Not the best Allingham Mystery, 04 May 2008
This is at times quite a confusing story with a number of story lines not really going anywhere and too many red herring characters. However, it is interesting in the sense that it evokes a much simpler naive age when science was seen as the key to the future. A good read with limited suspense but perhaps only for hardened Allingham fans.

The Mind Readers, 26 Apr 2008
Enjoyable Allingham mystery, an improvement on the last. The ending is slightly disappointing as a lot of interesting plot ideas, such as the experiments carried out on the island, seem to end up going nowhere.

Mindless Opacity, 23 Sep 2003
One of Allingham’s few (mercifully few) outstanding failures. The plot is a mess, with a lot of needless complications (all recounted in Allingham’s obscure manner that makes Gladys Mitchell look sober and straightforward) failing to disguise the fact that there is no actual plot to speak of. The murderer is known very early on, revealed and killed some chapters before the end, which is an anti-climax rivalled only by the behaviour of Albert Campion.

Not the best Allingham Mystery, 04 May 2008
This is at times quite a confusing story with a number of story lines not really going anywhere and too many red herring characters. However, it is interesting in the sense that it evokes a much simpler naive age when science was seen as the key to the future. A good read with limited suspense but perhaps only for hardened Allingham fans.

The Mind Readers, 26 Apr 2008
Enjoyable Allingham mystery, an improvement on the last. The ending is slightly disappointing as a lot of interesting plot ideas, such as the experiments carried out on the island, seem to end up going nowhere.

Mindless Opacity, 23 Sep 2003
One of Allingham’s few (mercifully few) outstanding failures. The plot is a mess, with a lot of needless complications (all recounted in Allingham’s obscure manner that makes Gladys Mitchell look sober and straightforward) failing to disguise the fact that there is no actual plot to speak of. The murderer is known very early on, revealed and killed some chapters before the end, which is an anti-climax rivalled only by the behaviour of Albert Campion.

Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Very disappointing. Slow, boring, it lacks incisiveness, rythm and humour. Generally poor dialogue. The crime was interesting but after so much useless writing I was so tired that I almost didnt care who had "done it".
I still give 3 stars for the vintage feel and because of some of the characters are lively and strongly defined (Val, Georgia,Sir Ramillies)but this book is a world away from M. Allingham true masterpieces like "Police at the Funeral" or the remarkable "The Case of the Late Pig".

"It's an honest, done-on-purpose killing for a reason.", 29 Dec 2006
As talented and popular in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now, inexplicably, almost forgotten, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress and seductress who married someone else just six months after his disappearance. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. Mary Whipple

"Murder: I think it's unethical and ungentlemanly and unkind.", 25 Jun 2006
As talented and popular a mystery writer in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now almost unknown, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress who married just six months after his disappearance, a seductress who flirts with every man she meets. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. n Mary Whipple


Style Never Goes Out of Fashion, 23 Sep 2003
One of the author’s most accomplished novels. At once an elegant and deftly-observed social satire in the manner of Thackeray and an ingeniously complicated detective story, the book is virtually flawless. Campion is in superb form throughout, both as detective pitting his wits against a superhuman Nemesis of a murderer, and as a lover (even going to the extent of throwing his fiancée in the lake during a quarrel); Lugg is as amusing as ever; and there is much interest in the character and methods of the villain, “who can set the murderous Machiavel to school,” weaving webs of a subtlety and diabolical ingenuity matched only by his creator.

Wonderful period piece, and an intriguing mystery, 11 Oct 2000
One of Albert Campion's most intriguing cases, this is a book which is more than just a crime caper. The style of writing makes it a book that flows along without feeling superficial, and the characters are well drawn; the twist added by one of the possible suspects being Campion's sister merely adds to the tension as the reader is left wondering what will happen if she indeed turns out to be the murderess.

There are a couple of things that really do date this book though. For starters, virtually all of the characters smoke; a no-no in contemporary literature. Mainly though, it's the attitude towards women, and the attitudes of many of the female characters. While they are strong in their own way, their expectations make this book very much a product of the inter-war period.

I've read most of the Campion books now, and this is one of the best without doubt; the story, characters and general writing quality combine to create a book that is a gem, deserving of being read by a wider audience than Crime Afficionados.

Not the best Allingham Mystery, 04 May 2008
This is at times quite a confusing story with a number of story lines not really going anywhere and too many red herring characters. However, it is interesting in the sense that it evokes a much simpler naive age when science was seen as the key to the future. A good read with limited suspense but perhaps only for hardened Allingham fans.

The Mind Readers, 26 Apr 2008
Enjoyable Allingham mystery, an improvement on the last. The ending is slightly disappointing as a lot of interesting plot ideas, such as the experiments carried out on the island, seem to end up going nowhere.

Mindless Opacity, 23 Sep 2003
One of Allingham’s few (mercifully few) outstanding failures. The plot is a mess, with a lot of needless complications (all recounted in Allingham’s obscure manner that makes Gladys Mitchell look sober and straightforward) failing to disguise the fact that there is no actual plot to speak of. The murderer is known very early on, revealed and killed some chapters before the end, which is an anti-climax rivalled only by the behaviour of Albert Campion.

Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Very disappointing. Slow, boring, it lacks incisiveness, rythm and humour. Generally poor dialogue. The crime was interesting but after so much useless writing I was so tired that I almost didnt care who had "done it".
I still give 3 stars for the vintage feel and because of some of the characters are lively and strongly defined (Val, Georgia,Sir Ramillies)but this book is a world away from M. Allingham true masterpieces like "Police at the Funeral" or the remarkable "The Case of the Late Pig".

"It's an honest, done-on-purpose killing for a reason.", 29 Dec 2006
As talented and popular in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now, inexplicably, almost forgotten, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress and seductress who married someone else just six months after his disappearance. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. Mary Whipple

"Murder: I think it's unethical and ungentlemanly and unkind.", 25 Jun 2006
As talented and popular a mystery writer in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now almost unknown, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress who married just six months after his disappearance, a seductress who flirts with every man she meets. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. n Mary Whipple


Style Never Goes Out of Fashion, 23 Sep 2003
One of the author’s most accomplished novels. At once an elegant and deftly-observed social satire in the manner of Thackeray and an ingeniously complicated detective story, the book is virtually flawless. Campion is in superb form throughout, both as detective pitting his wits against a superhuman Nemesis of a murderer, and as a lover (even going to the extent of throwing his fiancée in the lake during a quarrel); Lugg is as amusing as ever; and there is much interest in the character and methods of the villain, “who can set the murderous Machiavel to school,” weaving webs of a subtlety and diabolical ingenuity matched only by his creator.

