Colour Scheme - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: Colour Scheme by Ngaio Marsh

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source: Purchased

Description: Often regarded as her most interesting book and set on New Zealand's North Island, Ngaio Marsh herself considered this to be her best-written novel. It was a horrible death -- Maurice Questing was lured into a pool of boiling mud and left there to die. Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn, far from home on a wartime quest for German agents, knew that any number of people could have killed the English exiles he'd hated, the New Zealanders he'd despised or the Maoris he'd insulted. Even the spies he'd thwarted -- if he wasn't a spy himself!

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  This is the next Marsh book I had on my shelf.  

My Impression: I think this is the first Marsh book I've read that she set in her native New Zealand and I really enjoyed it.  It definitely has a different feel from her traditional English village mysteries but her ability to draw unique and interesting characters is the same.  This book was published in 1943 so I was expecting some datedness regarding different cultures, but I was pleasantly surprised.  There is a clear difference between the British Claire family and their guests and the local Māori community but there is a lot of respect between the two groups as well as appreciation for the Māori culture and traditions.   Though they are a little horrified by Simon Claire's strong New Zealand accent.  Marsh has a very dry and sometimes sly sense of humor, and this is very much on point in this book - especially with Dr. Ackrington and Geoffrey Gaunt.  

It takes quite awhile for the actual murder to happen but there is a growing sense of unease as the story develops.  Something is definitely not right at this out of the way resort and it's more than just the Claire family's casual incompetence.   Marsh can get a little overly indirect with her details which took away some of the impact when the death happens.  As well, I'm not quite sure how I felt about the relationship that develops between two of the characters.  

This is an enjoyable mystery and definitely a bit different from the typical classic mystery.  This isn't my favorite Marsh mystery so far, but I did enjoy it.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely! I'm looking forward to reading more of her mysteries.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you're a mystery fan this is an interesting read and one worth picking up.