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Albert Campion #16
Hide My Eyes
In Hide My Eyes, private detective Albert Campion finds himself hunting down a serial killer in London's theatreland.
A spate of murders leaves him with only two baffling clues: a lefthand glove and a lizard-skin letter case. These minimal clues and a series of perculiar events sets Campion on a race against time that takes him from an odd museum of curiosities hidden in a quiet corner of London to a scrapyard in the East End.
Allingham shows her dark edge in Hide My Eyes and evokes the sights, sounds, and inimitable atmosphere of Fifties London.
A spate of murders leaves him with only two baffling clues: a lefthand glove and a lizard-skin letter case. These minimal clues and a series of perculiar events sets Campion on a race against time that takes him from an odd museum of curiosities hidden in a quiet corner of London to a scrapyard in the East End.
Allingham shows her dark edge in Hide My Eyes and evokes the sights, sounds, and inimitable atmosphere of Fifties London.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
524 people are currently reading
1137 people want to read
About the author
Margery Allingham
269 books600 followersAka Maxwell March.
Margery Louise Allingham was born in Ealing, London in 1904 to a family of writers. Her father, Herbert John Allingham, was editor of The Christian Globe and The New London Journal, while her mother wrote stories for women's magazines as Emmie Allingham. Margery's aunt, Maud Hughes, also ran a magazine. Margery earned her first fee at the age of eight, for a story printed in her aunt's magazine.
Soon after Margery's birth, the family left London for Essex. She returned to London in 1920 to attend the Regent Street Polytechnic (now the University of Westminster), and met her future husband, Philip Youngman Carter. They married in 1928. He was her collaborator and designed the cover jackets for many of her books.
Margery's breakthrough came 1929 with the publication of her second novel, The Crime at Black Dudley . The novel introduced Albert Campion, although only as a minor character. After pressure from her American publishers, Margery brought Campion back for Mystery Mile and continued to use Campion as a character throughout her career.
After a battle with breast cancer, Margery died in 1966. Her husband finished her last novel, A Cargo of Eagles at her request, and published it in 1968.
Also wrote as: Maxwell March
Margery Louise Allingham was born in Ealing, London in 1904 to a family of writers. Her father, Herbert John Allingham, was editor of The Christian Globe and The New London Journal, while her mother wrote stories for women's magazines as Emmie Allingham. Margery's aunt, Maud Hughes, also ran a magazine. Margery earned her first fee at the age of eight, for a story printed in her aunt's magazine.
Soon after Margery's birth, the family left London for Essex. She returned to London in 1920 to attend the Regent Street Polytechnic (now the University of Westminster), and met her future husband, Philip Youngman Carter. They married in 1928. He was her collaborator and designed the cover jackets for many of her books.
Margery's breakthrough came 1929 with the publication of her second novel, The Crime at Black Dudley . The novel introduced Albert Campion, although only as a minor character. After pressure from her American publishers, Margery brought Campion back for Mystery Mile and continued to use Campion as a character throughout her career.
After a battle with breast cancer, Margery died in 1966. Her husband finished her last novel, A Cargo of Eagles at her request, and published it in 1968.
Also wrote as: Maxwell March
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
May 4, 2022
This took me by surprise in different ways than a mystery story typically might. That's kind of nifty.
I must have enjoyed the two previous Campion books that I've read well enough to prompt me to snag a third, though I don't remember them at all. Tether's End has languished in my book collection for over a decade.
There are some topical genre deviations here that are of note. As a series with a headlining detective, in this novel Campion appears only peripherally. Indeed, very little of this mystery actually needs solving, as we start off knowing not just the crime but the perpetrator as well. We know that Charlie Luke and Campion are investigating, but that is in the background of the story that we are following.
The plot itself centers instead around our criminal, Gerry, and the lovely old Polly Tassie – who he has been charmingly ingratiating himself to for years. We only really spend one day with Gerry, Polly, her niece Annabelle, and Annabelle's friend Richard. So very much unfolds in a rather cunning and tense way.
Most remarkable was the examination of the relationship between Gerry and plucky Polly. It is surprisingly in-depth for a somewhat cozy detective series. There's a strong consideration of all the main characters, which makes this story really stand out.
I'll have to revisit the two books I've long forgotten. If they are near this same caliber, I may have to give the rest of the series a try!
I must have enjoyed the two previous Campion books that I've read well enough to prompt me to snag a third, though I don't remember them at all. Tether's End has languished in my book collection for over a decade.
