Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Felony & Mayhem Press (2006), Edition: 1st, 256 pages
Description
Classic Crime from the Golden Age, the first in the Albert Campion Series. Margery Allingham is J.K. Rowling's favourite Golden Age author.George Abbershaw is set for a social weekend at Black Dudley manor, hosted by Wyatt Petrie and his elderly uncle Colonel Combe, who enjoys the company of Bright Young Things. With Meggie Oliphant in attendance, George looks forward to the chance of getting closer to the girl he's set his heart on. But when murder spoils the party, the group soon find out that not only is there a killer in their midst, but the house is under the control of notorious criminals. Trapped and at their mercy, George must find a way to thwart their diabolical plans while getting himself and Meggie out alive.Luckily for Abbershaw, among the guests is Albert Campion - a garrulous and affable party-crasher with a great knack for solving mysteries and interrogating suspects.The Crime at Black Dudley, first published in 1929, is the first novel to introduce Margery Allingham's amiable and much loved sleuth - Albert Campion.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bencritchley
My first Allingham and my introduction to Mr Albert Campion; on the basis of this novel I think we're going to get along. The sleeve of my battered penguin copy advises me that Ms Allingham's novels are for "the libraries of those wise men who like their nonsense to be distinguished," and that,
Show More
essentially, is exactly what we've got here. It's pure, unadulterated hokum, a country house murder mystery with rich posh people, fat foreign baddies, several baffling mysteries at once, a half-senile auld person (seems to be a genre favourite, that one) and numerous secret passages. Immensely satisfying. Show Less
LibraryThing member mmyoung
While I found it interesting to read this book due to the part it played in Allingham’s success as a writer and as the birthing story of Albert Campion I found it otherwise to be an extremely dated and quite unfulfilling read. The datedness of the story lies not in the language or the gender
I doubt this book would be much remembered were it not for the fact that it marks the first appearance of Albert Campion. For the reader who knows what ‘happens next’ it is amusing to watch the author attempt to make Abbershaw a protagonist on whom a series could be hung while her own creation, Albert Campion, makes off with the heart of the author if not the reader. Campion, as he is described in this story, is very much the upper-class dilettante that English authors of the 1920s and 1930s appear to find fascinating for the very reasons that many modern readers find them annoying. This reader must admit that if Campion had been in the room while she was reading the story she would not have been able to suppress the urge to give him a shake and tell him that he was not nearly as fascinating or charming as he imagined.
The attempt, at the end of the book, to engage the reader in a philosophical discussion as to the meanings of justice, law and order seem to be motivated more by the author having written herself (and her detective) into a evidence free corner from which no arrest could be made than by anything else.
Show More
roles nor the stereotypical treatment of anyone who wasn’t a member of the English upper class but rather in the author’s need to include, as was true in so many of the mystery books of that time, a massive international criminal gang. It is as if the author, unsure that the murder itself would be sufficiently interesting to keep the reader involved in the story, felt a need to pile on more and more distractions. And, given the fact that the identity of the murderer is not discoverable without information not provided in the book and yet not hard to suspect given the mise-en-scene this reader believes the author’s worries were justified. I doubt this book would be much remembered were it not for the fact that it marks the first appearance of Albert Campion. For the reader who knows what ‘happens next’ it is amusing to watch the author attempt to make Abbershaw a protagonist on whom a series could be hung while her own creation, Albert Campion, makes off with the heart of the author if not the reader. Campion, as he is described in this story, is very much the upper-class dilettante that English authors of the 1920s and 1930s appear to find fascinating for the very reasons that many modern readers find them annoying. This reader must admit that if Campion had been in the room while she was reading the story she would not have been able to suppress the urge to give him a shake and tell him that he was not nearly as fascinating or charming as he imagined.
The attempt, at the end of the book, to engage the reader in a philosophical discussion as to the meanings of justice, law and order seem to be motivated more by the author having written herself (and her detective) into a evidence free corner from which no arrest could be made than by anything else.
Show Less
LibraryThing member saroz
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
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.
Show More
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.
Show Less
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
The Crime At Black Dudley by Margery Allingham starts with a weekend in the country, an isolated house full of guests, and a strange tale to be told about an ancient family ritual. During the course of the evening it was decided to act out this ritual which involved the passing of the family dagger
The story unfolds through the eyes of a young doctor who fancies himself a bit of a an expert in the area of criminal doings as he has assisted Scotland Yard with his knowledge of pathology. Albert Campion who was to go on to be the star of this author’s series, is mostly a side character, a seeming vacuous young man who relishes playing the fool, but he is slowly revealed as a highly intelligent private agent with a mind like a steel trap.