Wonderful period piece, and an intriguing mystery, 11 Oct 2000
One of Albert Campion's most intriguing cases, this is a book which is more than just a crime caper. The style of writing makes it a book that flows along without feeling superficial, and the characters are well drawn; the twist added by one of the possible suspects being Campion's sister merely adds to the tension as the reader is left wondering what will happen if she indeed turns out to be the murderess.

There are a couple of things that really do date this book though. For starters, virtually all of the characters smoke; a no-no in contemporary literature. Mainly though, it's the attitude towards women, and the attitudes of many of the female characters. While they are strong in their own way, their expectations make this book very much a product of the inter-war period.

I've read most of the Campion books now, and this is one of the best without doubt; the story, characters and general writing quality combine to create a book that is a gem, deserving of being read by a wider audience than Crime Afficionados.

Intriguing, 15 Feb 2002
This book is set in wartime London and has an intriguing mystery involving murders, vintage wine and missing antiques that Campion has to solve before he catches a train home on leave. The identity of the culprit came as a surprise to this reviewer, at least. There is a strange collection of characters including Campion's uncle, the Bishop of Devizes (curiously, for he is stated in earlier books to have died before the war). For Allingham fans, Lugg as an ARP warden (and part-time pig-keeper)is a treat.

Not the best Allingham Mystery, 04 May 2008
This is at times quite a confusing story with a number of story lines not really going anywhere and too many red herring characters. However, it is interesting in the sense that it evokes a much simpler naive age when science was seen as the key to the future. A good read with limited suspense but perhaps only for hardened Allingham fans.

The Mind Readers, 26 Apr 2008
Enjoyable Allingham mystery, an improvement on the last. The ending is slightly disappointing as a lot of interesting plot ideas, such as the experiments carried out on the island, seem to end up going nowhere.

Mindless Opacity, 23 Sep 2003
One of Allingham’s few (mercifully few) outstanding failures. The plot is a mess, with a lot of needless complications (all recounted in Allingham’s obscure manner that makes Gladys Mitchell look sober and straightforward) failing to disguise the fact that there is no actual plot to speak of. The murderer is known very early on, revealed and killed some chapters before the end, which is an anti-climax rivalled only by the behaviour of Albert Campion.

Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Very disappointing. Slow, boring, it lacks incisiveness, rythm and humour. Generally poor dialogue. The crime was interesting but after so much useless writing I was so tired that I almost didnt care who had "done it".
I still give 3 stars for the vintage feel and because of some of the characters are lively and strongly defined (Val, Georgia,Sir Ramillies)but this book is a world away from M. Allingham true masterpieces like "Police at the Funeral" or the remarkable "The Case of the Late Pig".

"It's an honest, done-on-purpose killing for a reason.", 29 Dec 2006
As talented and popular in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now, inexplicably, almost forgotten, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress and seductress who married someone else just six months after his disappearance. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. Mary Whipple

"Murder: I think it's unethical and ungentlemanly and unkind.", 25 Jun 2006
As talented and popular a mystery writer in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now almost unknown, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress who married just six months after his disappearance, a seductress who flirts with every man she meets. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. n Mary Whipple


Style Never Goes Out of Fashion, 23 Sep 2003
One of the author’s most accomplished novels. At once an elegant and deftly-observed social satire in the manner of Thackeray and an ingeniously complicated detective story, the book is virtually flawless. Campion is in superb form throughout, both as detective pitting his wits against a superhuman Nemesis of a murderer, and as a lover (even going to the extent of throwing his fiancée in the lake during a quarrel); Lugg is as amusing as ever; and there is much interest in the character and methods of the villain, “who can set the murderous Machiavel to school,” weaving webs of a subtlety and diabolical ingenuity matched only by his creator.

Wonderful period piece, and an intriguing mystery, 11 Oct 2000
One of Albert Campion's most intriguing cases, this is a book which is more than just a crime caper. The style of writing makes it a book that flows along without feeling superficial, and the characters are well drawn; the twist added by one of the possible suspects being Campion's sister merely adds to the tension as the reader is left wondering what will happen if she indeed turns out to be the murderess.

There are a couple of things that really do date this book though. For starters, virtually all of the characters smoke; a no-no in contemporary literature. Mainly though, it's the attitude towards women, and the attitudes of many of the female characters. While they are strong in their own way, their expectations make this book very much a product of the inter-war period.

I've read most of the Campion books now, and this is one of the best without doubt; the story, characters and general writing quality combine to create a book that is a gem, deserving of being read by a wider audience than Crime Afficionados.

Intriguing, 15 Feb 2002
This book is set in wartime London and has an intriguing mystery involving murders, vintage wine and missing antiques that Campion has to solve before he catches a train home on leave. The identity of the culprit came as a surprise to this reviewer, at least. There is a strange collection of characters including Campion's uncle, the Bishop of Devizes (curiously, for he is stated in earlier books to have died before the war). For Allingham fans, Lugg as an ARP warden (and part-time pig-keeper)is a treat.

a classic, 31 Aug 2008
i first got interested in Margery Allingham when i was about 17 years old when the t.v series ran.

Sweet Danger is fundemental to the progress of the character of Campion. It is in Sweet Danger that he meets Amanda Fitton his wife to be for the first time.

To have Philip Franks read this book is very pleasing to the ear. If i am listening at night i will fall asleep to it, which is a shame, so i treat myself and start to listen to it again.

Mr Franks put the emphasis in the right places and also does different voices for the characters and the narration.

One of her best!, 26 May 2006
This is one of the best Margery Allingham books ever, and that's saying a good deal. It is an excellent example of her unique mix of the English "golden age" detective story with the old fashioned thriller.

It comes from her early period, when the emphasis is on eccentricity and fun, in a warm feel-good inter-war English upper middle class context. But it also has elements of a thriller, with fights as well as conundrums, which saves it from mere self indulgence and introduces a dark side, which came to dominate in later books like "Tiger in the Smoke".

