What do you think?
Rate this book
David Mallin #15
More Dead Than Alive
A man worth more dead than alive….
For Elsa Mallin, it should have been trip to see her old school friend, Mrs. Clarice Klein, at Kilvennan Castle.
But one fateful night, Clarice’s husband Konrad Klein has a deadly accident.
Once a world-famous illusionist known as Konrad Klimax, he has since been dropped from the limelight.
Up until the accident, he was working on a new illusion – one he hoped would make him famous once more - and it seems that it is this latest trick that accidentally killed him.
Whatever it is, it caused Konrad to fall out a window with a sheer drop into the sea below.
But was it really an accident?
Konrad’s body is still missing and as it soon becomes apparent, his life was insured for £200,000.
His fall from grace cost him more than just dignity and it would be easy enough for an illusionist to fake his own death…
Was this his last great trick to the world?
But, if the insurance company suspect suicide, they can refuse to pay out. No body, no proof of accidental death.
With Clarice worried sick they’ll refuse her claim, Elsa asks her husband, David Mallin, and his brusque partner, George, to investigate.
As ex-policeman running their own detective agency, they should put Clarice at ease, but the man from the insurance company, Martin Fisher, is determined to prove it was suicide.
Even in his ‘family’, Konrad is divisive figure. His son Anthony, a magician in his right, thought him insane.
Clarice, though she loved him, bitterly knew he and his assistant Amaryllis – an ex-ballet dance – were having an affair.
Amaryllis herself, while captivated by his magic, was horrified by his latest and mysterious illusion.
And then, just as David and George look like they might make sense of this case, Konrad’s body is found.
Worse, there’s a bullet wound on his corpse. The police say it was being shot that really killed him.
Which raises another question – was Konrad’s death really an accident or was it murder?
Better Dead Than Alive is a thrilling mystery, full of twists and turns.
For Elsa Mallin, it should have been trip to see her old school friend, Mrs. Clarice Klein, at Kilvennan Castle.
But one fateful night, Clarice’s husband Konrad Klein has a deadly accident.
Once a world-famous illusionist known as Konrad Klimax, he has since been dropped from the limelight.
Up until the accident, he was working on a new illusion – one he hoped would make him famous once more - and it seems that it is this latest trick that accidentally killed him.
Whatever it is, it caused Konrad to fall out a window with a sheer drop into the sea below.
But was it really an accident?
Konrad’s body is still missing and as it soon becomes apparent, his life was insured for £200,000.
His fall from grace cost him more than just dignity and it would be easy enough for an illusionist to fake his own death…
Was this his last great trick to the world?
But, if the insurance company suspect suicide, they can refuse to pay out. No body, no proof of accidental death.
With Clarice worried sick they’ll refuse her claim, Elsa asks her husband, David Mallin, and his brusque partner, George, to investigate.
As ex-policeman running their own detective agency, they should put Clarice at ease, but the man from the insurance company, Martin Fisher, is determined to prove it was suicide.
Even in his ‘family’, Konrad is divisive figure. His son Anthony, a magician in his right, thought him insane.
Clarice, though she loved him, bitterly knew he and his assistant Amaryllis – an ex-ballet dance – were having an affair.
Amaryllis herself, while captivated by his magic, was horrified by his latest and mysterious illusion.
And then, just as David and George look like they might make sense of this case, Konrad’s body is found.
Worse, there’s a bullet wound on his corpse. The police say it was being shot that really killed him.
Which raises another question – was Konrad’s death really an accident or was it murder?
Better Dead Than Alive is a thrilling mystery, full of twists and turns.
- GenresMystery
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 9, 2017
About the author
Roger Ormerod
87 books9 followersRoger Ormerod was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. He worked as a county court officer, an executive officer in the Department of Social Security, a postman, and a shop loader in an engineering factory.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 21, 2022
More dead than alive by Roger Ormerod.
David Mallin Detective series Book 15.
For Elsa Mallin, it should have been trip to see her old school friend, Mrs. Clarice Klein, at Kilvennan Castle.But one fateful night, Clarice’s husband Konrad Klein has a deadly accident.Once a world-famous illusionist known as Konrad Klimax, he has since been dropped from the limelight.Up until the accident, he was working on a new illusion – one he hoped would make him famous once more - and it seems that it is this latest trick that accidentally killed him.Whatever it is, it caused Konrad to fall out a window with a sheer drop into the sea below.But was it really an accident?Konrad’s body is still missing and as it soon becomes apparent, his life was insured for £200,000.His fall from grace cost him more than just dignity and it would be easy enough for an illusionist to fake his own death…
Was this his last great trick to the world?
