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me2brett's review against another edition
3.0
I confess that I had seen the television adaptation before reading the book, so I had a hazy idea of some of the hows and whys of the plot. That did not in any way spoil my enjoyment of this Campion mystery. A nice little side view into the art world of the interwar years - and one wonders what encounters Allingham had with models to write them as such unlovely people!
lory_enterenchanted's review against another edition
Frequently when I read a Golden Age mystery I find myself partway through wondering if I have read it before. I don't know is this is because: A. I have actually read it before, or B. These books tend to be predictable and samey, so that one reminds me of others that I have read and I can't keep them straight.
I definitely had the feeling with this one; I didn't think I had read it before, but once the denouement began to unfold it began to feel so familiar.
I definitely had the feeling with this one; I didn't think I had read it before, but once the denouement began to unfold it began to feel so familiar.
bookpossum's review against another edition
3.0
More of a "whydunnit" than a "whodunnit", this book gives us welcome relief from Mr Campion's "silly ass" persona of the earlier books.
I have been struck as I read Allingham's books by the odd titles she gives them, and this one is no exception. At a stretch I can see a meaning in it. I don't suppose it matters one way or the other. I shall continue with the series, interspersed with other books.
I have been struck as I read Allingham's books by the odd titles she gives them, and this one is no exception. At a stretch I can see a meaning in it. I don't suppose it matters one way or the other. I shall continue with the series, interspersed with other books.
michaeljrulon's review against another edition
5.0
An engaging story with memorable characters and a fast-paced story.
diana_blackmoon's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
Another fascinating and clever Albert Campion mystery. This one is set in the art world - with a death at the first showing of a new work by a painter who left a painting to be unveiled ever year for a set period after his death. Then a member of the painter's extended household is killed. Soon Albert Campion knows who did it - but he can't prove it. And soon the murderer knows too - and will try and remove Campion as well.
Inventive, intricate and clever - and excellent golden age story.
Inventive, intricate and clever - and excellent golden age story.
cmbohn's review against another edition
5.0
Campion is good friends with the widow of a famous painter. Every year she hosts a big party and unveils one of his works, which has been kept under wraps since the artist's death. At this year's party, the painting is upstaged by the dead man with a dagger in his chest.
CMB
CMB
crowyhead's review against another edition
4.0
Another excellent Campion mystery. An art gala turns deadly when the lights go out and an unassuming young artist is murdered. Who could the culprit be? The young man's jealous fiancee seems like the most likely suspect, but Mr. Campion is convinced that there is more to this strange death than a lover's spat. The climax of this novel is a bit over-the-top (something I've come to expect from Allingham -- she relishes a good bit of melodrama), but it's good fun and the mystery is satisfying.
carolsnotebook's review against another edition
4.0
I do have a fondness for mysteries involving art. In Death of a Ghost, a young artist is killed at the showing of a painting, not his painting, one of his mentor’s, Lafcadio. Lafcadio, before he died, left instructions to have one of his paintings that he had boxed up shown each year beginning several years after his death, and his wishes have been faithfully carried out by his widow- quite a strong woman by the way, the kind of woman who takes everything life throws at her, straightens her shoulders, and carries on. Campion, luckily, was at the party/showing, so even though he didn’t actually witness the murder, as a friend of the family he takes an interest in the mystery.
There is a lot of art talk in this one, which I find fascinating. I even took a picture of at least one page and sent it to Amber, since the description of the area where the paint was mixed just struck me as so similar to the studios now.
I don’t know if this is really a mystery or more of a thriller. We, along with Campion and Oates from Scotland Yard, know who the killer is fairly quickly. Proving it is an altogether different matter, especially when the motive is unclear. And the villain is very intelligent. We get an especially good scene where the killer pretty much has Campion at his mercy as they travel across London. Happily, Campion is not as vacuous as he sometimes makes himself seem.
This was a really enjoyable book. I love these “Golden Age” mysteries. It’s a clever puzzle with memorable characters. I didn’t particularly like the very, very end, but that’s a minor quibble.
There is a lot of art talk in this one, which I find fascinating. I even took a picture of at least one page and sent it to Amber, since the description of the area where the paint was mixed just struck me as so similar to the studios now.
I don’t know if this is really a mystery or more of a thriller. We, along with Campion and Oates from Scotland Yard, know who the killer is fairly quickly. Proving it is an altogether different matter, especially when the motive is unclear. And the villain is very intelligent. We get an especially good scene where the killer pretty much has Campion at his mercy as they travel across London. Happily, Campion is not as vacuous as he sometimes makes himself seem.
This was a really enjoyable book. I love these “Golden Age” mysteries. It’s a clever puzzle with memorable characters. I didn’t particularly like the very, very end, but that’s a minor quibble.
im_sleigh's review against another edition
4.0
There were times that my attention strayed while I was reading, but I won't hold that against the book, plot, or characters. I merely chose to read in when I was busy and distracted.
Still, a good book. Campion isn't as silly as he was in previous books, so it isn't as amusing as the other books have been. The mystery isn't much of a mystery at all, since about half way through the book you're told who the killer is.
Then it becomes a story of how he has to find a way to prove that this person is the killer. The ending was a little abrupt, I think, but not bad.
Still, a good book. Campion isn't as silly as he was in previous books, so it isn't as amusing as the other books have been. The mystery isn't much of a mystery at all, since about half way through the book you're told who the killer is.
Then it becomes a story of how he has to find a way to prove that this person is the killer. The ending was a little abrupt, I think, but not bad.