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Product Description
Observer
'Always of the elect, Margery Allingham now towers among them'
Book Description
A CLASSIC ALBERT CAMPION CRIME MYSTERY'Always of the elect, Margery Allingham now towers among them' Observer
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of the best Margery Allingham books ever, and that's saying a good deal. It is an excellent example of her unique mix of the English "golden age" detective story with the old fashioned thriller.
It comes from her early period, when the emphasis is on eccentricity and fun, in a warm feel-good inter-war English upper middle class context. But it also has elements of a thriller, with fights as well as conundrums, which saves it from mere self indulgence and introduces a dark side, which came to dominate in later books like "Tiger in the Smoke".
The plot has a number of strands but they are woven together very tight - it revolves around a treasure hunt with international diplomatic implications, making it really matter. But it is quirky and witty throughout, and introduces Allingham's top detective character, Albert Campion, to Amanda Fitton, who in later books becomes his wife.
It's romantic, funny, extraordinarily well written, pacy, clever in conception, flawless in execution, with a dark shadow thrown across it by the villains and plenty of colourful characters, both good guys and bad guys, men and women. It may not be realistic, but it can't be beaten for entertainment value.
Unusually for a book of this type, it bears re-reading many times.
A must for fans; an excellent introduction to the writer for others.
It comes from her early period, when the emphasis is on eccentricity and fun, in a warm feel-good inter-war English upper middle class context. But it also has elements of a thriller, with fights as well as conundrums, which saves it from mere self indulgence and introduces a dark side, which came to dominate in later books like "Tiger in the Smoke".
The plot has a number of strands but they are woven together very tight - it revolves around a treasure hunt with international diplomatic implications, making it really matter. But it is quirky and witty throughout, and introduces Allingham's top detective character, Albert Campion, to Amanda Fitton, who in later books becomes his wife.
It's romantic, funny, extraordinarily well written, pacy, clever in conception, flawless in execution, with a dark shadow thrown across it by the villains and plenty of colourful characters, both good guys and bad guys, men and women. It may not be realistic, but it can't be beaten for entertainment value.
Unusually for a book of this type, it bears re-reading many times.
A must for fans; an excellent introduction to the writer for others.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Loved this book and for followers of Campion and Lugg, this is where he meets Miss Amanda Fitton, who is to feature large in his life very shortly (apart from Campion, a favourite character of mine). You can also sense Campion noticing and appreciating Amanda for her common sense, level-headedness and zest for the chase, danger and excitement.
I think this is the first time I've noticed a named crime boss (here Brett Savanake) come into the Campion stories and I liked it - it gave Campion a powerful enemy he could pit his wits against and really show his true metal. In a way this story reminded me of Rex Stout's three Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin stories featuring crime boss Arnold Zeck ('And Be A Villain', 'The Second Confession', and 'Even in the Best Families), but Margery Allingham wrote this in 1933, 15 years before Stout ever penned the trio of Zeck books - very good those too by the way).
This story has something for everyone I would say - big villain, the start of a love interest for Campion, a historical mystery and riddle that holds the key to the puzzle, a car chase, a fight scene between Campion and the crime boss, a kidnapping, and a medicine man (the local "doctor") who's gone too far down the path of withcraft with only human sacrifice left for him to try...just a bit tense and creepy.
Look out for the bell ringing stunt Campion pulls off - quite a clever plot device and typical of Allingham's wonderfully imaginative story-telling. Enjoy!
I think this is the first time I've noticed a named crime boss (here Brett Savanake) come into the Campion stories and I liked it - it gave Campion a powerful enemy he could pit his wits against and really show his true metal. In a way this story reminded me of Rex Stout's three Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin stories featuring crime boss Arnold Zeck ('And Be A Villain', 'The Second Confession', and 'Even in the Best Families), but Margery Allingham wrote this in 1933, 15 years before Stout ever penned the trio of Zeck books - very good those too by the way).
This story has something for everyone I would say - big villain, the start of a love interest for Campion, a historical mystery and riddle that holds the key to the puzzle, a car chase, a fight scene between Campion and the crime boss, a kidnapping, and a medicine man (the local "doctor") who's gone too far down the path of withcraft with only human sacrifice left for him to try...just a bit tense and creepy.
Look out for the bell ringing stunt Campion pulls off - quite a clever plot device and typical of Allingham's wonderfully imaginative story-telling. Enjoy!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Excellent as a book - even better as an audio book, particularly with the superlative Phillip Franks presenting it. He brings the story to life.
Well worth its five stars.
Well worth its five stars.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good Campion Mystery
This book was dramatised for the Campion TV Series. I was a bit surprised that the book started differently but it made more sense. Read more
Published 12 months ago by R. Spencer
a classic
i first got interested in Margery Allingham when i was about 17 years old when the t.v series ran.
Sweet Danger is fundemental to the progress of the character of... Read more
Sweet Danger is fundemental to the progress of the character of... Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2008 by Dot Haydon
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