Golden Age of Detective Fiction

Ngaio Marsh faced health challenges, alluding to her battle with cancer as a “recurring disability.” In 1975, she underwent a hysterectomy, marking a significant step in her medical journey. During a severe episode in 1934, Marsh endured a three-month hospitalization, undergoing a series of minor procedures culminating in a major operation. Drs. Hugh Acland and Henry Jellett performed the surgery, rendering Marsh unable to conceive.

During her recovery, Marsh and Jellett joined forces on a murder mystery set in a nursing home. Jellett, drawing from his medical expertise, provided meticulous details for the novel. Originally titled “Death Follows a Surgeon,” the collaboration between Marsh and Jellett extended beyond literature to a joint venture in creating a musical titled “There She Goes.”

Synopsis

The British Home Secretary, Sir Derek O’Callaghan MP, finds himself entangled in a web of personal and professional turmoil. Threats from anarchists with ties to Stalinist Communism loom over him, alongside a distressing letter from Jane Harden, a nurse with whom he had a brief liaison. When his longtime friend and family physician, Sir John Phillips, confronts him about Jane, tensions escalate, revealing underlying animosities. O’Callaghan callously dismisses Jane as insignificant, sparking a confrontation that nearly turns violent until Phillips, in a fit of rage, issues a chilling threat.

A week later, O’Callaghan’s health takes a sudden turn as he grapples with acute appendicitis while presenting a bill in the House of Commons. Unaware of the recent altercation, his wife arranges for him to be moved to Phillips’s private hospital, where Phillips reluctantly performs the surgery, assisted by a team including Jane. Despite the seemingly successful operation, O’Callaghan succumbs to peritonitis shortly after, casting suspicion on those involved.

Lady O’Callaghan’s discovery of threatening letters and the suspicious circumstances surrounding her husband’s death prompt her to enlist the help of Roderick Alleyn from Scotland Yard. As Alleyn delves into the investigation, a complex web of motives and allegiances emerges. Harden’s unrequited love for O’Callaghan, Nurse Banks’s radical affiliations, and Dr. Roberts’s disturbing ideologies all come under scrutiny.

In a dramatic turn, Alleyn orchestrates a re-enactment of the operation, leading to a crucial discovery implicating Roberts. His twisted belief in eugenics drives him to commit murder, revealing a chilling disregard for human life. In the aftermath, Alleyn reflects on the tragic consequences of fanaticism and the unlikely prospects of romance amidst chaos.

In the end, justice prevails, but Alleyn remains skeptical of the possibility of a happy ending, noting that reality seldom mirrors the simplicity of fiction.

The Review

It’s been several months since I delved into a Ngaio Marsh mystery, and I’m pleased to say that revisiting her work was a delightful experience. The Nursing Home Murder presents a satisfying blend of mystery and statecraft primarily conducted through Inspector Alleyn’s interviews with potential suspects.

The central mystery revolves around the poisoning of Sir Derek O’Callaghan with hyoscine, a drug administered as part of his surgical preparation. Initially, suspicion falls on Sir John Phillips due to his involvement in helping the drug and his motive of wanting to kill O’Callaghan to clear a way for his lady love to marry him. However, Alleyn astutely discerns that several others had the opportunity and means to administer the fatal substance during the procedure since everyone had a reason to dislike O”Callaghan, hence Alleyn’s need to focus on the method.

There are several re-enactments throughout the story, each character telling, retelling, and showing Alleyn the procedure as accurately as possible, and they crackle with tension; each person, in their turn, tries to clear themselves while casting doubt on the person they secretly suspect. There’s a lot of comedy that comes from the character’s awkward re-enactments; they are filled with colorful the cuff remarks, trailing sentences, and nervous bumbling because everyone is absolutely depreate to conceal whatever grudge or private hatred they had with O’ Callaghan or his party.

Surprisingly, I thought Ngaio Marsh did an excellent job discussing Bolshevism’s rise in England. I loved the story of Nigel and Angela attempting to infiltrate Bolshevik rallies. It had the pattern and feel of a Tommy and Tuppence double act. While the Bolsheviks were played slightly for laughs, she rather faithfully outlined their concerns and hopes for the future and how fanaticism within the movement was on the rise, leading to a real possibility someone in their ilk killed O’Callaghan.

The hospital setting and storyline were meticulously rendered with the help of Henry Jellett, Marsh’s gynecologist with whom this book was co-authored. There were so many details about the operation that it felt like I was watching it live. I think this added immediacy and danger not often found in mysteries. Listening to the audiobook version also helps immerse the reader in the hospital setting.

Listening to the audiobook narrated by Philip Franks was a delight, as he skillfully embodied the various characters, particularly the exaggerated personas like the caricatured Bolsheviks. His portrayal of Alleyn and Fox captured their likable qualities, enhancing the audiobook experience.

Revisiting Marsh’s work felt like catching up with old friends. I look forward to exploring more of her novels soon. I highly recommend The Nursing Home Murder.

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