The plot has a number of strands but they are woven together very tight - it revolves around a treasure hunt with international diplomatic implications, making it really matter. But it is quirky and witty throughout, and introduces Allingham's top detective character, Albert Campion, to Amanda Fitton, who in later books becomes his wife.

It's romantic, funny, extraordinarily well written, pacy, clever in conception, flawless in execution, with a dark shadow thrown across it by the villains and plenty of colourful characters, both good guys and bad guys, men and women. It may not be realistic, but it can't be beaten for entertainment value.

Unusually for a book of this type, it bears re-reading many times.

A must for fans; an excellent introduction to the writer for others.

Not the best Allingham Mystery, 04 May 2008
This is at times quite a confusing story with a number of story lines not really going anywhere and too many red herring characters. However, it is interesting in the sense that it evokes a much simpler naive age when science was seen as the key to the future. A good read with limited suspense but perhaps only for hardened Allingham fans.

The Mind Readers, 26 Apr 2008
Enjoyable Allingham mystery, an improvement on the last. The ending is slightly disappointing as a lot of interesting plot ideas, such as the experiments carried out on the island, seem to end up going nowhere.

Mindless Opacity, 23 Sep 2003
One of Allingham’s few (mercifully few) outstanding failures. The plot is a mess, with a lot of needless complications (all recounted in Allingham’s obscure manner that makes Gladys Mitchell look sober and straightforward) failing to disguise the fact that there is no actual plot to speak of. The murderer is known very early on, revealed and killed some chapters before the end, which is an anti-climax rivalled only by the behaviour of Albert Campion.

Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Very disappointing. Slow, boring, it lacks incisiveness, rythm and humour. Generally poor dialogue. The crime was interesting but after so much useless writing I was so tired that I almost didnt care who had "done it".
I still give 3 stars for the vintage feel and because of some of the characters are lively and strongly defined (Val, Georgia,Sir Ramillies)but this book is a world away from M. Allingham true masterpieces like "Police at the Funeral" or the remarkable "The Case of the Late Pig".

"It's an honest, done-on-purpose killing for a reason.", 29 Dec 2006
As talented and popular in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now, inexplicably, almost forgotten, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress and seductress who married someone else just six months after his disappearance. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. Mary Whipple

"Murder: I think it's unethical and ungentlemanly and unkind.", 25 Jun 2006
As talented and popular a mystery writer in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now almost unknown, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress who married just six months after his disappearance, a seductress who flirts with every man she meets. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. n Mary Whipple


Style Never Goes Out of Fashion, 23 Sep 2003
One of the author’s most accomplished novels. At once an elegant and deftly-observed social satire in the manner of Thackeray and an ingeniously complicated detective story, the book is virtually flawless. Campion is in superb form throughout, both as detective pitting his wits against a superhuman Nemesis of a murderer, and as a lover (even going to the extent of throwing his fiancée in the lake during a quarrel); Lugg is as amusing as ever; and there is much interest in the character and methods of the villain, “who can set the murderous Machiavel to school,” weaving webs of a subtlety and diabolical ingenuity matched only by his creator.

Wonderful period piece, and an intriguing mystery, 11 Oct 2000
One of Albert Campion's most intriguing cases, this is a book which is more than just a crime caper. The style of writing makes it a book that flows along without feeling superficial, and the characters are well drawn; the twist added by one of the possible suspects being Campion's sister merely adds to the tension as the reader is left wondering what will happen if she indeed turns out to be the murderess.

There are a couple of things that really do date this book though. For starters, virtually all of the characters smoke; a no-no in contemporary literature. Mainly though, it's the attitude towards women, and the attitudes of many of the female characters. While they are strong in their own way, their expectations make this book very much a product of the inter-war period.

I've read most of the Campion books now, and this is one of the best without doubt; the story, characters and general writing quality combine to create a book that is a gem, deserving of being read by a wider audience than Crime Afficionados.

Intriguing, 15 Feb 2002
This book is set in wartime London and has an intriguing mystery involving murders, vintage wine and missing antiques that Campion has to solve before he catches a train home on leave. The identity of the culprit came as a surprise to this reviewer, at least. There is a strange collection of characters including Campion's uncle, the Bishop of Devizes (curiously, for he is stated in earlier books to have died before the war). For Allingham fans, Lugg as an ARP warden (and part-time pig-keeper)is a treat.

a classic, 31 Aug 2008
i first got interested in Margery Allingham when i was about 17 years old when the t.v series ran.

Sweet Danger is fundemental to the progress of the character of Campion. It is in Sweet Danger that he meets Amanda Fitton his wife to be for the first time.

To have Philip Franks read this book is very pleasing to the ear. If i am listening at night i will fall asleep to it, which is a shame, so i treat myself and start to listen to it again.

Mr Franks put the emphasis in the right places and also does different voices for the characters and the narration.

One of her best!, 26 May 2006
This is one of the best Margery Allingham books ever, and that's saying a good deal. It is an excellent example of her unique mix of the English "golden age" detective story with the old fashioned thriller.

It comes from her early period, when the emphasis is on eccentricity and fun, in a warm feel-good inter-war English upper middle class context. But it also has elements of a thriller, with fights as well as conundrums, which saves it from mere self indulgence and introduces a dark side, which came to dominate in later books like "Tiger in the Smoke".

The plot has a number of strands but they are woven together very tight - it revolves around a treasure hunt with international diplomatic implications, making it really matter. But it is quirky and witty throughout, and introduces Allingham's top detective character, Albert Campion, to Amanda Fitton, who in later books becomes his wife.

It's romantic, funny, extraordinarily well written, pacy, clever in conception, flawless in execution, with a dark shadow thrown across it by the villains and plenty of colourful characters, both good guys and bad guys, men and women. It may not be realistic, but it can't be beaten for entertainment value.

Unusually for a book of this type, it bears re-reading many times.

A must for fans; an excellent introduction to the writer for others.

Not whodunnit but why, 17 Nov 2008
My first thought was that this would make a cracking good film. (Well, apparently there was a 1950s film version but I've never seen it. And if there's been a TV version, I've missed that, too.)
'The fog was like a saffron blanket soaked in ice-water.' Margery Allingham's descriptions of an old-fashioned London pea-souper and the disenfranchised characters inhabiting its underworld are worthy of Dickens. A jolly good read, highly recommended.

