Status Updates From A Man Lay Dead (Roderick Al...

“It is of enormous help, I find, to talk to someone who is not a CID man. You needn’t look so inordinately perky, Bathgate. I don’t expect you to solve the mystery; I merely want you to tell me how clever I am, whether you think so or not.”
😂 Inspector, I think we would get along.

The detective has produced his notebook and is showing it to the only definitely-not-guilty character, explaining all the many, many things he has investigated.
“You have been very industrious,” said Nigel.
“My memory’s so bad,” Alleyn apologized.
“Don’t be affected,” said Nigel.
“Shut up. I hate your bedroom slippers and I know you use corn plaster.”

“Turn up the lights for heaven sake,” urged Wilde. “ I’m going to miss all the fun if I can’t find my pants.”

They have just pantsed a man for fun. Agatha Christie would never.

The Russian character’s dialogue is written somewhat phonetically, and it’s not sitting quite right with me. I can’t tell if it’s bad—it doesn’t seem too stereotypical?—but I think since it’s phonetic spelled into 1930s British English, my American brain is not interpreting it in the way the author intended.

“He climbed in beside her, and almost immediately had his breath snatched away by Miss North’s extremely progressive ideas on acceleration.”