False Scent

By Ngaio Marsh

Another classic Ngaio Marsh novel reissued.

Mary Bellamy, darling of the London stage, holds a 50th birthday party, a gala for everyone who loves her and fears her power. Then someone uses a deadly insect spray on Mary instead of the azaleas. The suspects, all very theatrically, are playing the part of mourners. Superintendent Alleyn has to find out which one played the murderer…

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Oct 29, 2009
• ISBN: 9780007344765

Ngaio Marsh

Dame Ngaio Marsh was born in New Zealand in 1895 and died in February 1982. She wrote over 30 detective novels and many of her stories have theatrical settings, for Ngaio Marsh’s real passion was the theatre. She was both an actress and producer and almost single-handedly revived the New Zealand public’s interest in the theatre. It was for this work that the received what she called her ‘damery’ in 1966.

Reviews for False Scent

[musicmom41 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I guess you could classify this one as one of Marsh’s “theater” novels even though we never get to the theater. The story revolves around the death of a famous, but now somewhat “over the hill” comedic actress at her birthday party. The characters are all theater people (except the police, of course) even though the setting is more “country house.” The house is actually in a square in London but we never get any further than next door so it seems more isolated. It’s a good yarn but before the end I had guessed “who” and at least partially had a handle on “why” and “how” but the timetable Alleyn elucidated in the end was cleverly worked out. My conclusions, although correct, couldn’t have been proved without that timetable.

[figgles_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

More relaxation with a good murder - another theatrical one with the Leading Lady, the ingenue etc...

[maureene87 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really like some of the minor characters in this one, especially Octavius Browne. (Jan 2008)

[cheshire1cat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A gala birthday party for an aging actress - Mary Bellamy. But unfortunately for the birtday girl, Mary is found on the bedroom floor - dead. Is it an accident, suicide or homicide. Inspector Alleyn comes in to investigate, can he find the answer among all of Mary's "friends" who all seem to have a motive?Very good Marsh book, I enjoyed this one. Good story and plot.