Death in Ecstasy - Ngaio Marsh

Published in an omnibus edition with "Vintage Murder"; "Artists in Crime", by Harper: Hammersmith, London, 2009. Originally published 1936.

 The first novel in this omnibus, but the last I have read, Death in Ecstasy is another Inspector Alleyn murder mystery novel, this one taking place in the temple of a cult near the home of newspaper reporter (and friend of Alleyn), Nigel Bathgate. During a communion-like ceremony one of the devotees is struck down by poison, and Alleyn is called in to investigate.

As with all the classic whodunnits we are introduced to a number of characters, each with possible motives or alibis, including some fairly stereotypical individuals (common of the era). A mark of a good whodunnit is something that will keep you guessing while also offering you clues, and Death in Ecstasy manages well on this front. I felt like I was picking up clues throughout the story - some of which fitted in to the final puzzle and some of which did not. Yet when the murderer was revealed it did not feel out of place.

Perfectly serviceable in terms of the genre, and a good way to begin some enforced downtime, as New Zealand goes into lockdown due to the covid-19 virus.

Completed 26 March 2020.

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