Status
Available
Call number
Library's review
New Zealand, 1943
Indeholder kapitlerne "Prolog", " 1939", " 1942", "1. Alleyn ankommer til Mount Moon. Maj 1943", "2. Ursula Harmes beretning", "3. Douglas Glaces beretning", "4. Fabian Losses beretning", "5. Terence Lynnes beretning", "6. Den officielle politirapport", "7. Ben Wilsons beretning",
Arthur og Florence Rubrick er tæt på halvtreds, barnløse og har Mount Moon fårefarm i New Zealand. Farmen giver et godt afkast og de sidder godt i det. Florence engagerer sig i krigsanstrengelserne. En dag i 1942 skal Florence tidligt afsted for at nå frem til regeringsbyen den næste dag via postbil, tog og færge. Tilsyneladende er hun taget afsted, men hun når aldrig frem og der går et par dage før det går op for hendes mand og de øvrige i husstanden. Hun er sporløst forsvundet, men man finder hendes pakkede kuffert i et skab og pungen med rejsepas og penge ligger i en skuffe i hendes toiletbord. Først flere uger senere finder man hende i en hårdtpresset balle uld, hvor lugten gør voldsomt opmærksom på at noget er galt. Det er under krigen og Fabian Losse, som er Arthurs nevø, får et års tid senere lokket kriminalassistent Roderick Alleyn på banen ved at antyde at der måske er spionage involveret. Fabian og Douglas Glace har udviklet noget antiluftskyts og Fabian er bange for at konstruktionstegningerne er blevet lækket. Douglas er Arthurs nevø og Florence var formynder for sin niece Ursula Harme, som voksede op hos Arthur og Florence. Kort efter Florence blev fundet død, døde Arthur af et hjerteanfald. I krigens start var Florence aktiv i Emergency Precautions Scheme (EPS). Alleyn er 47 år og gift med kunstmalerinden Agatha Troy, som er i England og da der er krig, maler hun camouflagetæpper i stedet for malerier.
De forskellige der har været tæt på Florence skiftes til at fortælle Alleyn om deres oplevelse af hende og der er meget delte meninger. Ursula lægger for og fortæller om et stort arrangement i deres fåreklipperhal. Bestyrerparret hr og fru Tommy Johns og deres musikalsk begavede søn Cliff Johns skal med. Cliff er kommet under Florences vinger og har fået uddannelse og musikundervisning på et niveau langt over hvad forældrene selv ville have givet ham. Da krigen bryder ud, vil Cliff imidlertid afbryde studiet og i stedet melde sig til hæren, selv om han kun er 16 år. Florence er ikke begejstret for det, men Tommy Johns synes det er helt rigtigt og at spilleundervisning og skole blot har betydet at Cliff fjernede sig fra forældrene. Douglas Grace fortæller at han havde begrundet mistanke til tjeneren Markins, men at Florence ikke ville gøre noget og at de var oppe at toppes om det. Fabian fortæller at han og Ursula er forelskede, men at Florence var imod og fik afkrævet Ursula et løfte om ikke at gifte sig før om to år. Arthurs sekretær Terence Lynne er 20 år yngre end Arthur, men de var forelskede i hinanden. Så de havde et motiv til at fjerne Florence og derved kunne være sammen. Om natten besøger Markins Alleyn og de to snakker fortroligt sammen, for Markins er ganske rigtigt spion, men på engelsk side. Ben Wilson er ansat på gården og en af dem, der sorterer ulden, når den er blevet klippet. Jack Merryweather passer uldpressen og de har det begge to dårligt med at have betjent pressen, da ballen med Florence blev ekspederet. Samtidig kan de også huske små tegn på at pressen var blevet pillet ved om natten. Alleyn snakker også fortroligt med Cliff og får næsten lukket op for alle hemmelighederne. Han har fået det dårligt over at være blevet forkælet af Florence siden han var ti år og så efterfølgende nærmest at blive afkrævet taknemmelighed. Cliff har et alibi, fordi han har spillet klaver i hele den periode, hvor mordet skete, men Alleyn spekulerer over om ikke det kan have været et radioprogram, folk kunne høre. Cliffs mor, fru Johns, siger også sin mening om Florence og den er ret ambivalent. Fåreklipperne har deres egen kok med, en drukkenbolt ved navn Percy Gould, og han plejer omgang med en Albert Black, der også har en tørstig plet. Alleyn lader som om han har glemt sit cigaretetui et sted og Fabian går ud efter det i Alleyns frakke. Kort efter bliver Fabian slået ned, men Alleyn får ham samlet op og bragt tilbage til huset. Albert tilstår at han er stødt på Cliff ved fårehallen, mens denne angiveligt spillede klaver og det ser ud til at Albert har dækket over Cliff, der til gengæld har dækket over at Albert huggede noget whisky. Cliff har set liget, men er ikke selv morderen. Alleyn stiller en fælde for morderen og som ventet er det Douglas Glace, der går i den. Han er opvokset i Heidelberg og er på nazisternes side.
