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Surfeit of Lampreys

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Surfeit of Lampreys

By: Ngaio Marsh
Narrated by: Philip Franks
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About this listen

Ngaio Marsh’s most popular novel begins when a young New Zealander’s first contact with the English gentry is the body of Lord Wutherford - with a meat skewer through the eye....

The Lampreys had plenty of charm - but no cash. They all knew they were peculiar - and rather gloried in it. The double and triple charades, for instance, with which they would entertain their guests - like rich but awful Uncle Gabriel, who was always such a bore. The Lampreys thought if they jollied him up he would bail them out - yet again.

Instead Uncle Gabriel met a violent end. And Chief Inspector Alleyn had to work our which of them killed him....

©1941 Original Text of 1941 by Ngaio Marsh (P)2015 Hachette Audio Cosy Espionage International Mystery & Crime Mystery Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Fiction Detective

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Critic reviews

"The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers." ( Times Literary Supplement)
"The queen of the straight crime novel - long may she reign!" ( Sunday Times)
"Brilliantly readable...first class detection." ( Observer)
"Ngaio Marsh transcended the detective genre by the power of her writing and the rich variety of characters who people her novels." (P. D. James)
All stars
Most relevant  
Beautifully read and gorgeously grotesque. A treasure from the Golddn Age of detective fiction. fourteen fifteen

Pace and Period

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Always love her books. Dated but knew that when I bought it. Dozed off a few times but nice twist at the end.

Enjoyed and finished

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Philip Franks is the best reader of Ngaio Marsh books. Please get him to do all of them.

Philip Franks

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Classic crime novel immensely enhanced by Philip Franks’ narration. An unbeatable combination, Perfectly pitched. More Marsh from Franks please.

Surfeit of Lampreys

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Large parts of this aren't a mystery novel at all, but a portrait of a family of charming posh eccentrics, a little as if 'I Capture the Castle' had a murder halfway through. If the posh eccentrics get on your nerves you will not enjoy this! But if you're in the mood to sink into that sort of thing this is cozy escapist mystery at its best, and it's hard to beat Marsh for elegant witty writing.

It would be wonderful if Philip Franks recorded the rest of the series, which is scattered over a bunch of narrators right now, his Alleyn is perfect.

Perfect escape

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As usual I really enjoyed the narration. The book is one of the best of hers so far

Beautifully narrated and fun

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Really enjoyed this story and the eccentric Lampreys
Allen brilliant as ever and a good finale

Good story

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Wonderful reading of possibly the best Alleyn story. Just wish Mr Franks could do all the Alleyn books......he is far and away the best interpreter.

Excellent

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An entertaining story in the classic Marsh style . The narrator has a lovely voice, never jarring and distinguishing characters' voices perfectly.

Classic Whodunnit

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So well written and satisfactory mystery but made exceptionally good by the quite brilliant narrator. Every character is delineated in the most seamless manner and his voice for inspector Alleyn is perfect. And in this recording the Inspector’s name is pronounced correctly as Allen. A wonderful production.

Superb narration

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