 First edition | |
| Author | Ngaio Marsh |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Roderick Alleyn |
| Genre | Detective fiction |
| Publisher | Geoffrey Bles |
Publication date | 1934 |
| Media type | |
| Followed by | Enter a Murderer |
A Man Lay Dead is a detective novel by Ngaio Marsh; it is the first novel to feature Roderick Alleyn, and was first published in 1934. The plot concerns a murder committed during a detective game of murder at a weekend party in a country house.
There is a side-plot focused on Russians, ancient weapons, and secret societies. The murder concerns a small group of guests at Sir Hubert Handesley's estate. Unlike later novels, this novel focuses more on Nigel Bathgate and less on Alleyn.