The Tiger in the Smoke, 09 Mar 2006
I have been reading all the Campion novels in order and having just finished this one I can safely say this is not Allingham or Campion at their best. The plot seemed thin, the characters not very interesting and crucially the villan of the piece just fails to come across as frightening as he should. I know this is considered to be a classic but Allingham has written better adventures than this one, in my opinion. Disappointingly Campion is hardly in this one, a shame as he is one of the more interesting period detectives around.

genuinely thrilling, 19 Jan 2006
it is sad that so much of margery allingham's oeuvre is currently out of print; vintage are to be commended for (slowly) rectifying this. the success of poirot and wimsey has relegated campion to a thoroughly undeserved third place in the canon of golden age crime-busters. although campion is not the central character of 'tiger', this gives the reader the chance to savour allingham's evocative prose style. in this london, former soldiers who found a home in the army are now misfits, cut off from normal society. voices from the past can be heard through the fog. oates, luke and campion seem powerless to apprehend a magnificently ruthless enemy. do yourself a favour and read...

Tiger tiger, burning bright, in the fogbound London night, 29 Jun 2005
A thriller rather than a mystery. If you are new to Allingham's Campion stories this is not a good place to start, partly because it is so atypical of the series and also because the array of minor characters that flit through the pages, and which will be familiar to readers of previous Campion books, can be rather bewildering for the newcomer.

Written in 1952, the story is interesting for its insight into aspects of life in post-war London. Some of the references, and much of the slang, will be lost on young, and non-British, readers. It will also perpetuate the myth of London being permanently fogbound. Present-day London hardly ever experiences fog, but in the fifties, when it was still an industrial city and suffered heavy smogs, it was commonly known as "The Smoke", hence the book's title.

In truth, the author's grasp of underworld culture is somewhat shaky. She doesn't get the language or the behaviour quite right. She was from the rural English midlands and from a different social class, so this is very much an outsider's view.

The intriguing story and the intense drama are what make this book worthwhile. It is well written and one episode, Lugg's driving through the fog, is hilarious. He wonders aloud at one stage whether he is approaching a roundabout or the side of a bank building. The villain, Havoc, is memorable. Oddly, there is no one, central hero. That role is shared between three or four characters. Campion himself is incidental.

My one complaint about the plot is that it relies on a very remarkable coincidence, which is something that always undermines credibility. But if you are willing to accept it (and remarkable coincidences do occur in real life) then you can relax and enjoy this first-rate thriller.

If you do enjoy "Tiger in the Smoke", you might also like Graham Greene's "Brighton Rock", which features the razor gangs of pre-war Brighton, and which has an equally memorable villain.

Allingham's finest, 19 Mar 2004
Tiger in the Smoke is Marjory Allingham's finest novel, and the pinnacle of the Inspector Campion series. A comparison with the first Campion, 'The Gyrth Chalice Mystery' reveals just how far she had taken her art from rather flat stereotypes and set pieces to a dark, memorable and perfectly drawn thriller.

Interestingly, Campion is only an incidental figure in Tiger in the Smoke. It is really a novel about the anti-hero Jack Havoc, a knife-murderer following a religion he has created himself 'the science of luck'. The chilling encounter which sets the seal on this novel is not murderer-meets-detective, but when the murderer meets a clergyman who has the power to transfix him. Havoc tells the clergyman about his 'science of luck', and the clergyman tells him that he already knows this philosophy, but it is called the 'science of death'.

From here in the demise of Havoc is artistically certain. The plot accelerates, through to the final, chillingly ambiguous 'His body was never recovered.'

If you have seen Allingham as a lesser figure, after Sayers and Christie, this book should set you straight. It belongs with Conan Doyle's 'Valley of Fear' and Sayers' 'Murder must advertise' at the top of the list of British crime thrillers.

Not the best Allingham Mystery, 04 May 2008
This is at times quite a confusing story with a number of story lines not really going anywhere and too many red herring characters. However, it is interesting in the sense that it evokes a much simpler naive age when science was seen as the key to the future. A good read with limited suspense but perhaps only for hardened Allingham fans.

The Mind Readers, 26 Apr 2008
Enjoyable Allingham mystery, an improvement on the last. The ending is slightly disappointing as a lot of interesting plot ideas, such as the experiments carried out on the island, seem to end up going nowhere.

Mindless Opacity, 23 Sep 2003
One of Allingham’s few (mercifully few) outstanding failures. The plot is a mess, with a lot of needless complications (all recounted in Allingham’s obscure manner that makes Gladys Mitchell look sober and straightforward) failing to disguise the fact that there is no actual plot to speak of. The murderer is known very early on, revealed and killed some chapters before the end, which is an anti-climax rivalled only by the behaviour of Albert Campion.

Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Very disappointing. Slow, boring, it lacks incisiveness, rythm and humour. Generally poor dialogue. The crime was interesting but after so much useless writing I was so tired that I almost didnt care who had "done it".
I still give 3 stars for the vintage feel and because of some of the characters are lively and strongly defined (Val, Georgia,Sir Ramillies)but this book is a world away from M. Allingham true masterpieces like "Police at the Funeral" or the remarkable "The Case of the Late Pig".

"It's an honest, done-on-purpose killing for a reason.", 29 Dec 2006
As talented and popular in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now, inexplicably, almost forgotten, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress and seductress who married someone else just six months after his disappearance. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. Mary Whipple

"Murder: I think it's unethical and ungentlemanly and unkind.", 25 Jun 2006
As talented and popular a mystery writer in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now almost unknown, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress who married just six months after his disappearance, a seductress who flirts with every man she meets. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. n Mary Whipple


Style Never Goes Out of Fashion, 23 Sep 2003
One of the author’s most accomplished novels. At once an elegant and deftly-observed social satire in the manner of Thackeray and an ingeniously complicated detective story, the book is virtually flawless. Campion is in superb form throughout, both as detective pitting his wits against a superhuman Nemesis of a murderer, and as a lover (even going to the extent of throwing his fiancée in the lake during a quarrel); Lugg is as amusing as ever; and there is much interest in the character and methods of the villain, “who can set the murderous Machiavel to school,” weaving webs of a subtlety and diabolical ingenuity matched only by his creator.

