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Clutch of Constables

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Clutch of Constables

By: Ngaio Marsh
Narrated by: James Saxon
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About this listen

A classic Ngaio Marsh novel which features blood-curdling murders in the confines of a riverboat, the Zodiac, cruising through Constable country.

'He looks upon the murders that he did in fact perform as tiresome and regrettable necessities', reflected Chief Superintendent Roderick Alleyn on the international crook known as 'the Jampot'.

But it was Alleyn’s wife, Troy, who knew 'the Jampot' best: she had shared close quarters with him on the tiny pleasure steamer Zodiac, on a cruise along the peaceful rivers of 'Constable country'. And it was she who knew something was badly wrong even before Alleyn was called in to solve the two murders onboard....

©1968 Original Text of 1968 by Ngaio Marsh (P)2015 Hachette Audio Cosy Crime Thrillers Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Fiction Thriller Crime Detective Murder

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Critic reviews

"The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers." ( Times Literary Supplement)
"Cruising through Constable country, in both senses, with a cargo of strongly varied, cunningly suspect characters...the classic detective story." ( The Times)
"It’s time to compare Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around." ( New York Magazine)
"A good Marsh...which puts it into the “must” category." ( The Sun)
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James Saxon is just a magician. another entertaining tale from marsh. I keep wondering if she'll run out of scenarios... this was inventive!

Outstanding narration

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Some rather clunky racism that betrays the times but has all Marsh’s wonderful writing skill and terrific characters. Really nice to have a starring role for Agatha Troy. Excellent narration as usual

Super to have Agatha Troy to the fore

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This is one of my favourite books by Ngaio Marsh, and is excellently read by the narrator. Would thoroughly recommend.

Great!

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Interplay of characters in a closed environment terminating in a final dénouement worthy of Poirot. Tone of reader was bang on

Excellent period piece

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As usual a great story from Ngaio Marsh and very well read by James Saxon .

a great story

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Several other stories by Ngaio Marsh are considered her best but I think this one is by far the most entertaining. Brilliantly read by Mr Saxon.

Ngaio Marsh at her best.

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One of her best. A traditional detective novel with Inspector Alleyn, set on a riverboat in North England and no theatrical types.

Excellent

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An entertaining story with an enjoyable river cruise setting. James Saxon is an excellent narrator.

Clutch of Constables

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Firstly, John Saxon is as wonderful as always in his narration and characterization. Admittedly, he keeps mispronouncing the great detective's surname but when the rest of the narration is pitch perfect, it's excusable. Troy Alleyn, the wife of Detective Roderick Alleyn, is the main protagonist in the telling of the majority of this classic novel which is itself novel. I loved the manner in which Marsh uses the vast geographical space between the couple to tell the story in both voices, each taking over where the other leaves off. The denouement is perfectly revealed in almost Christie-like drawing room style, as the tension ratchets up. While the racial slurs of the time can sometimes be quite jarring, thankfully there's no use of political correctness used to sanitise the writing which is of its time. The balance of characters who revile the racism far outweighs any use of language that anyone could find offensive, and doesn't change the fact that Clutch of Constables is a magnificent Marsh resplendent is its beautiful use of language and dark humour.

Marsh always delivers.

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Marsh can certainly write and the setting of this book is very appealing. The characters are engaging and James Saxon's reading is excellent. It's not so much a murder mystery, though, as the unmasking of a criminal imposter, which, for me, made it less interesting. The murders are more or less random, the murderer's motive evident and the police procedure drags on a bit towards the end. Some clunky clues attempt to send the reader in one direction before the final reveal swerves in another. A very pleasant read but by the time the arch villain was exposed, I really didn't much care.

Enjoyable but ...

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