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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
greybeard49's review against another edition
1.0
Abandoned this after first outrageously ridiculous chapter. I like Margery Allingham and have read several of her books but opening just pulled the elastic band of credibility way too far. The murder weapon - the death - the death certificate - the dicey characters -the house - AGHHH!!
Sorry to have to leave it.
Sorry to have to leave it.
saroz162's review against another edition
3.0
The first in the series of Albert Campion "mysteries," although it's easy to dismiss this one and move straight on to "Mystery Mile," the first to focus on Campion as the protagonist. Frankly, it's obvious from the start that these aren't true mysteries in the traditional sense: an Allingham novel rarely gives the audience the ability to put all of the pieces together on their own, and this one is no exception. It is more accurate, really, to call the Campion books adventure-thrillers, and usually well-characterized ones at that.
At this early stage, though, many of the characters feel quite similar: most of them are upper-class young people, and they pretty much all speak in the same affected 1920s vernacular. It is absolutely obvious that the stand-out character is Albert Campion himself, who features here as an *extremely* showy secondary character. He takes the lingo to its zenith, fooling around and generally making an ass of himself, all the while managing to quite cleverly manipulate the situation. Small wonder Allingham chose to focus on him in her next thriller and for many more books thereafter.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this book is its rapid tonal shifts - from thriller to romance and back again - and the final chapter's venture into social moralization feels just a little bit awkward (not to mention extremely surprising). There are, to be fair, better novels of this type from the era; Agatha Christie's The Secret Adversary leaps to mind as one, although neither her Tommy or Tuppence are nearly as vivid a character as Campion. And that's the difference, really: if Christie is better at plot twists, Allingham quite honestly has the upper hand at characterization. This isn't her most layered or enjoyable work, to be sure. Still, it's a not inauspicious beginning, and it definitely whets the appetite for more adventures with the elusive Mr. Campion.
At this early stage, though, many of the characters feel quite similar: most of them are upper-class young people, and they pretty much all speak in the same affected 1920s vernacular. It is absolutely obvious that the stand-out character is Albert Campion himself, who features here as an *extremely* showy secondary character. He takes the lingo to its zenith, fooling around and generally making an ass of himself, all the while managing to quite cleverly manipulate the situation. Small wonder Allingham chose to focus on him in her next thriller and for many more books thereafter.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this book is its rapid tonal shifts - from thriller to romance and back again - and the final chapter's venture into social moralization feels just a little bit awkward (not to mention extremely surprising). There are, to be fair, better novels of this type from the era; Agatha Christie's The Secret Adversary leaps to mind as one, although neither her Tommy or Tuppence are nearly as vivid a character as Campion. And that's the difference, really: if Christie is better at plot twists, Allingham quite honestly has the upper hand at characterization. This isn't her most layered or enjoyable work, to be sure. Still, it's a not inauspicious beginning, and it definitely whets the appetite for more adventures with the elusive Mr. Campion.
cathleenruby's review against another edition
challenging
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
cdbaker's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
A solid old mystery, although a bit overly winding for my taste. And I didn't really feel all that connected with any of the characters.
lgpiper's review against another edition
3.0
House party of young 'uns, including Albert Campion at an old British manor house with lots of hidden passage ways. It was a cover for thugs who were planning some kind of mastermind crime of the century thingie.
Campion was not the primary character in this one. I hope in later books he turns out to be less of a fatuous ass. I realize that was all the rage in Britain in the 1920s among the privileged rich folks. But it gets wearying.
Campion was not the primary character in this one. I hope in later books he turns out to be less of a fatuous ass. I realize that was all the rage in Britain in the 1920s among the privileged rich folks. But it gets wearying.
fragglerocker's review against another edition
3.0
Written in the 1920s, this reads like a pulpy thriller of the time. The story is frenetic, with a few instances of the "ghost in the machine," but the language is fun and old timey. I especially liked the descriptions of Black Dudley (a manor), and the gothic piece of the story it inspired. I'm curious about the next one in the series, both to see how Campion is developed as a character and if the plotting improves.
itsmandaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
2.0
dcsilbertrust's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5