Da han bliver afsløret, udløser han en bombe, han har på sig og han bliver blæst i små stykker. Alleyn er tæt på, men ikke mere end at han slipper uskadt fra eksplosionen.
Spøjs krimi, hvor man har spottet morderen fra starten af kapitel to.
Indeholder kapitlerne "Prolog", " 1939", " 1942", "1. Alleyn ankommer til Mount Moon. Maj 1943", "2. Ursula Harmes beretning", "3. Douglas Glaces beretning", "4. Fabian Losses beretning", "5. Terence Lynnes beretning", "6. Den officielle politirapport", "7. Ben Wilsons beretning",
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"8. Cliff Johns' beretning", "9. Angrebet", "10. Nattens hændelser", "11. Arthur Rubricks beretning".Arthur og Florence Rubrick er tæt på halvtreds, barnløse og har Mount Moon fårefarm i New Zealand. Farmen giver et godt afkast og de sidder godt i det. Florence engagerer sig i krigsanstrengelserne. En dag i 1942 skal Florence tidligt afsted for at nå frem til regeringsbyen den næste dag via postbil, tog og færge. Tilsyneladende er hun taget afsted, men hun når aldrig frem og der går et par dage før det går op for hendes mand og de øvrige i husstanden. Hun er sporløst forsvundet, men man finder hendes pakkede kuffert i et skab og pungen med rejsepas og penge ligger i en skuffe i hendes toiletbord. Først flere uger senere finder man hende i en hårdtpresset balle uld, hvor lugten gør voldsomt opmærksom på at noget er galt. Det er under krigen og Fabian Losse, som er Arthurs nevø, får et års tid senere lokket kriminalassistent Roderick Alleyn på banen ved at antyde at der måske er spionage involveret. Fabian og Douglas Glace har udviklet noget antiluftskyts og Fabian er bange for at konstruktionstegningerne er blevet lækket. Douglas er Arthurs nevø og Florence var formynder for sin niece Ursula Harme, som voksede op hos Arthur og Florence. Kort efter Florence blev fundet død, døde Arthur af et hjerteanfald. I krigens start var Florence aktiv i Emergency Precautions Scheme (EPS). Alleyn er 47 år og gift med kunstmalerinden Agatha Troy, som er i England og da der er krig, maler hun camouflagetæpper i stedet for malerier.
De forskellige der har været tæt på Florence skiftes til at fortælle Alleyn om deres oplevelse af hende og der er meget delte meninger. Ursula lægger for og fortæller om et stort arrangement i deres fåreklipperhal. Bestyrerparret hr og fru Tommy Johns og deres musikalsk begavede søn Cliff Johns skal med. Cliff er kommet under Florences vinger og har fået uddannelse og musikundervisning på et niveau langt over hvad forældrene selv ville have givet ham. Da krigen bryder ud, vil Cliff imidlertid afbryde studiet og i stedet melde sig til hæren, selv om han kun er 16 år. Florence er ikke begejstret for det, men Tommy Johns synes det er helt rigtigt og at spilleundervisning og skole blot har betydet at Cliff fjernede sig fra forældrene. Douglas Grace fortæller at han havde begrundet mistanke til tjeneren Markins, men at Florence ikke ville gøre noget og at de var oppe at toppes om det. Fabian fortæller at han og Ursula er forelskede, men at Florence var imod og fik afkrævet Ursula et løfte om ikke at gifte sig før om to år. Arthurs sekretær Terence Lynne er 20 år yngre end Arthur, men de var forelskede i hinanden. Så de havde et motiv til at fjerne Florence og derved kunne være sammen. Om natten besøger Markins Alleyn og de to snakker fortroligt sammen, for Markins er ganske rigtigt spion, men på engelsk side. Ben Wilson er ansat på gården og en af dem, der sorterer ulden, når den er blevet klippet. Jack Merryweather passer uldpressen og de har det begge to dårligt med at have betjent pressen, da ballen med Florence blev ekspederet. Samtidig kan de også huske små tegn på at pressen var blevet pillet ved om natten. Alleyn snakker også fortroligt med Cliff og får næsten lukket op for alle hemmelighederne. Han har fået det dårligt over at være blevet forkælet af Florence siden han var ti år og så efterfølgende nærmest at blive afkrævet taknemmelighed. Cliff har et alibi, fordi han har spillet klaver i hele den periode, hvor mordet skete, men Alleyn spekulerer over om ikke det kan have været et radioprogram, folk kunne høre. Cliffs mor, fru Johns, siger også sin mening om Florence og den er ret ambivalent. Fåreklipperne har deres egen kok med, en drukkenbolt ved navn Percy Gould, og han plejer omgang med en Albert Black, der også har en tørstig plet. Alleyn lader som om han har glemt sit cigaretetui et sted og Fabian går ud efter det i Alleyns frakke. Kort efter bliver Fabian slået ned, men Alleyn får ham samlet op og bragt tilbage til huset. Albert tilstår at han er stødt på Cliff ved fårehallen, mens denne angiveligt spillede klaver og det ser ud til at Albert har dækket over Cliff, der til gengæld har dækket over at Albert huggede noget whisky. Cliff har set liget, men er ikke selv morderen. Alleyn stiller en fælde for morderen og som ventet er det Douglas Glace, der går i den. Han er opvokset i Heidelberg og er på nazisternes side.