Wonderful period piece, and an intriguing mystery, 11 Oct 2000
One of Albert Campion's most intriguing cases, this is a book which is more than just a crime caper. The style of writing makes it a book that flows along without feeling superficial, and the characters are well drawn; the twist added by one of the possible suspects being Campion's sister merely adds to the tension as the reader is left wondering what will happen if she indeed turns out to be the murderess.

There are a couple of things that really do date this book though. For starters, virtually all of the characters smoke; a no-no in contemporary literature. Mainly though, it's the attitude towards women, and the attitudes of many of the female characters. While they are strong in their own way, their expectations make this book very much a product of the inter-war period.

I've read most of the Campion books now, and this is one of the best without doubt; the story, characters and general writing quality combine to create a book that is a gem, deserving of being read by a wider audience than Crime Afficionados.

Intriguing, 15 Feb 2002
This book is set in wartime London and has an intriguing mystery involving murders, vintage wine and missing antiques that Campion has to solve before he catches a train home on leave. The identity of the culprit came as a surprise to this reviewer, at least. There is a strange collection of characters including Campion's uncle, the Bishop of Devizes (curiously, for he is stated in earlier books to have died before the war). For Allingham fans, Lugg as an ARP warden (and part-time pig-keeper)is a treat.

a classic, 31 Aug 2008
i first got interested in Margery Allingham when i was about 17 years old when the t.v series ran.

Sweet Danger is fundemental to the progress of the character of Campion. It is in Sweet Danger that he meets Amanda Fitton his wife to be for the first time.

To have Philip Franks read this book is very pleasing to the ear. If i am listening at night i will fall asleep to it, which is a shame, so i treat myself and start to listen to it again.

Mr Franks put the emphasis in the right places and also does different voices for the characters and the narration.

One of her best!, 26 May 2006
This is one of the best Margery Allingham books ever, and that's saying a good deal. It is an excellent example of her unique mix of the English "golden age" detective story with the old fashioned thriller.

It comes from her early period, when the emphasis is on eccentricity and fun, in a warm feel-good inter-war English upper middle class context. But it also has elements of a thriller, with fights as well as conundrums, which saves it from mere self indulgence and introduces a dark side, which came to dominate in later books like "Tiger in the Smoke".

The plot has a number of strands but they are woven together very tight - it revolves around a treasure hunt with international diplomatic implications, making it really matter. But it is quirky and witty throughout, and introduces Allingham's top detective character, Albert Campion, to Amanda Fitton, who in later books becomes his wife.

It's romantic, funny, extraordinarily well written, pacy, clever in conception, flawless in execution, with a dark shadow thrown across it by the villains and plenty of colourful characters, both good guys and bad guys, men and women. It may not be realistic, but it can't be beaten for entertainment value.

Unusually for a book of this type, it bears re-reading many times.

A must for fans; an excellent introduction to the writer for others.

Not whodunnit but why, 17 Nov 2008
My first thought was that this would make a cracking good film. (Well, apparently there was a 1950s film version but I've never seen it. And if there's been a TV version, I've missed that, too.)
'The fog was like a saffron blanket soaked in ice-water.' Margery Allingham's descriptions of an old-fashioned London pea-souper and the disenfranchised characters inhabiting its underworld are worthy of Dickens. A jolly good read, highly recommended.

The Tiger in the Smoke, 09 Mar 2006
I have been reading all the Campion novels in order and having just finished this one I can safely say this is not Allingham or Campion at their best. The plot seemed thin, the characters not very interesting and crucially the villan of the piece just fails to come across as frightening as he should. I know this is considered to be a classic but Allingham has written better adventures than this one, in my opinion. Disappointingly Campion is hardly in this one, a shame as he is one of the more interesting period detectives around.

genuinely thrilling, 19 Jan 2006
it is sad that so much of margery allingham's oeuvre is currently out of print; vintage are to be commended for (slowly) rectifying this. the success of poirot and wimsey has relegated campion to a thoroughly undeserved third place in the canon of golden age crime-busters. although campion is not the central character of 'tiger', this gives the reader the chance to savour allingham's evocative prose style. in this london, former soldiers who found a home in the army are now misfits, cut off from normal society. voices from the past can be heard through the fog. oates, luke and campion seem powerless to apprehend a magnificently ruthless enemy. do yourself a favour and read...

Tiger tiger, burning bright, in the fogbound London night, 29 Jun 2005
A thriller rather than a mystery. If you are new to Allingham's Campion stories this is not a good place to start, partly because it is so atypical of the series and also because the array of minor characters that flit through the pages, and which will be familiar to readers of previous Campion books, can be rather bewildering for the newcomer.

Written in 1952, the story is interesting for its insight into aspects of life in post-war London. Some of the references, and much of the slang, will be lost on young, and non-British, readers. It will also perpetuate the myth of London being permanently fogbound. Present-day London hardly ever experiences fog, but in the fifties, when it was still an industrial city and suffered heavy smogs, it was commonly known as "The Smoke", hence the book's title.

In truth, the author's grasp of underworld culture is somewhat shaky. She doesn't get the language or the behaviour quite right. She was from the rural English midlands and from a different social class, so this is very much an outsider's view.

The intriguing story and the intense drama are what make this book worthwhile. It is well written and one episode, Lugg's driving through the fog, is hilarious. He wonders aloud at one stage whether he is approaching a roundabout or the side of a bank building. The villain, Havoc, is memorable. Oddly, there is no one, central hero. That role is shared between three or four characters. Campion himself is incidental.

My one complaint about the plot is that it relies on a very remarkable coincidence, which is something that always undermines credibility. But if you are willing to accept it (and remarkable coincidences do occur in real life) then you can relax and enjoy this first-rate thriller.

If you do enjoy "Tiger in the Smoke", you might also like Graham Greene's "Brighton Rock", which features the razor gangs of pre-war Brighton, and which has an equally memorable villain.

Allingham's finest, 19 Mar 2004
Tiger in the Smoke is Marjory Allingham's finest novel, and the pinnacle of the Inspector Campion series. A comparison with the first Campion, 'The Gyrth Chalice Mystery' reveals just how far she had taken her art from rather flat stereotypes and set pieces to a dark, memorable and perfectly drawn thriller.

