• When in Rome

  • By: Ngaio Marsh
  • Narrated by: James Saxon
  • Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (105 ratings)

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When in Rome  By  cover art

When in Rome

By: Ngaio Marsh
Narrated by: James Saxon
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Publisher's summary

Murder, blackmail and drug dealing on the Tiber combine in one of Ngaio Marsh’s liveliest and most evocative novels.

When their guide disappears mysteriously in the depths of a Roman basilica, the members of Mr. Sebastian Mailer’s tour group seem strangely unperturbed. But when a body is discovered in an Etruscan sarcophagus, Superintendent Alleyn, in Rome incognito on the trail of an international drug racket, is very much concerned....

©1970 Original Text of 1970 by Ngaio Marsh (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers." ( Times Literary Supplement)
"Excellent Roman detailed background...a lively thriller whodunnit." ( Observer)
"One of her best books for a long time...keeps us guessing most craftily." ( Daily Telegraph)
"Superintendent Alleyn is as devastating as ever." ( Sunday Telegraph)
"Blackmail and drug-dealing on the Tiber.... Fastidious writing, telling character sketches, a fine appreciation of place." ( Sunday Times)

What listeners say about When in Rome

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YIKES..!!.. Naigo missed the mark on this one.!

Naigo tried to write something " hip"
and " with it"... centering around the drug culture of the time was a mistake.
It was altogether cringe worthy..I was embarrassed for her.. we expect grace and erudition from her not slang..
And as for the narrator trying out different accents throughout the book
He would get lost with the Italian attempt and wound up sounding like
Dracula in a grade B horror movie.. if it weren't so sad ,.. it would have been funny...

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Too Much Affectation

Any additional comments?

Saxon read this one HEAVY on the affection . Ruined the listening, so returned it.

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Can't go wrong with Ngaio Marsh

Very unique plot. You are left pulling for the murderer. I enjoyed the novelty of the plot and the Roman location.

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One of the better ‘later’ Marsh’s

When in Rome is one of the better of the Marsh books set in the 1960’s. With an evocatively described city of Rome and the student riots as a backdrop, Marsh makes full use of her more exotic location: the city itself is one of the main ‘characters’ in the book. For readers/listeners who know a little of Rome, this really gives the book an extra dimension. Alleyn is in Rome looking for drug dealers but also encounters murder, his postion as a ‘foreign’ policeman is delicate and also unusual and Marsh uses the leeway this creates to craft a plot where Alleyn’s responsibilities and behaviour differ from the vast majority of books. The characters on the fringe of the drug scene that he encounters are well described and engaging enough that the reader can both visualise how ghastly they are and care about the other innocent characters who have stumbled into the extended web around them that also encompasses blackmail and murder. James Saxon narrates the diverse line-up of protagonists with gusto, enjoyment and skill. An entertaining listen.

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