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Roderick Alleyn #21
False Scent
In a poisonous cloud of spray, the curtain falls on a drama queen.
Little did beloved British actress Mary Bellamy know that she would be done in at her own birthday party-choked by toxic mist from the bottle of "Slaypest," a deadly insecticide. Basking in the glow of her most adoring fans-who all happened to be her most duplicitous enemies-Mary would make her final performance. When Superintendent Roderick Alleyn arrives, he smells a rat amongst the contemptuous collection of theatre types detained at the party, for this case has the unmistakable scent of murder...
Little did beloved British actress Mary Bellamy know that she would be done in at her own birthday party-choked by toxic mist from the bottle of "Slaypest," a deadly insecticide. Basking in the glow of her most adoring fans-who all happened to be her most duplicitous enemies-Mary would make her final performance. When Superintendent Roderick Alleyn arrives, he smells a rat amongst the contemptuous collection of theatre types detained at the party, for this case has the unmistakable scent of murder...
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1959
255 people are currently reading
845 people want to read
About the author
Ngaio Marsh
197 books819 followersDame Ngaio Marsh, born Edith Ngaio Marsh, was a New Zealand crime writer and theatre director. There is some uncertainty over her birth date as her father neglected to register her birth until 1900, but she was born in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand.
Of all the "Great Ladies" of the English mystery's golden age, including Margery Allingham, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh alone survived to publish in the 1980s. Over a fifty-year span, from 1932 to 1982, Marsh wrote thirty-two classic English detective novels, which gained international acclaim. She did not always see herself as a writer, but first planned a career as a painter.
Marsh's first novel, A MAN LAY DEAD (1934), which she wrote in London in 1931-32, introduced the detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn: a combination of Sayers's Lord Peter Wimsey and a realistically depicted police official at work. Throughout the 1930s Marsh painted occasionally, wrote plays for local repertory societies in New Zealand, and published detective novels. In 1937 Marsh went to England for a period. Before going back to her home country, she spent six months travelling about Europe.
All her novels feature British CID detective Roderick Alleyn. Several novels feature Marsh's other loves, the theatre and painting. A number are set around theatrical productions (Enter a Murderer, Vintage Murder, Overture to Death, Opening Night, Death at the Dolphin, and Light Thickens), and two others are about actors off stage (Final Curtain and False Scent). Her short story "'I Can Find My Way Out" is also set around a theatrical production and is the earlier "Jupiter case" referred to in Opening Night. Alleyn marries a painter, Agatha Troy, whom he meets during an investigation (Artists in Crime), and who features in several later novels.
Series:
* Roderick Alleyn
Of all the "Great Ladies" of the English mystery's golden age, including Margery Allingham, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh alone survived to publish in the 1980s. Over a fifty-year span, from 1932 to 1982, Marsh wrote thirty-two classic English detective novels, which gained international acclaim. She did not always see herself as a writer, but first planned a career as a painter.
Marsh's first novel, A MAN LAY DEAD (1934), which she wrote in London in 1931-32, introduced the detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn: a combination of Sayers's Lord Peter Wimsey and a realistically depicted police official at work. Throughout the 1930s Marsh painted occasionally, wrote plays for local repertory societies in New Zealand, and published detective novels. In 1937 Marsh went to England for a period. Before going back to her home country, she spent six months travelling about Europe.
All her novels feature British CID detective Roderick Alleyn. Several novels feature Marsh's other loves, the theatre and painting. A number are set around theatrical productions (Enter a Murderer, Vintage Murder, Overture to Death, Opening Night, Death at the Dolphin, and Light Thickens), and two others are about actors off stage (Final Curtain and False Scent). Her short story "'I Can Find My Way Out" is also set around a theatrical production and is the earlier "Jupiter case" referred to in Opening Night. Alleyn marries a painter, Agatha Troy, whom he meets during an investigation (Artists in Crime), and who features in several later novels.
Series:
* Roderick Alleyn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
March 6, 2021
This murder mystery passes the sniff test.
An egotistical, bullying and aging actresses sets the scene for her last curtain call in this delightful mystery from Ngaio Marsh. This is the first book I've read by Marsh, but it won't be the last if the quality of this one matches the rest. Funnily enough I didn't realize that Ngaio Marsh was a woman.
This was written in 1960, but like a genuine classic it doesn't feel dated. There are no racist or anti-Semitic tropes as in some of the grand dames of mysteries of the time. There is a solid foundation for a well deserved murder, interesting and well drawn characters, smart, take charge police detectives and a twist or two to keep the reader guessing.
An egotistical, bullying and aging actresses sets the scene for her last curtain call in this delightful mystery from Ngaio Marsh. This is the first book I've read by Marsh, but it won't be the last if the quality of this one matches the rest. Funnily enough I didn't realize that Ngaio Marsh was a woman.
This was written in 1960, but like a genuine classic it doesn't feel dated. There are no racist or anti-Semitic tropes as in some of the grand dames of mysteries of the time. There is a solid foundation for a well deserved murder, interesting and well drawn characters, smart, take charge police detectives and a twist or two to keep the reader guessing.
September 1, 2019
This is the twenty first in the Roderick Alleyn series, first published in 1959. This mystery takes place over one day, which begins with the fiftieth birthday of actress, Mary Bellamy. Mary has been a leading lady at the theatre for years, but she is now fifty and extremely touchy about her age. As her family, and admirers, appear, she has a large party planned. However, all is not destined to go well.