Interestingly, Campion is only an incidental figure in Tiger in the Smoke. It is really a novel about the anti-hero Jack Havoc, a knife-murderer following a religion he has created himself 'the science of luck'. The chilling encounter which sets the seal on this novel is not murderer-meets-detective, but when the murderer meets a clergyman who has the power to transfix him. Havoc tells the clergyman about his 'science of luck', and the clergyman tells him that he already knows this philosophy, but it is called the 'science of death'.

From here in the demise of Havoc is artistically certain. The plot accelerates, through to the final, chillingly ambiguous 'His body was never recovered.'

If you have seen Allingham as a lesser figure, after Sayers and Christie, this book should set you straight. It belongs with Conan Doyle's 'Valley of Fear' and Sayers' 'Murder must advertise' at the top of the list of British crime thrillers.

Hide My Eyes, 29 Aug 2006
Disappointingly Campion only makes brief appearances in this adventure. A standard perfect murder plot. The two romantic leads were dull. The best thing about this are Gerry and Mrs Tassie. Their relationship was credible, touching and chilling in the last few chapters. Worth a read.

One of Allingham's best novels, 10 Aug 2006
This book seethes with menace from the opening chapter. The feeling of evil is heightened by the introduction of innocence and vulnerability in the form of young Annabelle.

Allingham does write good atmospheric novels about the seedier side of London life, for example 'Tiger in the Smoke'. You can almost smell the city around you - and the hairs on your neck will tingle as you read further on!

A book you will remember long after you have finished it.

Another great Campion mystery set in London's West End, 02 Dec 2001
I really enjoy reading this mystery by Margery Allingham, but then I find her novel writing consistantly excellent. This novel is set in London, mainly around the Paddington area. I find that this book interesting because you know who the murderer is fairly early on, so the suspense grows as you are unsure if any of the main characters will be the next victim. I particularly enjoy Allingham's London novels, they always seem a little darker than her country-side romps. This novel contains new characters as well as the familiar Albert Campion and Inspector Charlie Luke. I think this novel improves on each reading and it is a must for anyone who loves crime fiction as I do.

Atmospheric thriller: dark streets, old museum, and more..., 26 Oct 2000
Her grasp of the minutiae of peoples' habits and her descriptive powers of buildings, streets and even rainy nights makes any Margery Allingham book a good read. This is no exception with a stunning opening description of the events leading up to a murder off an alley on a rainy night in London. The story jumps on into the wonderful world of Detective Inspector Charlie Luke with a bee in his bonnet about unsolved murders, which he shares with Albert Campion, the unassuming "star" of most of Allingham's books. This line of enquiry cuts across the story of a girl up from the country to stay with a recently widowed relative, who happens to own a museum of the unusual and strange as part of her property. Given the young lady's young admirer and an unscrupulous but charming villain on whom the widow dotes: the three strands begin to intertwine and lead into horrific conclusion.

Not the best Allingham Mystery, 04 May 2008
This is at times quite a confusing story with a number of story lines not really going anywhere and too many red herring characters. However, it is interesting in the sense that it evokes a much simpler naive age when science was seen as the key to the future. A good read with limited suspense but perhaps only for hardened Allingham fans.

The Mind Readers, 26 Apr 2008
Enjoyable Allingham mystery, an improvement on the last. The ending is slightly disappointing as a lot of interesting plot ideas, such as the experiments carried out on the island, seem to end up going nowhere.

Mindless Opacity, 23 Sep 2003
One of Allingham’s few (mercifully few) outstanding failures. The plot is a mess, with a lot of needless complications (all recounted in Allingham’s obscure manner that makes Gladys Mitchell look sober and straightforward) failing to disguise the fact that there is no actual plot to speak of. The murderer is known very early on, revealed and killed some chapters before the end, which is an anti-climax rivalled only by the behaviour of Albert Campion.

Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Very disappointing. Slow, boring, it lacks incisiveness, rythm and humour. Generally poor dialogue. The crime was interesting but after so much useless writing I was so tired that I almost didnt care who had "done it".
I still give 3 stars for the vintage feel and because of some of the characters are lively and strongly defined (Val, Georgia,Sir Ramillies)but this book is a world away from M. Allingham true masterpieces like "Police at the Funeral" or the remarkable "The Case of the Late Pig".

"It's an honest, done-on-purpose killing for a reason.", 29 Dec 2006
As talented and popular in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now, inexplicably, almost forgotten, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress and seductress who married someone else just six months after his disappearance. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. Mary Whipple

"Murder: I think it's unethical and ungentlemanly and unkind.", 25 Jun 2006
As talented and popular a mystery writer in the 1930s and 1940s as fellow writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham is now almost unknown, except by mystery aficionados. Writing a series of novels featuring Albert Campion, a man of mysterious background who moves comfortably both in aristocratic circles and in the seedy underworld of thugs and criminals, Allingham sets up elaborate plots that cross class lines and entertain the reader with their cleverness. Campion, often aided by Lugg, a former burglar, manages to remain friendly with local police inspectors while operating as a private detective, often hired by the titled nobility with whom he associates.

This novel, written in 1938, opens with the discovery of the fully clothed skeleton of a man who disappeared three years before. A lawyer hoping for a judgeship, the deceased was the fiancé of Georgia Wells, a stage actress who married just six months after his disappearance, a seductress who flirts with every man she meets. Campion's sister Val, who runs a high fashion design house, is also involved in the mystery, as are the man she loves, who runs an aircraft company trying to sell planes to a foreign country, and Georgia's present husband, a self-important snob who works for the government. The mystery is unusually intricate, and when two more deaths occur, Campion must investigate questions of blackmail, secret relationships, drug shipments, an out-of-the-way restaurant, and characters who look like other characters. He must also deal with a former acquaintance, Lady Amanda Fitton, who has returned--and unexpectedly announced her engagement to him.

Highly entertaining and very fast paced, the novel is cleverly written and full of intrigue, populated with characters who have more substance than the cardboard characters one finds in most mysteries. Allingham's ability to incorporate details of time and place--and class--give this novel a lively sense of the atmosphere of prewar England and the attitudes of its population, not all of them admirable. Elitism, bigotry, and class prejudice are all given voice in this novel, and play a part in the mystery.

