Vintage Murder

Vintage Murder by Ngaio Marsh 274 pp.

This is the second Inspector Roderick Alleyn mystery to take place in a theater . I know there is at least one more that I read many years ago (not surprising as the author was also a theater director). Alleyn is on holiday in New Zealand and is offered a seat in the train carriage carrying a traveling dramatic troupe. He is trying to stay incognito so as not to disrupt his vacation but he is recognized by a few of the players, including one who was present at the previous theater murder he solved. An after performance party in honor of the leading lady becomes the murder scene with the victim being the manager of the theater company. An elaborate surprise was planned where a Jereboam of Champagne was set to drop easily onto the arrangement on the table. Someone removed the weight that was to control the descent and instead, it smashed into the head of the manager/husband of the leading lady. Once the local police learn the identity of Alleyn, they enlist his help in solving the crime. In my opinion there are a few too many suspects which make the story a bit convoluted. However, it is nice to read Marsh's descriptions of the lush scenery in her native land.  

Grave Mistake

 Grave Mistake by Ngaio Marsh (1978) 256 pages

Twice-widowed Sybil Foster meets a handsome doctor and goes to stay at a spa where he works. Meanwhile, her first husband's son, Claude, has arrived on scene asking for money and appears to be involved in dubious activities, perhaps drugs and blackmail. Sybil's daughter, Prunella, becomes engaged to a very wealthy man's son, Gideon, which upsets Sybil because she wants Prunella to marry someone else. When Sybil is found dead in the spa, it's first assumed to be suicide,  which doesn't make sense to anyone who knows her. When it is revealed that her will was recently changed to benefit her doctor and her gardener, more investigation is needed. 

Chief Superintendent Roderick Alleyn arrives on the scene with his trusty crew to find out what really happened to Sybil. It's a fun read, with everyone looking, in turn, both innocent and guilty.