[1] In 2011, Acorn acquired the rights to the pilot, and in 2012, issued a repackaged version of the set containing the Williams pilot. Alleyn Mysteries: With William Simons, Patrick Malahide, Belinda Lang, Tim Dutton. Chief Inspector Alleyn: She could teach a giraffe, believe me. A series of adaptations were made starring Jeremy Clyde as Alleyn. In the second, Enter a Murderer (1935), there is a minor inconsistency, in that Bathgate appears to be slightly younger than before. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries - Wikipedia In brief, Alleyn was apparently born around 1892-1894, graduated from Oxford around 1915, served in the army for three years in World War I, then spent a year (19191920) in the British Foreign Service. The second set of Inspector Alleyn Mysteries includes the final episode of the first series, . Amazon.com: Customer reviews: The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, Set 1 [2] This set was also released in Australia. During the investigation he loses his heart but Troy cannot, at first, return his love. A local squabble turns sinister after an attempt on Miss Pride's life. Troy has a commission to paint the portrait of Sir Henry Ancred, a famous actor, at his house in the country, Ancreton Manor. Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, Set 2 - amazon.com Having read the two previous comments, both of which read as though they had been written by two citizens of Superman's Bizarro World (where everything is exactly the opposite of how it is in real life), I felt I had to come to this fine series' defense. Roderick Alleyn (pronounced "Allen") is a fictional character who first appeared in 1934. An Australian set has all nine episodes. The setting of the novel is identified as being contemporary with its writing, i.e. The publication of a war hero's memoirs and his dispute with a neighbouring fisherman about poaching leads to a murder. The Ngaio Marsh Collection, volume 1 (A Man Lay Dead/ Enter a Murderer/ The Nursing Home Murder), Ngaio Marsh, Harper, 2009, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roderick_Alleyn&oldid=1148695316, Fictional people educated at Eton College, Characters in British novels of the 20th century, Characters in mystery novel series of the 20th century, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 April 2023, at 18:48. Several of the Roderick Alleyn novels have been adapted for television, though none as yet for mainstream cinema release. TVPG. Drawing on her love of theatre and art, New Zealand author Ngaio Marsh created elegant crime-puzzlers full of quirky characters with hidden agendas, all brought meticulously to life in this BBC series. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries is a British detective television series adapted from nine of the Roderick Alleyn novels by Ngaio Marsh. Nine novels with British settings were adapted for British television as The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries (the 1990s British productions) are available on Region Two DVD as a four disc pack. Old gentlemen of forty-two are allowed to be impertinent. William Simons played Alleyn's righthand man and "Watson" figure, Detective Sergeant Fox, and Belinda Lang starred as the painter Agatha Troy, Alleyn's love interest. Inspector Alleyn. Christina is a chemist who trained at Newnham College, Cambridge. A drama about the lives of a group of midwives who care for expectant mothers in the East End of London during the 1950s. Final Curtain is a 1947 crime novel by the New Zealand author Ngaio Marsh, the fourteenth in her series of mysteries featuring Scotland Yard detective Roderick Alleyn.It was published in Britain by Collins and in the USA by Little, Brown. Troy is a famous painter, particularly of portraits, and features in many later novels either in person or in the letters Alleyn writes to her. Agatha Troy: I haven't seen one of these in years. The eight episodes featuring Malahide are available on DVD in the USA and UK. Final Curtain (novel) - Wikipedia It originally aired between 1990 and 1994. Death and the Dancing Footman. Death at the Bar: Directed by Michael Winterbottom. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries is a British detective television series, broadcast on BBC1, which was adapted from nine of the novels by Dame Ngaio Marsh, featuring the character Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn. Filming on the SVR Severn Valley Railway By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. The fifth novel, Vintage Murder (1937), is explicitly set in New Zealand in June 1936according to an epilogue dated September 1936 and set three months after the novel's action. With Ewen Bremner, Jane Lapotaire, Eleanor David, Margaret Tyzack. He finds a complicated tale of anonymous letters and arguments over the dead man's will - and decides to have the body exhumed. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries - Complete Series including Pilot [2018 Lady Alleyn is unseen until the sixth novel, Artists in Crime (1938). Fox. BBC One. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries - Aired Order - TheTVDB.com Four stories were recorded between 2001 and 2006; A Man Lay Dead (2001), A Surfeit of Lampreys (2001), When in Rome (2003), and Opening Night (2006). (Entrance to police station), Park Town, Oxford, UK An egotistical Shakespearean ham actor gathers his dysfunctional extended family in his mansion on his 75th birthday for the reading of his will. The younger son of a titled family, Alleyn was educated at Eton and joined the CID from the diplomatic service. And yet, clearly the sun is shining all through the scene. This page was last edited on 15 March 2023, at 02:48. This classic BBC series brings to life five classic murder mysteries starring Patrick Malahide (MINDER) and are set in the stately homes, London . During a display of dart throwing in a Cornish pub a man's hand is impaled by a dart, and he dies shortly afterward from cyanide although no one can explain how. What Other Books By N Marsh Published Under Another Titles Whodunnit mysteries based on the novels by Ngaio Marsh. the early 1970s, and while Alleyn is clearly a senior member of CID, he is still relatively young and fit enough to be "sprinting" down alleyways after perpetrators. The adventures of the French detective Jules Maigret, adapted from the novels of Georges Simenon. With Alan Gilchrist, Paul Brooke, Paul Bigley, Kevin McNally. Season 1. Directed bySilvio Narizzano Martyn Friend John Woods. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries - Episode guide - BBC Ngaio Marsh's handsome, melancholy Scotland Yard sleuth solves crimes in 1930s England with assistance from his wife, painter Agatha Troy; and reliable partner, Insp. The reasons for the switch in careers are never made explicit. Detective drama series set in the 1930s and based on the novels of Ngaio Marsh. Her Inspector Alleyn series is a very enjoyable read, however. During a display of dart throwing in a Cornish pub a man's hand is impaled by a dart, and he dies shortly afterward from cyanide although no one can explain how. How Many Inspector Alleyn Mysteries Are There? - Mastery Wiki He spends the years of the Second World War in the antipodes, engaged in counter-espionage work, often under an assumed name. Roderick Allen, deftly played by Patrick Malahide, is a Chief Inspector at Scotland Yard. Two series followed in 1993 and 1994, with Patrick Malahide replacing Williams in the title role. After an artist's model dies in a suspicious incident, the aristocratic Detective Chief Inspector Alleyn and his down-to-earth assistant Inspector Fox, investigate. Showing all 2 items Jump to: Filming Locations (2) Filming Locations. Then Alleyn discovers that a blackmailer is at work. Brigadier: [about Miss Pride] She's not scared of stickin' her neck out, is she? Alleyn cancels his holiday with Troy to investigate a murder connected to a stolen chalice, but he's called when a second murder occurs at uncle's estate. Yes No. From the beginning of the series, Alleyn's father is dead: his older brother, Sir George Alleyn, is already enjoying the baronetcy. Mystery! In later episodes of the T.V. The period setting and the "gentlemanly" way Inspector Alleyn handles his cases are what shine in this series. Watchlist. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries is a British detective television series adapted from nine of the Roderick Alleyn novels by Ngaio Marsh. Port Isaac Harbour, Port Isaac, Cornwall, England, UK, St Kew Inn, St Kew, Bodmin, Cornwall, England, UK The story is a mystery. Drama, Suspense. Ngaio Marsh's handsome, melancholy Scotland Yard sleuth solves crimes in . Watching it again over 16 years later I never realised that apart from "the blonde" everyone else was supposed to be "a Toff" and it really doesn't work in terms of modern day entertainment. Scales of Justice: Directed by Jim Goddard. (graveyard and church on the cliff), Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate's, Oxford, United Kingdom Although set in a large English country house, immediately after the 2nd World War, it is effectively one of Ngaio Marsh's crime stories with a theatrical . Alleyn travels to the sleepy village of Chalfont Green when a body is found there in a ditch. In the first, A Man Lay Dead (1934), Nigel Bathgate (Alleyn's future Watson) is clearly stated to be twenty-five, and Alleyn is much older, judging by the tone of his remarks to Bathgate. It sounds like someone trying to put on a posh accent. The sixth novel, Artists in Crime (1938), rapidly follows the action of Vintage Murder (that is, occurs in late 1936), and contains letters between Lady Alleyn and her younger son during his return to England. Season 2 of The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries premiered on January 10, 1994. Miss Emily Pride is the lady laird of the island, while her rival Miss Elspeth Cost wants to turn it into a health centre to compete with Lourdes. When he returns to England, to his wife, Agatha Troyand to a murder casein Final Curtain (1947), Alleyn observes that they have been apart for three years, seven months and twenty-four days. In Artists in Crime (1938), their mother indicates that Sir George is more conventional and less intelligent than his detective younger brother. PBS. Exec producer, Rebecca Eaton; producer, George . In 1934, Christina Alleyn is in her mid-twenties. Assuming both gentlemen graduated with a typical three-year Oxbridge degree at around age 21, then in 1934 or 1935 Bathgate is about 22 or 23 and Alleyn is about 20 years older, indicating his birth was around 1893 or 1894. She inherited some land from her sister and wants to travel to the island to make some changes. Inspector Alleyn Mysteries Season 2 Episodes. This 5 disc set also includes the rarely seen original 1990 Inspector Alleyn feature length pilot, Artists In Crime, starring Simon Williams (UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS) as Inspector Alleyn, plus all 8 feature-length episodes from the regular series. The BBC made nine episodes in all, each based on a separate novel. Based on Jennifer Worth's best-selling memoirs. 'Money in the Morgue' is set in New Zealand, as were only two other Inspector Alleyn books, with the rest almost all set . Inspector Alleyn is the creation of New Zealand writer, Dame Ngaio Marsh, who wrote over 30 internationally best-selling Alleyn novels and has been hailed as 'the queen of the straight crime novel'. Roderick Alleyn - Wikipedia He is the policeman hero of the 32 detective novels of Ngaio Marsh.Marsh and her gentleman detective belong firmly in the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, although the last Alleyn novel, Light Thickens, was published in 1982.. Marsh mentions in an introduction that she named her detective Alleyn after the . In the earliest five novels, Alleyn is singleand quite attracted to actresses, as described in both Enter a Murderer (1935) and Vintage Murder (1937). The series was written by Ngaio Marsh and follows the eponymous character, a detective in the fictional country of New Zealand, as he solves a variety of mysteries.. A crime writer from New Zealand who was a fan of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, she wrote novels under the pen name Ngaio Marsh. There are no offers for The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries. BBC One - The Inspector Lynley Mysteries - Episode guide In the much later novel, When in Rome (1970), Alleyn remarks that his older brother was once the British Ambassador there. Edit. Alleyn investigates the nursing home where the cabinet minister died, and finds things there are indeed not as they should be. Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries Series & Episodes Online - Drama You need to be logged in to continue. "Alleyn Mysteries" Final Curtain (TV Episode 1993) - IMDb In the pilot episode, the character of Alleyn was played by Simon Williams. Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: Death At The Bar, Filmed in the same location as Doc Martin. Spring, 1948. Add it to your Watchlist to receive updates and availability notifications. Inspector Alleyn Mysteries - Where to Watch and Stream - TV Guide The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries is a British detective television series adapted from nine of the Roderick Alleyn novels by Ngaio Marsh. [3] Unlike the original novels, whose first story takes place as early as 1934, after World War I, the pilot and thus all subsequent episodes take place after World War II, with "Artists in Crime" being set in late 1948. Especially when they are policemen.'. Alleyn Mysteries (TV Series) Death at . Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: Death At The Bar, Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: Set 2-Dead Water, Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: Set 2-Hand In Glove, Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: The Nursing Home Murder, Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: A Man Lay Dead, Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: Final Curtain, Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: Set 2-Scales Of Justice, Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: Set 2-Death In A White Tie, Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: Season 1. All; Available now (0) Next on (0) Series 6 View episodes. I've heard him on the radio, and he doesn't sound like this at all! Roderick Alleyn (pronounced 'Allen', and known as Rory to friends) is a gentleman detective, whose family and educational background may be deduced from comments in the novels. Roderick Alleyn (pronounced "Allen") is a fictional character who first appeared in 1934. (7, 14), 9-10 p.m., PBS) Production: Filmed in England by BBC-TV. An epic drama about the Dutton family, who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the U.S., which is under constant encroachment by those it borders. Alleyn's old French teacher, the landlord of an idyllic Scottish island is receiving death threats because she's blocking its development as a health spa.Alleyn's old French teacher, the landlord of an idyllic Scottish island is receiving death threats because she's blocking its development as a health spa.Alleyn's old French teacher, the landlord of an idyllic Scottish island is receiving death threats because she's blocking its development as a health spa. a list of 10 titles created 15 Jan 2022 Alleyn a list of 9 titles . To his friends, he's a man with a sense of humor and with more edge to him than meets the eye. She started a novel with Alleyn in 1931, after reading a detective story by Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers on a wet Saturday afternoon in London and wondering if she could write something in the genre. An egotistical Shakespearean ham actor gathers his dysfunctional extended family in his mansion on his 75th birthday for the reading of his will. The novel Death in a White Tie features Sarah Alleyn, a daughter of Sir George, and mentions that Sir George's wife (Alleyn's sister-in-law) is named Grace and that the elder Lady Alleyn is called Helena (at least, she is addressed as such by Lady Lorrimer). Alleyn's old French teacher, the landlord of an idyllic Scottish island is receiving death threats because she's blocking its development as a health spa. In Artists in Crime (1938), Alleyn meets renowned painter Agatha Troy on a ship leaving Fiji and again back in England after a model is murdered in Troy's studio. As much as i enjoy a good period who done it, the one thing that grates with these stories is Patrick Malahides accent. When the series opens (A Man Lay Dead, 1934), Alleyn is aged about 40 and is already a Detective Chief-Inspector in the CID at Scotland Yard. Their late father, also named George (Death in a White Tie, 1938) implicitly had at least one brother (Alleyn's paternal uncle), because the first novel (A Man Lay Dead, 1934) mentions a cousin, Christina Alleyn, who remains an unseen character. (Exterior of SPCA volunteer's house). Marsh's Alleyn novels form a chronological series that follows his detective career. When a full series finally came to screen three years later, Simon Williams was unavailable, and the role of Alleyn was filled by Patrick Malahide, while Simons and Lang reprised their roles. A well-known barrister dies in an incident at a village pub, seemingly killed by poison on the tip of a dart. I'm twenty-five years older than you. All episodes of The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries. Although there is a side-plot focused on Russians, ancient weapons, and secret societies, the murder itself concerns a small group of guests at Sir . .The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries (Complete Series 1 & 2 & Pilot) - 9-DVD Boxset ( Alleyn Mysteries ) Watch Inspector Alleyn Mysteries Season 1 | Prime Video Tcheky Karyo revives his role as French detective Julien Baptiste in this spin-off of "The Missing." Alleyn travels to the sleepy village of Swevenings, where an aristocrat has been found bludgeoned to death by a stream. It is clear that later novels take some liberties with Alleyn's age. Showing all 6 items Jump to: Filming Locations (6) Filming Locations. Where to Watch. Edit. Amazon.com's Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, Set 2 offering of Inspector Allen Set 2 is a wonderfully entertaining video Written by the highly acclaimed mystery writer Naio Marsh, the BBC Inspector Allen Mysteries are intriguing and highly entertaining. William Simons played Alleyn's righthand man and "Watson" figure, Detective Sergeant Fox, and Belinda Lang starred as the painter Agatha Troy, Alleyn's love interest. Two novels were adapted as episodes for the 1960s BBC anthology series Detective; Death in Ecstasy in 1964 with Geoffrey Keen as Alleyn,[5] and Artists in Crime in 1968 with Michael Allinson as Alleyn.