Surfeit of Lampreys

By: Ngaio Marsh

Narrated by: Philip Franks

Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Ngaio Marsh’s most popular novel begins when a young New Zealander’s first contact with the English gentry is the body of Lord Wutherford - with a meat skewer through the eye....

The Lampreys had plenty of charm - but no cash. They all knew they were peculiar - and rather gloried in it. The double and triple charades, for instance, with which they would entertain their guests - like rich but awful Uncle Gabriel, who was always such a bore. The Lampreys thought if they jollied him up he would bail them out - yet again.

Instead Uncle Gabriel met a violent end. And Chief Inspector Alleyn had to work our which of them killed him....

©1941 Original Text of 1941 by Ngaio Marsh (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

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

"The queen of the straight crime novel - long may she reign!" ( Sunday Times)

"Brilliantly readable...first class detection." ( Observer)

"Ngaio Marsh transcended the detective genre by the power of her writing and the rich variety of characters who people her novels." (P. D. James)

CLASSIC MARSH

SURFEIT OF LAMPREYS BY NGAIO MARSH AND NARRATED BY PHILIP FRANKS is in my humble opinion one of Ngaio Marsh's greatest !

The Lampreys are kind,gentle and dead broke! Sir Charles Lamprey has written to his wealthy, miserly brother begging him to come to the rescue! Sir Charles brother Gabriel, along with his crazy wife and two of their hired help goes to the Lamprey flat and Gabriel flat out refuses to help. As Gabriel gets into the lift and waits for his wife,someone shoves a skewer into his eye and right up into his brain. Enter Alleyn ! The Lampreys along with their guest close ranks against Alleyn.

I have been a diehard Marsh fan since I was in High School many many moons ago. I have read and re read all of her books but I consider A SURFEIT OF LAMPREYS one , if not her best! This is the first time I have listened to the audiobook version and Philip Franks does a great job .

Mystery, Macbeth, and a crazy family

The story starts in New Zealand, introducing us to a charming family who are a bit odd. It is all fun until we get to England with murder, references to Macbeth and a play fair mystery which I didn't guess. Recommended

Wow!I felt like I was sitting in the parlor with them!!

Phillip Franks narration was superb! It is going to be difficult to listen to anyone else… I felt totally transported to that era. Of course the delicious story line and rich language as well personality of each character draws one in completely… I found myself laughing out loud… with the family’s conversations… wonderful mystery!

So Charming

I have been waiting for years and years for someone to do an unabridged audiobook of this title!!! It was worth the wait. I first read this book when it was entitled "Death of a Peer" and fell in love with the charming Lampreys.
And I have to say that the Narrator is unequaled!!! What a total delight!!!

One of her best

Would you consider the audio edition of Surfeit of Lampreys to be better than the print version?

Haven't read print version.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes

Have you listened to any of Philip Franks’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, he is terrific .

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It resonated with a certain type of eccentric family I have experienced several times in my life.
This is what makes Nagio Marsh so wonderful. Her characters are timeless, and, in a sense, so are topics, and cultural milieu, which proves the adage, the more things change, the more they remain the same.

Any additional comments?

Just think Philip Franks and James Saxon are both fabulous narrators, really amazing actors so that it seems one is hearing AND watching a stage play, which is why Nagio's stage experience brings so much to her writing. And both narrators seem to totally bring that reality to life.

Enjoying a Ngaio Marsh

Fun but rather abrupt ending. Good work by the reader. He’s able to sound guitar gentile or like an orphan from New Zealand.

You have to give the author a pass for admiring the English upper class. Different times.

Quite good

Excellent writing and a very good example of the golden age of detective fiction. Phillip Franks is a terrific voice actor. He's more than a "reader" and I look forward to hearing more from him.

very good

I love these tightly constructed flavorful mysteries in the Grande British Manor. extremely well read.

Murder meets eccentricity

Same methodical piecing together of clues in a pattern to solve the crime by chief inspector Alleyne...but this time amidst an array of ditsy and likable family members and several not so likable relatives and servants. For the first time in a Marsh mystery, I guessed the murderer, but still enjoyed the story, despite gruesome crimes.

GREAT PLOT AND ATMOSPHERE

Marsh's books start slow and you have to pay careful attention. But... it's worth every minute.