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Harper Collins Pb (2001), Paperback, 336 pages
Description
Who in the quiet village of Chipping would kill wealthy spinster Idris Campanula? Plenty of people-among them her fellow cast members from a troubled charity production. Miss Campanula was a spiteful gossip, gleefully destroying others' lives merely for her own excitement. But once Inspector Roderick Alleyn arrives, he quickly realizes that the murderer might have killed the wrong woman-and may soon stage a repeat performance.
User reviews
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Tensions among the residents of a small English village erupt the evening of a theatrical performance. Wealthy spinster Idris Campanula drops dead as she plays the opening chords of the piano prelude. Until moments before the program started, everyone thought that the other village spinster,
This isn't the best of Ngaio Marsh's mysteries. For one thing, it's slow to start. For another thing, one of the clues was emphasized so often that it became obvious why it was important and who it pointed to. The descriptive details and the conversations between the characters are longer than they needed to be. Marsh's writing isn't as concise as her contemporary, Agatha Christie's. Christie was a master at revealing both character and plot in a few words. My mind wandered a bit as I listened to the audio version and I still managed to correctly identify the murderer well before the end of the book.
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Eleanor Prentice, would be playing the prelude. Which woman was the intended victim? And which village resident wanted her dead? The squire, who is a cousin to Miss Prentice? His son, Henry? The rector's daughter, Dinah, who, much to his family's dismay is the object of Henry's affection? The rector? The local doctor? Or new arrival Mrs. Ross, who repels the village women as much as she attracts the men? Inspector Roderick Alleyn of Scotland Yard patiently assembles details from the suspects' statements and seemingly innocuous clues to identify the murderer.This isn't the best of Ngaio Marsh's mysteries. For one thing, it's slow to start. For another thing, one of the clues was emphasized so often that it became obvious why it was important and who it pointed to. The descriptive details and the conversations between the characters are longer than they needed to be. Marsh's writing isn't as concise as her contemporary, Agatha Christie's. Christie was a master at revealing both character and plot in a few words. My mind wandered a bit as I listened to the audio version and I still managed to correctly identify the murderer well before the end of the book.
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LibraryThing member nmhale
A fantastic entry in the Roderick Alleyn series. Marsh really excels when she blends her mystery stories with some element of drama, which is probably due to the fact that she actually worked with the theater when she wasn't writing. All of the novels that I have enjoyed the most have always
The characters are what make this mystery shine. Amongst the amateurs performing this play for charity we have a priest, his daughter, the rich man of the village and his son, two spinsters, the village doctor, and his mistress. And those spinsters are some of the nastiest and most vicious women ever created. We are given their back story, and can even understand why they have evolved into these evil people, but that doesn't make us like them any more. They are people we love to hate. They hate each other as much as they hate the rest of the village, but they bury this rivalry under a pretense of friendship. The other other characters are all rich and varied as well, even if they can't capture our attention as well as the two vipers.
When the doctor's mistress begins to get involved in the play, and starts to wreck the plans of these elderly women who had everything already mapped out, the mean spinsters have no real way to vent their ire. They quickly become embroiled in a battle over who will play the piano for the musical interludes with a passion that they previously suppressed around others. On the night of the play, however, the "lucky" winner of this fight is shot through the head, by the very piano that she plays. Alleyn is called in to investigate, and the mystery begins ...
The many red herrings and subplots are all interesting, the clues are compelling, and the characters are just great. I was eager to find the solution but was in no hurry to finish, enjoying the story as I was. I did guess the killer early on, but then Marsh threw in plenty of diversions and red herrings, so that I began to second-guess myself and suspect others. A cozy mystery the way they were meant to be written.
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involved drama in some way, from a mystery theater at someone's house to a traveling theater troupe. In this case, we are involved with an amateur production being put on at the church of a small village. The characters are what make this mystery shine. Amongst the amateurs performing this play for charity we have a priest, his daughter, the rich man of the village and his son, two spinsters, the village doctor, and his mistress. And those spinsters are some of the nastiest and most vicious women ever created. We are given their back story, and can even understand why they have evolved into these evil people, but that doesn't make us like them any more. They are people we love to hate. They hate each other as much as they hate the rest of the village, but they bury this rivalry under a pretense of friendship. The other other characters are all rich and varied as well, even if they can't capture our attention as well as the two vipers.
When the doctor's mistress begins to get involved in the play, and starts to wreck the plans of these elderly women who had everything already mapped out, the mean spinsters have no real way to vent their ire. They quickly become embroiled in a battle over who will play the piano for the musical interludes with a passion that they previously suppressed around others. On the night of the play, however, the "lucky" winner of this fight is shot through the head, by the very piano that she plays. Alleyn is called in to investigate, and the mystery begins ...
