Book Review: Death and the Dancing Footman

Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ah, Ngaio Marsh.  What is it about you that I don't really care about whodunit?

I figured this one out.  Easily.  The mystery was thin and rather transparent.

But who cares?  Especially when one gets to relish in her characterizations and her way with words.  Descriptions like these make these cozies worth reading, even if you aren't a mystery buff;

"A popinjay," he muttered, "a stock figure of dubious gallantry."  And he pronounced the noise usually associated with the word "Pshaw."

"... [he's] bone from the eyes up if you try to talk about anything that's not quite his language."  

After a good deal of demurring, Jonathan finally rang the bell.  Caper answered it and accepted the news of sudden death and homicide with an aplomb which Mandrake had imagined to be at the command only of family servants in somewhat dated comedies."  


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