Her adopted son, Richard, who has previously written comedy plays with his mother in mind, has now written a serious work, for a young, beautiful actress. Her dress designer has promised to create the outfits for her best friend, who has her first leading part. The attention, which should be turned on her, is not where it should be, leading her to feel betrayed and, when Mary is unhappy, those around her hear about it.
What should have been a day about Mary ends with her death and, as Fox and Alleyn arrive, they believe it is murder. This mystery has a slightly more modern feel, with references to the Goons and television. As she heads towards the Sixties, this particular mystery finally feels as though it is set less in the 1930’s, even though we still have a house with a butler, and a definite upstairs/downstairs vibe. Ngaio Marsh was very involved with the theatre and she seems to have enjoyed writing this, which does come across. One of her more enjoyable later mysteries, in my opinion.
Her adopted son, Richard, who has previously written comedy plays with his mother in mind, has now written a serious work, for a young, beautiful actress. Her dress designer has promised to create the outfits for her best friend, who has her first leading part. The attention, which should be turned on her, is not where it should be, leading her to feel betrayed and, when Mary is unhappy, those around her hear about it.
What should have been a day about Mary ends with her death and, as Fox and Alleyn arrive, they believe it is murder. This mystery has a slightly more modern feel, with references to the Goons and television. As she heads towards the Sixties, this particular mystery finally feels as though it is set less in the 1930’s, even though we still have a house with a butler, and a definite upstairs/downstairs vibe. Ngaio Marsh was very involved with the theatre and she seems to have enjoyed writing this, which does come across. One of her more enjoyable later mysteries, in my opinion.
September 18, 2019
False Scent (1959) by Ngaio Marsh finds Inspector Roderick Alleyn investigating another murder in the theatrical world. This time the murder is completely off-stage--in all senses of the word. Mary Bellamy is a fading stage star...but still a star to be reckoned with. The scene opens on the day her friends and family and a few important personages have been invited to her home to celebrate her fiftieth birthday. But don't mention that dreaded number to our temperamental star.
"What's a cake without candles?" said Old Ninn.
"Fifty of them....Oh, wouldn't they look lovely!"
Miss Bellamy took the only possible action. She topped Old Ninn's lines by snatching up the ritual knife and plunging it into the heart of the cake. The gesture, which may have had something of the character of a catharsis, was loudly applauded.
But the mention of the number of her years by her former nanny isn't the only catalyst for a burst of temper. Her husband, Charles Templeton, has the temerity to tell her to tone it down on her favorite scent, Formidable, and to stop using Slaypest--a highly potent and very dangerous pest killer. She doesn't do either. Florence, her personal maid tries once too often to calm her down. Her dress designer and a second-tier actress (known for helping prop the star up to shine more brightly) have deserted ship for another production. And her ward, a young and upcoming playwright who has till now written plays [comedies] only for her, has ventured into new territory [the dramatic] and produced a script that has most obviously not been written with her in mind. He has also taken up with a lovely young actress for whom he has written the play.
Richard Dakers, the ward, can't see that Mary is not going to be pleased as punch to read a play that isn't for her. He can't fathom that she won't love Anelida (his young actress) as much as he does. And he is perfectly blind to the fact that bringing Anelida to Mary's birthday party and introducing her to a producer and director in theater world (and, most particularly, in Mary's theater world) right under Mary's nose just might make her really mad. So mad that she leaves her guests, tells him a few disturbing things about himself, and then...apparently sprays herself with Slaypest. Was it just a dreadful accident while she was in an incoherent rage? Or did one of the people she had told off that day have enough of her tantrums and stop them for good? Alleyn and Fox arrive on the scene and immediately see pointers towards murder--but which of the supporting players pulled down the curtain on the star?
Marsh's writing about theater personalities is some of her best. She portrays them with a depth and reality that comes from her personal experiences in the world of the stage. The set up is very good--she provides plenty of background and establishes the characters and their relationships to one another. We get a very good look at our murder victim--with all her faults and vanities on display. The way in which the murder is done is a bit obvious and it's disconcerting that Alleyn apparently doesn't catch on to it until very late in the book. But that is one of the few drawbacks. Over all, another enjoyable read from Marsh. As I have been rereading her mysteries in order, I have been reminded how much I enjoyed discovering them almost 40 years ago (really? could that be possible?). ★★★ and 3/4.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any review content. Thanks.
"What's a cake without candles?" said Old Ninn.
"Fifty of them....Oh, wouldn't they look lovely!"
Miss Bellamy took the only possible action. She topped Old Ninn's lines by snatching up the ritual knife and plunging it into the heart of the cake. The gesture, which may have had something of the character of a catharsis, was loudly applauded.
But the mention of the number of her years by her former nanny isn't the only catalyst for a burst of temper. Her husband, Charles Templeton, has the temerity to tell her to tone it down on her favorite scent, Formidable, and to stop using Slaypest--a highly potent and very dangerous pest killer. She doesn't do either. Florence, her personal maid tries once too often to calm her down. Her dress designer and a second-tier actress (known for helping prop the star up to shine more brightly) have deserted ship for another production. And her ward, a young and upcoming playwright who has till now written plays [comedies] only for her, has ventured into new territory [the dramatic] and produced a script that has most obviously not been written with her in mind. He has also taken up with a lovely young actress for whom he has written the play.
