Death in Ecstasy, Ngaio Marsh

[bookfrog]

A newspaper reporter is bored and notices people going into a little church across the street from his place. He follows them and witnesses a strange pagan ritual where a cup is passed, people add something to it, there's some mumbo-jumbo, and a girl drinks from it. Of course, the part where she dies isn't part of the ceremony.

As the murder is investigated, lots of juicy sex and drugs become a factor in the case.

Pretty racy for a book written by a woman in the nineteen-thirties. Decent enough mystery, too. However, the portrayal of the two characters who were supposed to be homosexual as simpering, wilting idiots really grated on my nerves. Also, she used the word "oversexed" when she meant horny.

I am not sure what the cover had to do with the story, but it sure is interesting.