Killer Dolphin

This was the first book by Dame Ngaio Marsh that I ever read, and I see from the flyleaf of the Fontana paperback edition, that it was a gift from my mother on a trip to Oxford nearly fifty years ago. Back then I recall that I had been devouring Agatha Christie’s mysteries, and my mother suggested that I might enjoy Ngaio Marsh’s take on the whodunnit.

The story revolves around a production at the newly restored Dolphin Theatre, located significantly beyond the traditional West End theatreland (and possibly based on the Mermaid Theatre at the delightfully-named Puddle Dock, now adjacent to the head office of accountants KPMG where I briefly worked during a spell on secondment from the old Inland Revenue).

While aspiring show more playwright/director/producer Peregrine Jay explores the wreck of the old Dolphin Theatre, he suffers a bizarre but life-threatening accident, and is rescued by Vassily Conducis. Nowadays we would probably describe Conducis as an oligarch – he is immensely wealthy, although there is considerable mystery about the origins of his fortune. It turns out that he own the Dolphin, and had been planning a major redevelopment of the site. However, his encounter with Jay sparks some hitherto deeply buried vein of romance in him, and he decides instead to renovate the theatre, installing Jay as artistic director. In a rare moment of indiscretion, he also shows Jay a treasure that he had acquired years earlier: a glove purportedly made by Shakespeare’s father for Hamnet, the Bard’s ailing son. This inspires Jay to write his own play on that theme, which in turn becomes the show with which the Dolphin triumphantly reopens, with the glove on display in a secure cabinet in the auditorium.

The show opens to very positive reviews, and everything seems to be going well … until the inevitable murder, which is duly investigated by the immensely urbane and cultured Chief Inspector Alleyn. I was surprised how much of the book had passed before the murder occurred. In more recent mysteries, the murders usually start in the opening quarter of the novel, whereas it was well over halfway before the first corpse appeared.

I enjoyed re-reading this book, and found that, nearly fifty years and probably more than six thousand books later, I had no recollection of who the murdered was. show less

After Peregrine Jay nearly drowns in an accident while visiting a derelict theater, his life is transformed when theater's owner restores the building and installs Peregrine as its artistic director. opening the theater with a production of Jay's own new play inspired by the discovery of a glove that had belonged to Hamnet Shakespeare. Six months into the run, the night watchman is killed and a boy actor lies comatose after someone is apparently caught trying to steal the glove. This story is so good, and Saxon's performance is so engaging, that I love this book despite its casual (and utterly misplaced) air of homophobia. Looking forward to the sequel.

Summary: Through an accident, a playwright realizes his dream of a renovated Dolphin Theatre, with packed houses for one of his plays, until a murder occurs and a boy actor is badly injured in a botched theft.

Peregrine Jay is a playwright and director with a dream–to restore the old Dolphin Theatre to the glory it enjoyed under Adolphus Ruby. The building suffered wartime damage with a bomb that left a hole in the stage, and it is in otherwise solid, but decayed shape. Jay arranges to tour the building, and despite being warned, falls through the hole in the stage into a well beneath where water has collected. He’s in danger of drowning when a rescuer comes, pulls him out and takes him to his estate where he is clothed and show more refreshed. This unlikely savior is the owner of the property who feels responsible for the accident.

Vassily Conducis is a rich magnate with a mysterious manner. In the course of their conversation, he shows Jay a glove that has been authenticated as that of young Hamnet Shakespeare, who predeceased his more illustrious father. It inspires Jay to write a play. Also, under the influence of too much to drink, Peregrine Jay shares his dreams for the Dolphin Theatre. Amazingly, Conducis agrees to bankroll this, working through his business agent, Greenslade.

Months later, the Dolphin gleams in its former glory, Jay has written his play, which will debut at the theatre with its twin dolphins in the lobby. The cast is brilliant if wrought with turmoil–dislikes, broken romances and jealousies, and one difficult to work with actor, W. Hartly Grove, a rival to Marcus Knight on and off stage. Conducis, otherwise removed from the day to day operations, insisted on his inclusion. The other thing insisted upon is a display of the glove, in a glass window, part of a protective safe, very secure, but with an easily guessable combination created by the business manager of the theatre. Superintendent Alleyn has overseen the security arrangements, expressing concerns about that combination.