The Crime At Black Dudley was a fun read and a great introduction to the Albert Campion series as this small sampling showcases Campion’s chameleon-like manner along with his humor, style and wit. This small appearance was certainly enough to whet this readers’ appetite for more.
Show More
around in the dark. When the lights are turned back on whoever is holding the dagger must pay a forfeit. This was the opening of an entertaining and impelling read. As we can surmise, when the lights are turned back on, the party is down one member. The story unfolds through the eyes of a young doctor who fancies himself a bit of a an expert in the area of criminal doings as he has assisted Scotland Yard with his knowledge of pathology. Albert Campion who was to go on to be the star of this author’s series, is mostly a side character, a seeming vacuous young man who relishes playing the fool, but he is slowly revealed as a highly intelligent private agent with a mind like a steel trap.
The Crime At Black Dudley was a fun read and a great introduction to the Albert Campion series as this small sampling showcases Campion’s chameleon-like manner along with his humor, style and wit. This small appearance was certainly enough to whet this readers’ appetite for more.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lsh63
This is my first Margery Allingham, who was recommended to me by the patron of the used bookstore that I frequent way too often.
I found it very difficult to stay with this book for some reason. It has all the elements of the classic British mystery, a dagger ritual, a group of young people at a
This book also introduces Albert Campion, not as a detective, however, and he is portrayed as a littled odd and perhaps a bit foolish, but shows that he is in fact intelligent at times. All in all this was not a bad read, I just think my expectations were different.
I am also reading Tiger in the Smoke by this author which is very good so far.
I found it very difficult to stay with this book for some reason. It has all the elements of the classic British mystery, a dagger ritual, a group of young people at a
Show More
country estate for the weekend, and a murder. Also thrown in are a little espionage and very clever repartee. I was expecting this book to be more cozy and it turned out not to be so.This book also introduces Albert Campion, not as a detective, however, and he is portrayed as a littled odd and perhaps a bit foolish, but shows that he is in fact intelligent at times. All in all this was not a bad read, I just think my expectations were different.
I am also reading Tiger in the Smoke by this author which is very good so far.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lahochstetler
The first Albert Campion mystery features Campion in a rather minor role. He is one of a number of guests at a weekend house party at Black Dudley manor. As mystery aficionados might expect, there is a murder, but the murder pales next to the much larger crime that will endanger all of the house
Show More
residents. At first it seems like Campion may be the murderer, but the solution is infinitely more complicated. We start to see Campion's ties to government intelligence, though we don't yet find out exactly who he is. There's running around and crazy chases. This is not the best mystery I've read, though there are certainly some entertaining characters. I think it might be better to start later in the series, as I don't think this is the book to draw readers in to Campion's world. Show Less
LibraryThing member Darla
I bought this first Albert Campion mystery after being wowed by Mystery Mile.
Sadly, Albert isn't the main character in this story, though it's his first appearance, so I'm glad I read it.
The Crime at Black Dudley is an English country house mystery. There's an odd assortment of guests at Black
Well, it's pretty evident what's going to happen in a case like this: somebody will be stabbed to death. It turns out to be the host's uncle, a wheelchair-bound invalid who wore a mask to cover severe scarring.
Except that the guests are initially told that he's just been taken ill, until one, a young new doctor, is asked to falsify a death certificate citing natural causes. He refuses, but the hero of the story, Dr. George Abbershaw goes along with it until the authorities can be notified.
Unfortunately for everyone, the murder only complicated things. Albert Campion was at the house party to retrieve a set of secret plans from the uncle, but Dr. Abbershaw found them and burned them, prompting one of the guests, who turns out to be a criminal mastermind, to hold the entire party hostage until the plans are returned to him.
There are wonderful twists and turns and even a sweet romance. Secret passages, spies, uneasy alliances, entertaining and eccentric characters, a decrepit-looking old car hiding a Rolls Royce engine under the hood... er, bonnet... Just a nice, complex yet light mystery with a surprise ending.
I wasn't nearly as impressed with Campion in this book, but then again, he wasn't the star. I'm sure he'll acquit himself admirably in the next one. It's on my to-be-bought list.