Far more literary in style than Agatha Christie, Allingham employs a good deal of humor and irony, though Albert Campion is more phlegmatic than Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayer's detective) and less exaggerated than Christie's Hercule Poirot. Allingham, a fine writer, creates well developed plots and memorable characters, and one hopes that her work will be reprinted for a new audience. n Mary Whipple


Style Never Goes Out of Fashion, 23 Sep 2003
One of the author’s most accomplished novels. At once an elegant and deftly-observed social satire in the manner of Thackeray and an ingeniously complicated detective story, the book is virtually flawless. Campion is in superb form throughout, both as detective pitting his wits against a superhuman Nemesis of a murderer, and as a lover (even going to the extent of throwing his fiancée in the lake during a quarrel); Lugg is as amusing as ever; and there is much interest in the character and methods of the villain, “who can set the murderous Machiavel to school,” weaving webs of a subtlety and diabolical ingenuity matched only by his creator.

Wonderful period piece, and an intriguing mystery, 11 Oct 2000
One of Albert Campion's most intriguing cases, this is a book which is more than just a crime caper. The style of writing makes it a book that flows along without feeling superficial, and the characters are well drawn; the twist added by one of the possible suspects being Campion's sister merely adds to the tension as the reader is left wondering what will happen if she indeed turns out to be the murderess.

There are a couple of things that really do date this book though. For starters, virtually all of the characters smoke; a no-no in contemporary literature. Mainly though, it's the attitude towards women, and the attitudes of many of the female characters. While they are strong in their own way, their expectations make this book very much a product of the inter-war period.

I've read most of the Campion books now, and this is one of the best without doubt; the story, characters and general writing quality combine to create a book that is a gem, deserving of being read by a wider audience than Crime Afficionados.

Intriguing, 15 Feb 2002
This book is set in wartime London and has an intriguing mystery involving murders, vintage wine and missing antiques that Campion has to solve before he catches a train home on leave. The identity of the culprit came as a surprise to this reviewer, at least. There is a strange collection of characters including Campion's uncle, the Bishop of Devizes (curiously, for he is stated in earlier books to have died before the war). For Allingham fans, Lugg as an ARP warden (and part-time pig-keeper)is a treat.

a classic, 31 Aug 2008
i first got interested in Margery Allingham when i was about 17 years old when the t.v series ran.

Sweet Danger is fundemental to the progress of the character of Campion. It is in Sweet Danger that he meets Amanda Fitton his wife to be for the first time.

To have Philip Franks read this book is very pleasing to the ear. If i am listening at night i will fall asleep to it, which is a shame, so i treat myself and start to listen to it again.

Mr Franks put the emphasis in the right places and also does different voices for the characters and the narration.

One of her best!, 26 May 2006
This is one of the best Margery Allingham books ever, and that's saying a good deal. It is an excellent example of her unique mix of the English "golden age" detective story with the old fashioned thriller.

It comes from her early period, when the emphasis is on eccentricity and fun, in a warm feel-good inter-war English upper middle class context. But it also has elements of a thriller, with fights as well as conundrums, which saves it from mere self indulgence and introduces a dark side, which came to dominate in later books like "Tiger in the Smoke".

The plot has a number of strands but they are woven together very tight - it revolves around a treasure hunt with international diplomatic implications, making it really matter. But it is quirky and witty throughout, and introduces Allingham's top detective character, Albert Campion, to Amanda Fitton, who in later books becomes his wife.

It's romantic, funny, extraordinarily well written, pacy, clever in conception, flawless in execution, with a dark shadow thrown across it by the villains and plenty of colourful characters, both good guys and bad guys, men and women. It may not be realistic, but it can't be beaten for entertainment value.

Unusually for a book of this type, it bears re-reading many times.

A must for fans; an excellent introduction to the writer for others.

Not whodunnit but why, 17 Nov 2008
My first thought was that this would make a cracking good film. (Well, apparently there was a 1950s film version but I've never seen it. And if there's been a TV version, I've missed that, too.)
'The fog was like a saffron blanket soaked in ice-water.' Margery Allingham's descriptions of an old-fashioned London pea-souper and the disenfranchised characters inhabiting its underworld are worthy of Dickens. A jolly good read, highly recommended.

The Tiger in the Smoke, 09 Mar 2006
I have been reading all the Campion novels in order and having just finished this one I can safely say this is not Allingham or Campion at their best. The plot seemed thin, the characters not very interesting and crucially the villan of the piece just fails to come across as frightening as he should. I know this is considered to be a classic but Allingham has written better adventures than this one, in my opinion. Disappointingly Campion is hardly in this one, a shame as he is one of the more interesting period detectives around.

genuinely thrilling, 19 Jan 2006
it is sad that so much of margery allingham's oeuvre is currently out of print; vintage are to be commended for (slowly) rectifying this. the success of poirot and wimsey has relegated campion to a thoroughly undeserved third place in the canon of golden age crime-busters. although campion is not the central character of 'tiger', this gives the reader the chance to savour allingham's evocative prose style. in this london, former soldiers who found a home in the army are now misfits, cut off from normal society. voices from the past can be heard through the fog. oates, luke and campion seem powerless to apprehend a magnificently ruthless enemy. do yourself a favour and read...

Tiger tiger, burning bright, in the fogbound London night, 29 Jun 2005
A thriller rather than a mystery. If you are new to Allingham's Campion stories this is not a good place to start, partly because it is so atypical of the series and also because the array of minor characters that flit through the pages, and which will be familiar to readers of previous Campion books, can be rather bewildering for the newcomer.

Written in 1952, the story is interesting for its insight into aspects of life in post-war London. Some of the references, and much of the slang, will be lost on young, and non-British, readers. It will also perpetuate the myth of London being permanently fogbound. Present-day London hardly ever experiences fog, but in the fifties, when it was still an industrial city and suffered heavy smogs, it was commonly known as "The Smoke", hence the book's title.

In truth, the author's grasp of underworld culture is somewhat shaky. She doesn't get the language or the behaviour quite right. She was from the rural English midlands and from a different social class, so this is very much an outsider's view.

The intriguing story and the intense drama are what make this book worthwhile. It is well written and one episode, Lugg's driving through the fog, is hilarious. He wonders aloud at one stage whether he is approaching a roundabout or the side of a bank building. The villain, Havoc, is memorable. Oddly, there is no one, central hero. That role is shared between three or four characters. Campion himself is incidental.

