Series
Publication
Vintage Books (2007), 256 p.
Original publication date
1933-03
Genres
Subjects
Description
Albert Campion is called in by the British government to establish ownership of the tiny but oil-rich principality of Averna on the Adriatic Coast. The aristocratic but impoverished Fitton family are laying claim to it but the deeds are nowhere to be found. The Fittons live in the eccentric Suffolk village of Pontisbright where much of this lively mystery takes place. Campion is particularly taken with the young flame-haired Lady Amanda who later in the series becomes his wife. Amanda however declares she'll marry him "when she's ready." With the help of his loyal chums, and his sidekick, the ex-convict Magersfontein Lugg, Campion and the Fittons are up against a criminal financier and his heavies to claim ownership of Averna.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Dragonfly
This is an odd book. I liked it, but it's still odd. Allingham is one of those "classic" British mystery writers, but this isn't a whodunit. Perhaps a modern version (if such a thing were possible) would be a thriller, but this is really an adventure story in the tradition of Boy's Own Stories. I
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have a tag for "swashbucklers" and I've used it here. Instead of of a horse and a sword, Campion has a Bentley and a pistol, but the feel is there. This book was published in 1933. That's a long time ago now, but it was also a long time since Kim (1901) and The Scarlet Pimpernel (1905). So we have four young British heroes busy saving the world or the empire or whatever, and then we get Amanda. Amanda Fitton, age 17, who reads "wireless catalogues" the way other heroines read fashion magazines. If she were around today she'd be an ubergeek. I have no idea what literary or personal stimulus led Allingham to create her and I'm not quite sure I believe in her, but I admire her anyway. It's an odd book. Show Less
LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom
Brief review, no spoilers
So far, this may be my favorite Campion in the series. I haven't read them all yet, but up to this point, definitely my favorite. I'm amazed that so many people here gave it such low ratings, but to each his own, I suppose. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a
In a nutshell, the story goes something like this:
Guffy Randall has just dropped his mother off at an Italian spa, and is on his way home when he calls in at a hotel he knows quite well. It seems the manager is quite upset because of three rather odd people staying there, the main one being the Hereditary Paladin of Averna, or in short, Albert Campion. The two men accompanying him are his good friends, who are in disguise as well. Campion must take Randall into his confidence and explains that a very important piece of property must be claimed by the British Government, and he is trying to get a lead on some rather important articles that will lead to that objective. His search leads him to a very tiny village in Suffolk, where a rival gang is also trying to find these articles. It is there that he meets the Fittons, a delightfully eccentric family who may or may not be the heirs to a fortune. Albert and friends get caught up in some very dangerous business along with the family and a rather batty doctor.
I loved this book, and I've been sitting on the DVD produced by the BBC so now I'll have the great fortune to be able to watch the book come to life. If you haven't seen these DVDs, do so now!
Highly recommended; not a cozy, not a police procedural, but mystery readers will enjoy it.
So far, this may be my favorite Campion in the series. I haven't read them all yet, but up to this point, definitely my favorite. I'm amazed that so many people here gave it such low ratings, but to each his own, I suppose. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a
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good adventure story, because it's not so much a mystery, but rather more of a suspense/adventure type thing. I would also say that if you've been following Campion up to this point, you're going to really enjoy this one.In a nutshell, the story goes something like this:
Guffy Randall has just dropped his mother off at an Italian spa, and is on his way home when he calls in at a hotel he knows quite well. It seems the manager is quite upset because of three rather odd people staying there, the main one being the Hereditary Paladin of Averna, or in short, Albert Campion. The two men accompanying him are his good friends, who are in disguise as well. Campion must take Randall into his confidence and explains that a very important piece of property must be claimed by the British Government, and he is trying to get a lead on some rather important articles that will lead to that objective. His search leads him to a very tiny village in Suffolk, where a rival gang is also trying to find these articles. It is there that he meets the Fittons, a delightfully eccentric family who may or may not be the heirs to a fortune. Albert and friends get caught up in some very dangerous business along with the family and a rather batty doctor.
I loved this book, and I've been sitting on the DVD produced by the BBC so now I'll have the great fortune to be able to watch the book come to life. If you haven't seen these DVDs, do so now!
Highly recommended; not a cozy, not a police procedural, but mystery readers will enjoy it.
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LibraryThing member rocalisa
I find it strange that I'm having trouble trying to decide what to say about this book. It is my favourite Campion novel, but I'm not sure if I can say why. It just is.
The action begins on the Riviera, when August Randall (known to his intimates as Guffy) witness two unexpected events. The first
Averna is a very small and previously unimportant piece of Europe that has suddenly become potentially strategic. The British government needs three important items to prove ownership - crown, deed and bill of sale - and they have set Campion on the case to find them. Guffy willingly throws in with the Paladin and his "court", little knowing what an adventure lies ahead.
From the Riviera, the group moves on to the small English village of Pontisbright. This is the former site of the set of the Earls of Pontisbright, last heirs to the crown of Averna, as well as the home of the three young Fittons, Mary, Amanda and Hal. Their father attempted to claim the earldom and failed, due to the lack of proof of marriage for the last earl and his lady. Now they live in the mill with their American Aunt Hatt and do their best to make ends meet.
Mary is quiet and gentle, while Hal is a fairly typical 16-year old English schoolboy of the day. It is Amanda who bursts off the page with fire and charm. Seventeen and practical, she's the one who really runs the family. When Campion and his companions take lodgings at the mill, she quickly appoints herself his second. She is the one who shows him the section of oak trunk from the old Pontisbright estate with a riddle carved into it that, when solved, will give the location of the three treasures.
A clever, complicated treasure hunt follows, filled with such characters as a very odd doctor, a suitably dastardly villain, honest young Englishmen and the familiar figures of Campion and, of course, Lugg.
After describing Police at the Funeral as Allingham's "step up" to more serious stories after the Boy's Own tales of the early Campion novels, at first this one seems like a step back. Instead, this is a successful mixture - wild adventure, but treated in a grown up fashion. The book did lose a point for the whole Dr ?? sub-plot, which I felt was totally unnecessary and really did nothing to advance the story at all.
All the same, Sweet Danger is simply a delightful read, that I recommend to all. Campion shines here, as does Amanda from her first moment on page. If you want to try out Campion and like a wild adventure, this is the book to read.
The action begins on the Riviera, when August Randall (known to his intimates as Guffy) witness two unexpected events. The first
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is a strange man absconding from a high class hotel out a window; the second is Albert Campion, installed in the same hotel as the Hereditary Paladin of Averna. Averna is a very small and previously unimportant piece of Europe that has suddenly become potentially strategic. The British government needs three important items to prove ownership - crown, deed and bill of sale - and they have set Campion on the case to find them. Guffy willingly throws in with the Paladin and his "court", little knowing what an adventure lies ahead.
From the Riviera, the group moves on to the small English village of Pontisbright. This is the former site of the set of the Earls of Pontisbright, last heirs to the crown of Averna, as well as the home of the three young Fittons, Mary, Amanda and Hal. Their father attempted to claim the earldom and failed, due to the lack of proof of marriage for the last earl and his lady. Now they live in the mill with their American Aunt Hatt and do their best to make ends meet.
Mary is quiet and gentle, while Hal is a fairly typical 16-year old English schoolboy of the day. It is Amanda who bursts off the page with fire and charm. Seventeen and practical, she's the one who really runs the family. When Campion and his companions take lodgings at the mill, she quickly appoints herself his second. She is the one who shows him the section of oak trunk from the old Pontisbright estate with a riddle carved into it that, when solved, will give the location of the three treasures.
A clever, complicated treasure hunt follows, filled with such characters as a very odd doctor, a suitably dastardly villain, honest young Englishmen and the familiar figures of Campion and, of course, Lugg.
After describing Police at the Funeral as Allingham's "step up" to more serious stories after the Boy's Own tales of the early Campion novels, at first this one seems like a step back. Instead, this is a successful mixture - wild adventure, but treated in a grown up fashion. The book did lose a point for the whole Dr ?? sub-plot, which I felt was totally unnecessary and really did nothing to advance the story at all.