Richard Dakers, the ward, can't see that Mary is not going to be pleased as punch to read a play that isn't for her. He can't fathom that she won't love Anelida (his young actress) as much as he does. And he is perfectly blind to the fact that bringing Anelida to Mary's birthday party and introducing her to a producer and director in theater world (and, most particularly, in Mary's theater world) right under Mary's nose just might make her really mad. So mad that she leaves her guests, tells him a few disturbing things about himself, and then...apparently sprays herself with Slaypest. Was it just a dreadful accident while she was in an incoherent rage? Or did one of the people she had told off that day have enough of her tantrums and stop them for good? Alleyn and Fox arrive on the scene and immediately see pointers towards murder--but which of the supporting players pulled down the curtain on the star?
Marsh's writing about theater personalities is some of her best. She portrays them with a depth and reality that comes from her personal experiences in the world of the stage. The set up is very good--she provides plenty of background and establishes the characters and their relationships to one another. We get a very good look at our murder victim--with all her faults and vanities on display. The way in which the murder is done is a bit obvious and it's disconcerting that Alleyn apparently doesn't catch on to it until very late in the book. But that is one of the few drawbacks. Over all, another enjoyable read from Marsh. As I have been rereading her mysteries in order, I have been reminded how much I enjoyed discovering them almost 40 years ago (really? could that be possible?). ★★★ and 3/4.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any review content. Thanks.
July 9, 2019
This is the first novel I have read of Ngaio Marsh. I hesitated for a while because I had read a short story by her and was not all that impressed. This novel, however, has changed my mind dramatically.
An aging actress is having a birthday party. We meet her and the various people that play roles in her life. I will not say more than that because there are several elements of surprise. You'll have to read the book to find out who is murdered, why anyone would want to murder this person (hint: there are ample reasons, or rather one profound reason many people would be motivated to do away with this individual) and all the clues and details that add up to a well-planned and subtle executing of a crime that no one, including the reader, regrets.
I thought Marsh's writing style was outstanding. Her characters all have strong voices and convincing personalities. I relished her dialogue and narration. The mystery was fine as mysteries go and Marsh certainly deserves her place in the Golden Era of Detective Author's Hall of Fame, but it was that beautiful writing, the descriptions that packed force, but never overly described that sell this book.
Her method of allowing us to see everyone's emotions and thoughts and motives was eloquent as well as effective in moving the storyline forward.
I hope to read many more of Marsh's books.
An aging actress is having a birthday party. We meet her and the various people that play roles in her life. I will not say more than that because there are several elements of surprise. You'll have to read the book to find out who is murdered, why anyone would want to murder this person (hint: there are ample reasons, or rather one profound reason many people would be motivated to do away with this individual) and all the clues and details that add up to a well-planned and subtle executing of a crime that no one, including the reader, regrets.
I thought Marsh's writing style was outstanding. Her characters all have strong voices and convincing personalities. I relished her dialogue and narration. The mystery was fine as mysteries go and Marsh certainly deserves her place in the Golden Era of Detective Author's Hall of Fame, but it was that beautiful writing, the descriptions that packed force, but never overly described that sell this book.
Her method of allowing us to see everyone's emotions and thoughts and motives was eloquent as well as effective in moving the storyline forward.
I hope to read many more of Marsh's books.
June 27, 2021
False Scent is the 21st book in Ngaio Marsh's Roderick Alleyn mystery series. I've enjoyed this series very much. Each story is different; some laid out almost as plays, some centered on his wife, artist Troy, or his young son. This one was most entertaining.
For the first half we meet the cast of characters. Mary Bellamy is an aging stage actress about to celebrate her 50th birthday; shhh, don't tell anyone how old she is. As they prepare for the big event, she suffers a number of setbacks. Her ward, playwright Dickie Dakers, who has written a number of successful comedies for Mary, is now writing a serious drama, created for the girl next door, who he now loves. Mary is offended by this seeming treachery. Her make up man, Bertie, is now helping character actress, Pinky, who has just received a major play. More drama for Mary. She takes it out on this group, also her lady assistant, who she fires, and even her husband Charles.
Of course, Mary ends up dead and this is where Inspector Alleyn and DS Fox turn up. They spend the rest of the book at Mary's home, investigating. Was it an accident involving a poisonous weed-killer. Mary had been warned many times not to use it, especially indoors, as it was dangerous. Was it suicide, due to her feelings of anger and depression? Or was it murder?
It's an interesting story. Alleyn finds himself constantly frustrated by the reticence and intransigence of the 'suspects'. Nobody wants to be the one to tell him about the events that took place the day of her death. Everybody is hiding something. Floy, the maid, is an angry woman, in love with Mary, who suspects Ninn, the nanny. Ninn loves Dickie and won't hear a word against him. And so it goes on. It's a fascinating character study, if you will. The personalities are interesting, the stage references are as well. And Alleyn, and his capable partner Fox, are deliberate and determined and intelligent. I had ideas of what took place and figured out some things. But that's not the purpose of the story. It's too enjoy the characters and the investigation. Well-written and enjoyable. (4 stars)
For the first half we meet the cast of characters. Mary Bellamy is an aging stage actress about to celebrate her 50th birthday; shhh, don't tell anyone how old she is. As they prepare for the big event, she suffers a number of setbacks. Her ward, playwright Dickie Dakers, who has written a number of successful comedies for Mary, is now writing a serious drama, created for the girl next door, who he now loves. Mary is offended by this seeming treachery. Her make up man, Bertie, is now helping character actress, Pinky, who has just received a major play. More drama for Mary. She takes it out on this group, also her lady assistant, who she fires, and even her husband Charles.