There are some topical genre deviations here that are of note. As a series with a headlining detective, in this novel Campion appears only peripherally. Indeed, very little of this mystery actually needs solving, as we start off knowing not just the crime but the perpetrator as well. We know that Charlie Luke and Campion are investigating, but that is in the background of the story that we are following.
The plot itself centers instead around our criminal, Gerry, and the lovely old Polly Tassie – who he has been charmingly ingratiating himself to for years. We only really spend one day with Gerry, Polly, her niece Annabelle, and Annabelle's friend Richard. So very much unfolds in a rather cunning and tense way.
Most remarkable was the examination of the relationship between Gerry and plucky Polly. It is surprisingly in-depth for a somewhat cozy detective series. There's a strong consideration of all the main characters, which makes this story really stand out.
I'll have to revisit the two books I've long forgotten. If they are near this same caliber, I may have to give the rest of the series a try!
April 2, 2021
I have to admit that I have a mixed reaction to many of the Campion books, so I was pleased that I enjoyed this novel more than many of the previous ones - although Campion barely features in this mystery. Indeed, mystery it is - much more of a straightforward crime novel than some of the previous books in the series.
"Hide my Eyes," features a murderer. Jeremy Hawker is a con man, a thief and a killer. Much of this novel takes place over a single day, when the elderly widow, Polly Tassie, who treats the murderer like a son, has a visitor. A young niece of her husband's, who she invites to stay. What follows is a fascinating account of a day, when the young girl is dropped off by Richard Waterford, who is in love with her. Richard sees the killer, Jerry Hawker, leave the house and then runs into him again and ends up on a bar crawl which is meant to give Hawker an alibi.
Allingham manages to contain the storyline and not get too side-tracked, as so often happens. The reader is intrigued by Richard's attempts to understand Hawker, while Polly finally realises what he truly is. One of the best in the series so far and I am pleased that I continued with the series, as Allingham can be so good, even if I often end up frustrated by the indulgence of her writing.
"Hide my Eyes," features a murderer. Jeremy Hawker is a con man, a thief and a killer. Much of this novel takes place over a single day, when the elderly widow, Polly Tassie, who treats the murderer like a son, has a visitor. A young niece of her husband's, who she invites to stay. What follows is a fascinating account of a day, when the young girl is dropped off by Richard Waterford, who is in love with her. Richard sees the killer, Jerry Hawker, leave the house and then runs into him again and ends up on a bar crawl which is meant to give Hawker an alibi.
Allingham manages to contain the storyline and not get too side-tracked, as so often happens. The reader is intrigued by Richard's attempts to understand Hawker, while Polly finally realises what he truly is. One of the best in the series so far and I am pleased that I continued with the series, as Allingham can be so good, even if I often end up frustrated by the indulgence of her writing.
April 29, 2021
Margery Allingham had an enduring fascination with an odd couple of human phenomena—sociopathy and what Christians call Grace—and in her later books, the two come together in interesting ways. Tether’s End (known in Britain as Hide My Eyes and sometimes in the USA as Ten Were Missing) is one of those books, as is the more elaborate Tiger in the Smoke. For me, Tiger is the better of the two, but Tether’s End is certainly a competent and compact little thriller.
For me it was a little hard to read because so much of the page space is taken up by the perpetrator (there is no mystery, we meet him near the start), and he is a tough character to be around. His naked inhumanity is only scantily clothed in the most tattered of charms, and for many scenes he is paired off with a series of people of ordinary decency at whom the reader aches to scream, “Run away!” So most of the suspense lies not in what he has done but in what he will do next. Why is he so relentlessly evil? There are vague hints of a brutalizing childhood, but for the most part his wickedness seems to be its own justification, a game he plays to fend off boredom and pay for the next meal.
His one slender connection to the world of feeling is a charming old lady, a vulgarian with a heart of gold whom he has known for years. She is this book’s vessel of Grace, and I prayed most heartily for her survival. Like the clergyman in Tiger in the Smoke, each fresh terror she faces makes her rise to greater courage and compassion, greater heights of selflessness that throw her antagonist’s self-obsession into stronger relief. I have a soft spot for everyday saints, so this kind of plot line generally works for me.
Faced with this sort of cosmic battle, the police are virtually irrelevant. Mr. Campion plays a small role and his more recent CID sidekick Charlie Luke a slightly larger one, but the story could easily have been written without them. The author has clearly moved on from her love affair with these characters and has bigger fish to fry. That will be disappointing to Campion fans who come to the book with certain expectations of overeducated eccentricity spiced with Lugg (who is entirely absent), but Allingham has gifts that for me compensate for the loss.
