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Ngaio Marsh
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Last Ditch (Roderick Alleyn Book 29) Kindle Edition

by Ngaio Marsh (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 730 ratings
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Detection becomes a father-and-son activity in the Channel Islands: “A mystery novelist of world renown.” —The New York Times

Ricky Alleyn, son of the renowned police detective Roderick Alleyn, has taken himself to a secluded island to write a novel. Or think about writing a novel. Or look for distractions so he can avoid writing a novel. The distractions abound, mostly in the form of colorful local characters, so all is beer and skittles until Ricky stumbles across a murder and then gets himself kidnapped. Naturally his father rushes to the island to save the day . . .

“It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine
Previous page
  1. Book 29 of 33
    Inspectr Roderick Alleyn
  2. Print length
    290 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Felony & Mayhem Press
  6. Publication date
    November 1, 2016
  7. File size
    1354 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the best stories by the doyenne of mystery writers in the traditional British style."  —New York Times Book Review

"Impeccably written and suspenseful."  —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

'The finest writer in the English language of the pure, classical whodunnit. Among the crime queens, Ngaio Marsh stands out as an empress' - The Sun

'Rich, raffish, engagingly eccentric' - Daily Express

'She writes as beautifully as ever.' Sunday Times

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01M351P30
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Felony & Mayhem Press; Reissue edition (November 1, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1354 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 290 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 730 ratings

About the author

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Ngaio Marsh

Ngaio Marsh

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
730 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Rosanne Limoncelli
5.0 out of 5 stars Marsh’s Best
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2022
Verified Purchase
The point of view through Ricky Alleyn is enchanting and the cast of characters, both real and mysterious, really hold you.
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Patto
4.0 out of 5 stars Inspector Alleyn’s son Ricky stumbles into a murder case
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2018
Verified Purchase
The victim, Dulcie Harkness, works at a riding stable and dies in a fall jumping a challenging ditch. She was a crude young lady who slept around energetically. Suspicious features at the scene of her “accident” bring Inspector Alleyn to this seaside town to investigate.

Meanwhile Alleyn’s son Ricky has a lodging in town where he is writing a novel. He was present at the riding stable the day Dulcie died, so he can give his father some valuable observations. The father-son relationship is rather charming, though I was sorry to have so much focus on Ricky rather than Alleyn. I’m nearing the end of the series, and I want as much Inspector Alleyn as I can get. But Ricky does have some misadventures, and this is exciting.

A frivolous young married woman provides a harmless flirtation for Ricky. The witty repartee in this social circle feels a bit dated.

The mystery solves itself in a surprising and dramatic manner.

I was delighted to find at the finish of this story a short write-up by Ngaio Marsh on how she conceived her suave gentleman detective.
7 people found this helpful
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Sharon Tanner
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2018
Verified Purchase
Ngaio Marsh is one of my favorites. Have read and reread all of them.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Geeat Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2015
Verified Purchase
As with all her books you just can't go wrong reading this one.
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Patrick W. Crabtree
3.0 out of 5 stars Not Marsh's best work but still readable.
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2008
This is an Inspector Roderick Alleyn/Detective Fox entry. It's very late in Alleyn's career because he and his renowned artist wife, Agatha Troy, have a grown son, Ricky, who has traveled to an artist's retreat of sorts to write.

Ricky mixes with the locals which include a family of equestrians. The daughter, a concupiscent gal of local popularity with all the young men, is killed in a horse-riding episode. Ricky suspects that her death may not have been an accident based upon feedback from local residents.

Ricky also gets involved with a sarcastic aspiring young artist who appears to be involved in the drug trade. Subsequent to Rickey being involved in a near drowning, Alleyn and Fox show up to look into the drug allegations and the possible murder of the girl... then Rickey goes missing!

The scenario here is not the most believable cozy murder that Marsh ever wrote. Still I enjoyed it and can recommend it to fans.
7 people found this helpful
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Pen Name
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2016
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excellent
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Msgey
4.0 out of 5 stars Good buy of scarce book
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2021
Verified Purchase
This book is battered and pages are yellow
However it appears to be readable and is what was advertised
Price was very low
This is the only book by this author that I have not read and I have been unable to find a copy locally
So I am pleased with this buy even though it is not in great shape because the seller was honest about condition . I am looking forward to reading the book
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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david saville
5.0 out of 5 stars last ditch.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2018
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the story was a bit slow to start with, as are most of the authors books, there is a hint of "who dunnit" at certain parts of the story, but it never comes true.
very good read as usual, like allyns way of working.
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agatha
3.0 out of 5 stars pensavo meglio
Reviewed in Italy on May 6, 2017
Verified Purchase
ho letto altri libri di Ngaio Marsh, ma questo mi ha un po' deluso. L'ho trovato "vecchio" ma non abbastanza "antico". O forse non ero in vena.
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Harriet Hasenclever
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Queens
Reviewed in Germany on April 13, 2014
Verified Purchase
I have enjoyed all of her writing- for the character sand observations, the various milieus shown and a sense of the presence of a fine and compassionate mind behind the story.
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Imohtep
4.0 out of 5 stars very good condition
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
very pleased with purchase
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Penelope Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
Always enjoy this authors work, spent a few happy evenings reading it before sleep.
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