Reviews

Black Dudley Murder by Margery Allingham

hinesight's review against another edition

2.0

I feel guilty for this assessment, but this is so dated that it's almost unreadable. I'm disappointed, since I was hoping to find a good series to enjoy. I assume from what I've read online that Campion is intended to be a send-up of Peter Whimsey, and that part is fine with me, but the racial and class epithets are hard to take, even for a book written in 1929. The good old days were really sort of creepy.

briesespieces's review against another edition

3.0

it really feels good to be done with this but in a mixed feelings sort of way. this was the book i read in bed almost every night until i fell asleep. i do have to say when compared with the old mysteries written around the time this was, it was way more entertaining and kept hitting you with fun plot twists. however, the only caveat is that the mystery took a backseat to some of the crazy things that were happening so it felt more like a thriller sometimes.

i did enjoy this but i wish the mystery had been centered more. the way it was handled especially at the end pissed me off. ALSO for a series that has Albert Campion as the main character of the series, his role in this was so small and it also pissed me off further because i loved his eccentric character and wanted to see more of him or at least see him being the one to solve the murder but that was also given to another character and i didn’t understand why.

albert campion was not the main character here and it felt a bit deceiving. i will continue the series so i can find out how the author develops campion from the first book.

teresac's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

melaniereads's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.25

coleycole's review against another edition

1.0

I think I read about Allingham on a list of best golden age mystery writers... On top of the dated BS on gender and class, the protagonist who eventually solves the murder leaves a lot to be desired. His girlfriend says, "there was blood on the dagger during this dumbass parlor game" and they both... Just continue on??? Stop the dumb game, get in the car and solve the mystery right there people!

celina31's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

karinlib's review against another edition

3.0

This is the first Margery Allingham mystery that I have read, and it reminds me of [a:P.G. Wodehouse|7963|P.G. Wodehouse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1198684105p2/7963.jpg] for some reason, maybe because the Albert Campion character is really funny.

From what I have read in the reviews, later books in the series are better. I do plan on reading more of the Campion books. This book introduces Campion, although he is a side character.

bestsoph123's review against another edition

i cant lie i’ll probably read it again at some point i just didn’t get into it

sankitch87's review against another edition

tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

readery_nyc's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No