Sadly, Albert isn't the main character in this story, though it's his first appearance, so I'm glad I read it.
The Crime at Black Dudley is an English country house mystery. There's an odd assortment of guests at Black
Show More
Dudley, and during the evening, they decide to reenact an old ritual game involving an odd family heirloom--a sinister dagger. The lights get extinguished, the servants are all banished, and the idea is to wander around the mansion in the dark while the dagger passes from hand to hand.Well, it's pretty evident what's going to happen in a case like this: somebody will be stabbed to death. It turns out to be the host's uncle, a wheelchair-bound invalid who wore a mask to cover severe scarring.
Except that the guests are initially told that he's just been taken ill, until one, a young new doctor, is asked to falsify a death certificate citing natural causes. He refuses, but the hero of the story, Dr. George Abbershaw goes along with it until the authorities can be notified.
Unfortunately for everyone, the murder only complicated things. Albert Campion was at the house party to retrieve a set of secret plans from the uncle, but Dr. Abbershaw found them and burned them, prompting one of the guests, who turns out to be a criminal mastermind, to hold the entire party hostage until the plans are returned to him.
There are wonderful twists and turns and even a sweet romance. Secret passages, spies, uneasy alliances, entertaining and eccentric characters, a decrepit-looking old car hiding a Rolls Royce engine under the hood... er, bonnet... Just a nice, complex yet light mystery with a surprise ending.
I wasn't nearly as impressed with Campion in this book, but then again, he wasn't the star. I'm sure he'll acquit himself admirably in the next one. It's on my to-be-bought list.
Show Less
LibraryThing member alexwhitcombs
All her books are fantastic. Love Campion.
LibraryThing member Jim53
Allingham's first Albert Campion book shows none of the virtues of her later books. The story is confused, with no clear viewpoint and numerous improbable twists at key points. The style is unremarkable; it does not harm the story, but it also does not lift it above the poorly drawn plot. The
Show More
characters do not provoke much interest. The treatment of female characters is a disappointment, as is the book overall. Show Less
LibraryThing member orange_suspense
Having met sleuth Alleyn in the last book I read (Marsh’s A Man Lay Dead) I went on with the first of Allingham’s Campion novels – The Crime at Black Dudely.
In this novel we are to meet Mr Albert Campion (in disguise) but not as a main character as I had expected. He is one of the guests of a
As the guests will soon find out not all of them are righteouse citizens for some are ruthless and armed gangsters working for an brutal underground organistation. And when it turns out that one very important and valuable object was stolen from them the wild chase begins. And Black Dudley is the perfect location for this hide and seek game for it is isolated and got endless rooms with hidden doors and secret passages.
For my taste even the plot is a bit implausible and so are many of the characters and their actions. Not only does it seem that the plot structure is more or less cobbeld together but I had the constant feeling that I was reading some sort of early Scooby-Doo adventure minus the ghosts and monsters. Also there was no decent atmosphere even though Black Dudley would have been such a great location for creating interesting moments and a memorable ambience. But nothing of that sort could impress me.
Albert Campion, the hero of the following series of Allingham novels wasn’t quite persuasive and didn’t solve the crime at the end - for this is Abbershaw’s part. Maybe Campion’s character was intended to be funnily distinct as a sleuth but it failed for the lack of genious. With Campion I’m disappointed and this has nothing to do with the fact that he wasn’t the main character for Marsh’s Alleyn also wasn’t the main protagonist in her first novel and she clearly managed to draw a remarkable picture of her detective.
Also I don’t think that The Crime at Black Dudely really fits in the context of novels by authors like Marsh or Christie for it isn’t constructed around deducting a solution from the facts given, but around sometimes stupid action scenes like a redundant car chase in the middle of the night and endless turnarounds at Black Dudleys. Even the final solution is completely out of context and coulnd’t be guessed by the reader at all (and not because it was so ingenious but simply because of the lack of information).
I think I will give Campion another (but maybe final) shot and read the second novel of the series sometimes. Maybe Allingham wasn’t sure if she should really continue or build a series around Campion and therefore wrote the book more like a finished story. Be that as it may, The Crime at Black Dudley unfortunately was boring, implausible, not really atmospheric and it featured unbelievable characters and unnecessary turnarounds and action scenes.
In this novel we are to meet Mr Albert Campion (in disguise) but not as a main character as I had expected. He is one of the guests of a
Show More
house Party at Black Dudley and soon confronted with the death of Colonel Gordon Coombe, the uncle of the host Wyatt Petrie. Coombe was killed with a mysterious dagger right through the back during a little game the party members were playing – and in the absolute darkness wherefore nobody could see who murdered him or why.As the guests will soon find out not all of them are righteouse citizens for some are ruthless and armed gangsters working for an brutal underground organistation. And when it turns out that one very important and valuable object was stolen from them the wild chase begins. And Black Dudley is the perfect location for this hide and seek game for it is isolated and got endless rooms with hidden doors and secret passages.
For my taste even the plot is a bit implausible and so are many of the characters and their actions. Not only does it seem that the plot structure is more or less cobbeld together but I had the constant feeling that I was reading some sort of early Scooby-Doo adventure minus the ghosts and monsters. Also there was no decent atmosphere even though Black Dudley would have been such a great location for creating interesting moments and a memorable ambience. But nothing of that sort could impress me.
Albert Campion, the hero of the following series of Allingham novels wasn’t quite persuasive and didn’t solve the crime at the end - for this is Abbershaw’s part. Maybe Campion’s character was intended to be funnily distinct as a sleuth but it failed for the lack of genious. With Campion I’m disappointed and this has nothing to do with the fact that he wasn’t the main character for Marsh’s Alleyn also wasn’t the main protagonist in her first novel and she clearly managed to draw a remarkable picture of her detective.
Also I don’t think that The Crime at Black Dudely really fits in the context of novels by authors like Marsh or Christie for it isn’t constructed around deducting a solution from the facts given, but around sometimes stupid action scenes like a redundant car chase in the middle of the night and endless turnarounds at Black Dudleys. Even the final solution is completely out of context and coulnd’t be guessed by the reader at all (and not because it was so ingenious but simply because of the lack of information).
I think I will give Campion another (but maybe final) shot and read the second novel of the series sometimes. Maybe Allingham wasn’t sure if she should really continue or build a series around Campion and therefore wrote the book more like a finished story. Be that as it may, The Crime at Black Dudley unfortunately was boring, implausible, not really atmospheric and it featured unbelievable characters and unnecessary turnarounds and action scenes.
Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
This is the book which introduces the character Albert Campion. He's very much a subsidiary character in the story, the real sleuthing is left to Dr George Abbershaw, and no one would have guessed that it the seemingly foolish and, possibly, criminal, Campion would become Allingham's main
Show More
character. The story seems to reflect many of the concerns circulating in late 1920s Britain, or in British crime fiction, concerning the rise of criminal gangs, managed by criminal masterminds. Sadly the story, and its solution, feels dated, even so its an interesting introduction to Campion. Show Less
LibraryThing member ParadisePorch
This is the first in Allingham’s long-running Albert Campion series, although in this book Campion has only a bit part, I wasn’t impressed by the mystery, and was distracted by all the implausible secret rooms and passageways. In addition, I thought the writing was ‘loose’. Since this was
Show More
Allingham’s first published effort, I’ll make allowances and I won’t say that I’ll never read another of hers. I’m just not in a hurry to do so. Show Less
LibraryThing member LadyoftheLodge
Interesting novel of the classic English house variety. The period "slang" terms make it interesting to read. I liked Abbershaw and the mysterious Albert Campion. The ending was not unexpected, but still made for some uniqueness.
LibraryThing member majkia
A classic English manor mystery complete with secret passages, a house party and a curse.
LibraryThing member Helenliz
this is the first in a series of books featuring Albert Campion as detective. Only it's almost as if this wasn't written with him in mind as the detective. The crime is solved by the doctor, Abbotshaw, and not actually by Campion (although it's possible he knows more than he lets on, but he
Set in a Gothic pile in the country, it's a tale of a house party, a grisly ritual with a dagger and a den of thieves. the murder is committed, covered up and then the house party intimidated by the criminals. Actually, the main part of the book is how they escape the criminal gang, not so much as to who did the murder. It's an inventive one, with enough twists & turns to keep you guessing to the end (although I did have a vague inkling as to who did it - but no motive).
As the first in what turns into a series, I suspect this may be atypical. But I'd be interested to see how Campion develops from here. So far he strikes me as Whimsey-esque, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Show More
certainly doesn't do the unveiling) Set in a Gothic pile in the country, it's a tale of a house party, a grisly ritual with a dagger and a den of thieves. the murder is committed, covered up and then the house party intimidated by the criminals. Actually, the main part of the book is how they escape the criminal gang, not so much as to who did the murder. It's an inventive one, with enough twists & turns to keep you guessing to the end (although I did have a vague inkling as to who did it - but no motive).
As the first in what turns into a series, I suspect this may be atypical. But I'd be interested to see how Campion develops from here. So far he strikes me as Whimsey-esque, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom
As far as mysteries and plots go, this one is different. Even though it is set in an old English country home (my very favorite mysteries have this setting), the murder has a bit of a twist to it. I won't say what it is. But it all starts when young Wyatt Petrie has a few close friends to his
Please remember that this book was written in 1929, so while it's a short book, it's kind of verbose in places, not a cozy. I read this eons ago, but totally forgot about it, so it was new to me once again. I rather enjoyed it, and got sucked along into the mystery. If you're a golden-age mystery fan, or if you have enjoyed Mr. Campion before, you will enjoy this one.
Show More
ancestral home for a weekend. Well, a few close friends plus a stranger: Mr. Albert Campion, about whom no one knows anything, just that he seems to be a major bumbler (at first, anyway). After the first night's dinner, the talk centers around one of the family artifacts: The Black Dudley Dagger, which hangs in an interesting setting on a wall in the house. Wyatt tells the group of a strange game that his ancestors used to play, in which the lights were turned off, and the dagger was handed off from person to person, the objective being that no one wanted to end up with the dagger in his or her hand once the lights went on. So off they go to play and after all is said and done, there's a tidy case of murder. Please remember that this book was written in 1929, so while it's a short book, it's kind of verbose in places, not a cozy. I read this eons ago, but totally forgot about it, so it was new to me once again. I rather enjoyed it, and got sucked along into the mystery. If you're a golden-age mystery fan, or if you have enjoyed Mr. Campion before, you will enjoy this one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member druidgirl
A house party at a isolated location, a gang of thieves ,a murder and a family legend. This was a mystery with many twists and turns with some funny moments. This was the first book Albert Campion appears, it is a well written story line and has good characters. I plan to read as many books of
***I received this book in return for and honest review****
Show More
Albert Campion as possible.***I received this book in return for and honest review****
Show Less
LibraryThing member thornton37814
A cast of characters is gathered at the Black Dudley country house where they are playing a game of pass the dagger. When the dagger ends up in the hands of one guest, she notes there is blood on it, but it quickly disappears from her hand before she can raise an alarm. A bit later a man is dead.
Show More
They try to pass it off as a heart attack, but the examining doctor gets a glimpse of the corpse before signing the death certificate with a false cause of death. He knows the man has been murdered. The players are then held hostage in the home until a German man gets what he wants. It leaves them plenty of time to try to determine what transpired. Although this is the first in the author's Albert Campion series, he is a minor player. The sleuth in this one is Dr. George Abbershaw. There were moments when I had difficulty following the plot in the course of the novel, but it was a somewhat interesting "locked room" puzzle with lots of twists and turns. Show Less
LibraryThing member antiquary
Original British title The Crime at Black Dudley; included in a collection I have already cataloged. The first Campion ad more a conventional country house crime with a slight occult twist than his later more modern (often London) adventures.
LibraryThing member atticusfinch1048
The Crime at Black Dudley – An Oldie but a Goodie
The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham was originally published in 1929 here in the UK and across the pond in America where it was known as The Black Dudley Murder. This excellent novel became the first in what became the Campion Mystery
Although in The Crime at Black Dudley is considered the first in the Campion Series in this book he is a bit part player and we ought to thank the American publisher for pushing Allingham to write a series based upon the oddball Campion.
If you are expecting an old fashioned whodunit then this book may not be quite the one for you, there is a murder, with a wonderful twist at the end. At times it seems more of an adventure story with a murder thrown in with a twisted Johnny Foreigner type character as the bad guy.
At times the language may seem rather odd but it must be remembered that the language usage reflects the times when it was written between the two wars and reflects the language of the Upper Classes of the times. When met with ordinary the language seems rather stilted but one can imagine it being spoken at the time.
The setting is a classic of a country house for a weekend party away from the nearest village somewhere in Suffolk, with a mixture of classic young people who want to be entertained over a weekend in the country at the big house.
Over the weekend the Uncle of the host is murdered and something a gang of criminals want is taken from them. The bright young things are kept prisoner in the House and get up to all sorts of high jinks to escape and fail, while one of their number is trying to work out who the murderer is and why it may have happened.