My one complaint about the plot is that it relies on a very remarkable coincidence, which is something that always undermines credibility. But if you are willing to accept it (and remarkable coincidences do occur in real life) then you can relax and enjoy this first-rate thriller.

If you do enjoy "Tiger in the Smoke", you might also like Graham Greene's "Brighton Rock", which features the razor gangs of pre-war Brighton, and which has an equally memorable villain.

Allingham's finest, 19 Mar 2004
Tiger in the Smoke is Marjory Allingham's finest novel, and the pinnacle of the Inspector Campion series. A comparison with the first Campion, 'The Gyrth Chalice Mystery' reveals just how far she had taken her art from rather flat stereotypes and set pieces to a dark, memorable and perfectly drawn thriller.

Interestingly, Campion is only an incidental figure in Tiger in the Smoke. It is really a novel about the anti-hero Jack Havoc, a knife-murderer following a religion he has created himself 'the science of luck'. The chilling encounter which sets the seal on this novel is not murderer-meets-detective, but when the murderer meets a clergyman who has the power to transfix him. Havoc tells the clergyman about his 'science of luck', and the clergyman tells him that he already knows this philosophy, but it is called the 'science of death'.

From here in the demise of Havoc is artistically certain. The plot accelerates, through to the final, chillingly ambiguous 'His body was never recovered.'

If you have seen Allingham as a lesser figure, after Sayers and Christie, this book should set you straight. It belongs with Conan Doyle's 'Valley of Fear' and Sayers' 'Murder must advertise' at the top of the list of British crime thrillers.

Hide My Eyes, 29 Aug 2006
Disappointingly Campion only makes brief appearances in this adventure. A standard perfect murder plot. The two romantic leads were dull. The best thing about this are Gerry and Mrs Tassie. Their relationship was credible, touching and chilling in the last few chapters. Worth a read.

One of Allingham's best novels, 10 Aug 2006
This book seethes with menace from the opening chapter. The feeling of evil is heightened by the introduction of innocence and vulnerability in the form of young Annabelle.

Allingham does write good atmospheric novels about the seedier side of London life, for example 'Tiger in the Smoke'. You can almost smell the city around you - and the hairs on your neck will tingle as you read further on!

A book you will remember long after you have finished it.

Another great Campion mystery set in London's West End, 02 Dec 2001
I really enjoy reading this mystery by Margery Allingham, but then I find her novel writing consistantly excellent. This novel is set in London, mainly around the Paddington area. I find that this book interesting because you know who the murderer is fairly early on, so the suspense grows as you are unsure if any of the main characters will be the next victim. I particularly enjoy Allingham's London novels, they always seem a little darker than her country-side romps. This novel contains new characters as well as the familiar Albert Campion and Inspector Charlie Luke. I think this novel improves on each reading and it is a must for anyone who loves crime fiction as I do.

Atmospheric thriller: dark streets, old museum, and more..., 26 Oct 2000
Her grasp of the minutiae of peoples' habits and her descriptive powers of buildings, streets and even rainy nights makes any Margery Allingham book a good read. This is no exception with a stunning opening description of the events leading up to a murder off an alley on a rainy night in London. The story jumps on into the wonderful world of Detective Inspector Charlie Luke with a bee in his bonnet about unsolved murders, which he shares with Albert Campion, the unassuming "star" of most of Allingham's books. This line of enquiry cuts across the story of a girl up from the country to stay with a recently widowed relative, who happens to own a museum of the unusual and strange as part of her property. Given the young lady's young admirer and an unscrupulous but charming villain on whom the widow dotes: the three strands begin to intertwine and lead into horrific conclusion.

Warning: know your Allingham!, 17 Apr 2006
Albert Campion started his literary life as a seemingly extraneous figure in a curious book called _The Crime at Black Dudley_ (aka The Black Dudley Murder), where he inexplicably solves the crime rather than the hero. After that, he goes through a series of free-wheeling adventures -- ably assisted by his servant, ex-convict Lugg and Inspector Stanislas Oates. These books, a lot of fun and more thriller than detective oriented, include _Look to the Lady_ (aka Gyrth Chalice Mystery) and _Mystery Mile_. One of the most fun but least detective-oriented is _Sweet Danger_ (The Fear Sign, Kingdom of Death) where he meets a girl called Amanda.

Personally, I find subsequent Campion adventures less interesting, and Campion himself becomes rather a dull fellow. But during the World War II he finds himself involved in this wonderful adventure, _Traitor's Purse_, where he's on the trail of Nazi spies, but -- here's the trick -- he has amnesia, and doesn't even remember what his mission is, much less whom he can trust.

Anyone who knows Campion adventures -- as most readers would when the book was published -- will know where the loyalties of Amanda, Lugg and Oates lie, and perhaps it is good to go in with a few previous Campions under your belt to eliminate some of hero's utter confusion.

It's a great story and it moves like lightning.

Beleagured England, 19 Oct 2004
This novel unfolds like a film noir thriller. Albert Campion, the detective, comes round in hospital, believing himself to be under arrest for serious assault on a policeman. But there is a matter much more urgent, something else pressing onto his disjointed brain. To make matters worse, he alienates his main ally, Amanda Fitton.

Originally published in 1941, the future of 'beleagured England'is at stake, 'with all the tides of a new and diabollically astute barbary lapping at her feet', in a way that youy wouldn't guess at even today.

A startling departure from Campion's usual territory.

Not the best Allingham Mystery, 04 May 2008
This is at times quite a confusing story with a number of story lines not really going anywhere and too many red herring characters. However, it is interesting in the sense that it evokes a much simpler naive age when science was seen as the key to the future. A good read with limited suspense but perhaps only for hardened Allingham fans.

The Mind Readers, 26 Apr 2008
Enjoyable Allingham mystery, an improvement on the last. The ending is slightly disappointing as a lot of interesting plot ideas, such as the experiments carried out on the island, seem to end up going nowhere.

Mindless Opacity, 23 Sep 2003
One of Allingham’s few (mercifully few) outstanding failures. The plot is a mess, with a lot of needless complications (all recounted in Allingham’s obscure manner that makes Gladys Mitchell look sober and straightforward) failing to disguise the fact that there is no actual plot to s