The Nursing Home Murders

Ngaio Marsh

Sir Derek O'Callaghan is a member of the House of Lords. He is sponsoring a bill the British anarchist detest. He had a short term affair with a nurse who now sends threatening letters. His physician is in love with the nurse and faces down Sir Derek in his home. And Sir Derek is having abdominal pains, possibly an appendix attack.

When he collapses on the Floor while presenting his Bill to the House, he is rushed to a private hospital (in England, they are called nursing homes). His wife requests his physician to perform the needed surgery. The nurse from the affair is part of the surgery room staff. Another nurse is part of the Communist anarchy group. His sister gives him an unknown "miracle" patent medicine right before he enters surgery. The operation is a success. Too bad the patient dies about a half hour later. An autopsy reveals he was poisoned. Now Detective Alleyn has to discover who killed Sir O'Callaghan and why.

This is a mystery with a plethora of suspects. Marsh is able to juggle the primary suspects deftly so that none are discarded until the denouement. This is well written and cleverly crafted. This is one of the early Detective Alleyn novels in this popular series.

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

Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers
Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey
Chat by Archer Mayor