Disappointing narrator

I love other female narrators for Ngaio Marsh's work (Nadia May for example) but Jane Asher's delivery was ponderous and dull and she mispronounces Alleyn throughout. Even if the reader is unaware that it is 'Allen' and not 'Allain', the publisher should be. A bit slapdash and shoddy. A shame, because the story is a corker.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

As with many 'Golden Age' detection stories,you must adopt a more credulous state of mind before chapter one.

This doesn't stray from the genres norm in that person/people murdered tend not to be the nicest characters,that coincidence runs rampant & usually 'The Yard' gets it's 'man' on flimsy circumstantial evidence, leading to a dramatic last minute confession.
As interesting/bonkers as the stories may be, there are rich pickings on the social mores from background descriptions,e.g. unsympathetic descriptions of mental health,frequent kicking dogs,the class system,the necessary cigarette in every sentence.
Jane Asher does read it well,maintaining characterisation throughout,however her portrait of the elegant Chief Inspector Alleyn is sadly very stilted. Still for me an enjoyable listen.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Brilliant Story

Well narrated, loved the "voices" and we'll developed story! A great escape from reality! Great story telling, characters suit, easy listening.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Good story

The storyline was ingenious but I would have expected more from the narrator. Her attempt at the accents was very poor and she just sounded too “ladylike”. Other narrators have done much better with the Ngaio Marsh books

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Solid Ngaio Marsh story, narration sometimes jarring

I found the narrator’s voice for both Alleyn and Fox jarring, unfortunately, as got in the way of what, for other characters, was fine

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Well read, intriguing story

I love Jane Asher as a reader, she lends an air of mystery to the reading. I agree that Alleyn's voice is a bit high, she has done this with other male roles, but after a bit you get used to it!

The story has lots of twists and kept me wanted to listen all the way through.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Enjoyed Marsh, not Asher

This is typically deft Marsh -- a wry dissection of the English class system masquerading as a murder mystery. Her pithy descriptions always make me smile. Jane Asher is an irritating narrator, however. To portray Allen, she raises her voice to a grating pitch, one which is totally at odds with his considered, courteous personality. And that's before we get to the mispronunciation of his surname.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

great storyline as usual

like the old fashioned detective novels. like them brought to life by the reader. unfortunately Jane asher is not good at alleyn. made him sound remote, snobby and pompous. if it wasn't for the story I would have switched off. could barely wait for it to finish due to the way alleyn sounded.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sounds best at a lower speed

I listened at speed 85 and found this very much improved the reading. I loved the various voices although the Chief Inspector was rather more aloof than I'd have preferred. Like in the case of one or two other readers of Marsh's novels, his name was mispronounced which was an unnecessary minor irritation.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Good story badly read

Jane Asher not a good reader. Mispronounces Alleyn throughput - this continues to irritate from beginning to end

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!