The many red herrings and subplots are all interesting, the clues are compelling, and the characters are just great. I was eager to find the solution but was in no hurry to finish, enjoying the story as I was. I did guess the killer early on, but then Marsh threw in plenty of diversions and red herrings, so that I began to second-guess myself and suspect others. A cozy mystery the way they were meant to be written.
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LibraryThing member mmyoung
I have been rereading all of Marsh -- in order of original publication. This is the point at which I wish not only to push Nigel off a cliff but also at which I can no longer view a man who makes decisions that would now be viewed as unethical I see him as a man who made decisions which would have
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been viewed as unethical at the time of writing. The naked classism and privilege is also becoming harder and harder to stomach. Show Less
LibraryThing member mstrust
The little English village of Chipping has decided to put on a play starring the local rector and the two harpy spinsters who are fighting over him. When one of the women is murdered in view of the whole village, Inspector Alleyn of Scotland Yard is sent in.
This was my first Marsh and I found that
This was my first Marsh and I found that
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it lived up to her reputation as a rival/contemporary of Christie. Her characters are layered and the mystery unusual. I think this one could have benefited by being about 50 pages shorter, but I enjoyed it to the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member booksaplenty1949
My favourite Ngaio Marsh. Religion, sex, Rashomon-style witness statements. A treat to read and re-read.
LibraryThing member MissJessie
A classic cozy British mystery from the 30's, and so a little dated, but not as much as might be.
The life and times of a small English village are described to a tea (at least the upper crust of said village), and the book in many ways makes one wish for simpler times and makes me wish a little
It is interesting to note how Marsh is able to take several sexual situations that could have been quite steamy and keep them G or maybe PG if one is prudish and yet still indicate quite adequately the general drift. Today's authors could take an example.
This is a fairly light read, certainly not "deep", but makes a great book to read on a snowy day in front of the fire. Would also work on a cruise ship, I wish.
The life and times of a small English village are described to a tea (at least the upper crust of said village), and the book in many ways makes one wish for simpler times and makes me wish a little
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that I lived in such a place. Simple, straightforward, uncomplicated (except by murder), every in their place as they understand it.It is interesting to note how Marsh is able to take several sexual situations that could have been quite steamy and keep them G or maybe PG if one is prudish and yet still indicate quite adequately the general drift. Today's authors could take an example.
This is a fairly light read, certainly not "deep", but makes a great book to read on a snowy day in front of the fire. Would also work on a cruise ship, I wish.
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LibraryThing member lexieconyngham
Grand traditional yarn with the usual characters well built up before the action - some borderline cariacature, some more complex. Setting conventional English village, method quirky and cunning. Police detective lovely and witty. I'm rereading a whole shelf of these Ngaio Marsh so won't review all
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of them, but I do enjoy them - and am rather surprised, since I'd forgotten most of them, how much they seem to have influenced my own writing. Hum. Show Less
LibraryThing member themulhern
The murder method is ingenious. The talkative constable is fun. Some of the characterizations are just deeply annoying. Nigel Bathgate is still around and annoying as ever. Alleyn is still terribly irritating and pretentious.
Published in 1939, but no hint of the war.
Published in 1939, but no hint of the war.
LibraryThing member thornton37814
A couple of ladies are vying for the attentions of the rector. There is a play to be performed to raise money for a new piano. The old piano is played when one of the ladies dies while playing the third note of an overture. With a last-minute change in pianists, Roderick Alleyn must figure out the
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motive and the intended victim. Only a few persons could have been responsible for the dastardly deed. It's a fun visit to a locked room puzzle. It took me awhile to get used to the narrator's accent in the Blackstone Audiobooks version. It's a classic cozy mystery that will be enjoyed by those who like the genre. Show Less
LibraryThing member lahochstetler
No one can write a caustic old parish busy-body quite like Marsh. They appear throughout her books, but in this one we have two of the best. Eleanor Prentice and Idris Campanula spend their days trying to uphold the moral standards of the village, lusting after the vicar, and intervening everywhere
Aside from the brilliant characterization of the two old biddies, this novel features one of the moral inventive murder methods-- shooting through a piano, triggered by one of the pedals. All in all this is a compelling and satisfying mystery. It has the small English village, the country estate, the quirky characters. Inspector Alleyn is in his usual top form. This is one of my favorite of Marsh's novels.
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they aren't wanted. A parish play to raise money for a new piano gives both women ample opportunity to try and control the festivities and outdo one another for the vicar's affections. Both are thoroughly irritating, and one winds up dead. Aside from the brilliant characterization of the two old biddies, this novel features one of the moral inventive murder methods-- shooting through a piano, triggered by one of the pedals. All in all this is a compelling and satisfying mystery. It has the small English village, the country estate, the quirky characters. Inspector Alleyn is in his usual top form. This is one of my favorite of Marsh's novels.
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
Good entry in the Inspector Alleyn series though I wish that Fox had a bigger role.
