Series
Publication
Crimeline (1985), 207 p.
Original publication date
1934-02
Collections
Genres
Subjects
Awards
Haycraft Queen Cornerstones (1934)
Julian Symons' 100 Best Crime Stories (1934 — 1934)
Description
An artist's legacy lives on-through murder in this Albert Campion mystery masterpiece from "one of the finest Golden-Age crime novelists" (The Sunday Telegraph). To vex his rival from the grave, a famous artist has left twelve paintings to be sold after his death. Each year, one painting is revealed to kick off London's art season. But this release party-bringing family, friends, critics, and collectors together-devolves into scandal. A power outage leaves everyone in the dark, and when the lights come back on, a man lies dead-stabbed through the heart with bejeweled scissors. Family friend Albert Campion is present during the deadly crime. The too obvious suspect is the artist's granddaughter, Linda Lafcadio, who was engaged to the victim until he brought back a model from Italy and married her. Linda didn't take his suggestion of a m�nage � trois well, to say the least. But was she angry enough to kill him? Campion thinks not. He's actually quite sure he knows who did the dastardly deed, but there's no evidence to prove it. And though he's one step behind a diabolical killer, Campion just might be next on the list of victims . . . "Uncommon merit in every direction . . . honestly, you can't go wrong with Death of a Ghost." -Boston Evening Transcript Praise for Margery Allingham "Margery Allingham stands out like a shining light." -Agatha Christie "The best of mystery writers." -The New Yorker "Allingham was a rare and precious talent." -The Washington Post "Don't start reading these books unless you are confident that you can handle addiction." -The Independent… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member rocalisa
Famous artist John Lafcadio might have been dead for thirteen years, but that doesn't stop him from being able to cause a good stir. Before his death, he completed 12 paintings and left instructions that they were to be revealed, starting five years after his death, one a year until all the sealed
All appears to go well and the painting - Joan of Arc - is revealed as planned, turned into a spectacle and overseen as usual by Lafcadio's agent, Max Faustian. Things go awry when the lights go out. Once the power is restored Tommy Dacre, Lafcardio's grand-daughter's fiance, is found stabbed to death with a pair of ornate scissors. Campion soon finds himself investigating not only Dacre's murder, but a series of other odd events, another death and, ultimately, finds himself almost losing his life when he underestimates the murderer.
This book is not so much a "whodunnit" as a "prove-hedunnit". Campion figures out the identity of the murderer early and there are plenty enough clues for the reader to do the same. The killer is clever, slick, supremely self-confident and just a little bit insane. Campion's attempts to first unmask, then stop the killer are stymied every step of the way and for a while there it looks like he might be the final victim. It is luck and back up from his friends that saves him this time, not his own intellect.
This is a very different book that I liked and was unsure about, both at the same time. It is a departure for the usual crime-solving adventure and I'm of two minds about whether or not it works. Certainly, some early strange events (such as the disappearance of all Dacre's works) finally make sense when the killer's motives are revealed and it is all very clever. But the pacing felt kind of wrong to be, although I think that was mostly because Allingham had things happen in a different order than usual. Here, the basic story line went murder, suspicion, discovery of murderer, discover of murderer's motives, plan to stop murderer, failure of said plan, resolution by Hand of God. Campion didn't really take over this story, he just struggled to keep up with other characters, and I think that was probably the source of my dissatisfaction. That and the ultimate fate of the murderer, which seemed like a cop out to me.
Not one of Allingham's best, although we meet some lovely characters such as Belle and her grand-daughter Linda and get a chance to see inside the artist's life of the time. I still enjoyed the story, but it won't be first on my list of Campion books to reread. If you only want to read one, pick a different one. If you already know you like the series, this is still a good, solid addition it and I suggest you read it. After all, drunk Campion at the end of the book is a total delight. (I'm told it is in the Peter Davison TV adaptions as well, although I haven't seen them.)
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crates had been opened and his masterpieces were available to the world. Albert Campion comes to visit Lafcadio's widow, Belle, just before the eighth painting has been shown and, being a friend, is invited to the unveiling. All appears to go well and the painting - Joan of Arc - is revealed as planned, turned into a spectacle and overseen as usual by Lafcadio's agent, Max Faustian. Things go awry when the lights go out. Once the power is restored Tommy Dacre, Lafcardio's grand-daughter's fiance, is found stabbed to death with a pair of ornate scissors. Campion soon finds himself investigating not only Dacre's murder, but a series of other odd events, another death and, ultimately, finds himself almost losing his life when he underestimates the murderer.
This book is not so much a "whodunnit" as a "prove-hedunnit". Campion figures out the identity of the murderer early and there are plenty enough clues for the reader to do the same. The killer is clever, slick, supremely self-confident and just a little bit insane. Campion's attempts to first unmask, then stop the killer are stymied every step of the way and for a while there it looks like he might be the final victim. It is luck and back up from his friends that saves him this time, not his own intellect.
This is a very different book that I liked and was unsure about, both at the same time. It is a departure for the usual crime-solving adventure and I'm of two minds about whether or not it works. Certainly, some early strange events (such as the disappearance of all Dacre's works) finally make sense when the killer's motives are revealed and it is all very clever. But the pacing felt kind of wrong to be, although I think that was mostly because Allingham had things happen in a different order than usual. Here, the basic story line went murder, suspicion, discovery of murderer, discover of murderer's motives, plan to stop murderer, failure of said plan, resolution by Hand of God. Campion didn't really take over this story, he just struggled to keep up with other characters, and I think that was probably the source of my dissatisfaction. That and the ultimate fate of the murderer, which seemed like a cop out to me.
Not one of Allingham's best, although we meet some lovely characters such as Belle and her grand-daughter Linda and get a chance to see inside the artist's life of the time. I still enjoyed the story, but it won't be first on my list of Campion books to reread. If you only want to read one, pick a different one. If you already know you like the series, this is still a good, solid addition it and I suggest you read it. After all, drunk Campion at the end of the book is a total delight. (I'm told it is in the Peter Davison TV adaptions as well, although I haven't seen them.)
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LibraryThing member cmbohn
Campion is good friends with the widow of a famous painter. Every year she hosts a big party and unveils one of his works, which has been kept under wraps since the artist's death. At this year's party, the painting is upstaged by the dead man with a dagger in his chest.
LibraryThing member Crowyhead
Another excellent Campion mystery. An art gala turns deadly when the lights go out and an unassuming young artist is murdered. Who could the culprit be? The young man's jealous fiancee seems like the most likely suspect, but Mr. Campion is convinced that there is more to this strange death than a
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lover's spat. The climax of this novel is a bit over-the-top (something I've come to expect from Allingham -- she relishes a good bit of melodrama), but it's good fun and the mystery is satisfying. Show Less
LibraryThing member Figgles
An enjoyable murder, about half way through it switches from a who dunnit to a how are we going to prove it novel but it's more enjoyable for the characterisation than the plot. (There is almost a sub-genre of art murders and another of little venice murders in English crime!)
LibraryThing member souloftherose
As I've been reading through Allingham's early Campion novels I've started to categorise them as either adventure/thrillers (sort of Prisoner of Zenda meets the Thirty-Nine Steps) or more traditional murder mystery/crime fiction. Death of a Ghost is a straight murder mystery set amidst the art
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world of Little Venice in the 1930s. Campion deduces 'whodunnit' fairly early on, but how and why it was done proves harder to figure out and almost impossible to prove. I enjoyed this a lot and my only criticism is that I felt slightly dissatisfied with one part of the ending. This seems to be a recurring problem I have with Allingham's stories and probably reflects my inability not to compare her books to later crime fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member mmyoung
While a fascinating study of how the upper middle class in England lived during the inter war years not a very coherent murder mystery. Indeed, not much of a detective story at all as very few people, police included, actually detect. It is more the case that every once in a while one character
The story is really predicated upon the idea that the rest of the world (foreigners and those ‘lesser’ classes) is quite separate from the world of our protagonists. Those others cannot truly judge or even comprehend this world of the intelligent, the well bred and the artistic. Like virtually all books written at this time it is swathed in layers and layers of sexism, racism, classism and elitism.
