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Review
Philip Franks sounds, marvellously, as if he's reading in a dinner-jacket . . . Fabulous (INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY )
'Sweet Danger is for the connoisseur of detective fiction (Sunday Times )
An extremely entertaining nightmare of sensational events. Like all for which Margery Allingham is responsible, it is thoroughly original (Daily Telegraph )
An exceedingly lively thriller (Spectator ) --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
'Sweet Danger is for the connoisseur of detective fiction (Sunday Times )
An extremely entertaining nightmare of sensational events. Like all for which Margery Allingham is responsible, it is thoroughly original (Daily Telegraph )
An exceedingly lively thriller (Spectator ) --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Book Description
A British claim to a tiny Balkan state leads Campion on a race against time in the village of Pontisbright -- classic British crime writing at its best.
--This text refers to the
Audio CD
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By mg1900
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.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Tom Thumb
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.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Thomas Holt
Format:Paperback
This was the first Allingham I read, but I was 12 at the time and didn't really understand it - particularly the seemingly inappropriate inanity of Campion. Since then, I have revisited it several times and it is now one of my favourite books by any author. Sweet Danger contains: adventure, detection, humour, romance, and one of the most intelligent fictional treatments of black magic that I have ever read. As with all good fiction, it helps to have sufficient knowledge of the time it was written to make the plot credible. For here we have a fictional hereditary fiefdom situated near the ancient independent maritime power of Dubrovnik, and a taste of rural English life in the 1920s that is not too far removed from the feudal period.
The novel is set in Allingham's favoured Suffolk - this time the north west near the border with Norfolk. The author paints a wonderfully evocative picture of life in out-of-the-way English places early in the last century, including a decrepit water mill, a pub friendly but not overly-welcoming of strangers, some weird customs, and the wonderful house of one of Allingham's greatest characters - the decidedly creepy Dr Galley - suffering from decades of social isolation and too much of the wrong sort of reading! Not that this tale lacks competing compelling characters. In addition to Galley, Campion, and Lugg, these include: Brett Savanake - a super-industrialist (also creepy) used to getting his own way whatever the cost to others, Amanda Fitton - brave, clever, vibrant, technical - later to become Campion's wife (although 16 years younger!), Hal Fitton - Amanda's pompous younger brother, Scatty Williams - Amanda's helper in running the mill and a wonderful, admiring sidekick for Lugg when the going gets tough, plus many other minor but important players.... Read more ›
The novel is set in Allingham's favoured Suffolk - this time the north west near the border with Norfolk. The author paints a wonderfully evocative picture of life in out-of-the-way English places early in the last century, including a decrepit water mill, a pub friendly but not overly-welcoming of strangers, some weird customs, and the wonderful house of one of Allingham's greatest characters - the decidedly creepy Dr Galley - suffering from decades of social isolation and too much of the wrong sort of reading! Not that this tale lacks competing compelling characters. In addition to Galley, Campion, and Lugg, these include: Brett Savanake - a super-industrialist (also creepy) used to getting his own way whatever the cost to others, Amanda Fitton - brave, clever, vibrant, technical - later to become Campion's wife (although 16 years younger!), Hal Fitton - Amanda's pompous younger brother, Scatty Williams - Amanda's helper in running the mill and a wonderful, admiring sidekick for Lugg when the going gets tough, plus many other minor but important players.... Read more ›
By P E Vickery
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The author brings a period to life with a collection of characters who are beautifully portrayed and the plot keeps the reader spellbound
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's O.K. but is a bit of a strange story. I am reading it, but I would like to get some of the more younger Campion stories.
By CatieLee
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
GREAT READ I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. SO WELL WRITTEN I CAN NOT WAIT TO READ ANOTHER CAMPION MYSTERY.
By Peter Joiner
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A good story line, if you enjoy older type detective novels you're enjoy this abridged version, A lot of story in only a few hours read.
By Graham R. Hill
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
As always Allingham's plot doesn't stand up to close scrutiny, but that is unimportant as you listen to Frank's excellent reading. It's the audio equivalent of a page-turner, rushing one on to the next action before the implausibilities register. Frank's voicing of the villain is reminiscent of Martin Jarvis's Lord Tilbury in his readings of the Blandings novels and none the worse for that.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 on 8 Jun 2011 by R. Spencer
5.0 out of 5 stars
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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