Artists in Crime

I love the narrator but I forgot to check that this was an unabridged version. Sigh. Why would anyone even make an abridged recording?

Ngaio Marsh is one of my very favorite authors. Her mysteries are tight, settings - 1930s and later, usually British - charming, detective and cronies are wonderful people with whom to spend time, and stories are a bit edgier than Christie's. We meet Agatha Troy in this book; she returns in subsequent Det. Alleyn mysteries. I reread Marsh books frequently, and now will re-listen as well.

He has a charming voice which is very easy to listen to and understand, and he does a nicely reasonable job of varying character voices. His female characters don't sound ridiculous, though his fortunately-infrequent attempt at voicing an American woman from the south is an unintentional riot.

Yes. Cumberbatch's read was exceptionally nuanced and interesting.

Not on the edge of my seat, no. That genre of detective fiction is not thrilling--it unfolds as we get to know the characters and put the pieces together.

Yes. He is always excellent. A truly gifted actor and reader.

Yes.

Love the English country house mystery genre. So delightful because it's not of this time and place. Never crass or ultra violent. Eccentric. Always surprising. Marsh is a master.

I've been wanting to get acquainted with Ngaio Marsh's books for some time, but kept postponing it. In the end, this was the book I've decided to start with. And I've really enjoyed it.

It is a good old-fashioned detective story along the lines of Agatha Christie. A big house, a bunch of people come there for a short stay, and a murder. There is also a piquant bit of New Zealand flavour, as in all the books by Ngaio Marsh, I believe. I literally fell in love with the character of the gentleman detective Roderick Allein. (I am planning to dig up the old BBC series on the topic). And I definitely liked a bit of romance going on in the midst and despite all the grisly happenings.

Because this is an abridged version, some episodes and conclusions seem a bit abrupt, but cannot be helped, I suppose.

The narration by Benedict Cumberbatch is simply fantastic. The number of accents and voices he puts on here is really impressive, and I am definitely listening to the other two Ngaio Marsh's books read by him.

I listened to this audiobook – read by the ever-wonderful Benedict Cumberbatch – in one sitting, and had a great deal of fun doing so. True, I did work out "whodunnit" before the detective himself did, but I didn't particularly mind, having grown rather fond of Alleyn, and therefore finding myself more than happy to excuse his slowness.

Besides, I simply enjoyed the world created in this tale. And the subtle romance. And the marvellous voice of the narrator, who rather surprised me with his ability to make me forget that there was just one man behind the multiplicity of characters. You know how it goes.

Classic Detective Story

Roderick Alain; Although the author didn't spend an inordinate amount of text towards his inner dialogue, his actions and sense of humor were so well-demonstrated in the story I felt that I knew him very well by the end. This is the first Ngaio Marsh book I've read, so this has been my introduction to the character.

A tie between Inspector Fox and the brief but hilarious appearance of Sonia's girlfriend (Bobbi?)

She died for art.

I thought the narrator's voice acting, accents and characterizations were so good I forgot it was an audiobook; it was like a BBC dramatisation with a full cast.

He does so many different voices, I kept forgetting it was an audiobook and not a drama! Fun golden-age British mystery, and well edited- I didn't feel that I was missing anything. Brilliant!

I would recommend this book to a friend. It's a wonderful listen...enough to keep you pleasantly interested but still relaxed.

Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers

Cumberbatch's performance supported the story. His charcters were recognizabeth without being cartoons. Emotions and attitutes were there without being distracting.

no

I'm not a fan of Ngaio Marsh but I was drawn to this audio book because of Benedict Cumberbatch. Normally, I avoid abridged editions altogether. The story was alright, but nothing to write home about.

Cumberbatch really is a one-man band in this performance, doing a multiplicity of roles and voices.But I can listen to him read anything, really. He's that good.

I listened to this book in one sitting and was pretty disappointed when it was all over.

Enjoyed the mystery very much. The narrator was very good. Thought the shortened version well done and just the right length to spend the afternoon listening.