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A review by maplessence
The Tiger in the Smoke by Margery Allingham
3.0
3.5★
This is only my second Allingham and is reputed to be her best work.
Based on this I may not go to any extraordinary effort to find any more of this author's works.
The beginning was quite wonderful where we are introduced to the widowed Meg and her new swain Geoffrey.
Allingham in a little note before the book begins says she means London is "The Smoke." But it certainly feels like the "pea-souper" fogs are The Smoke and it becomes almost another character in this book which is set just after World War Two.
Wonderful characters are introduced and there are many vividly written descriptive scenes, but some plot details don't make much sense and there are long periods where the story drags. I didn't have any trouble putting this book aside for days.Above all
A promising idea let down by an untidy execution.
This is only my second Allingham and is reputed to be her best work.
Based on this I may not go to any extraordinary effort to find any more of this author's works.
The beginning was quite wonderful where we are introduced to the widowed Meg and her new swain Geoffrey.
Allingham in a little note before the book begins says she means London is "The Smoke." But it certainly feels like the "pea-souper" fogs are The Smoke and it becomes almost another character in this book which is set just after World War Two.
Wonderful characters are introduced and there are many vividly written descriptive scenes, but some plot details don't make much sense and there are long periods where the story drags. I didn't have any trouble putting this book aside for days.Above all
Spoiler
even Meg's dead husband treats her like a child and, in a letter assumes she will always be a child - so patronisingA promising idea let down by an untidy execution.
