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Death in a White Tie

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Death in a White Tie

By: Ngaio Marsh
Narrated by: James Saxon
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About this listen

The London season has begun. But while debutantes and chaperones plan their luncheons and balls a deadly blackmailer is stalking the highest echelons of society.

Naturally, it falls to charming, aloof Detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn - son of Lady Alleyn - to investigate the case. He has already planted his close friend Lord Robert at the scene. But someone else got to him first....

Death in a White Tie was first published in 1938 and is perhaps the finest of Marsh's 1930s novels - elegantly constructed, witty and marvellously entertaining.

Please note: This is a vintage recording. The audio quality may not be up to modern day standards.

©1938 Original Text of 1938 by Ngaio Marsh (P)2015 Hachette Audio Cosy Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Mystery Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Thriller Crime Witty Suspense

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Critic reviews

"The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers." (Times Literary Supplement)

"Ngaio Marsh’s Death in a White Tie is the best detective story I have ever read...." (Dashiell Hammett)

"[This audiobook has] a distinction that puts the author in the front rank of crime story writers." (Times Literary Supplement)
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Excellent story from a brilliant writer, only slightly marred by the bad and variable audio quality

Enjoyable, however...

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This is a book to reread / relisten at intervals in a reading/listening life. Top of the genre.

Ngaio Marsh at her BEST

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The plot was a little to complicated for comprehension for audio-book listening - two of the characters' names sounded too similar which made the ballroom scenes confusing. Still an enjoyable listen but not my favourite of the 'Alleyn' stories. Well narrated.

Good but Complicated Plot

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I agree with other reviewers that the audio quality is frequently very bad, but James Saxon embodies the large and varied cast of characters so completely that it is worth the extra effort. His skill with accents and his sensitivity to quirks of personality brings everyone to life as sympathetic, complex human beings. Saxon died tragically young, so the audio can’t be redone, but I’m really glad this reading is still available because it is a great listen.

Brilliant character portrayal by James Saxon

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The recording is quite poor quality - that is my only caveat in an otherwise enjoyable reading of my favourite Alleyn mystery. I’d forgotten the murderer so really enjoyed it. As a story it moves along a lot faster than some of the others (I find the New Zealand ones could have done with a bit more editorial pruning) and the love story with Troy is at its peak. It will keep you guessing and whiled away a lot of painting (rooms not canvasses!) very satisfactorily.

Classic 30s murder mystery

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This is my favourite of The Ngaio Marsh novels but I had to return it after listening to just the first few chapters. I did not like the narration at all. Everyone sounded like a grotesque caricature . Very disappointing.

I didn't like the narration

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really enjoyed the story. somewhat spoiled by the sound quality. each chapter sounded different, muffled, loud, tinny, etc.

great story

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Storyline well maintained loved the characters, narrators voice suited the time period . Will definitely spend another few hours with Ngaio Marsh audiobook

Great listen well read

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Really like this book but the audio at times sounds like it's coming from a 1920's telephone.

Good story but really poor audio quality

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I’ve been enjoying working my way through this series, and this was another excellent story, with great characters, and an enjoyable glimpse into the world of society balls. It was well narrated, though, as others have pointed out, the audio is of variable quality

Great story, bad audio

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