Of course, Mary ends up dead and this is where Inspector Alleyn and DS Fox turn up. They spend the rest of the book at Mary's home, investigating. Was it an accident involving a poisonous weed-killer. Mary had been warned many times not to use it, especially indoors, as it was dangerous. Was it suicide, due to her feelings of anger and depression? Or was it murder?
It's an interesting story. Alleyn finds himself constantly frustrated by the reticence and intransigence of the 'suspects'. Nobody wants to be the one to tell him about the events that took place the day of her death. Everybody is hiding something. Floy, the maid, is an angry woman, in love with Mary, who suspects Ninn, the nanny. Ninn loves Dickie and won't hear a word against him. And so it goes on. It's a fascinating character study, if you will. The personalities are interesting, the stage references are as well. And Alleyn, and his capable partner Fox, are deliberate and determined and intelligent. I had ideas of what took place and figured out some things. But that's not the purpose of the story. It's too enjoy the characters and the investigation. Well-written and enjoyable. (4 stars)
March 15, 2021
It always takes me a minute to get my bearings when reading Marsh. The language evades me somewhat so I have to rely on plot, which is very fine. In this, we have theatre people and the strong personalities that go with them at birthday time. False scents indeed.
June 3, 2022
SPOILERS AHEAD
An excellent mystery. Mary Bellamy an aging, narcissistic theatre actress is having her fiftieth birthday. The stage is set. She see’s conspiracy and plots against her. Her husband Peter Temperton, his ward Richard Daker’s, Colonel Warrender, Pinky, Bertie, Florence the dresser and the ageing nanny all feel Mary’s anger.
Just before the unwrapping of the birthday presents Mary is found dead in her bedroom where it appears she sprayed herself with the deadly pesticide Slaypest. Lots of suspects. Alleyn and Fox are soon on the scene. The Conservatory where Mary let lose her wrath on several suspects is a focus with the investigation. What was said?
The red herrings are excellent. I thought Pinky was the murderer when in fact it was Mary’s husband. His motive bizarrely was she had revealed she was the mother of Richard and his cousin Colonel Warrender the father. There was also a hint she was going mad and becoming mentally unstable.
A good read.
An excellent mystery. Mary Bellamy an aging, narcissistic theatre actress is having her fiftieth birthday. The stage is set. She see’s conspiracy and plots against her. Her husband Peter Temperton, his ward Richard Daker’s, Colonel Warrender, Pinky, Bertie, Florence the dresser and the ageing nanny all feel Mary’s anger.
Just before the unwrapping of the birthday presents Mary is found dead in her bedroom where it appears she sprayed herself with the deadly pesticide Slaypest. Lots of suspects. Alleyn and Fox are soon on the scene. The Conservatory where Mary let lose her wrath on several suspects is a focus with the investigation. What was said?
The red herrings are excellent. I thought Pinky was the murderer when in fact it was Mary’s husband. His motive bizarrely was she had revealed she was the mother of Richard and his cousin Colonel Warrender the father. There was also a hint she was going mad and becoming mentally unstable.
A good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2021
This is another of Marsh’s mysteries related to the theater. It’s lots of fun, and the whodunnit was quite a surprise.
March 12, 2020
The book I read was paperback from Felony & Mayhem, published 2015, originally pub 1960.
This wraps things up for me in my quest to read all the Roderick Alleyn books form Marsh. These last two books involved theater people, not my favorite. There is a grand lady of the theater reaching her 50th birthday and ruling her domain as she ever does with a faithful maid and husband at beck and call. It is quite an assembly of characters who gather to pay their respects with a decided feeling of doom coming to call.
Alleyn and Fox pair up to collect evidence, testimony as they also attempt to manage the scene after the first murder when yet another death is added to the toll.
Chapter Four opening:
"It might be argued that the difference between high tragedy and melodrama rests in the indisputable fact that the latter is more true to nature. People, even the larger-than-life people of the theatre, tend at moments of tension to express themselves not in unexpected or memorable phrases but in clichés," I can attest to that.
Library Loan
This wraps things up for me in my quest to read all the Roderick Alleyn books form Marsh. These last two books involved theater people, not my favorite. There is a grand lady of the theater reaching her 50th birthday and ruling her domain as she ever does with a faithful maid and husband at beck and call. It is quite an assembly of characters who gather to pay their respects with a decided feeling of doom coming to call.
Alleyn and Fox pair up to collect evidence, testimony as they also attempt to manage the scene after the first murder when yet another death is added to the toll.
Chapter Four opening:
"It might be argued that the difference between high tragedy and melodrama rests in the indisputable fact that the latter is more true to nature. People, even the larger-than-life people of the theatre, tend at moments of tension to express themselves not in unexpected or memorable phrases but in clichés," I can attest to that.
