Publication
Bloomsbury Paperbacks (2017), 176 p.
Original publication date
1927 (serial)
1928-06 (book)
Collections
Genres
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:Classic Crime from the Golden Age. Margery Allingham is J.K. Rowling's favourite Golden Age author. Eric Crowther collected secrets and used them as weapons. Delighting in nothing more than torturing those around him with what he knew, there is no shortage of suspects when he is found dead in the White Cottage. Chief Inspector Challenor and his son Jerry will have to look deep into everyone's past �?? including the victim's �?? before they can be sure who has pulled the trigger. The fact that Jerry is in love with one of the suspects, however, might complicate things. The White Cottage Mystery was Margery Allingham's first detective story, originally written as a serial for the Daily Express in 1927 and published as a book a year later. With a country house, blackmail and murder, The White Cottage Mystery is a classic of the Golden Age of detective fi… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member JustAGirl
Margery Allingham's first novel, it was orginally written as a newspaper serial, so the pace is brisk and there is a twist or reveal at the end of each chapter. A brilliantly plotted murder mystery.
LibraryThing member mrtall
This very early work from Margery Allingham is indeed quite amateurish at points, but shows flashes of the effective dialog and pacing that make her later novels so much fun. The story here is classic English cosy: there's a murder at the White Cottage, the nasty neighbor's dead, and who, who, who
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was in the house and might have done it? The answer is clear from miles away, but atmosphere is the attraction here, not plot and thrills. Show Less
LibraryThing member druidgirl
This story totally reminds me of Poirot and Hastings and Sherlock and Watson. Jerry and his dad W.T. Challoner a police detective investigates the death of a blackmailer and evil man who took great pleasure in torturing the people he is blackmailing. This was a quick read, I just could not put it
Thanks to Net Galley and Bloomsbury Publishing.
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down. The book had a well developed plot and the characters were great.Thanks to Net Galley and Bloomsbury Publishing.
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LibraryThing member antiquary
Allingham's first mystery, not part of her well-known Campion series. Like many Golden Age mysteries, it involves the murder of a character so unpleasant many people have motives for killing him, in this case a blackmailer.
LibraryThing member GeraniumCat
would have to admit that this book - Allingham's first - is not her best. However, it's a perfectly good train or holiday read, undemanding, entertaining and a good enough mystery to keep you reading.
Jerry Challoner, a nice young man who happens to be a policeman's son carries act a minor act of
Jerry's presence seems to be enough to bring in his father from Scotland Yard, and the dead man is established to be from the neighbouring house. He's also quickly established to be a thoroughly unpleasant individual, the type to simply walk into another person's house uninvited, and who just happens to have a servant who is known to Inspector Challoner as a low-life and a criminal and not someone likely to be employed by a "nice" person. It becomes clear that the dead man, Crowther, has been making life miserable for everyone around him for years, so most of the family at the White Cottage have a motive of some kind.
I spotted the murderer early on, but I never mind that unless it's accompanied by clumsy writing. Allingham is already showing herself capable in this one, though it took her until after The Crime at Black Dudley, and her discovery of Albert Campion, to truly get into her stride (she claimed he was an incidental character in that, who took over regardless of his author's wishes!). Completists will certainly want to read The White Cottage Mystery, and I see no reason why anyone who enjoys Golden Age detective novels shouldn't enjoy it as well.
Jerry Challoner, a nice young man who happens to be a policeman's son carries act a minor act of
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gallantry - assisting a young woman on a country lane with a heavy basket. He's slightly surprised when she fails to respond to his pleasantries, but even more surprised when, a few minutes after he's dropped her off at her gate (at the White Cottage of the title), there is a gunshot from the house, followed by cries of "Murder!"Jerry's presence seems to be enough to bring in his father from Scotland Yard, and the dead man is established to be from the neighbouring house. He's also quickly established to be a thoroughly unpleasant individual, the type to simply walk into another person's house uninvited, and who just happens to have a servant who is known to Inspector Challoner as a low-life and a criminal and not someone likely to be employed by a "nice" person. It becomes clear that the dead man, Crowther, has been making life miserable for everyone around him for years, so most of the family at the White Cottage have a motive of some kind.
I spotted the murderer early on, but I never mind that unless it's accompanied by clumsy writing. Allingham is already showing herself capable in this one, though it took her until after The Crime at Black Dudley, and her discovery of Albert Campion, to truly get into her stride (she claimed he was an incidental character in that, who took over regardless of his author's wishes!). Completists will certainly want to read The White Cottage Mystery, and I see no reason why anyone who enjoys Golden Age detective novels shouldn't enjoy it as well.
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LibraryThing member Welsh_eileen2
I love Margery Allingham novels. They evoke a time long past.
A good old fashioned detective story and I'm pleased that Bloomsbury have re issued it.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Bloomsbury via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
A good old fashioned detective story and I'm pleased that Bloomsbury have re issued it.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Bloomsbury via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
This was Margery Allingham’s first detective story and it was serialized in the daily Express in 1927. It is a relatively short book that can be read quite quickly. In this story, a young man Jerry, picks up a woman on the road and drives her to The White Cottage, as she has a blister on her heel
The story was entertaining and I wanted to find out who the culprit was. Everyone had a reason to kill this man as he was universally hated. The one problem I had was how quickly Jerry and Norah fell in love and actually got married. That is the problem with a short novella. As each suspect was crossed off the list, Jerry tried to convince his father to stop investigating because he did not believe that either Norah or her sister could have been the killers. I did like the ending even though I had suspected who the murder was. This book would be enjoyed by those who enjoy British crime stories in the Agatha Christie style.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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and can hardly walk. After dropping her off, Jerry stops to chat just down the way with a police officer. Shortly after this, there is a scream and both Jerry and the policeman rush to The White Cottage to see what has happened. They find a man shot dead and seven possible suspects. It just so happens that Jerry is the son of famous Inspector WT Challenor. He is called in to solve the mystery.The story was entertaining and I wanted to find out who the culprit was. Everyone had a reason to kill this man as he was universally hated. The one problem I had was how quickly Jerry and Norah fell in love and actually got married. That is the problem with a short novella. As each suspect was crossed off the list, Jerry tried to convince his father to stop investigating because he did not believe that either Norah or her sister could have been the killers. I did like the ending even though I had suspected who the murder was. This book would be enjoyed by those who enjoy British crime stories in the Agatha Christie style.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member teckelvik
I have to say, this book was not very good. It was more interesting as an example of early 20th century popular writing than as a mystery. I admit, that I started reading with a negative attitude, because I have read and actively disliked several of the authors Campion series. The felt like a cheap
Spoiler - the entire mystery would have been solved in 5 minutes if the police had used finger printing. From what google tells me, this was in use in the late 1890s or early 1900s. This murder is set in 1919 or 1920, so the lack of even a mention of fingerprint evidence is bizarre.
On top of that, the writing is stilted, the characters are cardboard, and the main detective is deeply sexist.
Not recommended. Two stars because it wasn't actively vile, just bad.
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knock-off of Peter Wimsey. I immediately felt like this book was a cheap knock-off of Agatha Christie.Spoiler - the entire mystery would have been solved in 5 minutes if the police had used finger printing. From what google tells me, this was in use in the late 1890s or early 1900s. This murder is set in 1919 or 1920, so the lack of even a mention of fingerprint evidence is bizarre.
On top of that, the writing is stilted, the characters are cardboard, and the main detective is deeply sexist.
Not recommended. Two stars because it wasn't actively vile, just bad.
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LibraryThing member Mikalina
Allinghams first crime novel actually states what later becomes recognizable as her touch: Evil - innocence - and absolution - it´s all there.
"One must inspire love first before one can hurt with a word or a look; or else one must know something about someone - something they are anxious not to
Crowther, the man that was murdered was universally feared, not so much because of what he knew, but because of his use of his knowledge. Once one remembers the social tabus of the time the book was written and how week a women´s position in society was, the transfer of power is credible and the book reveals a fine notion of the locked grip a sadist, a psychological torturer gets on a person who fears being revealed.
"A crime calls the attention of the community to one point, and the searchlight of public interest is switched on to this particular section of the network". The suspects are all scared persons, which means the searchlight generally reveals the least attractive side of their personality - showing the nervous and often close to hysterical side we all have if pressed enough. We get a hint of Allingham´s literary dissection of evil, of the difference between petty crime and pure malice, as is a hallmark on the best of her later books (e.g. "Tiger in the Smoke") a novellistic study of the human nature only matched by Graham Greene. Even a former racketeer, thug and thief is held in check by Crowther´s knowledge of him, the man who is keeping him paradoxically straight is not a mobster in the eye of the Law, but he still comes across as the evil of the two.
In fact they are all white compared to the murdered man, in spite of the human frailty "the searchlight" unleashed by the murder has revealed. The psychology between victim and tormenter lays in the transfer of power - Only true innocence - or true forgiveness - seems to stay free from the crippling effect the person who derives pleasure from inflicting pain or humiliation has on their lives. (Which of course is the freeing element of being truthful and the strongest argument in favor of the catholic practice of absolution).
"One must inspire love first before one can hurt with a word or a look; or else one must know something about someone - something they are anxious not to
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reveal to the world. Then one can play upon the feelings of the victim as a child plays upon a guitar...." Crowther, the man that was murdered was universally feared, not so much because of what he knew, but because of his use of his knowledge. Once one remembers the social tabus of the time the book was written and how week a women´s position in society was, the transfer of power is credible and the book reveals a fine notion of the locked grip a sadist, a psychological torturer gets on a person who fears being revealed.
"A crime calls the attention of the community to one point, and the searchlight of public interest is switched on to this particular section of the network". The suspects are all scared persons, which means the searchlight generally reveals the least attractive side of their personality - showing the nervous and often close to hysterical side we all have if pressed enough. We get a hint of Allingham´s literary dissection of evil, of the difference between petty crime and pure malice, as is a hallmark on the best of her later books (e.g. "Tiger in the Smoke") a novellistic study of the human nature only matched by Graham Greene. Even a former racketeer, thug and thief is held in check by Crowther´s knowledge of him, the man who is keeping him paradoxically straight is not a mobster in the eye of the Law, but he still comes across as the evil of the two.
In fact they are all white compared to the murdered man, in spite of the human frailty "the searchlight" unleashed by the murder has revealed. The psychology between victim and tormenter lays in the transfer of power - Only true innocence - or true forgiveness - seems to stay free from the crippling effect the person who derives pleasure from inflicting pain or humiliation has on their lives. (Which of course is the freeing element of being truthful and the strongest argument in favor of the catholic practice of absolution).
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LibraryThing member FerneMysteryReader
Another wonderful discovery in thanks to the 2018 Mysteries Book-a-Month Package from Bas Bleu. This selection is the May-2018 novel.
I am amazed that I never heard of this author prior to reading this novel. As I was reading the novel I was also thinking about mysteries by Agatha Christie. In "A
It's a quick read, absorbing, and I would have finished it in one sitting if I would have been able to stay awake on a Friday night. I can't wait to read more mysteries by this author.
I am amazed that I never heard of this author prior to reading this novel. As I was reading the novel I was also thinking about mysteries by Agatha Christie. In "A
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Note on the Author" ...Agatha Christie said of Attingham that out of all the detective stories she remembers, "Margery Attingham stands out like a shining light." It's a quick read, absorbing, and I would have finished it in one sitting if I would have been able to stay awake on a Friday night. I can't wait to read more mysteries by this author.
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LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson
Allingham writes in the Agatha Christie style of mystery: a set of characters are introduced in the beginning pages, the murder occurs shortly thereafter and the detective turns up to interview the cast of characters almost immediately.
The suspense didn't really build in this story and the merest the surname Goody applies to two different characters, (i) the parlourmaid and (ii) the name of a burglar from the valet's past misdemeanours . This point is ignored in the narrative, a loose end that looked very odd to have occurred.
If you enjoy old-style British crime stories like those by Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and other Golden Age writers, this book will probably entertain you.
The suspense didn't really build in this story and the merest
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clue is offered as a hint for the reader. Too much dithering around with the Grace Christensen character became tedious and was over-emphasized in the investigation. An unsatisfactory point appears (possibly by accident?) which distracts from really figuring out the mystery: If you enjoy old-style British crime stories like those by Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and other Golden Age writers, this book will probably entertain you.
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LibraryThing member Vesper1931
When Eric Crowther is found dead at the White Cottage everyone in the vicinity is suspect as he was a collector of their secrets.
It is up to Chief Inspector Challenor to discover those secrets and so the killer.
The writing style of the book reflects that it was written in the 1920's.
This is
A NetGalley Book
It is up to Chief Inspector Challenor to discover those secrets and so the killer.
The writing style of the book reflects that it was written in the 1920's.
This is
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possible the first Allingham book I have read, look forward to reading more.A NetGalley Book
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LibraryThing member wdwilson3
I've been a great fan of Margery Allingham's Campion mysteries, classics of the Golden Age. This is an earlier work, originally serialized in 1927, and it shows a developing talent, but (like her early Campions) one burdened by social conventions and stereotypes that haven't aged well. As well,
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this is such a strangely plotted mystery that it really doesn't pass the credibility test. It's worth reading if you want to read a talent in the making, but it's not a recommended effort. Show Less
LibraryThing member Belana
Short and sweet. I had a suspicion about the murderer fairly early on, but still enjoyed the story unfolding.
LibraryThing member murderbydeath
My first Allingham, and fittingly, her first too. Definitely not my last.
DCI Challenor's son is on his way home to London one evening when he sees a young woman stepping off the bus with a heavy load and stops to offer her a ride to her home. Moments after leaving her there, he and the local
This is a very short read, relative to today's average mystery, coming in at just 157 pages. But it's a fast-paced 157 pages and Allingham dispenses with anything monotonous or that might smack of filler. The timeline jumps from one paragraph to another; sometimes by just a few hours, sometimes a few days, towards the end, a few years. This might really aggravate some readers but if you're familiar with Golden Age mysteries, you won't find it unusual.
I thoroughly enjoyed it; so much so that it was 1am when I finally shut the light off, having finished the entire book in one sitting. She had me guessing the entire way through, and not once did I come close. I found DCI Challenor's advice at the end appalling; it would never fly in our time, but in the age it was written, it would have been standard.
A very good mystery and from my first peek, I'd say Allingham is under valued as a master of mystery, but to be sure, I'll have to read a few more - as soon as possible.
DCI Challenor's son is on his way home to London one evening when he sees a young woman stepping off the bus with a heavy load and stops to offer her a ride to her home. Moments after leaving her there, he and the local
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constable hear the rapport of a shotgun and on returning find a man most definitely dead and a hallway full of suspects.This is a very short read, relative to today's average mystery, coming in at just 157 pages. But it's a fast-paced 157 pages and Allingham dispenses with anything monotonous or that might smack of filler. The timeline jumps from one paragraph to another; sometimes by just a few hours, sometimes a few days, towards the end, a few years. This might really aggravate some readers but if you're familiar with Golden Age mysteries, you won't find it unusual.
I thoroughly enjoyed it; so much so that it was 1am when I finally shut the light off, having finished the entire book in one sitting. She had me guessing the entire way through, and not once did I come close. I found DCI Challenor's advice at the end appalling; it would never fly in our time, but in the age it was written, it would have been standard.
A very good mystery and from my first peek, I'd say Allingham is under valued as a master of mystery, but to be sure, I'll have to read a few more - as soon as possible.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9781408880203
Physical description
176 p.; 5.06 inches
Other editions
The White Cottage Mystery by Margery Allingham (Digital audiobook)
Pages
176