Da han bliver afsløret, udløser han en bombe, han har på sig og han bliver blæst i små stykker. Alleyn er tæt på, men ikke mere end at han slipper uskadt fra eksplosionen.
Spøjs krimi, hvor man har spottet morderen fra starten af kapitel to.
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Genres
Publication
Kbh : (Samlerens Forlag)., 1963. Samlerens Lommebøger
Description
Fiction. Mystery. HTML: Ngaio Marsh returns to her New Zealand roots to transplant the classic country-house murder mystery to an upland sheep station on South Island and produces one of her most exotic and intriguing novels. Parliament member Florence Rubrick has the wool pulled over her eyes�??quite literally. She's been found dead, her body pressed into a bale of wool. When Inspector Roderick Alleyn pays a visit to her New Zealand country home, he meets two fine, handsome men and two lovely young women, all of whom have reason to be grateful to dear Flossie for saving their lives. But as Inspector Alleyn learns, there are secrets aplenty hiding in the floorboards of that sheep station, and one in particular conceals a murderous motive that has the look and smell of treason.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member mmyoung
A great improvement on her previous book (Colour Scheme). Marsh was still constrained by the reality of writing a murder mystery in the middle of a war and her need (perhaps thrust upon her by her publishers) to make Alleyn appear in the book. The logic of the book collapses under any serious
Given all those limitations the characters in this book are far more three dimensional than those of her previous book -- within the notable exception of the person "who did it".
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scrutiny. SPOILER -- as Alleyn's explanation at the end of the book makes clear there were only two people who were ever, serious likely candidates as spies, the authorities knew that, the "secret" at risk was vital and they already had an agent in place. There is no logical reason for them to have waited so long to act on their concerns or waited until a member of the household asked for intervention. Marsh is constrained, as are many of her characters, by an imagination limited by class and cultural assumptions.Given all those limitations the characters in this book are far more three dimensional than those of her previous book -- within the notable exception of the person "who did it".
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LibraryThing member smik
As with COLOUR SCHEME (see mini-review below) Ngaio Marsh used World War II as the setting for DIED IN THE WOOL. Roderick Alleyn from Scotland Yard was in New Zealand as part of the war effort, seeking out fifth columnists and espionage undermining the war effort.
Mount Moon station on the South
Marsh uses the setting as a country house, closed venue, mystery. There can only be a certain number of suspects, because of the isolation of the station. Alleyn arrives at Mount Moon over 18 months after Flossie Rubrick's murder and in fact after the death of her husband from illness.
One of the interesting ploys of the plot is that Alleyn assembles the main characters and gets them each to tell their opinions of the dead Flossie, who does not appear to have been a very nice character at all.
It was interesting to hear of the things that were concerning the characters (and by extension the author) late in the War. Flossie is very conscious that she must contribute to the war effort, although her offers of assistance to the War Cabinet in London have been repulsed. Three of the young people at Mount Moon station have already been "over there". The preoccupation with the possible presence of enemy agents is also interesting.
I thought there were a few things apart from the setting that dated the book. The style was a bit ponderous and the vocabulary contained words no longer in frequent use. The plot was very carefully crafted though and has worn well.
Mount Moon station on the South
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Island is being used by two young men as a base for developing a new anti-aircraft device, and the authorities believe that the blueprints have been leaked.Marsh uses the setting as a country house, closed venue, mystery. There can only be a certain number of suspects, because of the isolation of the station. Alleyn arrives at Mount Moon over 18 months after Flossie Rubrick's murder and in fact after the death of her husband from illness.
One of the interesting ploys of the plot is that Alleyn assembles the main characters and gets them each to tell their opinions of the dead Flossie, who does not appear to have been a very nice character at all.
It was interesting to hear of the things that were concerning the characters (and by extension the author) late in the War. Flossie is very conscious that she must contribute to the war effort, although her offers of assistance to the War Cabinet in London have been repulsed. Three of the young people at Mount Moon station have already been "over there". The preoccupation with the possible presence of enemy agents is also interesting.
I thought there were a few things apart from the setting that dated the book. The style was a bit ponderous and the vocabulary contained words no longer in frequent use. The plot was very carefully crafted though and has worn well.
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LibraryThing member raizel
I guessed whodunit by page 20, so what was interesting was gradually learning about the victim as more people give their versions of what happened. She becomes less noble and more controlling as the story progresses. Perhaps like Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
LibraryThing member themulhern
Nigel Bathgate has finally been left behind but Alleyn's thoughts are just as irritating as ever. The mystery is really not all that interesting, probably because this is a war novel. Redeeming features are: the description of the discovery of the body, the description of the practical aspects of
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the wool business, and some humorous bits sprinkled throughout. The country-house atmosphere transplanted to the antipodes is a bit startling. Show Less
LibraryThing member thornton37814
Inspector Alleyn happens to be in New Zealand during World War II and has the opportunity to investigate a death on a sheep farm. The cast of characters includes many good suspects, and Marsh does a good job creating suspicion with many. However, the hint for the perpetrator was a bit too obvious.
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Still there are interesting tidbits about sheep farming included, and the New Zealand setting is a nice change from American and British ones in so much detective fiction. I listened to this one on Blackstone Audio on Overdrive. The female narrator did a good job. Show Less
LibraryThing member leslie.98
While I liked the New Zealand setting, this entry in the Inspector Alleyn series was not one of Marsh's better efforts.
LibraryThing member gbelik
A female politician's body is found encased in a bale of wool in this "golden age" mystery set in New Zealand. Quite fun.
LibraryThing member mirihawk
Now this one is more like it! It features Mr. Alleyn from the beginning. It's still set in NZ and features both a murder and his war work of dealing with the Nazis, and seems most appropriate to read during our current political climate. The people are well drawn and complex, and the murderer hard
The hardest thing about listening to this one is that it features someone with a head wound, and I'm home listening to books as I recover from a concussion!
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to figure out. There's a good bit of psychology in it, and it is well thought out. The hardest thing about listening to this one is that it features someone with a head wound, and I'm home listening to books as I recover from a concussion!
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LibraryThing member Matke
I really liked this mystery set in New Zealand. Even though I knew the murderer very early on, the book was a pretty compelling read.
A bossy yet generous older woman, an MP in New Zealand, goes missing in the middle of WW 2. Three weeks later her body is found, stuffed in a bale of wool. Was it her
Usually I dislike the addition of possible spying or the like in my mysteries. Here, however, Marsh blends that right into the mystery plot. Almost the entire book consists of conversations, with dome action coming at the very end, and the plot is neatly tied up.
Recommended for those who like vintage mysteries, or those who just want something a little different from a good writer.
A bossy yet generous older woman, an MP in New Zealand, goes missing in the middle of WW 2. Three weeks later her body is found, stuffed in a bale of wool. Was it her
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personality that motivated the murder? Or was it connected to some form of wartime espionage?Usually I dislike the addition of possible spying or the like in my mysteries. Here, however, Marsh blends that right into the mystery plot. Almost the entire book consists of conversations, with dome action coming at the very end, and the plot is neatly tied up.
Recommended for those who like vintage mysteries, or those who just want something a little different from a good writer.