Library Loan
September 20, 2019
One of the more readable later books by Marsh with her knowledge of the theatre being put to good use.
August 23, 2019
One of Marsh's better books I thought. It certainly had me guessing. A temperamental actress, as she comes across to the reader, dying at her 50th birthday party,where she upsets lots of guests. People lurking on landings or worse for wear on celebrating are all suspects for Allyen and Fox to sort out, along with family and servants who are also very upset.
June 30, 2021
Originally published on my blog here in February 1999.
This is one of the most theatrical of all Marsh's novels, being both about the stage and also very stagy in its setting, mostly taking place in a few rooms like a stage play. Oddly, it is missing a theatrical feature common to most (if not all) of her other novels: there is no "Cast of Characters" at the beginning.
Mary Bellamy, for thirty years the leading lady of the London stage, is about to hold a magnificent party to celebrate her fiftieth birthday. Her temperament, never the most equable, has gradually become more and more difficult; during her birthday she quarrels in turn with her long-time second lead and dress designer (who have dared to accept an engagement to work elsewhere); her adopted son, Richard, who is also the author of the plays she appears in, because he has just written his best work (with no part for her in it), and because she is jealous of his attachment to his new girlfriend, who is to be the leading lady in this new play; her manager and director, who have agreed to put on Richard's new play; and her husband, who asked her not to wear a perfume he dislikes intensely, given to her as a birthday present. All these arguments come to a head with a ferocious tantrum during the party - and then she is found dead, rather gruesomely killed with a strong weed-killer put into the perfume spray.
The character of Mary Bellamy is repellent; the success of False Scent is the way that you sympathise strongly with the murderer and don't want them to be discovered. It is, however, one of Marsh's more trashy and melodramatic novels; but that doesn't stop it being fun to read.
This is one of the most theatrical of all Marsh's novels, being both about the stage and also very stagy in its setting, mostly taking place in a few rooms like a stage play. Oddly, it is missing a theatrical feature common to most (if not all) of her other novels: there is no "Cast of Characters" at the beginning.
Mary Bellamy, for thirty years the leading lady of the London stage, is about to hold a magnificent party to celebrate her fiftieth birthday. Her temperament, never the most equable, has gradually become more and more difficult; during her birthday she quarrels in turn with her long-time second lead and dress designer (who have dared to accept an engagement to work elsewhere); her adopted son, Richard, who is also the author of the plays she appears in, because he has just written his best work (with no part for her in it), and because she is jealous of his attachment to his new girlfriend, who is to be the leading lady in this new play; her manager and director, who have agreed to put on Richard's new play; and her husband, who asked her not to wear a perfume he dislikes intensely, given to her as a birthday present. All these arguments come to a head with a ferocious tantrum during the party - and then she is found dead, rather gruesomely killed with a strong weed-killer put into the perfume spray.
The character of Mary Bellamy is repellent; the success of False Scent is the way that you sympathise strongly with the murderer and don't want them to be discovered. It is, however, one of Marsh's more trashy and melodramatic novels; but that doesn't stop it being fun to read.
May 3, 2012
Always love Ngaio Marsh books and this one was no exception. Like most cozy mysteries, this one features a murder victiom you love to hate. I like the way the book begins with an imagined funeral for Mary Bellamy and ends with the actual funeral. Inspector Roderick Alleyn and his Sgt. Fox work together, Alleyn working the upper class while Fox works the servants. These books take place during the 1930s and 40s so class distinctions are very evident. I like the colorful characters that give the book punch; Bertie, Pinky and Octavius Brown. Some Ngaio Marsh books are written with a more serious tone. This one is lighter and more of a lark. I like both styles.
May 29, 2015
Re reading after 25 years and Ngaio Marsh still seems a genius and Alleyn the perfect detective...
November 12, 2020
This is a quite enjoyable puzzle style mystery set within the house of a wealthy actress and her husband.
Read
March 19, 2016I always feel so smug when I figure out the murderer ahead of time. In this case, I had said murderer pegged from first appearance -"he (or she - no spoilers here!) is going to do it!" And I guessed why and even how. Well done, self.
November 6, 2022
Twenty-first in the Inspector Roderick Alleyn vintage mystery series and revolving around a Scotland Yard detective in the late 1950s.
My Take
Well, it does tell you how great Miss Bellamy's ego is when it starts off with her fantasy about who's attending her funeral!
And it only gets worse when she discovers her friends are getting good breaks. Vindictive, selfish, rude, exceedingly temperamental. She's aging and getting so mean, that her compatriots are moving on. Producers, writers, and her husband are all ticked off with her behavior.
I do love Br'er Fox. He's stolid, has a sense of humor, is working on his French, and has his own way with staff. Alleyn is, of course, his usual insightful and intelligent self, who works his way through the facts, lies, and evasions.
There's quite the adversarial relationship between Old Ninn and Florence. Whee-ooh! That Florence is just plain nasty!
Poor usual, Marsh has plenty of secrets to reveal along with "witnesses" who won't tell the whole truth. Alleyn, of course, does his schtick where he tells his compatriots what he thinks . . . but doesn't tell us, except to conclude! Arghh. Of course, it does make the story more intriguing, lol.
