Final Curtain by Ngaio Marsh: a review

Agatha Troy Alleyn has been asked by Sir Henry Ancred, an outstanding Shakespearean  actor,  to do a portrait of him as Macbeth, one of his most famous roles. At first Troy does not want to undertake this commission because Sir Henry has requested it be four by six feet which Troy considers to be impossibly large. She relents when she discusses the situation with Sir Henry's son Thomas who says it would cheer up an ailing and aging Sir Henry, and she sets off for the family residence of Ancreton.

At Ancreton, Troy meets the quarreling and overly emotional members of the Ancred family. There is elder daughter Pauline who is the mother of Paul and Panty. Panty is a young problem child who engages in a great deal of mischief. There is Millicent who was the wife of Sir Henry's oldest son who is now deceased. Millicent has remained at Ancreton to care for Sir Henry. She is the mother of Cecil who is the heir apparent of the estate.  Also present is Fenella, Sir Henry's granddaughter who is the child of Claude Ancred, Sir Henry's son. Most shocking to the whole family is the presence of Miss Sonia Orencourt who is Sir Henry's current love interest. She is much much younger than he is, and not a member of the Ancred's social class.

Troy begins the portrait and is soon caught up in it. Sir Henry poses, and Troy gives young Panty a board and some paints to keep her out of mischief during these sessions. Then strange things begin happening. Troy finds red paint on the banister of the stairs near her room. Somebody paints spectacles on Sir Henry's portrait. The family immediately blames Panty, but Troy believes her innocent.

The climax begins when Paul and Fanella announce that they are engaged. Sir Henry is furious because he does not believe that first cousins should get married. He springs a surprise on the whole family and announces that he going to marry Miss Sonia Orencourt. The family members are appalled because this may mean changes in the Will. Sir Henry announces changes to the Will each year at his birthday dinner which is only a few days away.

The birthday celebration takes place with family members and friends present. Sir Henry enjoys himself immensely while eating and drinking far more than his doctor would approve of. The change in the Will is announced. The portrait is unveiled and applauded. The next morning, Sir Henry is found dead in his bed. The doctor pronounces heart failure as the cause of death.

Troy returns to London, and Roderick Alleyn returns home after being away for three years because of the war.  The first case that Roderick is assigned  on his return to the police force is the death of Sir Henry Ancred which has been brought to the attention of the police by family members because they have received anonymous letters which imply that Sir Henry had been poisoned. Roderick's investigation is complicated by the possibility that Troy, his wife, could be called as a witness. Roderick will solve the case but not before another death occurs.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book because I find Marsh to be a literate and witty writer. If you like country house mysteries with lots of difficult family members, you will find it enjoyable too. This book is available in paper and e-book format.