“Ngaio Marsh was a contemporary of Agatha Christie & Margery Allingham... there was fierce competition in the ability to write a literary mystery... one that would appeal to the more educated society as well.... and here we have one revolving the production of Macbeth.
So far.... this book begins with the rehearsal of the Shakespearean play Macbeth. We are getting to know the actors their pasts, relationships w/ the other cast members.....and personally, I just might be able to live without this. But I do understand that Ms. Marsh is deftly preparing the scene......
1/2 way through now, and some shady goings on during rehearsals..... more listening to actors' conversations.... and this is just boring.
FINALLY..... having to read the first 231 pages was PAINFUL.... 232, we have a murder and we get to the heart of the mystery, instead of a story about the Drama of Macbeth & the players!
I liked the last part of the book, the actual murder & mystery... I then understood the beginning "pranks", which for all intent & purposes served as a Red Herrings for the motive of the murder.... The clues to the murder are there... as I read the ending, I realized what was actually being oh-so-subtly being pointed out.
Overall, this bored me to tears... I just wanted to get to the point/heart of the story.... So I''m grading this down and not taking into the book's literary merit at all!”
Auntie Nanuuq . wrote this review Thursday, November 8, 2012.
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