[6]. See production, box office & company info, Port Isaac Harbour, Port Isaac, Cornwall, England, UK. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries - Where to Watch and Stream - TV Guide "Alleyn Mysteries" Scales of Justice (TV Episode 1994) - IMDb ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Sable and Murgatroyd, 21s), which is mentioned in a footnote to Chapter 6 of Vintage Murder (1937). I did watch this when originally shown. "Alleyn Mysteries" Death at the Bar (TV Episode 1993) - IMDb 5 Seasons. The period setting and the "gentlemanly" way Inspector Alleyn handles his cases are what shine in this series. . The stories ran on PBS's 'Mystery!' See production, box office & company info, Lots of cultish and fantasy beliefs in healing. Chief Inspector Alleyn: Flowers have a tendency to wilt. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries [DVD] [2007] [Region 2, PAL] - Amazon After someone tries to kill Emily Pride, her old friend, Alleyn, comes to the island on holiday to investigate. Plockton, Scotland, UK (Stephen) . Elspeth Cost's ceremony at the falls is disrupted by a serious rainfall. An Australian set has all nine episodes. She finally accepts his proposal in the penultimate scene in Death in a White Tie (1938). Alleyn was reportedly educated at Eton and Oxford, and worked in the British Foreign Service for a year (19191920) before joining the Metropolitan Police. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, Set 1 - amazon.com In 1780s England, Ross Poldark returns home following British service in the Revolutionary War to find his estate facing financial ruin and his fiance engaged to another man. Ngaio Marsh's handsome, melancholy Scotland Yard sleuth solves crimes in 1930s England with assistance . In later episodes of the T.V. "The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries - The Complete Series (5 DVD Set) DVD", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Inspector_Alleyn_Mysteries&oldid=1144697613, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. In the pilot episode Detective Inspector Alleyn was played by Simon Williams. The Alleyn Mysteries (an Episode Guide) - epguides.com Mystery! the Inspector Alleyn Mysteries Final Curtain - Variety The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries is currently available to watch with ads and buy in the United States. b: 1 Apr 94 w: T R Bowen s: Ngaio Marsh d: John Woods. All the films were produced in the early 1990s. The following descriptions are taken with acknowledgment from the rear cover blurbs on the Harper Collins Diamond Anniversary Collection of 2009. The script of a television play by Ngaio Marsh, featuring Alleyn and set in New Zealand, is due to be published in 2020. Money in the Morgue: The New Inspector Alleyn Mystery - Goodreads Sir George finally appears in person, but only briefly, at an embassy function in Black As He's Painted (1974). The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries (1993) - The Movie Database 2023 TV GUIDE, A FANDOM COMPANY. Peter Howell portrayed Alleyn, with his name being pronounced "Al-lain". The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Episodes Episode guide. A German village is divided after World War, and its residents face the repercussions. Marsh and her gentleman detective belong firmly in the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, although the last Alleyn novel, Light Thickens, was published in 1982.[2]. [1] He is the policeman hero of the 32 detective novels of Ngaio Marsh. Lord Gospell is found murdered during a ball at the house of society hostess Evelyn Carrados, and Alleyn has to find the killer. Throughout the novels, Alleyn is clearly a member of the gentry. 2023 JustWatch - All external content remains the property of the rightful owner. Port Isaac Harbour, Port Isaac, Cornwall, England, UK 4 of 4 found this interesting Interesting? When Alleyn is called in, he finds he has to solve more than one mystery, as a famous and enormously valuable silver cup has disappeared without trace. Will Moore: You seem to know all the answers, Inspector. The three Alleyn stories are: The collection, besides seven non-Alleyn stories, also includes two "biographical" essays written by Ngaio Marsh: Roderick Alleyn and Portrait of Troy. 2 Seasons. 