Ngaio Marsh. Death and the Dancing Footman (1942) Jonathan Royal assembles a group of guests who all have reason to hate each other, just to see what will develop. What develops is murder, done to gain a fortune and thereby the hand of a femme fatale. Along the way Marsh indulges her taste for comedy and satire, and does a very neat job of scattering red herrings about. The romantic lead and the ingenue fall in love as expected, the host is struck by pangs of conscience, and several other people come to their moral senses. The conventions of melodrama are thus respected, and a very pleasant four or so hours of reading provided. *** (2007)
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