The play is a wild success on its own merits as well as the draw of the rare glove. On the night before the glove is to be removed to be sold to an American buyer (an offense to Jeremy Jones, Jay’s roommate, who designed costumes for the play and believed in keeping Britain’s treasures in Britain) a terrible thing happens. The overnight watchman finds Jobbins, who watched the theatre in the evening, dead, killed by a blow to the head from one of the dolphins. And the annoying boy actor, Trevor Vere has fallen out of the balcony into the stalls and is in a coma with serious injuries. The glove and some documents, missing from the safe, were found nearby.

Alleyn concludes on the basis of evidence that it must be someone in the cast. Who stole the glove? And why? If Trevor comes around, will he be the guilty one, or know who is? What about Jeremy? And other cast members have motives, as well as connections with the mysterious Mr. Conducis. And what will become of Peregrine Jay’s dream and budding romance with Emily Dunne.

One of the things striking about this work is Marsh’s descriptions of the theatre. One could almost draw sketches of the interior, or at least envision the theatre in one’s mind. She paints not only a picture of this grand old building rising from the river, but evokes an atmosphere of wharves and watercraft, workers and the theatre crowd, all in the mix of this space. What may have been less satisfying was the stereotypic theatre cast, the vain star, the ditzy actress, the rogue, the lover snubbed, the spoiled child actor. There is a fascinating observation about how actors thrive on the drama and emotion within the caste, using it in their acting. I wonder. At any rate, it all worked to advance the story but they all just seemed to be types, with only Peregrine Jay evoking any interest, as well as Conducis, when he appears, definitely one of Marsh’s more interesting character.

Alleyn, of course is drawn into it all, handling the security surrounding the glove. As always, one of the most satisfying aspects of these stories is his patient piecing together of evidence, stories, and histories bringing the case to a successful, and surprising conclusion. This is an engaging book for those who like their mysteries with a bit of “head” on them. show less

A very enjoyable Ngaio Marsh novel. I like when she uses the theater milieu. As a mystery, I don't know if it can be solved by the reader until a few pages before the denouement, but as a novel it is fun. (Maybe I'm just not smart enough, but you will be able to solve it!)

I know it's not a contest, but the Jove edition I read had the review "She writes better than Christie!" plastered across the cover, so I kept thinking about it. And it's just not true! Some of the characters seemed lifted straight out of or at least inspired by Christie (Conducis=Aristides, Destiny=Jane Helier.) Also I think Christie's cozy sensibility has aged better than Marsh's modern attitudes where everyone is worried that various people are queer (and this word show more is not used in the contemporary reclaimed, positive sense) and are going to make a pass at them. Christie has had some good editing that redacts the most bigoted elements of her novels for new editions and Marsh could do with the same if she hasn't already had it. For the unvarnished original, just pick up a lovely Jove paperback! show less

Marsh was always at her best when writing about the theatre. I love this plot about a supposed Shakespearian artefact which inspires Peregrine Jay to write a play and later leads to murder. I guessed part of the plot very early but not whodunnit. Very enjoyable.

To fall without warning, even by the height of a single step, is disturbing. To fall, as he did, now, by his height and the length of his arms into cold, stinking water is monstrous, nightmarish, like a small death. For a moment he only knew that he had been physically insulted. He stared into the shaft of light with its madly jerking molecules, felt wood slip under his gloved fingers and tightened his grip. At the same time he was disgustingly invaded, saturated up to the collarbone in icy stagnant water. He hung at arm's length.
"Oh God!" Peregrin thought. "Why aren't I a bloody Bond? Why can't I make my bloody arms hitch me up? Oh God, don't let me drown in this unspeakable muck. Oh God, let me keep my head."

I have just about completed replacing all my Ngaio Marsh mysteries, and this one has always been my favorite. Once again Alleyn solving a murder at the theater when writer/director/producer Peregrin Jay writes a play about an artifact he sees; the actual glove of Hamnet Shakespeare, made by his grandfather and passed down by Joan Hart. The glove is on display at the newly refurbished Dolphin Theater.
We receive very good clues and hints throughout and there is a decent chance of figuring out who the murderer is - and why. But of course, there are red herrings and everyone seems to act suspiciously.
One thing I am so grateful to Marsh for is her reluctance to throw in a new murder whenever she thinks we might be becoming bored. Most often show more in her books it's one and done, thankfully. If anyone is new to the Roderick Alleyn mysteries, this one is a very good place to start. show less