1:22 Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: Set 2-Scales Of Justice. Drawing on her love of theatre and art, New Zealand author Ngaio Marsh created elegant crime-puzzlers full of quirky characters with hidden agendas, all brought meticulously to life in this Read allDrawing on her love of theatre and art, New Zealand author Ngaio Marsh created elegant crime-puzzlers full of quirky characters with hidden agendas, all brought meticulously to life in this BBC series.Drawing on her love of theatre and art, New Zealand author Ngaio Marsh created elegant crime-puzzlers full of quirky characters with hidden agendas, all brought meticulously to life in this BBC series. It originally aired between 1990 and 1994. At about 51:30, the same eerie bird call so prevalent in Midsomer Murders is heard. Perhaps I'l use it in a still life. Alleyn Mysteries (TV Series 1990-1994) - IMDb It is an intense study of a world . In the pilot episode Detective Inspector Alleyn was played by Simon Williams. An egotistical Shakespearean ham actor gathers his dysfunctional extended family in his mansion on his 75th birthday for the reading of his will.An egotistical Shakespearean ham actor gathers his dysfunctional extended family in his mansion on his 75th birthday for the reading of his will.An egotistical Shakespearean ham actor gathers his dysfunctional extended family in his mansion on his 75th birthday for the reading of his will. series, Patrick Malahide does a good job of presenting Inspector Alleyn as a very nice contrast to the street detectives one usually sees. Dead Water: Directed by John Woods. In the first few novels, Alleyn is in his early forties. To his colleague, Inspector Fox, he is a loyal partner. Crime. Nowhere in the series are details of this military service ever given. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries is a British detective television series, broadcast on BBC1, which was adapted from nine of the novels by Dame Ngaio Marsh, featuring the character Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn.The pilot episode was shown in 1990, with Simon Williams playing the part of Alleyn. The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries is a British detective television series adapted from nine of the Roderick Alleyn novels by Ngaio Marsh. Both Malahide series were released on DVD in 2007, via Acorn Media. Series 1, Episode 4, 'Death at the Bar' was first broadcast on 9 May 1993. See production, box office & company info. The actual event takes place off stage, as does the birth of their son, also named Roderick but generally called Ricky; Ricky plays major roles as a child in Spinsters in Jeopardy (1954) and as a young adult in Last Ditch (1977). Filming & Production. It originally aired between 1990 and 1994. . December 23, 1990. He is the younger brother of a baronet, and was raised in Buckinghamshire where his mother, Lady Alleyn, continued to live. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. a list of 10 titles created 15 Jan 2022 2017 - September (TV) a list of 140 . Early in his police career, Alleyn wrote a textbook that became widely admired: Principles and Practice of Criminal Investigations, by Roderick Alleyn, M.A. PBS. Drama, Suspense. A member of Parliament who has taken controversial stands on Palestine and A-bomb development is murdered during a routine appendectomy. In the pilot, Artists in Crime (1990), Alleyn was played by Simon Williams, and then by Patrick Malahide in eight more tales (199394): A Man Lay Dead, The Nursing Home Murder, Final Curtain (the second TV adaptation), Death at the Bar, Death in a White Tie, Hand in Glove, Dead Water and Scales of Justice. Inspector Alleyn goes to a island to help a friend, an older woman named Mrs Pride from way back. By what name was Alleyn Mysteries (1990) officially released in Canada in English? In the pilot episode Detective Inspector Alleyn was played by Simon Williams. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. However, Alleyn comments that it is almost 20 years since he (Alleyn) came down from Oxford. Series 1, Episode 3, 'Final Curtain' was first broadcast on 2 May 1983. Why ask the questions? It originally aired between 1990 and 1994. After an artist's model dies in a suspicious incident, Alleyn and his down-to-earth assistant Fox investigate. The same correspondence shows that Lady Alleyn's birthday is on the seventh of September, and that Alleyn's (forty-third) birthday follows soon after. This is the first Inspector Alleyn mystery novel that I have read.