Reading the Detectives discussion

Re-enactments are often used at the end of GA novels, aren't they? Do you think it is plausible that the guilty party will admit they had done it and what if the detective knows the guilty party, but there is no evidence? This has no bearing on my enjoyment of GA detective fiction, but the evidence does often seem to be quite flimsy.

I wonder if re-enactments were ever used in real life? They work well as an alternative to getting everyone together in the drawing room, but I'm not sure they would really be effective in getting the guilty party to confess, as you say, Susan.

It's interesting that Stella Duffy's continuation of the final, unfinished Marsh (Money in the Morgue: An Inspector Alleyn Mystery) also has a re-enactment - it made me wonder if this is a feature of Marsh that is being reused as an affectionate tribute to her.

I am nearly at the end of Money in the Morgue, RC, and enjoying it enormously.

Good to hear!

It is quite clever, as you have no background to Alleyn and so it stands well, even if you haven't read any of the previous books. Hopefully, it will bring readers to the originals.

I liked the first two books so far; I really enjoyed the theatre setting in this one. It's always interesting when an author is familiar with their setting and are able to bring it out so vividly in the story. I liked the Nigel and Fox characters; I don't dislike Alleyn, but I am hoping to warm up to him more in future novels. I was also surprised at Alleyn's flirtation with Stephanie Vaughan. I didn't take it seriously-- it seemed to happen so abruptly that I thought she was being theatrical and he was playing up to that, as there had been comments earlier in the story about how all the suspects seemed to be acting and being overly dramatic during their police interviews.

I too am hoping Alleyn will develop more personality. I expect he will as the books are popular and the detective can make or break a series.

I didn't really give the scene between Alleyn and Stephanie much thought, if I am being honest! I thought he was just luring here there to catch her out. All a bit un-PC, but then so is much of the modern world...

Finished - what a tidy read. I enjoyed it very much, although Nigel was a bit more naive than I remember him in A Man Lay Dead.

I did not like the scene with Stephanie, though.

I don't think you are alone in finding the Stephanie scene a bit odd, Critterbee! I suspect Marsh was just trying things out, but hopefully will reign Alleyn's oddities in. He certainly behaves in the next book :)

That scene just threw me for a loop - here is this brilliant, all-business, polished, competent professional acting the fool. At first I thought he was merely playing into her expectation of dazzling him, which did not make feel very proud of his conduct.

Then I had to think about which was better - dishonest behavior to lull her, or unprofessional behavior where he was not in control of his emotions...

I really like this book compared to the first in the series. Although, you probably shouldn't attempt a murder in front of a crowd of people, including a detective that you know is there! 😄 This was much better than the sliding-down-the-banister murder in the last one though. And I liked the Poirot-style reenactment at the end! Not to mention there was some great slang I'm going to be using from now on! I will definitely be exclaiming hell's boots and calling my friends decent old sausages. Anyways, on to the next one!

Merry Christmas, you decent old sausages! 😄❤

Dan wrote: "I really like this book compared to the first in the series. Although, you probably shouldn't attempt a murder in front of a crowd of people, including a detective that you know is there! 😄 This wa..."

I did enjoy the use of slang in the early books in the series, even if I didn't know what she was talking about half the time ;)

Tara wrote: "I did enjoy the use of slang in the early books in the series, even if I didn't know what she was talking about half the time ;) "

I like the slang too. I've called two of my friends "old sausages" already today! 🌭🌭🤗

I just finished it. I don’t think I guessed who did it until very shortly before the killer was revealed, and even then I was considering a few people. I was most confused by the prologue. I thought it said something that the killer was revealed early, which I took to mean another character. (Are we allowed to say names in the spoiler threads too?)

Yes, names are allowed in spoiler threads.