Marsh is using third person global subjective point-of-view from the perspectives of a number of characters, so we know what occurs between different characters as well as what they're thinking and feeling.
It's so very character-driven, especially around Mary Bellamy. What a witch! Many of the others are involved in the theatre and dramatic in their roles.
Romance-wise, it feels put on, not real, especially with Anelida cold one minute and warm the next.
Mystery-wise. Yep. It's a mystery all right. Marsh kept me in suspense right to the end. With a weirdly Happily Ever After.
The Story
It's her birthday and everything should revolve around her, everything. Including everything about her career. No one else should be able to build on her success!
Fortunately, Mary Bellamy is a great actress and is determined to show her sociable face to her party guests, even as she attacks her family.
The Characters
Chief Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn is from a higher social strata than most cops, and he's in CID at Scotland Yard. His wife, Troy, is a famous painter. His team includes Inspector Fox "Br'er Fox", Detective-Sergeant (DS) Bailey whose specialty is fingerprints, DS Thompson who's a dab hand with a camera, and Dr Curtis, the police surgeon. Police Constable Philpott is part of this investigation.
Miss Mary Bellamy is a famous actress on the stage in London and loves to garden. Poor Charles Templeton, her husband, a self-made man, is always her last thought. And he's persnickety about objects being perfect. Colonel Maurice Warrender is Charles' cousin and friend. Miss Clara Plumtree, a.k.a. Old Ninn, is Mary's family nurse. Florence "Floy" is her dresser and personal maid. Gracefield is the butler.
Richard Dakers, Miss Bellamy and Charles' ward, has written a new play, Husbandry in Heaven.
The adventurous Bertie Saracen is Mary's great friend who has created her dresses since she first stepped on a stage. Kate "Pinky" Cavendish has been playing supportive roles to Mary Bellamy and finally has an offer for a lead role. Dr Frank Harkness is Miss Bellamy's physician and an old friend of Ocatavius Browne's, who owns the Pegasus bookshop next door. He and Anelida Lee, a.k.a. Nell, his niece and an up-and-coming actress, are great friends of Richard's — Charles likes them, too. Hodge is their cat.
Theatre
The Management includes Montague Marchant with Miss Bellamy holding a significant percentage. Timon "Timmy" Gantry is "the great producer". Bongo Dillon writes plays. George is the stage doorkeeper at the Unicorn.
Florrie is a friend of Miss Bellamy's in New York. Mrs Tinker is a flower-woman. Guests at the birthday party include Bunny, Paul, and Tony.
The Cover and Title
The cover is fuchsia and lilac. The top half of the cover barely has the usual gradient and is the background for the gradated title in deep lilac to white. The stretched-out banner of lilac in the center showcases the author's name in its deco font and deep purple in solids and etched lines with a white glow around it. The bottom of the cover focuses on a purplish pink azalea with red stamens and surrounded by bright green leaves. White lines with scallops on one side ray out from the bottom center to the sides with gradations of dark to light purple on each side. At the very bottom is a lilac arch with the series information in white.
The title is true enough, for it's a False Scent that betrays.
My Take
Well, it does tell you how great Miss Bellamy's ego is when it starts off with her fantasy about who's attending her funeral!
And it only gets worse when she discovers her friends are getting good breaks. Vindictive, selfish, rude, exceedingly temperamental. She's aging and getting so mean, that her compatriots are moving on. Producers, writers, and her husband are all ticked off with her behavior.
I do love Br'er Fox. He's stolid, has a sense of humor, is working on his French, and has his own way with staff. Alleyn is, of course, his usual insightful and intelligent self, who works his way through the facts, lies, and evasions.
There's quite the adversarial relationship between Old Ninn and Florence. Whee-ooh! That Florence is just plain nasty!
Poor usual, Marsh has plenty of secrets to reveal along with "witnesses" who won't tell the whole truth. Alleyn, of course, does his schtick where he tells his compatriots what he thinks . . . but doesn't tell us, except to conclude! Arghh. Of course, it does make the story more intriguing, lol.
Marsh is using third person global subjective point-of-view from the perspectives of a number of characters, so we know what occurs between different characters as well as what they're thinking and feeling.
It's so very character-driven, especially around Mary Bellamy. What a witch! Many of the others are involved in the theatre and dramatic in their roles.
Romance-wise, it feels put on, not real, especially with Anelida cold one minute and warm the next.
Mystery-wise. Yep. It's a mystery all right. Marsh kept me in suspense right to the end. With a weirdly Happily Ever After.
The Story
It's her birthday and everything should revolve around her, everything. Including everything about her career. No one else should be able to build on her success!
Fortunately, Mary Bellamy is a great actress and is determined to show her sociable face to her party guests, even as she attacks her family.
The Characters
Chief Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn is from a higher social strata than most cops, and he's in CID at Scotland Yard. His wife, Troy, is a famous painter. His team includes Inspector Fox "Br'er Fox", Detective-Sergeant (DS) Bailey whose specialty is fingerprints, DS Thompson who's a dab hand with a camera, and Dr Curtis, the police surgeon. Police Constable Philpott is part of this investigation.
