A marrow is a sort of squash; imagine a zucchini. I mention this because you may otherwise be distracted from the delightful opening of this book. I wouldn't spoil you on the mystery of Mr. Spivens. When you discover it, you will feel delighted at having been deceived. But I'm fairly certain there was not meant to be any mystery about the marrows.

To Say Nothing of the Dog is my favourite novel written by Connie Willis. I love almost everything she writes, so this is not faint praise. The back piece says it is "at once a mystery novel, a time-travel adventure, and a Shakespearean comedy," which I feel is putting it fairly well. The title warns you that the author is fond of Jerome K. Jerome, and that there will be literary allusions. This is putting it mildly. Each chapter is headed by a quote; from Alfred Lord Tennyson, Jerome K. Jerome, Lewis Carroll, and persons I have not heard of. The first chapter begins:

"It would have been nice to start fresh without those messy old ruins," she said.
"They're a symbol, my dear," said her friend.

Mollie Panter-Downs

CHAPTER ONE
A Search Party -- Wartime Headgear -- The Problem of Nepotism -- Royal Headgear -- The Bishop's Birdstump is Missing -- Jumble Sales -- A Clue to Its Whereabouts -- Astronomical Observations -- Dogs -- A Cat -- Man's Best Friend -- An Abrupt Departure.

I adore this, but if it bothers you, it's easily skipped.

The story is a bit reminiscent of an Elizabeth Peters mystery. The mystery is really more of a clotheshorse to hang the characters on, and unless you are serious about your mysteries, I don't think you will mind. If you are serious about your mysteries, you may mind, because I'm not sure that the author plays fair with the reader: knowing the solution, I don't really believe there was any way to derive it from the evidence presented.

Connie Willis is an author who, in my opinion, just keeps on getting better. This is good news for her readers, and also means that if you pick up some of her earlier work, you may be, as I am, somewhat amused.