Ngaio Marsh
Ngaio Marsh (1895–1982) was one of the preeminent authors of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, often mentioned alongside Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Margery Allingham. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, Marsh displayed an early interest in the arts, studying painting and acting at Canterbury College School of Art. Her creative talents would later influence both her writing and her passion for the theater.
Marsh published her first detective novel, A Man Lay Dead, in 1934, introducing her iconic sleuth, Detective Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn of Scotland Yard. Alleyn, characterized by his intelligence, charm, and gentlemanly demeanor, appeared in 32 novels, blending elements of the classic whodunit with a literary flair. Among her best-known works are Death in a White Tie (1938), Surfeit of Lampreys (1941), and Artists in Crime (1938).
Theatrical settings often played a significant role in Marsh’s novels, reflecting her lifelong passion for drama. Her dual career as a mystery writer and theater director earned her acclaim, particularly for her work with New Zealand's theatrical community, where she directed numerous productions, including Shakespearean plays.
Marsh’s literary career earned her international recognition, including an appointment as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1966. She continued to write and direct into her later years, leaving an enduring legacy as a master storyteller and cultural figure. Ngaio Marsh passed away in 1982, but her meticulously crafted mysteries remain classics of the genre.
Roderick Alleyn Series:
1. A Man Lay Dead (1934)
2. Enter a Murderer (1935)
3. The Nursing Home Murder (1935)
4. Death in Ecstasy (1936)
5. Vintage Murder (1937)
6. Artists in Crime (1938)
7. Death in a White Tie (1938)
8. Overture to Death (1939)
9. Death at the Bar (1940)
10. Surfeit of Lampreys (1940)
11. Death and the Dancing Footman (1941)
12. Color Scheme (1943)
13. Died in the Wool (1944)
14. Final Curtain (1947)
15. Swing, Brother, Swing (1949)
16. Night at the Vulcan (1951)
17. Spinsters in Jeopardy (1953)
18. Scales of Justice (1955)
19. Death of a Fool (1956)
20. Singing in the Shrouds (1958)
21. False Scent (1959)
22. Hand in Glove (1962)
23. Dead Water (1963)
24. Killer Dolphin (1966)
25. Clutch of Constables (1968)
26. When in Rome (1968)
27. Tied Up in Tinsel (1972)
28. Black as He's Painted (1974)
29. Last Ditch (1976)
30. A Grave Mistake (1978)
31. Photo Finish (1980)
32. Light Thickens (1982)
33. Money in the Morgue (2018) (With Stella Duffy)
Marsh published her first detective novel, A Man Lay Dead, in 1934, introducing her iconic sleuth, Detective Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn of Scotland Yard. Alleyn, characterized by his intelligence, charm, and gentlemanly demeanor, appeared in 32 novels, blending elements of the classic whodunit with a literary flair. Among her best-known works are Death in a White Tie (1938), Surfeit of Lampreys (1941), and Artists in Crime (1938).
Theatrical settings often played a significant role in Marsh’s novels, reflecting her lifelong passion for drama. Her dual career as a mystery writer and theater director earned her acclaim, particularly for her work with New Zealand's theatrical community, where she directed numerous productions, including Shakespearean plays.
Marsh’s literary career earned her international recognition, including an appointment as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1966. She continued to write and direct into her later years, leaving an enduring legacy as a master storyteller and cultural figure. Ngaio Marsh passed away in 1982, but her meticulously crafted mysteries remain classics of the genre.
Roderick Alleyn Series:
1. A Man Lay Dead (1934)
2. Enter a Murderer (1935)
3. The Nursing Home Murder (1935)
4. Death in Ecstasy (1936)
5. Vintage Murder (1937)
6. Artists in Crime (1938)
7. Death in a White Tie (1938)
8. Overture to Death (1939)
9. Death at the Bar (1940)
10. Surfeit of Lampreys (1940)
11. Death and the Dancing Footman (1941)
12. Color Scheme (1943)
13. Died in the Wool (1944)
14. Final Curtain (1947)
15. Swing, Brother, Swing (1949)
16. Night at the Vulcan (1951)
17. Spinsters in Jeopardy (1953)
18. Scales of Justice (1955)
19. Death of a Fool (1956)
20. Singing in the Shrouds (1958)
21. False Scent (1959)
22. Hand in Glove (1962)
23. Dead Water (1963)
24. Killer Dolphin (1966)
25. Clutch of Constables (1968)
26. When in Rome (1968)
27. Tied Up in Tinsel (1972)
28. Black as He's Painted (1974)
29. Last Ditch (1976)
30. A Grave Mistake (1978)
31. Photo Finish (1980)
32. Light Thickens (1982)
33. Money in the Morgue (2018) (With Stella Duffy)