Book Club “A Man Lay Dead”
For April, we chose Golden Age Mystery “A Man Lay Dead” by Ngaio Marsh, the first of her Roderick Alleyn detective novels. We were not as familiar with her works as Agatha Christie and were eager to read another classic by this New Zealand author.
Book
A Man Lay Dead* by Ngaio Marsh
We recommend the reprint from 2011 that removes an unnecessary racial slur.
Description:
Book 1 of 33 in the Inspector Roderick Alleyn series
Ngaio Marsh was one of the queens (she has been called the empress) of England’s Golden Age of mystery fiction. And in true Golden Age fashion, her oeuvre opens with, yes, a country-house party between the two world wars – servants bustling, gin flowing, the gentlemen in dinner jackets, the ladies all slink and smolder. Even more delicious: The host, Sir Hubert Handesley, has invented a new and especially exciting version of that beloved parlor entertainment, The Murder Game.
Club
Snack suggestions:
Food was not a prevalent theme within the book, so any snacks you want to provide will be appreciated by the group - especially ones that would be easy to eat while playing your own version of a murder game. (Using a gong is optional for that, of course!)
You could feature dishes from New Zealand or snacks found at an English tea, which is what we opted for with fruit tarts.
Check out Cozy Crimes’ book club questions that can be used for any mystery.
Here are our questions targeted to “A Man Lay Dead”:
1. Ngaio Marsh is called the “Empress of Crime” and is another author from the Golden Age of Mysteries. Are you familiar with her works?
2. What elements of this novel showcase how this is a classic mystery?
3. What were your thoughts on the “gentleman detective” character Roderick Alleyn? (He appears in 32 other detective stories by Ngaio Marsh.)
4. What did you think of the Russian intrigue subplot?
5. What were all the different motives for wanting Rankin dead? Who did you suspect based on their motives?
6. How did the “murder game” influence the story, both thematically and as a plot point?
7. How did alibis play a key role in the investigation?
8. How did Nigel’s interpretation of events influence the investigation and the story?
9. What parts of the story stand the test of time? What elements seem dated?
10. Would you read or watch more mysteries featuring Roderick Alleyn?