For me it was a little hard to read because so much of the page space is taken up by the perpetrator (there is no mystery, we meet him near the start), and he is a tough character to be around. His naked inhumanity is only scantily clothed in the most tattered of charms, and for many scenes he is paired off with a series of people of ordinary decency at whom the reader aches to scream, “Run away!” So most of the suspense lies not in what he has done but in what he will do next. Why is he so relentlessly evil? There are vague hints of a brutalizing childhood, but for the most part his wickedness seems to be its own justification, a game he plays to fend off boredom and pay for the next meal.
His one slender connection to the world of feeling is a charming old lady, a vulgarian with a heart of gold whom he has known for years. She is this book’s vessel of Grace, and I prayed most heartily for her survival. Like the clergyman in Tiger in the Smoke, each fresh terror she faces makes her rise to greater courage and compassion, greater heights of selflessness that throw her antagonist’s self-obsession into stronger relief. I have a soft spot for everyday saints, so this kind of plot line generally works for me.
Faced with this sort of cosmic battle, the police are virtually irrelevant. Mr. Campion plays a small role and his more recent CID sidekick Charlie Luke a slightly larger one, but the story could easily have been written without them. The author has clearly moved on from her love affair with these characters and has bigger fish to fry. That will be disappointing to Campion fans who come to the book with certain expectations of overeducated eccentricity spiced with Lugg (who is entirely absent), but Allingham has gifts that for me compensate for the loss.
January 9, 2020
Suspenseful and satisfying mystery, where we know whodunnit, but have to learn why and how. Campion is there, but in the background.
September 5, 2025
Amor Vincit Omnia?
After reading the first two chapters of Hide My Eyes, I braced myself for another lukewarm reading experience with Margery Allingham because the plot seemed really all over the place and I felt like quitting. Luckily, however, I soldiered on against the odds, and the third chapter already rewarded me for that as the drift of the story became clearer and also made sense of what had gone on before. This mystery novel is not at all a whodunnit but more like a thriller in which we already know the identity of the murderer and are left on tenterhooks as to whether the police will put a stop to his deadly game in time.
Still, it is not only about suspense but also about the depths of human nature as exemplified in the relation between Polly Tassie, a rather simple-minded old lady, and Gerry Hawker, a psychopath, who has established her (and her late husband) as a shield behind which he commits his crimes, which are quite erratic: Whenever Gerry finds himself on a shoestring, he kills in order to replenish his funds, and then he burns his money until the need for the next strike arises. He is quite a predator behind his charming and winsome exterior, and there is apparently no conscience and no human feeling inside him. To a chance acquaintance, whom he intends to use as an alibi for a murder, he sums up his way of life rather frankly, like this:
With a readiness to charm other people and a cold firmness of purpose Hawker has indeed been rather successful in his crimes, and when he realizes that Polly is beginning to see through him, he not even balks at the thought of silencing her for good. As to Polly, she is one of those people who simply have to love somebody and see something good in them. Having found out that Gerry has been defalcating money from her, she intends to put “the boy” right by setting him up in marriage with a niece of hers because she thinks that he deserves a second chance, and even when it dawns upon her that Gerry might not only be dabbling in embezzlement and petty crime, she is ready to hide her eyes and appeal to Gerry’s feelings for her. There must be some, after all, mustn’t there?
I am not going to tell you here, of course, but all I can say is that Hide My Eyes is a very engaging and compelling read, which would easily lend itself to the silver screen. Another plus of this novel is that Mr. Campion does not play a big role in it and that we are spared his antics this time.
After reading the first two chapters of Hide My Eyes, I braced myself for another lukewarm reading experience with Margery Allingham because the plot seemed really all over the place and I felt like quitting. Luckily, however, I soldiered on against the odds, and the third chapter already rewarded me for that as the drift of the story became clearer and also made sense of what had gone on before. This mystery novel is not at all a whodunnit but more like a thriller in which we already know the identity of the murderer and are left on tenterhooks as to whether the police will put a stop to his deadly game in time.
Still, it is not only about suspense but also about the depths of human nature as exemplified in the relation between Polly Tassie, a rather simple-minded old lady, and Gerry Hawker, a psychopath, who has established her (and her late husband) as a shield behind which he commits his crimes, which are quite erratic: Whenever Gerry finds himself on a shoestring, he kills in order to replenish his funds, and then he burns his money until the need for the next strike arises. He is quite a predator behind his charming and winsome exterior, and there is apparently no conscience and no human feeling inside him. To a chance acquaintance, whom he intends to use as an alibi for a murder, he sums up his way of life rather frankly, like this:
”’That’s the secret of my success. […] I never let anything tear my skin. I’ve never been faintly fond of anything or of anybody in my life. […] I’m deadly serious about this. I spotted the plain mechanical truth of it as a child. […] Any kind of affection is a solvent. It melts and adulterates the subject and by indulging it he loses his identity and hence his efficiency. By keeping myself to myself in the face of every conceivable attack I have remained successful, bright and indestructible. […]’”
With a readiness to charm other people and a cold firmness of purpose Hawker has indeed been rather successful in his crimes, and when he realizes that Polly is beginning to see through him, he not even balks at the thought of silencing her for good. As to Polly, she is one of those people who simply have to love somebody and see something good in them. Having found out that Gerry has been defalcating money from her, she intends to put “the boy” right by setting him up in marriage with a niece of hers because she thinks that he deserves a second chance, and even when it dawns upon her that Gerry might not only be dabbling in embezzlement and petty crime, she is ready to hide her eyes and appeal to Gerry’s feelings for her. There must be some, after all, mustn’t there?
I am not going to tell you here, of course, but all I can say is that Hide My Eyes is a very engaging and compelling read, which would easily lend itself to the silver screen. Another plus of this novel is that Mr. Campion does not play a big role in it and that we are spared his antics this time.
April 2, 2017
Poor "little Albert", dragged in kicking (literally) and screaming (or at least complaining loudly) to assist the remarkable newly Superintendent Charlie Luke in the investigation of a number of killings. He only wanted to go on vacation – and shortly found himself left unsure whether he was more likely to be kidnapped by the bad guys or the good guys. The plot was handled nicely; since the reader pretty much knows the villain is the villain it's more a matter of suspense – is he going to hurt the old lady or the girl, or the girl's beau? How are Campion and co. going to find him? Not "whether", of course. And what exactly is he up to? Allingham's greatest gift was with rounded, real, believable characters, which is why her books are so enjoyable to go back to again. I liked this one a lot.
May 26, 2021
"Number Seven's the museum all right. Only a small one, admission free. If it's any help to you, the house used to be called Tether's End."
July 29, 2013
Wow.
I read "Hide My Eyes" on a rainy Sunday afternoon/early evening. When I finished the book, my thoughts immediately were simply, "wow".
Margery Allingham has written several mysteries with Albert Campion, the hero private investigator, always able to rise to the occasion and solve each particular crime. In "Hide My Eyes", Sergeant Luke, who simply cannot stop questioning leads he comes across, (despite the skepticism of a departmental superior), needs help in solving a particularly difficult case. Reluctantly he accepts help from Campion and the investigation begins to pick up.
The characters in this novel are engaging and so well done! The young vulnerable girl just up from the country and needing a protector on her first real visit to London, the perpetrator of the crimes himself, hiding his cycnicsm and creativity with cover-ups beneath a respectable exterior, the nosy neighbor who is so helpful to police investigation, the good friend who makes promises (against her better judgment), and then calls the police anyway, the naive elderly lady who can't stop believing in the ultimate goodness of mankind.
"There's some good in that boy or you couldn't love him, dearest," she said. "That's a law of God and Nature and none of us here will forget it."
What makes this mystery different from most others is that the reader knows who the villain is almost right from the start. What makes it so delightful to read is watching him evade detection time after time and the frustrating trails the police are forced to follow. What also makes this novel so entertaining are the great lengths and clever tricks the perpetrator takes and the unforeseen and unplanned events that (in spite of all his creative maneuvers) get in his way.
What makes it so incredibly 'human', is the scene at the end when the reader is forced to wonder, 'did he do that because he was just at the end of his rope? or was he REALLY as human as the rest of us?'
This is, if not THE best, one of Allingham's top novels and definitely worth a second (and slower) read, for pure enjoyment.
I read "Hide My Eyes" on a rainy Sunday afternoon/early evening. When I finished the book, my thoughts immediately were simply, "wow".
Margery Allingham has written several mysteries with Albert Campion, the hero private investigator, always able to rise to the occasion and solve each particular crime. In "Hide My Eyes", Sergeant Luke, who simply cannot stop questioning leads he comes across, (despite the skepticism of a departmental superior), needs help in solving a particularly difficult case. Reluctantly he accepts help from Campion and the investigation begins to pick up.
The characters in this novel are engaging and so well done! The young vulnerable girl just up from the country and needing a protector on her first real visit to London, the perpetrator of the crimes himself, hiding his cycnicsm and creativity with cover-ups beneath a respectable exterior, the nosy neighbor who is so helpful to police investigation, the good friend who makes promises (against her better judgment), and then calls the police anyway, the naive elderly lady who can't stop believing in the ultimate goodness of mankind.
"There's some good in that boy or you couldn't love him, dearest," she said. "That's a law of God and Nature and none of us here will forget it."
What makes this mystery different from most others is that the reader knows who the villain is almost right from the start. What makes it so delightful to read is watching him evade detection time after time and the frustrating trails the police are forced to follow. What also makes this novel so entertaining are the great lengths and clever tricks the perpetrator takes and the unforeseen and unplanned events that (in spite of all his creative maneuvers) get in his way.
What makes it so incredibly 'human', is the scene at the end when the reader is forced to wonder, 'did he do that because he was just at the end of his rope? or was he REALLY as human as the rest of us?'
This is, if not THE best, one of Allingham's top novels and definitely worth a second (and slower) read, for pure enjoyment.
March 4, 2015
Hide My Eyes has everything I want from a Golden Age crime novel. It opens on a rainy night with an old, country bus driving down a London avenue with two elderly, sleeping passengers aboard. The bus parks unwitnessed near a theatre. There is also a killer on the bus and he alights to a nearby phone booth. We learn early in the novel the identity of the killer and we see him in every detail. We follow as he draws innocent characters into his mischief. I really connected with these unfortunate people as they are manipulated by him. The elderly, trusting lady, Polly Tassie, who looks for the best in everyone, the young, beautiful girl, Annabelle, needing guidance and the understanding, helpful solicitor Matthew Phillipson were all wonderful characters and I cared about them. We see the detectives establishing a scent and watch as they follow various leads and as the killer manages to evade their clutches. The quality of the writing and the skill of the plot was wonderful and I could not put the book down. I'm still thinking about it. A little gem!
April 5, 2021
I enjoyed this Campion much more than others I’ve read with the Reading the Detectives group. It returns to the building tension of The Tiger in the Smoke, as Inspector Charlie Luke follows a hunch to track down an elusive con man and killer. Campion is along for the ride during much of the day during which much of the action takes place, but he is more in the background (where he often prefers to operate, anyway!). Very enjoyable outing.
I very much enjoyed the early Campion mysteries when I read them decades ago, after seeing the PBS Mystery broadcast of Peter Davidson as the eponymous character. I bought many of her books when they were reprinted in attractive paperbacks, but got tired of what one member of our group described as Allingham’s self-indulgent writing. I often felt, though wonderfully descriptive in parts, in other parts she crammed in 15 words where 5 would have worked! But this more straightforward crime story really worked for me, after a very descriptive, but vague opening of a crime on a rainy London night left me wondering if we were off the rails, and I’d be floundering for chapters trying to figure what was going on.
I was reassured by the start of chapter two, eight months later, as a Campion, now in his early 50s, visits a keyed up Charlie Luke at the request of his superior. Luke has got a pet theory about an elusive criminal operating in a London backwater neighborhood, the same neighborhood where the murder in chapter one took place - the killer was never caught, the police were stumped, but Luke is on the trail...okay, this was more like it! An innocent old lady, a young couple, and various others are (or have been) sucked into the murderous conman’s web, and Allingham does an outstanding job having the reader tag along as the killer weaves his spell around those he uses and manipulates to get his way. It was fascinating and powerfully done, and the tension grew to a climax.
I did listen to the audiobook as I read, but find some of narrator David Thorpe’s cockney voices really annoying. I’ve listened to him for other books, and he’s not so grating and strident- so I’m thinking it’s just his cockney accents that bug me!
I very much enjoyed the early Campion mysteries when I read them decades ago, after seeing the PBS Mystery broadcast of Peter Davidson as the eponymous character. I bought many of her books when they were reprinted in attractive paperbacks, but got tired of what one member of our group described as Allingham’s self-indulgent writing. I often felt, though wonderfully descriptive in parts, in other parts she crammed in 15 words where 5 would have worked! But this more straightforward crime story really worked for me, after a very descriptive, but vague opening of a crime on a rainy London night left me wondering if we were off the rails, and I’d be floundering for chapters trying to figure what was going on.