But, if the insurance company suspect suicide, they can refuse to pay out. No body, no proof of accidental death.With Clarice worried sick they’ll refuse her claim, Elsa asks her husband, David Mallin, and his brusque partner, George, to investigate.As ex-policeman running their own detective agency, they should put Clarice at ease, but the man from the insurance company, Martin Fisher, is determined to prove it was suicide.Even in his ‘family’, Konrad is divisive figure. His son Anthony, a magician in his right, thought him insane.Clarice, though she loved him, bitterly knew he and his assistant Amaryllis – an ex-ballet dance – were having an affair.Amaryllis herself, while captivated by his magic, was horrified by his latest and mysterious illusion.And then, just as David and George look like they might make sense of this case, Konrad’s body is found.Worse, there’s a bullet wound on his corpse. The police say it was being shot that really killed him.Which raises another question – was Konrad’s death really an accident or was it murder?
A good read with good characters. Great series. 4*.
David Mallin Detective series Book 15.
For Elsa Mallin, it should have been trip to see her old school friend, Mrs. Clarice Klein, at Kilvennan Castle.But one fateful night, Clarice’s husband Konrad Klein has a deadly accident.Once a world-famous illusionist known as Konrad Klimax, he has since been dropped from the limelight.Up until the accident, he was working on a new illusion – one he hoped would make him famous once more - and it seems that it is this latest trick that accidentally killed him.Whatever it is, it caused Konrad to fall out a window with a sheer drop into the sea below.But was it really an accident?Konrad’s body is still missing and as it soon becomes apparent, his life was insured for £200,000.His fall from grace cost him more than just dignity and it would be easy enough for an illusionist to fake his own death…
Was this his last great trick to the world?
But, if the insurance company suspect suicide, they can refuse to pay out. No body, no proof of accidental death.With Clarice worried sick they’ll refuse her claim, Elsa asks her husband, David Mallin, and his brusque partner, George, to investigate.As ex-policeman running their own detective agency, they should put Clarice at ease, but the man from the insurance company, Martin Fisher, is determined to prove it was suicide.Even in his ‘family’, Konrad is divisive figure. His son Anthony, a magician in his right, thought him insane.Clarice, though she loved him, bitterly knew he and his assistant Amaryllis – an ex-ballet dance – were having an affair.Amaryllis herself, while captivated by his magic, was horrified by his latest and mysterious illusion.And then, just as David and George look like they might make sense of this case, Konrad’s body is found.Worse, there’s a bullet wound on his corpse. The police say it was being shot that really killed him.Which raises another question – was Konrad’s death really an accident or was it murder?
A good read with good characters. Great series. 4*.
June 18, 2017
Death surrounded by magic
The main thing seems to be manner of death even before there is evidence of death. A "locked room" mystery wherein the locked room is empty -- no body, no blood, no murderer.
When the body is (eventually) recovered, we learn that cause of death is gunshot. The widow says accident, the insurance guy says suicide (which means no payout), and the police say murder.
There are attempts to recreate the scene ad nauseam, the police inspector's method of interrogation is to viciously accuse one person after another of murder, and minimal progress is made.
I must admit I disliked all of the characters as well as the solution.
24
The main thing seems to be manner of death even before there is evidence of death. A "locked room" mystery wherein the locked room is empty -- no body, no blood, no murderer.
When the body is (eventually) recovered, we learn that cause of death is gunshot. The widow says accident, the insurance guy says suicide (which means no payout), and the police say murder.
There are attempts to recreate the scene ad nauseam, the police inspector's method of interrogation is to viciously accuse one person after another of murder, and minimal progress is made.
I must admit I disliked all of the characters as well as the solution.
24
May 10, 2019
Elsa Mallin is staying with her friend Clarice Klein at Kilvennan Castle. Then Konrad Klein, illusionist, disappears while practicing a trick. She calls on her husband David Mallin and his partner George Coe to solve the mystery.
An interesting mystery
An interesting mystery
January 27, 2014
Detectives look into the disappearance of a magician from a sealed room.
Well written with plenty of twists and turns and oddly believable characters. I was kept guessing until the very end who the criminal was / what had happened.
Well written with plenty of twists and turns and oddly believable characters. I was kept guessing until the very end who the criminal was / what had happened.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews