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stefhyena's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
I kept thinking this was the same detective as The Moving Toyshop (different author, different detective, in some ways similar writing style) and being stunned how much better the characterisation in this book is- how much more warm although I loathed the appalling Palinodes, especially Laurence. Clytie was OK even if she was kinda silly.
The mystery was fairly predictable there are clues where there should not be (better not to say more). It untangled in an enjoyable enough way but the prose, the writing itself was terrible, it was hard to follow. I wondered if maybe it made more sense in its own space and time. Allingham went too hard with showing the odd ways of talking of all her types (close to stereotypes). Mostly the most unlikeable ones were the bad guys (with some exceptions) and the most likeable ones were not. I should not approve of that but it's satisfying to read.
I love Amanda who barely registers in the book. She makes me like Campion a lot better than I could like him as a bachelor or whatever. I couldn't understand what his background was but I liked how he rubs shoulders with all classes easily. He is one of the more likeable male detectives I have read. A lot of stuff in the book might be queer coded or maybe I am reading it anachronistically.
Apparently all these are standalones and I approve of that and may read another some time, but not in any hurry because the writing is hard to follow and is full of self-consciously inserted long words and difficult twists of phrase (now I know why my supervisors get tough on me when I am not being clear).
The mystery was fairly predictable there are clues where there should not be (better not to say more). It untangled in an enjoyable enough way but the prose, the writing itself was terrible, it was hard to follow. I wondered if maybe it made more sense in its own space and time. Allingham went too hard with showing the odd ways of talking of all her types (close to stereotypes). Mostly the most unlikeable ones were the bad guys (with some exceptions) and the most likeable ones were not. I should not approve of that but it's satisfying to read.
I love Amanda who barely registers in the book. She makes me like Campion a lot better than I could like him as a bachelor or whatever. I couldn't understand what his background was but I liked how he rubs shoulders with all classes easily. He is one of the more likeable male detectives I have read. A lot of stuff in the book might be queer coded or maybe I am reading it anachronistically.
Apparently all these are standalones and I approve of that and may read another some time, but not in any hurry because the writing is hard to follow and is full of self-consciously inserted long words and difficult twists of phrase (now I know why my supervisors get tough on me when I am not being clear).
teresac's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
katymaryreads's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A favourite Albert Campion novel, with larger than life not quite believable characters, and a devious plot.
hbcbray's review against another edition
4.0
A good one! Freshly different and entertaining. Campion really in the soup and making it more of a team effort.
jonathanpalfrey's review against another edition
3.0
This whodunnit consists largely of an endless parade of extravagantly eccentric characters of different kinds, interacting in their own peculiar ways in an obscure corner of London. There is much mystery, but Albert Campion gets to the bottom of it in the end.
I found it readable and mildly entertaining, but rather over the top. Allingham apparently set out to paint pictures of as many distinctive characters as she could think of, and stuff them all into the same book, so that there's hardly room for anyone normal.
When I found out what had been going on in the end, most of it took me completely by surprise. However, I'm no amateur detective, and when reading this kind of book I make no attempt to solve the case before the hero does. I just read it as a story and observe.
Not one of my favourite Campion stories, though it's not a bad one. A pity that we see nothing of his wife Amanda, apart from a brief message at the end; but I suppose she wouldn't fit into this story.
I found it readable and mildly entertaining, but rather over the top. Allingham apparently set out to paint pictures of as many distinctive characters as she could think of, and stuff them all into the same book, so that there's hardly room for anyone normal.
When I found out what had been going on in the end, most of it took me completely by surprise. However, I'm no amateur detective, and when reading this kind of book I make no attempt to solve the case before the hero does. I just read it as a story and observe.
Not one of my favourite Campion stories, though it's not a bad one. A pity that we see nothing of his wife Amanda, apart from a brief message at the end; but I suppose she wouldn't fit into this story.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
5.0
A fine, somewhat quirky mystery. This is what I would call middle-period Margery Allingham, as it's somewhere between the light-hearted style of the earliest Campion novels and the much darker late books, such as Hide My Eyes. It's more like the latter than the former, but there's plenty to laugh at.
topazlit's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
One of the weirder Campion books, with a fairly confusing plot but a very atmospheric setting. We are introduced to Charlie Luke for the first time, and Allingham's descriptions of Luke's vivid recreation of people and events are a delight. Luckily, Lugg is here as well, and we hear from Amanda on the very last page.
the_lady_miaow's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75