Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Welcome to the discussion thread for Tied Up In Tinsel, by Ngaio Marsh.

Hi everyone! Good timing on this book - it takes place at a country house in England during the Christmas season. Looking forward to our discussion.

Uncle Flea and Auntie Bed 😄

I am really enjoying the nostalgia and the characters are so well described. I love Aunt Bed1

Just started, a house staff (view spoiler)[ made up of one time murderers (hide spoiler)] what could go wrong.

I love books that help increase my vocabulary.... chatelaine.

Nancy wrote: "Just started, a house staff [spoilers removed] what could go wrong.

I love books that help increase my vocabulary.... chatelaine."

Yes to the staff situation, lol. And I've probably looked up 15 words already...

I`ve just finished Tied Up In Tinsel and it was an enjoyable read. I loved the ¨staff¨, and was pleased to see that at least one of them knew exactly why they were there and the guests were an eccentric bunch.

As soon as the disappearance occured, I figured out who had done it and what the relationship between them was but didn´t get the how and the where. The why had crossed my mind but I honest didn´t think it could be that important. To my 21st century way of thinking it didn´t really matter (or am I deluding myself?)
It was a nice enjoyable read. Just right for the holidays.

What a fun read! All of the characters were memorable. And I enjoyed all the references to English writers and artists.

Just started chapter 8 and I have to say(view spoiler)[ disappointed that the body was not in the scarecrow (hide spoiler)]

Homicidal domestics...

The term “homicidal domestics” made me laugh out loud. I really like Alleyn’s character - he’s relatable and very funny, and the book improved for his arrival, in my opinion. Just about to start Ch 8...

Rubena wrote: "I`ve just finished Tied Up In Tinsel and it was an enjoyable read. I loved the ¨staff¨, and was pleased to see that at least one of them knew exactly why they were there and the guests were an ecce..."

Agreed on the staff, as well as (view spoiler)[ the motive for murder being a strange one. I’m not sure when this book is supposed to be set - written in the 70s, but reads like it’s from the 30s-40s, I thought. Perhaps it is set in an earlier time, when lineage was terribly important to these folks? (hide spoiler)]

Finished last night, and I generally liked it, but it ebbed and flowed for me. I would find myself quite engrossed and then the story would slow down or seem a little muddled. I did like the characters, and the whole idea of the homicidal domestics. There were some strange elements, like the household staff erecting a simulated burial chamber and effigy of Hillary’s late uncle...did I understand that correctly? This was a strange bunch, for sure. I did not manage to figure out the mystery. Pretty fun read, didn’t knock my socks off.

Nancy wrote: "Just started chapter 8 and I have to say[spoilers removed]

Homicidal domestics..."

It would have been fantastic if we got a (view spoiler)[ corpse in a scarecrow right after a corpse in a snowman! (hide spoiler)]

I just downloaded this one and started listening to it.

I'm like Lisa, it ebbed and flowed but overall it's not bad. I like the idea of giving ex-cons jobs.

Nancy, I had to look that one up and listen to the pronunciation too.