Photo Finish (novel)

1980 detective novel by Ngaio Marsh

Photo Finish

First edition

Author| Ngaio Marsh
Language| English
Series| Roderick Alleyn
Genre| Detective fiction
Publisher| Collins Crime Club

Publication date

| 1980
Media type| Print ()
Pages| 262
ISBN| 0-00-231857-1
Preceded by| Grave Mistake
Followed by| Light Thickens

Photo Finish (novel) is a detective novel by Ngaio Marsh; it is the thirty-first, and penultimate, novel to feature Roderick Alleyn, and was first published in 1980. Set in a millionaire's island mansion on a lake in New Zealand's South Island, it is the last of Ngaio Marsh's four New Zealand set novels - the others being Vintage Murder (1937), Colour Scheme (1943) and Died in the Wool (1945).

## Plot summary

[edit]

Inspector Alleyn and his wife, the painter Agatha Troy, are invited to the luxury home of millionaire Montague V Reece, newly built on a lake in New Zealand's South Island for his mistress, the international opera star Isabella Sommita. Alleyn's commission is to investigate and stop the activities of a masked paparazzo who has been persecuting Sommita with unauthorised, unflattering photos published under the name of 'Strix'. Troy is commissioned to paint the diva's portrait.

An extended house party gathers for the world premiere of a new opera 'The Alien Corn', based on the biblical Ruth story and featuring La Sommita's famous high note A 'in alt', composed by a handsome young composer. La Sommita scooped up this composer as her latest lover. She lacks the judgement and taste to see that the opera is no good.

"Corn is right", as her longtime vocal coach Signor Lattienzo comments. The premiere is an embarrassing fiasco and La Sommita is found dead in her bedroom, stabbed through the heart with a photo of herself impaled on the dagger. Her murderer is[who?]

## Reception

[edit]

Newgate Callendar (pseudonym for Harold C. Schonberg}, writing in The New York Times, gave a detailed review of this novel. Callendar was impressed that Dame Ngaio Marsh wrote so well, though having already turned 80. Of this novel, he said "Part of the solution has elements of the old locked-door problem. Characterizations are, as always, sharply drawn, and there is a great deal of quiet humor. Photo Finish is a book that should make all readers happy."[1]

## Background

[edit]

Marsh biographer Joanne Drayton[2] quotes TV presenter Max Cryer reporting that Marsh told him in an interview at the time of the novel's publication, that the character of Isabella Sommita was inspired by Maria Callas.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Callendar, Newgate (18 January 1981). "Crime". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
2. ^ Drayton, Joanne (2008). Ngaio Marsh: Her Life in Crime. Harper Collins. p. 403\. ISBN 978-000-732868-0.

* v
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* e

Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Roderick Alleyn

Novels|

* A Man Lay Dead
* Enter a Murderer
* The Nursing Home Murder
* Death in Ecstasy
* Vintage Murder
* Artists in Crime
* Death in a White Tie
* Overture to Death
* Death at the Bar
* Surfeit of Lampreys
* Death and the Dancing Footman
* Colour Scheme
* Died in the Wool
* Final Curtain
* Swing Brother Swing
* Opening Night
* Spinsters in Jeopardy
* Scales of Justice
* Off With His Head
* Singing in the Shrouds
* False Scent
* Hand in Glove
* Dead Water
* Death at the Dolphin
* Clutch of Constables
* When in Rome
* Tied Up in Tinsel
* Black as He's Painted
* Last Ditch
* Grave Mistake
* Photo Finish
* Light Thickens

See also|

* Ngaio Marsh Theatre
* The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries

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