Maxim Jakubowski's view...

Collecting three Inspector Alleyn mysteries from Christie's once major rival in the literary sleuthing stakes. The dashing London policeman is all charm and grey cells and the mysteries he is called to solve are as ingenious as those facing Poirot.

If you like Ngaio Marsh try Agatha Christie
Maxim Jakubowski recommends: The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

Synopsis

Commemorating 75 years since the Empress of Crime's first book, the first volume in a set of omnibus editions presenting the complete run of 32 Inspector Alleyn mysteries. A MAN LAY DEAD Sir Hubert Handesley's extravagant weekend house-parties are deservedly famous for his exciting Murder Game. But when the lights go up this time, there is a real corpse with a real dagger in the back. All seven suspects have skilful alibis - so Chief Detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn has to figure out the whodunit! ENTER A MURDERER The crime scene was the stage of the Unicorn Theatre, when prop gun fired a very real bullet; the victim was an actor clawing his way to stardom using bribery instead of talent; and the suspects included two unwilling girlfriends and several relieved blackmail victims. The stage is set for one of Roderick Alleyn's most baffling cases! THE NURSING HOME MURDER A Harley Street surgeon and his attractive nurse are almost too nervous to operate. Their patient is the Home Secretary - and they both have very good personal reasons to want him dead. The operation is a complete success - but he dies within hours, and Inspector Alleyn must find out why!

About the Author

Dame Ngaio Marsh was born in New Zealand in 1895 and died in February 1982. She wrote over 30 detective novels and many of her stories have theatrical settings, for Ngaio Marsh's real passion was the theatre. She was both actress and producer and almost single-handed revived the New Zealand public's interest in the theatre. It was for this work that the received what she called her 'damery' in 1966. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation