Artists in Crime by Ngaio Marsh (1938)
A model is murdered while posing for an art class and almost all of them have a reason to wish her harm, including the instructor.
Very enjoyable.
A Change of Habit by Sister Monica Clare (2025)
An autobiography of a woman who went from abusive childhood to Hollywood hopeful to advertising professional to an Episcopalian convent.
An interesting story about the call to nunhood she felt from a young age and the long, winding route she took to get there. Life in the convent sounds both horrible and dreamy: surrounded by bossy, critical nuns nitpicking one’s every move, but also a quiet and reflective environment and no one person is saddled with all the housework.
Death in Ecstasy by Ngaio Marsh (1936)
A woman in a cult is poisoned by cyanide slipped into the ceremonial wine.
Liked it very much.
Kaffe Fassett in the Studio by Kaffe Fassett (2021)
A peek into his home/studio, hobbies, collections and daily routines.
Kaffe Fassett is living a dream life: time and space for non-stop creativity, playing with pattern and colour all day every day, while others cook and clean and do the admin and the grunt work of executing his designs. I admire his openness about it, at least.
A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh (1934)
During a game of Murder at a weekend house party, one of the guests is, yes, murdered.
Very entertaining.
Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh (1939)
A woman is murdered by a pistol hidden in a piano that fires when she presses the soft pedal.
I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read in the Summer of Marsh (aside from her occasional racist and sexist remarks), but I particularly enjoyed this one with its duelling nasty old spinsters and all their conniving.
Vintage Murder by Ngaio Marsh (1937)
A theatre producer is killed by a stunt gone wrong.
Good, but I confess I don’t seem to enjoy her theatre-based books quite as much. I feel like they get a bit bogged down in detail just so she can show off her insider knowledge.