Death of a Fool

Ngaio Marsh

The men of South Mardian, England, have a ritual dance for the Winter Soltice. The Dance of the Five Sons is an ancient sword dance, over 200 years old, full of pagan fertility meanings. Traditionally, the Anderson family performs the dance. They do so again on Sword Wednesday in the mid 1950's. When the dance is almost complete, one of the dancers is found dead, decapitated like the Fool in the symbolic dance. This is no symbol, though. The man is really dead.

Roderick Alleyn is assigned to the mysterious case. How does a man get decapitated in front of over 100 witnesses? Even the hiding place is under observation. No one could come or go from it without being seen. Why was the man killed? It seems the most obvious suspect couldn't have done it. Now Alleyn must wade through ancient rituals, family squabbles and changing fortunes to find the murderer.

Excellent! Dame Marsh kept me enthralled throughout Death of a Fool. The who-done-it was interesting, the how-done-it kept me glued to the book. The tale not only involves the good mystery, but the after-war mentality as men adjust to life back home and make their way in their normal lives. Death of a Fool shows the reader why Marsh is respected in the mystery genre.

A Man Lay Dead
Enter a Murderer
The Nursing Home Murder
Death in Ecstacy
Vintage Murder
Artists in Crime
Death in a White Tie
Overture to Death
Death at the Bar
Death of a Peer
Death and the Dancing Footman
Colour Scheme
Died in the Wool
Final Curtain
A Wreath for Rivera
Night at the Vulcan
Spinsters in Jeopardy
Scales of Justice
Death of a Fool
Singing in the Shrouds
False Scent
Hand in Glove
Dead Water
Killer Dolphin
Clutch of Constables
When in Rome
Tied Up in Tinsel
Black as He's Painted
Last Ditch
Grave Mistake
Photo Finish
Light Thickens

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A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear