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Artists in Crime
- Narrated by: Philip Franks
- Series: Roderick Alleyn, Book 6
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
Summary
One of Ngaio Marsh’s most famous murder mysteries, which introduces Inspector Alleyn to his future wife, the irrepressible Agatha Troy.
It started as a student exercise, the knife under the drape, the model’s pose chalked in place. But before Agatha Troy, artist and instructor, returns to the class, the pose has been reenacted in earnest: the model is dead, fixed forever in one of the most dramatic poses Troy has ever seen.
It’s a difficult case for Chief Detective Inspector Alleyn. How can he believe that the woman he loves is a murderess? And yet no one can be above suspicion....
Critic reviews
What listeners say about Artists in Crime
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms Jane E. Knight
- 02-12-15
Brilliantly read
Phillip Franks creates the characters beautifully. This is a very satisfying novel by a "Queen of crime". It is an audiobook I can imagine listening to again - like a well loved radio play. I will seek out the narrator again.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sharon Spiteri
- 05-06-16
The pronunciation of Alleyn grates
It's pronounced Allen, the y is silent. Ngaio Marsh herself said so. Shame because the rest is fine. But I get a jolt every time I hear the pronunciation of Alleyn. And he's the main character. So he gets mentioned a lot. Groan.
11 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sheryl Mason
- 01-11-15
At last, more Golden Age Mysteries!
What made the experience of listening to Artists in Crime the most enjoyable?
Obviously, to me, the experience of hearing one of the few New Zealand authors to belong in the Golden Age of murder mysteries. Ngaio Marsh was also a member of The Detection Club in the UK in the 1930's.
Philip Franks does a superb job on this book. The characters are clearly sketched but not overdone (he even manages to get the Australian accent about right).
Overall, I'd have to say that this is my favourite Marsh book. The story combined with the narration make it a pure joy to listen to.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Artists in Crime?
The first meeting between Troy and Alleyn.
Which character – as performed by Philip Franks – was your favourite?
To be honest, they all were. He did such a great job.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
No real emotional reaction. This book (and the others by Ngaio Marsh) rate up there with Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers. They're what I'd call cozy murders.
Any additional comments?
Can we have the rest please?
3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Pms
- 10-08-17
Gets Alleyn's name wrong
Ngaio Marsh specified it is pronounced Allen. Really off putting to hear Allayne.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JUDITH HIGHCOCK
- 18-08-20
Wrong name
love this book read it many years ago but how sad that the narrator mispronounces the main characters name. In the name Alleyn the y is silent therefore name is pronounced Allen not Alain. Sorry to be so picky but when you know and love a character its really irritating and spoils an otherwise enjoyable story.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Libby Hall
- 29-02-20
Narration was brilliant
How I wish Philip Franks had narrated all of the unabridged Ngaio Marsh! You forget it is one man doing it all. His voices and accents are marvellous. The story itself is pretty more gruesome in parts. But then as with all the best 'Golden Age' mysteries, everything comes right in the end, justice is done and comforting cosiness is restored.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Susan Alibone
- 24-07-19
Brilliant
Great writing by Ms March and excellently narrated. Could not stop listening. looking forward to more of her work
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark
- 24-12-17
Excellent
Superb story, and the narration was first rate. Will get more of Ms Marsh's books
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- slb
- 13-10-16
Wonderful
I devoured all the Alleyn books many years ago and still re read them. This Audible reading had me riveted. Although I knew the story well I was drawn completely into the world of the artists, Troy and Alleyn. Philip Franks has a very subtle style, the characters were credible and very distinctive, he never over plays things. So many male readers sound like pantomime dames when interpreting female parts...but his are quiet and distinctive. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Well done to all concerned.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Adelaid fan
- 08-03-21
Wonderful narration by Philip Frank'
I've always enjoyed Ngaio Marsh's writing, her discriptive passages are sensational getting right down to the facts of the matter. love them. Truly transportative.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Phebe
- 13-10-16
Brilliant reading
This is a reasonably obvious Ngaio Marsh mystery, set up as a venue for the courtship between Alleyn and his future wife, Troy. It is the reading that makes this story delightful: Philip Franks is brilliant with the accents and characterizations, all of them, men and women alike. He is especially good with English social class. Most of the mystery characters are artists, and are sharply differentiated. This reader is so good that I am getting more of his books.
7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Karoline Thorstensen
- 02-10-20
Love the story but
As per usual it's a brilliant story by Ngaio Marsh, but it's all a bit spoiled by the fact that the performer pronounces Alleyn's name incorrectly
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- peter
- 04-09-20
Enjoyable
Somewhat contrived plot but then all mystery plots are contrived to a greater or lesser degree. NM writes well and has likable main characters to maintain interest.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stoutcat
- 25-07-19
Great voice for these familiar characters
This is one of Ms. Marsh's finest mysteries. In it we first meet the love interest of Inspector Alleyn, Agatha Troy. I'm not going to review the book itself, as it will stand on its own merits. But I must review the narrator, Philip Franks. He did a marvelous job of bringing the characters to life; each voice was different and distinguishable, and on point for the characters. So far he is the best narrator of Ms. Marsh's novels. I particularly liked the portrayal of interactions between Alleyn and Lady Alleyn; her voice was just perfect.
For Roderick Alleyn fans, this narrator is a must.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- akinco
- 11-05-16
mispronounced main character's name ruined book
narrator mispronounced main character's name and ruined the book - he's narrated other volumes correctly. I couldn't finish the book - was too annoying
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jacqueline Gomez
- 07-10-16
So much better than the unabridged version
Any additional comments?
This version of Artists in Crime is much better than the unabridged version. There is more humor and byplay between the main characters. I am so glad I purchased this version even though I had the older unabridged one already.
1 person found this helpful