New York Magazine
It's time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.
Library Journal
The Dance of the Five Sons has been performed at the winter solstice for over 200 years. William (a.k.a "The Guiser") Andersen, the village blacksmith, maintains the old traditions, vigorously rehearsing his sons in their accustomed roles. This year the Guiser's never-before-seen granddaughter has come for a visit. Another newcomer is Mrs. Bonz, the morris dance fanatic; her relentless questions and constant snooping are annoying the whole village. Even worse, Ernie, the youngest Andersen brother, has become dissatisfied with his customary role. Still, the performance goes on as usual, at least until the finale. The Guiser's character is supposed to rise from the dead; instead, he is discovered with his head cut off. Scotland Yard detective superintendent Roderick Alleyn is called in, investigates, and, as always, solves the case. Alas, the descriptions are excessively long and tedious. Even Nadia May's flexible voice and expert reading cannot impart interest to the rather wooden detective and his scanty deductive processes. Fortunately, the supporting characters, while stereotypical, radiate warmth and charm. Death of a Fool may be one of the worst books ever written by this first-class mystery author. Recommended for moderate to large libraries with a strong demand for classic mysteries. I. Pour-El, Des Moines Area Community Coll., Boone, IA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
The New York Times
The Mardian Morris Sword Dance and Play of the Five Sons, performed annually on the first Wednesday after the winter solstice, is as tantalizingly half-meaningful, as hauntingly evocative as anything you've ever read in the annals of folklore; and it furnishes a superb background for murder.
From the Publisher
"It's time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around." --New York magazine
AUG/SEP 02 - AudioFile
Ancient ritual and murder combine for a romp through merry old England. Nadia May’s narration covers territory throughout Britain and Germany. She enlivens an eccentric cast of characters led by the town matriarch, a crotchety old blacksmith, and the village idiot. As a folklore connoisseur delves a little too deeply into local tradition, a fertility rite turns into a ceremony of death. May’s narration soars as the granddaughter of the deceased practices vocal exercises and further complicates matters with her romantic entanglement and family history. Before Inspector Roderick Alleyn gets his man, misogyny, greed, and the mysteries of folklore are revealed. J.J.B. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine
