Customer Reviews
Warning: know your Allingham! - By: Christopher Twelvetrees, 17 Apr 2006 
Albert Campion started his literary life as a seemingly extraneous figure in a curious book callled _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 & Inspector Stanislas Oates. These books, a lot of fun & more thriller than detective oriented, include _Look to the Lady_ (aka Gyrth Chalice Mystery) & _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 callled Amanda.
Personallly, I find subsequent Campion adventures less interesting, & 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, & 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 & Oates lie, & 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 & it moves like lightning.
Beleagured England - By: A. J. Skelcher, 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 allly, Amanda Fitton.
Originallly published in 1941, the future of 'beleagured England'is at stake, 'with alll the tides of a new & diabollicallly 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.
