Femmes Fatales of the Past

by Dean James

Once a month I (as the self-appointed history of mystery guru in the group) am going to blog about Femmes Fatales of bygone days. Some of them readers will surely be familiar with, others might be a bit obscure. The presence of women in the genre has always been important, at least in terms of quality, although at times they were not as visible as their male counterparts.

For this first dip into the past I chose a writer who was one of the best-known mystery writers in the world in her day, Ngaio Marsh. Born in New Zealand in 1895, she was an eminent Shakespearean producer as well as one of the finest of Golden Age mystery writers. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1966 for her services to the theater, but readers knew her best as the creator of that most urbane of detectives, Roderick Alleyn.

A Scotland Yard man from a distinguished aristocratic family, Alleyn first appeared in 1932 in A Man Lay Dead. He appeared thereafter in 31 more novels and made his last bow in Light Thickens in 1982, the year Dame Ngaio passed away. Marsh was hailed by critics for her witty dialogue, her ability to stage her scenes impeccably, and for her complex plots and inventive methods of murder. Four of the novels are set in her native New Zealand, the rest in England.

Among my favorites are Death of a Peer (called Surfeit of Lampreys outside the US) and Killer Dolphin, the latter one of her excellent theatrical mysteries. A contemporary of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Margery Allingham, Marsh was one of the "Queens of Crime" during the Golden Age (the period between the two World Wars) and beyond. If you like sophisticated, well-written detective novels and haven't yet discovered Marsh and her creation Roderick Alleyn, they await you like a fine vintage and a rich multi-course repast. Dig in!

Comments

[Bthmarchio]

Excellent, Dean! My mother devoured mysteries of this era and so I began reading Sayers and Marsh very early in my life. OCD me would get a list of an authors work and work my way chronologically from first book to last. You have successfully reminded me that it is time to revisit them all! Thank you!

[Dean James]

Beth, I reread a couple of her books recently, and they were just as wonderful on retreading. I love doing this with old favorites from the Golden Age.

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

I SO agree. I had a huge crush on Roderick Alleyn. And wanted to be Agatha Troy. (Great names, huh?")

And they really holdup!

What gorgeous covers..is the last picture one of those new editions? From..I forget the name, but they are terrific.

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

I mean-- hold up. :-)

[Dean James]

Hank, yes they do hold up beautifully. the first picture is of my recently acquired British first edition of her first book, and the second is from the recent reprint.

[Don Kenner]

Nice post. Wonderful blog.

I'm rereading the Dorothy L. Sayers novels. I'll now have to add rereading Marsh's books to my bucket list. I'll fit them in among the Agatha Christie mysteries.

A surfeit of riches.

[CJVirtuoso]

Lovely! Ngaio Marsh is a favorite of mine, along with Christie, Allingham, & Tey. Her expertise in theatre made her especially brilliant at tight plots & prose and colorful yet plausible characters. The mysteries I write (Croaked, Silent Night Violent Night) are very much in this vein, & also informed by a love of theatre. See www.boom-books.com -- Carol

[Deb Romano]

I loved Marsh's books. I think I owned all of them at one time. Over the years I donated books to libraries and Good Will, in order to make room for more books. I am really missing the books I donated! If I ever win the lottery, I think I will hire someone to come in to do some built in bookshelves!

It was interesting how I first heard of Ngaio Marsh: I was eating at the counter in a coffee shop back around 1980 and I overheard a woman telling a friend about some authors she enjoyed. Ngaio Marsh was the only one I had not heard of. Since I liked all the other authors the woman mentioned, I assumed I would like Marsh, too. (I just LOVE what I learn from eavesdropping!)

[Dana]

I'm with Hank: totally had a crush on Inspector Alleyn! Wonderful books--and your post makes me want to run back to read a flock of them, Dean!

Thanks!

[Brenda]

I have only read some of her short stories and have been meaning to read the books. Thanks for this great reminder!

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