Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh

It is rather rare in mystery literature for someone to be shot by a piano, but this does occur when the residents of Pen Cuckoo put on their theatrical performance.

These residents had gathered to plan a dramatic performance to benefit the church youth group. There was Jocelyn Jerningham who proudly surveyed his land holdings in Penn Cuckoo He was the seventh Jocelyn Jerningham to hold his house and lands. His son, Henry, would inherit the land and house. Henry was currently in love with Dinah Copeland who was the daughter of the vicar. Unfortunately she did not have the money which Jocelyn needed to maintain his holdings, so the prospects for Henry and Dinah's wedding did not look good. Diana was at the meeting along with her father, Reverend Copeland.  Dinah was studying theater and had been in several plays so she would be directing the performance.

Also attending were two middle aged village spinsters, Idris Campanula  and Eleanor Prentiss. Both were interested in Reverend Copeland who was now a widower. Both women had developed a strong interest in the church, and both went to confession with the reverend. Doctor Templett was there, and he had brought Miss Ross. Miss Ross was new to the village, and she was not well received by the others at the meeting. She was considered to be socially beneath them, but she dressed well. Dr. Templett showed quite an interest in her even though he was married but his wife was an invalid who never left home.

The first thing this group had to decide was which play to perform. This was a controversial topic but finally the choice of the play advocated by Miss Ross and Dinah was chosen. The rehearsals commenced and they were a disaster. Dinah was reaching her wit's end. The players did not learn their lines, and forget where they were to stand. Things did not at all seem promising for the performance. Then there was a battle over who would play the music for the beginning of the play. Miss Prentiss wanted to play her perpetual piece which she always played, but she had seriously injured her finger. It was decided at the very last moment, that Miss Campanula would play the opening music.

Every thing was ready, the audience was seated. Miss Campanula sat at the piano and started playing. When she pressed the soft pedal, she was shot by the piano which was holding a revolver.

Scotland Yard was called to investigate this murder. The Yard arrived in the person of Chief Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn and his assistant, Inspector-Detective Fox. Soon their favorite journalist, Nigel Bathgate arrived, and the investigative team was complete. They interview all concerned in the performance and examined significant clues such as a child's toy and an onion before they finally could name the murderer.

This book was published in 1939 and was the seventh mystery in Alleyn series which was written by Dame Ngaio Marsh. I have read the book for the 2018 Just the Facts, Ma'am Mystery Challenge. It is entered in my detective notebook in the category of Why - an author who I have read and loved before.