Death Dancing Footman

This is a wonderful, classic British mystery. It has an interesting cast of characters and great atmosphere. The snowbound party at a country estate provides the perfect backdrop for old fashioned murder. If you like Christie, this is worth a read.

I am an absolute sucker for the old fashioned English whodunnit murder mystery style. I have read all of Christie's works and thought never would I read her equal. I still haven't but Marsh makes the closet bid I've seen yet in this novel. The stage for murder is set when a bored and mischevious rich Englishmen invites several guests with dangerous secrets and obvious dislike for each other to his house for the weekend. Tempers fly when the characters are thrown together and the result is attempted murder. Snowbound, the characters are unable to leave the situation even after the the murderer finally succeeds. I really kind of chuckled at the host as he got far more than he bargined for out of his little psychological soiree'. The book was very amusing and kept me guessing up until the very end. I narrowed my list of suspects to two but still wasn't sure which one it was when the story ended. The detective doesn't play a large role here so don't expect Poirot. Alleyn comes in late in the novel and just wraps things up. The book was a little too long...I think that's one of the things I found that seperated her from Christie was that she tended to ramble and stall a bit. I grew quite inpatient to find out who the killer was as the book really had a lull in between the last murder and the solution. Otherwise though it was really a fun little romp. If you're a Christie fan give it a shot...you won't regret it.

Wealthy, self-indulgent Jonathan Royal has decided to amuse himself by hosting a houseparty--but not so much for the pleasure of his visitors as for the satisfaction of his own sense of mischief: his guests have been selected for their antagonism toward each other! Needless to say, a number of kettles soon begin to boil... And murder is the result!Well read mystery fans will probably spot the killer on the basis of previous experience, but DEATH AND THE DANCING FOOTMAN offers one of Marsh's better plots--and as usual she creates a vividly drawn cast of characters and presents her tale with considerable style and plenty of wit. Long standing fans will enjoy it and newcomers will be converted! Recommended.

This is one of Mash's books that I consider a "comfort book." When I don't know what else to read, I reach for this one. The story begins with a house party and a clutch of very unique individuals... of course, murder can't be far behind. It is true that Inspector Alleyn doesn't enter the story until halfway through the book, but that is really incidental. The characters are fascinating studies of human folly and they more than carry the story until Alleyn shows up. Aubrey Mandrake, a guest at the house party, plays a "Dr. Watson"-ish character and is himself quite engaging. This book is a must read for its quirkiness and it's wit. A great Marsh mystery.

This is the fourth mystery written by Ngaio Marsh I've had the pleasure to read. The characters are believable. "Death and the Dancing Footman" is set in a remote estate in the north of England. The Lord of the manor has invited guests for the weekend. The eight people he chose for his soiree have a history of unpleasant association among themselves, and are forced to endure each other's company during a tremendous snow storm. With their emotions unchecked a murder and suicide occur.