Overture to Death cover art

Overture to Death

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Overture to Death

By: Ngaio Marsh
Narrated by: Ric Jerrom
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About this listen

It was planned as an act of charity: a new piano for the parish hall, an amusing play to finance the gift. But its execution was doomed when Miss Campanula sat down to play.

A chord was struck, a shot rang out and Miss Campanula was dead. A case of sinister infatuation for the brilliant Chief Detective-Inspector Alleyn.

©1939 Original Text of 1939 by Ngaio Marsh (P)2015 Hachette Audio Cosy Crime Thrillers Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Fiction Detective Thriller Crime

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Critic reviews

"Admirably mysterious." ( Daily Mail)
"It's time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around." ( New York magazine)
All stars
Most relevant

Would you consider the audio edition of Overture to Death to be better than the print version?

Have not read the book itself

What was one of the most memorable moments of Overture to Death?

The reveal!

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Little too theatrical for me on some of the characters but still well worth a listen

Good book

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Book of the year for me will not reevaluate decisions so please don’t be surprised if you don’t get the answer.

This was a great

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Ngaio Marsh is one of the great writers of detective fiction - far superior to Agatha Christie, in my opinipn - and this is one of her best.Very well read too.

A classic of the Golden Age

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Strong evocation of time and place. I'm unsure how realistic the two "spinster" characters are - but readers of Barbara Pym may recognise them.

Intricate plot, good narration

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Just working my way through the oeuvre again. This is where the books take off and become more nuanced. Ngaio Marsh is an excellent writer of her age of detective fiction.

This is where

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