blackmailer.While I don’t think this book is my favourite in this series, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Alleyn’s mother helps the investigation, as well as family friend Bunchy, and the relationship between Lady Alleyn and her son is interesting. This glimpse into a certain set of people in a certain era is also fascinating – one thing that happens during the course of the investigation is that Alleyn and his friend Detective Inspector Fox interview everyone’s servants about what day their silver is polished. Marsh writes beautifully, so it’s simply a pleasure to read her descriptions of anything. She’s also extremely entertaining, and unflinching in her examination of various characters, from supposedly innocent young ladies to elderly tyrants. I would call this a locked-room mystery, with a certain number of suspects who had access to commit the crime, so there is a good puzzle for those who read that way and like to try and solve the crime.Alleyn has been enamoured of Agatha Troy, a talented painter, in a few books previous to this one, and their friendship progresses here, in a way that felt a bit clumsy to me. I particularly liked the way that death is treated so seriously in the book, and the depth of the loss portrayed so carefully.
—Andrea