LibraryThing member alanteder
The Piano Did It
Review of the Felony & Mayhem paperback edition (2012) of the 1939 original
Overture to Death is is a fairly early work (No. 8 of 33) in the Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn of Scotland Yard series by New Zealand writer Ngaio Marsh. Alleyn is now engaged to painter Agatha Troy, but
Overture... manages to incorporate Ngaio Marsh's interest in theatre by having the murder take place in a village where a fund raising theatrical performance is to be acted. The first third of the book introduces the characters involved with the play and sets the scene for the murder which occurs on the evening of the performance in front of a live audience. The murder method is an elaborate device whereby the victim instigates their own death by pressing the soft foot pedal of a piano. The local authorities are overwhelmed with a concurrent series of burglaries and call in Scotland Yard CID to assist.
Alleyn is in good form throughout with his usual banter and classical references, including a nod towards Sherlock Holmes with this exchange:'The play was got up by a group of local people.'
'Of whom you were one," said Alleyn.
'Hullo!' Dr. Templett took his pipe out of his mouth and stared at Alleyn. 'Now, did anyone tell you that, or is this the real stuff?'
'I'm afraid it's not even up to Form 1 at Hendon. There's a trace of grease paint in your hair. I wish I could add that I have written a short monograph on grease paint.'
and manages to come down hard when he needs to:‘Won’t you?’ said Alleyn mildly. ‘That’s a pity. We shall have to do the Peer Gynt business.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Go roundabout. Ask servants about the relationship between Miss Prentice and her young cousin. Tap the fabulous springs of village gossip – all that.’
‘I thought,’ flashed Dinah, ‘that nowadays the CID was almost a gentleman’s job.’
‘Oh, no!’ said Alleyn. ‘You couldn’t be more mistaken.’
I found Overture... to be thoroughly enjoyable and another confirmation that Ngaio Marsh is my new favourite of the Golden Age of Crime writers.
Overture to Death was part of my current newly read and/or re-read project of works from the Golden Age of Crime of which many are still in my collection after first being read in the 1970s and 1980s.
Review of the Felony & Mayhem paperback edition (2012) of the 1939 original
Overture to Death is is a fairly early work (No. 8 of 33) in the Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn of Scotland Yard series by New Zealand writer Ngaio Marsh. Alleyn is now engaged to painter Agatha Troy, but
Show More
the latter makes only an indirect appearance through a letter that he writes towards the end of the investigation.Overture... manages to incorporate Ngaio Marsh's interest in theatre by having the murder take place in a village where a fund raising theatrical performance is to be acted. The first third of the book introduces the characters involved with the play and sets the scene for the murder which occurs on the evening of the performance in front of a live audience. The murder method is an elaborate device whereby the victim instigates their own death by pressing the soft foot pedal of a piano. The local authorities are overwhelmed with a concurrent series of burglaries and call in Scotland Yard CID to assist.
Alleyn is in good form throughout with his usual banter and classical references, including a nod towards Sherlock Holmes with this exchange:'The play was got up by a group of local people.'
'Of whom you were one," said Alleyn.
'Hullo!' Dr. Templett took his pipe out of his mouth and stared at Alleyn. 'Now, did anyone tell you that, or is this the real stuff?'
'I'm afraid it's not even up to Form 1 at Hendon. There's a trace of grease paint in your hair. I wish I could add that I have written a short monograph on grease paint.'
and manages to come down hard when he needs to:‘Won’t you?’ said Alleyn mildly. ‘That’s a pity. We shall have to do the Peer Gynt business.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Go roundabout. Ask servants about the relationship between Miss Prentice and her young cousin. Tap the fabulous springs of village gossip – all that.’
‘I thought,’ flashed Dinah, ‘that nowadays the CID was almost a gentleman’s job.’
‘Oh, no!’ said Alleyn. ‘You couldn’t be more mistaken.’
I found Overture... to be thoroughly enjoyable and another confirmation that Ngaio Marsh is my new favourite of the Golden Age of Crime writers.
Overture to Death was part of my current newly read and/or re-read project of works from the Golden Age of Crime of which many are still in my collection after first being read in the 1970s and 1980s.
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
Good entry in the Inspector Alleyn series though I wish that Fox had a bigger role.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
Wanda McCaddon (who also narrates under the names Donada Peters and Nadia May) was perfect for this Golden Age mystery.
August 2017: Very enjoyable even knowing the solution. I could appreciate how well Marsh gives the reader a the clues without making it obvious.
August 2017: Very enjoyable even knowing the solution. I could appreciate how well Marsh gives the reader a the clues without making it obvious.
Subjects
Awards
Haycraft Queen Cornerstones (1939)
Julian Symons' 100 Best Crime Stories (1939 — 1939)
Language
Original publication date
1939
Physical description
336 p.; 7.64 inches
ISBN
0312964250 / 9780312964252