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
While I liked the New Zealand setting, this entry in the Inspector Alleyn series was not one of Marsh's better efforts.
LibraryThing member Figgles
Re read after lending this to a colleague. After her comments I spent more time noticing the beauty of the descriptive writing. Marsh's love for the New Zealand landscape shines through and you can see the high plateau ringed with mountains and almost smell the clear upland air. The story and
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characters are engaging with a mix of murder and espionage in the later years of WWII. Delightful. Show Less
LibraryThing member nordie
World War II rages on, and Inspector Alleyn continues as the Special Branch’s eyes and ears in New Zealand. While his primary brief is spy-catching, he’s also happy to help with old-fashioned policing. Flossie Rubrick, an influential Member of Parliament and the wife of a sheep farmer, is
I listened to this as an audiobook in 2012, one of the few not narrated by James Saxon. I recently found a paper copy, slim enough to fit the handbag, so read again before letting it go.
This story was originally published in 1945,at the tail end of WWII.
On loan to New Zealand, investigating potential anti-war sympathies and trade secrets, Alleyn is called onto a sheep farm. The farm owner's wife - a local MP - died in suspicious circumstances 16 months before (she ended up in a wool bale). The couple are childless, and Flossie has spent her younger years collecting waifs and strays who still reside in the house - some of them people continue designing items for the war effort. It has been rumoured that some of those designs had been leaked (turns out to be true), which gives Alleyn the cover to go in and investigate.
The first third of the book has a lot of talking to set up the story and collect the deposition of those who remain on site who remember the incident. Lots of twists and turns, some suspects spotted earlier than others. Lots of talking in the first half, but that's one of the ways to get the info to the reader and a lot less dry than other routes.
Spread over a couple of days on a working farm in the middle of nowhere, Alleyn needs to find out not only who killed Flossie, but what he can about the stolen plans. Many of the group are hiding something from him, either to protect themselves or each other, even the dead.
It's always difficult to review books like this without giving away some of the plot so: sub 300 pages, with a large if rather restrained cast and the threat of WWII still hanging over people, and it's a decently plotted book, even if some of the events are sign posted a large distance away
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murdered. Had she made political enemies? Had a mysterious legacy prompted her death? Or could the shadowy world of international espionage have intruded on this quiet farm?I listened to this as an audiobook in 2012, one of the few not narrated by James Saxon. I recently found a paper copy, slim enough to fit the handbag, so read again before letting it go.
This story was originally published in 1945,at the tail end of WWII.
On loan to New Zealand, investigating potential anti-war sympathies and trade secrets, Alleyn is called onto a sheep farm. The farm owner's wife - a local MP - died in suspicious circumstances 16 months before (she ended up in a wool bale). The couple are childless, and Flossie has spent her younger years collecting waifs and strays who still reside in the house - some of them people continue designing items for the war effort. It has been rumoured that some of those designs had been leaked (turns out to be true), which gives Alleyn the cover to go in and investigate.
The first third of the book has a lot of talking to set up the story and collect the deposition of those who remain on site who remember the incident. Lots of twists and turns, some suspects spotted earlier than others. Lots of talking in the first half, but that's one of the ways to get the info to the reader and a lot less dry than other routes.
Spread over a couple of days on a working farm in the middle of nowhere, Alleyn needs to find out not only who killed Flossie, but what he can about the stolen plans. Many of the group are hiding something from him, either to protect themselves or each other, even the dead.
It's always difficult to review books like this without giving away some of the plot so: sub 300 pages, with a large if rather restrained cast and the threat of WWII still hanging over people, and it's a decently plotted book, even if some of the events are sign posted a large distance away
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1945
Physical description
237 p.; 18.1 cm
Local notes
Omslag: Paul Hartman
Omslaget viser et blegt kvindeansigt med grønne øjne og rød mund
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "Died in the wool" af Aksel J. Knudsen
Side 174: Hokanui - Noget frygteligt fusel som laves lokalt.
Side 174: Tror De, at politifolk kun tager oplysninger fra de mennesker, de er forelskede i?
Omslaget viser et blegt kvindeansigt med grønne øjne og rød mund
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "Died in the wool" af Aksel J. Knudsen
Side 174: Hokanui - Noget frygteligt fusel som laves lokalt.
Side 174: Tror De, at politifolk kun tager oplysninger fra de mennesker, de er forelskede i?
Similar in this library
Series
Pages
237
DDC/MDS
| 823 |