"The music rose to a climax: Lord Pastern aimed his revolver and fired. The figure in the spotlight fell and the coup-de-theatre had become murder... Could Chief Inspector Alleyn believe the eccentric peer had let hatred of his future son-in-law go too far? Or would the tangle of jealousies and blackmail among the party guests reveal another murderer?"


Published 1949 and set in another world - very Agatha Christie; all posh people with titles, grand houses and servants. Entertaining and moves along well, overall rather lightweight.

RELEASE NOTES:

At the meetup

I picked this up last night at the January BC Meeting at Mac's Brewery Bar and Restaurant. Someone must have taken it, read it and forgotten to journal it.
I've always admired Ngaio Marsh's writings and look forward to reading this.

Might put it away for the World Convention in Christchurch in 2009. Then again might share it with someone else first.

I've finished reading this book with enormous pleasure, perhaps as a result of my own circumstances. The life-style portrayed here is, albeit to a very much lesser extent, not dissimilar to the scenario my mother liked to imagine we would have been in had we lived in England. It is dated by current Kiwi standards but I imagine still continue in the English Upper Classes whether we like to admit it or not.

The style of writing is quite familiar, being exactly what I experienced when I alternated Ngaio Marsh and Agatha Christie books with books like "Dracula" by Bram Stoker and Conan Doyle's wonderful Sherlock Holmes adventures.

I agree with CaptainsDoxy that it seems lightweight compared with the more meaty crime stories that feature in the current crime genre. Nevertheless, it is a tale well told with believable characters, fluid dialogue, and a cunning plot.

I'd had slight contact through my Mother and her theatrical interests with Ngaio Marsh in my childhood and what a memorable personality she was. Curiosity led me to Google where I was able to enter
http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/marshn.html and learn a lot more about this remarkable woman and her contribution both to the book world and also the development of early theater in NZ.

I'll definitely keep the book for the 2009 Convention and do a little more research with that event in mind.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Handed to FutureCat who was temporarily in Wellington and meeting with Wgtn Bookcrossers in Martha's Pantry, one of our OBCZs. She will take it back to Christchurch for the Convention.

Picked up at the meetup with the Wellington bookcrossers, destined for our NZ author collection for the 2009 Bookcrossing Convention.

Great to see you all again!

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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Happy bookcrossing to the finder!

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P.S. If you live in Christchurch, you might like to join us at our monthly bookcrossing meetups. For details, see the BCNZ Yahoo Group.

Did you know that in April 2009, the World Bookcrossing Convention will be held in Christchurch? Check out the convention website for more details.

Reserved for the 2009 World Bookcrossing Convention.

Hi, I picked this book up from the "Books for Release" table at the World Bookcrossing Convention held in Christchurch at the weekend. I am quite new to bookcrossing and so haven't got lots of books of my own to release. Picked up lots of books over the weekend - some that I want to keep on my bookshelf to read (when I get the time) and some to release into the wild!!!

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Realised I must have picked up two copies of this book at the Bookcrossing convention in April. Read and released the first copy a while back.... so time to release this one. Left it on the table in Bishopdale Post Office. Happy reading!