Miss Mary Bellamy is a famous actress on the stage in London and loves to garden. Poor Charles Templeton, her husband, a self-made man, is always her last thought. And he's persnickety about objects being perfect. Colonel Maurice Warrender is Charles' cousin and friend. Miss Clara Plumtree, a.k.a. Old Ninn, is Mary's family nurse. Florence "Floy" is her dresser and personal maid. Gracefield is the butler.
Richard Dakers, Miss Bellamy and Charles' ward, has written a new play, Husbandry in Heaven.
The adventurous Bertie Saracen is Mary's great friend who has created her dresses since she first stepped on a stage. Kate "Pinky" Cavendish has been playing supportive roles to Mary Bellamy and finally has an offer for a lead role. Dr Frank Harkness is Miss Bellamy's physician and an old friend of Ocatavius Browne's, who owns the Pegasus bookshop next door. He and Anelida Lee, a.k.a. Nell, his niece and an up-and-coming actress, are great friends of Richard's — Charles likes them, too. Hodge is their cat.
Theatre
The Management includes Montague Marchant with Miss Bellamy holding a significant percentage. Timon "Timmy" Gantry is "the great producer". Bongo Dillon writes plays. George is the stage doorkeeper at the Unicorn.
Florrie is a friend of Miss Bellamy's in New York. Mrs Tinker is a flower-woman. Guests at the birthday party include Bunny, Paul, and Tony.
The Cover and Title
The cover is fuchsia and lilac. The top half of the cover barely has the usual gradient and is the background for the gradated title in deep lilac to white. The stretched-out banner of lilac in the center showcases the author's name in its deco font and deep purple in solids and etched lines with a white glow around it. The bottom of the cover focuses on a purplish pink azalea with red stamens and surrounded by bright green leaves. White lines with scallops on one side ray out from the bottom center to the sides with gradations of dark to light purple on each side. At the very bottom is a lilac arch with the series information in white.
The title is true enough, for it's a False Scent that betrays.
March 20, 2018
Mary Bellamy is excited to celebrate her 50th birthday with a party in which all the best stars in the theater world will attend in Ngaio Marsh’s False Scent. Mary is deeply self-centered and reminds everyone she has ever helped of how they would never have been a success without her. This leads to a massive temper tantrum when her friend Pinkie announces that she has been given the lead in a new play. Then, Mary’s ward, Richard Dakers, an up-and-coming playwright, writes a brand new type of play, and Mary assumes that the lead character, a young woman, was written for herself. However, Richard has in mind someone else: Anelida Lee, the Toby actress he is courting. At Mary’s big birthday party, the producers for Richard’s new play arrange for Anelida to play the lead, but when Mary gets wind of this, she throws the tantrum to beat all tantrums. Storming up to her room to refresh her makeup, Mary doesn’t come down for her celebration, leading her personal maid, Florence, to utter the fateful words, “Is there a doctor in the house?” But it is too late. Mary is already dead.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
June 27, 2021
Really not my favourite Marsh book. This is set over the course of an evening with the murder case of a highly strung actress at her own Birthday.
The build up in this book to ages - the murder almost halfway through. Marsh often does this type of slow build up well, but for me it didn’t work at all here. The characters were somewhat uninteresting and felt recycled from her previous books, which made it drag in places. Even Alleyn didn’t seem quite his usual self. Ultimately, the end was clever but predictable.
As Marsh’s books always are, this was well written, atmospheric and generally held my interest. For me though, it just didn’t stand out.
The build up in this book to ages - the murder almost halfway through. Marsh often does this type of slow build up well, but for me it didn’t work at all here. The characters were somewhat uninteresting and felt recycled from her previous books, which made it drag in places. Even Alleyn didn’t seem quite his usual self. Ultimately, the end was clever but predictable.
As Marsh’s books always are, this was well written, atmospheric and generally held my interest. For me though, it just didn’t stand out.
October 18, 2021
I enjoy how Marsh sets the stage and how she reveals the characters and their personalities before the murder takes place. Once again we have an annoying actress named Mary along with the obligatory love sick couple. Many of the characters have a motive for killing her. It’s up to Alleyn to sniff out the murderer. I did guess who!
September 27, 2019
An interesting way to commit impromptu murder in this entry of the Alleyn series! I figured out the guilty party fairly early (even before the murder had happened!) though there were critical aspects that I didn't get until Alleyn explained them.
April 12, 2021
Marsh is often at her best when she sets her novels in the world of theatre and actors, as she does here. And I really like the tight time frame of this, where the entire plot takes place between morning and late that night. The motivation for the murder felt a little weak to me, but overall this was exactly the kind of reading fun I needed while lying on the couch not feeling well.
December 3, 2023
The wording and trying to figure out who was talking when made it slightly difficult to read. Once I was accustomed to the writing style, I couldn't help but think that this book reminded me of the board game Clue.
April 13, 2025
See my review for Death in a White Tie. All still holds. I have made progress in following the clues and spotting the red herrings when they occur. Build up to the murder excellent beginning with end to help the reader focus on salient facts? Great formula live these novels.
August 13, 2019
Haven’t read this for about 25 years and I’d forgotten how good Ngaio Marsh is. Superb.
June 14, 2018
An aging stage actress facing her 50th birthday, a wealthy husband, a ward who is a successful playwright, a young new actress who is his love interest, a milieu of playwrights and fans, a gift of expensive perfume, and a bottle of deadly poison to kill bugs on plants = a formula for a murder (or two).