An interesting read, none the less, for those who want an image of how deadly a banal failed marriage was in the days when divorce was rare and often unobtainable and to get a sense of how this class saw themselves.
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deigns to share information with other characters that would have enlightened the whole business had they bothered to share it earlier.The story is really predicated upon the idea that the rest of the world (foreigners and those ‘lesser’ classes) is quite separate from the world of our protagonists. Those others cannot truly judge or even comprehend this world of the intelligent, the well bred and the artistic. Like virtually all books written at this time it is swathed in layers and layers of sexism, racism, classism and elitism.
An interesting read, none the less, for those who want an image of how deadly a banal failed marriage was in the days when divorce was rare and often unobtainable and to get a sense of how this class saw themselves.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Death of a Ghost by Margery Allingham is the sixth book in her Albert Campion series and was originally published in 1934. This particular story brings the reader into the art world on the eve that a new painting by a famous yet deceased painter is unveiled. This is an annual ceremony engineered by
Luckily Albert Campion, a family friend was at the ceremony and although at first he too suspected the ex-girlfriend, he soon was convinced of her innocence and put his mind to bringing the real murderer to justice. Although we know all too soon who the villain of the piece is, it was fun seeing Campion attempting to find evidence and pull the threads together. Full of characters that are particularly eccentric and colorful, Margery Allingham gives us a stylish story that had excellent timing and showcases her creativity. Death of a Ghost was a very entertaining read for me.
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the painter to keep his memory alive. When the ceremony is interrupted by a murder, suspicion falls upon the ex-girlfriend of the deceased who was tossed for an Italian artist’s model.Luckily Albert Campion, a family friend was at the ceremony and although at first he too suspected the ex-girlfriend, he soon was convinced of her innocence and put his mind to bringing the real murderer to justice. Although we know all too soon who the villain of the piece is, it was fun seeing Campion attempting to find evidence and pull the threads together. Full of characters that are particularly eccentric and colorful, Margery Allingham gives us a stylish story that had excellent timing and showcases her creativity. Death of a Ghost was a very entertaining read for me.
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LibraryThing member EricCostello
Somewhat spotty mystery. Allingham does create a number of interesting characters, characters inhabiting the art world of London, ca. 1930, some of whom have been there forty or more years. The mystery here is a pair of killings that somehow seem to be connected to a bizarre bequest by a noted
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artist some thirty years before. I think the author did a much better job setting up the second killing and its solution, rather than the first one. I find Allingham's mysteries to be not quite up to the reputation many have given them. Not particularly recommended. [Astoundingly, one of the Penguin covers actually gives away a key element.] Show Less
LibraryThing member cstebbins
Portrays a world that doesn't and didn't exist, I think couldn't exist, but has such charm that the book can be re-read repeatedly. The "mystery", as usual, is necessary to give some structure but is unimportant otherwise. "Mannered", but the manner is part of the charm.
LibraryThing member Helenliz
This is pleasantly convoluted. The painter John Lafcardio wanted to put one over on a fellow painter, so he arranged to have a series of his paintings crated up and unveilled one a year after his death. That way the fellow would not eve be able to escape from under his shadow. So far, so much fun.
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Only this year at the unveilling, an artist who has been engaged to the painter's granddaughter but now married his model to bring her to England is stabbed with a really ugly pair of scissors. Campion is present and so follows the detection os a mystery where the artistic temprament gets in the way quite a lot. This is an interesting case in that the murder is identified long before the case can be solved, due to lack of evidence. It's an interesting side to the problem, you know whodunit, but can't prove it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Matke
A pretty good outing for Campion. A painter who died wanted his legacy and the public interest in his work to continue, and so arranged for the annual release of an unseen painting. The end of this ten-year plan is in sight, and Murder ensues.
The motive isn’t hard to see, but the murderer is
The motive isn’t hard to see, but the murderer is
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very crafty. Champion’s at his best here: kind, clever, and not at all fatuous. Recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member nordie
Audiobook narrated by Frances Matthews who I'm beginning to enjoy, in the way I prefer James Saxon reading Ngaio Marsh books.
Through knowing Belle, the widow, Campion is invited to the latest unveiling of one of John Lafacdio's works - which are released at the rate of one a year after his death.
Belle's house is a rather Bohemian 1930s set up - the housekeeper is one of Lafcardio's Italian models (now well in her 60s), another inhabitant is another ageing ex-model now fascinated with auras and the such like. A married couple of artists, of varying talents, live in a studio in the garden, whilst Lafardio's paint mixer lives elsewhere on the estate. The granddaughter is an early candidate as the one time fiancée, and who is ditched for another Italian model called RosaRosa.
This book isnt really a "whodunnit" as Campion, the police and the reader know who the killer is fairly early on. All attempts to unmask the killer in such a way as to bring along a conviction fail at every turn. The denouement at the end means that Campion is going to be the final victim and it's luck and the police who prevent this from happening, rather that any major interaction from Campion.
Once the second murder has happened and the investigation dropped off, many of the secondary characters disappear, with focus being made purely on trying to prove that the murderer did it, and why. The story is spread over several months, with large gaps in between and everything appears to be a watching and waiting game. Campion has been asked to act as Belle's proxy with regards to the paintings and in this way he manages to put himself in danger, going out to dinner on the fateful night with the murderer and being manipulated into life threatening situations. The description of Campion being drunk and going around ton, making a fool of himself, is a rather decent set of telling.
Not perhaps my favourite Campion, but still has some interesting set pieces in it to change thi
Through knowing Belle, the widow, Campion is invited to the latest unveiling of one of John Lafacdio's works - which are released at the rate of one a year after his death.
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The great and the good are at the unveiling, as well as some of the not so great, and during the party the lights go out (someone had failed to feed the meter). When the lights come back on, Tommy Dacre, Lafcardio's grand-daughter's fiance, is found stabbed to death with a pair of ornate scissors. Campion soon finds himself investigating not only Dacre's murder, the systematic loss of Dacre's work, another death and, ultimately, finds himself almost losing his own life after making a fool of himself in drink.Belle's house is a rather Bohemian 1930s set up - the housekeeper is one of Lafcardio's Italian models (now well in her 60s), another inhabitant is another ageing ex-model now fascinated with auras and the such like. A married couple of artists, of varying talents, live in a studio in the garden, whilst Lafardio's paint mixer lives elsewhere on the estate. The granddaughter is an early candidate as the one time fiancée, and who is ditched for another Italian model called RosaRosa.
This book isnt really a "whodunnit" as Campion, the police and the reader know who the killer is fairly early on. All attempts to unmask the killer in such a way as to bring along a conviction fail at every turn. The denouement at the end means that Campion is going to be the final victim and it's luck and the police who prevent this from happening, rather that any major interaction from Campion.
Once the second murder has happened and the investigation dropped off, many of the secondary characters disappear, with focus being made purely on trying to prove that the murderer did it, and why. The story is spread over several months, with large gaps in between and everything appears to be a watching and waiting game. Campion has been asked to act as Belle's proxy with regards to the paintings and in this way he manages to put himself in danger, going out to dinner on the fateful night with the murderer and being manipulated into life threatening situations. The description of Campion being drunk and going around ton, making a fool of himself, is a rather decent set of telling.
Not perhaps my favourite Campion, but still has some interesting set pieces in it to change thi
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9780553249583
Physical description
207 p.; 6.9 inches
Other editions
Death of a Ghost by Margery Allingham (Digital audiobook)
Pages
207