Ngaio Marsh. Photo Finish (1980) The Alleyns are invited to New Zealand, she to paint a portrait of opera singer La Sommita, he to investigate possible drug trafficking. La Sommita ends up dead, with a picture pinned to her dead body with a stiletto. Since a convenient storm has isolated the Alleyns and the suspects on an island in a lake, he must investigate. He solves the case almost singlehandedly, handing it over for the denouement to the NZ police (who are unconvincingly complimentary: there was and is strong territoriality among police forces the world over). The characters matter more than the puzzle, which includes some rather melodramatic elements, but all in all this is a satisfying read. Marsh is mildly satirical about theatre people and their hangers on. **½ (2004)
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