All the same, Sweet Danger is simply a delightful read, that I recommend to all. Campion shines here, as does Amanda from her first moment on page. If you want to try out Campion and like a wild adventure, this is the book to read.
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LibraryThing member lahochstetler
This was one of the more bizarre Campion mysteries, and also one of the more entertaining ones. Campion and his associates are trying to find the deeds of ownership to a rural estate that was once an independent European kingdom. It has degenerated into a rarely-used mill, home to a
As bizarre as all of this sounds, it works. The Campion mysteries have more to do with espionage than others in this genre, and that is true in this volume. The build-up at the beginning, getting everyone to Pontisbright and involved in the mystery, is longer and more detailed than it really needs to be. Once everyone gets to Pontisbright things start moving quickly. In this volume we get to learn a bit more about the enigma that is Lugg, and Lugg is given the opportunity to engage in some hooligan tendencies.
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salt-of-the-earth group of siblings. Together they try to follow an old riddle describing the location of the crown and the founding documents. A London business mogul is also interested, which leads to danger for everyone at the mill. As bizarre as all of this sounds, it works. The Campion mysteries have more to do with espionage than others in this genre, and that is true in this volume. The build-up at the beginning, getting everyone to Pontisbright and involved in the mystery, is longer and more detailed than it really needs to be. Once everyone gets to Pontisbright things start moving quickly. In this volume we get to learn a bit more about the enigma that is Lugg, and Lugg is given the opportunity to engage in some hooligan tendencies.
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LibraryThing member booksandscones
This is an earlier Albert Campion and more like The Gyrth Chalice, which is to say a thriller or caper novel rather than a straightforward murder mystery.
I read it years ago, but the only part I could clearly remember was Amanda (Campion's future wife) asking him to wait for her till she grew up -
I enjoyed the book after reading it again recently, but my all-time favourite Allingham is still More Work For the Undertaker.
I read it years ago, but the only part I could clearly remember was Amanda (Campion's future wife) asking him to wait for her till she grew up -
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she's only 17 in this book. Like The Gyrth Chalice, I had a memory of superstitious legends and general creepiness which I think accurately describes The Fear Sign.I enjoyed the book after reading it again recently, but my all-time favourite Allingham is still More Work For the Undertaker.
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LibraryThing member Helenliz
I like the way that, so far, these have all been very different books. They're not all murders, this one is a bit of a treasure hunt under increasingly dangerous circumstances. The list of characters in the front of the book gives away who the major villain of the piece is, but that doesn't detract
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from the increasingly unlikely events. Campion's identify remains a mystery, who or what is e under the cover of this assumed persona? Show Less
LibraryThing member nordie
What was Albert Campion up to in the Hotel Beauregard, Mentone? Posing as the king of a tinpot Balkan state looking for his lost crown. It was all too intriguing for Guffy Randall, so he joined in the treasure hunt ... to the bitter end. Even when it got very nasty indeed.
First (actually it turns
A small portion of land has suddenly become very attractive and important to a number of parties, including the British Government, who charge Campion with sorting it out in their favour.
Throw in Campion's friends, pretty young girls, rich businessmen and their cronies, rural English Villages, psycho doctors and a quest, and that pretty much covers it in a really short book. Some twists are heavily signpointed, but little to dent the story.
First (actually it turns
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out to be the second) of the Campion books I've read, and whilst good, this wont necessarily put him up there with Alleyn and Rhoddenbarr.A small portion of land has suddenly become very attractive and important to a number of parties, including the British Government, who charge Campion with sorting it out in their favour.
Throw in Campion's friends, pretty young girls, rich businessmen and their cronies, rural English Villages, psycho doctors and a quest, and that pretty much covers it in a really short book. Some twists are heavily signpointed, but little to dent the story.
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LibraryThing member ramrak
Boring, twee. Couldn’t finish it.
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9780099474685
Physical description
256 p.; 5.08 inches
Other editions
Sweet Danger by Margery Allingham (Digital audiobook)
Pages
256