This is a good old fashioned murder, mystery adventure that today may seem to have holes in the plot, but this is a fantastic read with plenty of fun within the pages. What does shine through in this book is the prose, and Margery Allingham is an excellent observer of the 20s society she writes about in such a beautiful way. The Crime at Black Dudley is an excellent book, worth reading and being taken back in time when things were rather similar than they are today.
The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham was originally published in 1929 here in the UK and across the pond in America where it was known as The Black Dudley Murder. This excellent novel became the first in what became the Campion Mystery
Show More
series that was popular when written and even the grand old dame of crime fiction Agatha Christie recommended her writing.Although in The Crime at Black Dudley is considered the first in the Campion Series in this book he is a bit part player and we ought to thank the American publisher for pushing Allingham to write a series based upon the oddball Campion.
If you are expecting an old fashioned whodunit then this book may not be quite the one for you, there is a murder, with a wonderful twist at the end. At times it seems more of an adventure story with a murder thrown in with a twisted Johnny Foreigner type character as the bad guy.
At times the language may seem rather odd but it must be remembered that the language usage reflects the times when it was written between the two wars and reflects the language of the Upper Classes of the times. When met with ordinary the language seems rather stilted but one can imagine it being spoken at the time.
The setting is a classic of a country house for a weekend party away from the nearest village somewhere in Suffolk, with a mixture of classic young people who want to be entertained over a weekend in the country at the big house.
Over the weekend the Uncle of the host is murdered and something a gang of criminals want is taken from them. The bright young things are kept prisoner in the House and get up to all sorts of high jinks to escape and fail, while one of their number is trying to work out who the murderer is and why it may have happened.
This is a good old fashioned murder, mystery adventure that today may seem to have holes in the plot, but this is a fantastic read with plenty of fun within the pages. What does shine through in this book is the prose, and Margery Allingham is an excellent observer of the 20s society she writes about in such a beautiful way. The Crime at Black Dudley is an excellent book, worth reading and being taken back in time when things were rather similar than they are today.
Show Less
LibraryThing member gbelik
I believe this is the first of Allingham's mysteries featuring Albert Campion. What fun it was. A group of guests are assembled in a country mansion to celebrate a birthday; murder occurs and the fun begins.
LibraryThing member meandmybooks
Meh. Dated and dull. None of the characters was interesting enough for me to care one way or another whether they met with a Dire Fate. The question of “who done it,” pursued through the book, failed to compel the slightest interest in me, since it really didn't matter at all. Campion, who
Show More
might be expected to be the main character, given that the series is named for him, appears only sporadically, but this is rather a blessing since Allingham, failing to make him charmingly enigmatic, which I suspect was her aim, went so far overboard with his idiotic banter that he is repellantly irritating. Really, the only aspect of the book which I enjoyed was that, after reading in Amazon's description that “Allingham is J.K. Rowling's favourite Golden Age author,” I was amused to note that the arch villain in this is named Dawlish, as is one of the baddies in the Harry Potter series (though, in his defense, Rowling's Dawlish may have been a victim of the Confundus curse, unlike Allingham's whole-heartedly wicked character). Show Less
LibraryThing member TadAD
This is the first of Allingham’s novels about Albert Campion that I’ve tried (although he’s not the protagonist in this one). If you like the classic British mystery/thriller (e.g., Sayers, Christie, Tey, Marsh), then this is worth reading. I’ve read that Campion is often compared to Lord
Show More
Peter Wimsey, which I can see somewhat although Campion—at least in this book—is much more the odd duck than Peter ever was. Show Less
LibraryThing member tkcs
I read an interesting article about the author. Since this book is the first in a series it seems like a good place to start.
8/08 I enjoyed this book even though the ending was a bit weak. Some reviews said this was not her best book, but I read it because it introduces Albert Campion, the sleuth
8/08 I enjoyed this book even though the ending was a bit weak. Some reviews said this was not her best book, but I read it because it introduces Albert Campion, the sleuth
Show More
in her series. Allingham wrote during the "golden age of English mystery writing", a contemporary of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, and this book had that feel - murder in an English manor where young upper-class Londoners are attending a weekend party. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member CatherineBurkeHines
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
Show More
class epithets are hard to take, even for a book written in 1929. The good old days were really sort of creepy. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1929-02
Physical description
256 p.; 5.58 inches
ISBN
193339742X / 9781933397429