Phrase Marsh uses in several of her books: "nod like a mandarin" - it sounds politically insensitive. I only found one mention of what it meant online so far "nod in exaggeration, nod urgently and incessantly."
Phrase Marsh uses in several of her books: "nod like a mandarin" - it sounds politically insensitive. I only found one mention of what it meant online so far "nod in exaggeration, nod urgently and incessantly."
January 5, 2017
#21 in the series, and although it takes place entirely in a private home in London, this is another of Marsh's theatrical mysteries. This one centers on an "aging" actress who throws two massive temperaments on the occasion of her 50th birthday and enrages all the important people in her life—leading to her murder by a method that is reflected in the title [and foreshadowed by what we might call a Chekhovian spray gun of pesticide].
Marsh herself was active in the theater her entire life; she was triply gifted in writing, drama, and art. So she writes vividly and in some ways affectionately about actors, but also with penetrating insight and a sardonicism that comes perilously close to disdain at times.
This book was published in 1960, and so for us now it is uncomfortable to read the way she portrays characters whom I assume she wanted us to assume were gay; to 21st century readers, it's stereotyped and derogatory, but I don't think she meant it that way, based on quotes from earlier novels.
But she does seem to have a "thing" against both middle-aged people and overweight women, two traits that she often combines in female characters. In this book, that applies to the murder victim, the actress Mary Bellamy. Also, even though Marsh herself was in her sixties, I believe, when she wrote this book, she portrays people of fifty and sixty as physical wrecks, even using the epithet "elderly" to label them. Perhaps back in the 1960s people aged more poorly; they certainly drank and smoked all the time. But today it's not uncommon for a person of sixty to remain quite vital and active.
Marsh herself was active in the theater her entire life; she was triply gifted in writing, drama, and art. So she writes vividly and in some ways affectionately about actors, but also with penetrating insight and a sardonicism that comes perilously close to disdain at times.
This book was published in 1960, and so for us now it is uncomfortable to read the way she portrays characters whom I assume she wanted us to assume were gay; to 21st century readers, it's stereotyped and derogatory, but I don't think she meant it that way, based on quotes from earlier novels.
But she does seem to have a "thing" against both middle-aged people and overweight women, two traits that she often combines in female characters. In this book, that applies to the murder victim, the actress Mary Bellamy. Also, even though Marsh herself was in her sixties, I believe, when she wrote this book, she portrays people of fifty and sixty as physical wrecks, even using the epithet "elderly" to label them. Perhaps back in the 1960s people aged more poorly; they certainly drank and smoked all the time. But today it's not uncommon for a person of sixty to remain quite vital and active.
July 22, 2017
This was a fascinating story; even though I was re-reading it, it kept me riveted until the end - even after I remembered the murderer! A famous stage star, very egotistical, has been showing signs of ever-increasing 'temperaments' - or tantrums, to the point where both her husband and her management are becoming concerned. Her ward Richard has written a new play, a drama, which she immediately assumes is for her, since he has written very successful comedies for her in the past. However, the protagonist is a young woman, and Mary Bellamy is celebrating her 50th birthday (although she would never admit it.) This plus some other incidents set off a tantrum, from which she more or less recovers in time for the birthday party. However, Richard invites their neighbor, an old bookseller, and his young niece, on whom Richard has his eye. This sets Mary off again, especially when she hears that the niece is being considered for the starring role in the play. After some vitriolic comments, she storms off to her room, and is later discovered dead, thoroughly sprayed with a toxic bug-killer she uses for her plants. The 'scent' of the title refers to a gift bottle of very potent perfume, which her husband begs her not to use but she insists. Alleyn and Fox have to deal with some 50 people at the party, Mary's husband and his dicky heart, a family friend, a group of affected actors, a drunk doctor, and the infighting of Mary's two servants. Everyone is being very close-mouthed or trying to be. Of course Alleyn eventually figures it out, but getting there is fascinating.
October 15, 2020
The question here is never "how?" but "who?" in this fair to middling outing by Marsh involving a feisty actress turning (let's not say it out loud, oh no, someone DOES!) fifty at a gala birthday party who manages to spray herself with insecticide rather than her newest scent. I . But don't worry. Alleyn and Fox have it.
And a word about the series.....what ever happened to Bathgate, "Alleyn's Watson?" That alone was always a bit annoying when it was clear that Alleyn and Fox were written in the stars, but did Bathgate just disappear? Will we ever see him again? Odd, that.
And a word about the series.....what ever happened to Bathgate, "Alleyn's Watson?" That alone was always a bit annoying when it was clear that Alleyn and Fox were written in the stars, but did Bathgate just disappear? Will we ever see him again? Odd, that.
August 21, 2013
I didn't like Mary Bellamy at all,She was so controlling.Just because you are the face of one of the biggest theatrical companies,doesn't mean you be rude to almost everyone,even friends.As much as she was great in what she did,I just couldn't believe how mad she got when she heard that that Bertie would help Pinky in an upcoming play she was to feature yet for almost 25 years they were all loyal to her,and the fact she was jealous of upcoming talent was just not right.She felt that everyone owed her which was not right.Although her death was totally unexpected so many of her friends were so relieved.I could say her stubbornness killed her but whoever did it,I couldn't believe it.Good stuff
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