I was reassured by the start of chapter two, eight months later, as a Campion, now in his early 50s, visits a keyed up Charlie Luke at the request of his superior. Luke has got a pet theory about an elusive criminal operating in a London backwater neighborhood, the same neighborhood where the murder in chapter one took place - the killer was never caught, the police were stumped, but Luke is on the trail...okay, this was more like it! An innocent old lady, a young couple, and various others are (or have been) sucked into the murderous conman’s web, and Allingham does an outstanding job having the reader tag along as the killer weaves his spell around those he uses and manipulates to get his way. It was fascinating and powerfully done, and the tension grew to a climax.
I did listen to the audiobook as I read, but find some of narrator David Thorpe’s cockney voices really annoying. I’ve listened to him for other books, and he’s not so grating and strident- so I’m thinking it’s just his cockney accents that bug me!
May 10, 2023
A great disappointment; rather than a flowing storyline there are a series of seemingly unrelated incidents that leave the reader wondering what is going on.
I very nearly gave up early on but decided to continue just to see what indeed was going to happen. I am still not too sure and am definitely not sure why anything that is related did indeed happen. The book does begin promisingly with a rainy night in London's theatreland but it goes downhill from there on.
'Hide My Eyes', I would have been better with 'close my eyes' and not bothered to read it. As I said to begin with a disappointment (I should have realised from the blurb) especially as Albert Campion flits into the story every now and again -what he actually adds to it is, however, unclear.
I very nearly gave up early on but decided to continue just to see what indeed was going to happen. I am still not too sure and am definitely not sure why anything that is related did indeed happen. The book does begin promisingly with a rainy night in London's theatreland but it goes downhill from there on.
'Hide My Eyes', I would have been better with 'close my eyes' and not bothered to read it. As I said to begin with a disappointment (I should have realised from the blurb) especially as Albert Campion flits into the story every now and again -what he actually adds to it is, however, unclear.
September 6, 2011
A late entry in the Campion series and it is a dandy; however, Campion barely makes an appearance and has about 8 lines of dialogue. Regardless, the story, set in the eccentric neighborhood of Garden Green, is an intricate tale of a young man without a conscience who carefully plans crimes for minimal amounts of money and couples those crimes with murder. He is a mystery to his acquaintances to whom he appears to be many things.....a retired Major, a man about town, a car salesman, etc. etc. Mix in some additional characters who are involved in his life and you have a fascinating tale for the mystery lover. One of my favorite of Allingham's Campion books.
May 6, 2022
3* The Crime at Black Dudley (Albert Campion Mystery #1)
3* Mystery Mile (Albert Campion Mystery #2)
3* Look to the Lady (Albert Campion Mystery, #3)
2* Police at the Funeral (Albert Campion Mystery #4)
2* Death of a Ghost (Albert Campion Mystery #6)
3* Hide My Eyes (Albert Campion Mystery, #16)
3* Deadly Duo
TR The Case of the Late Pig (Albert Campion Mystery #8)
3* Mystery Mile (Albert Campion Mystery #2)
3* Look to the Lady (Albert Campion Mystery, #3)
2* Police at the Funeral (Albert Campion Mystery #4)
2* Death of a Ghost (Albert Campion Mystery #6)
3* Hide My Eyes (Albert Campion Mystery, #16)
3* Deadly Duo
TR The Case of the Late Pig (Albert Campion Mystery #8)
December 8, 2024
Hide My Eyes is book sixteen in Margery Allingham’s Albert Campion series, published in 1958 and set in London of about the same time, although the atmospherics are redolent of the gentleman sleuth’s formative years, beginning in 1929.
For the fan of Campion it is perhaps a touch disappointing – while he is present throughout, his is largely a supporting role and he hovers in the shadows, giving the occasional insightful nudge to the police detectives. Of course, the author had him ageing, and by direct chronology he would have been in his late fifties (although it is not the impression given).
The tale features a charismatic, ruthless fraudster, Gerry, and his strangely dependent relationship with a saintly stepmother figure, Aunt Polly (who in turn is corrupted by her loyalty to him); and an innocent young couple, niece Annabelle and her friend Richard, who become inadvertently entangled with Gerry’s murderousness – and whom he views as dispensable when it comes to his escape from justice.
This novel avoids the meandering digressions of several of its immediate predecessors, and the plot develops into a page-turning race against the clock. Indeed, it is a well-crafted cat-and-mouse detective story with just a hint of suspense that ought not unsettle the cozy reader.
For the fan of Campion it is perhaps a touch disappointing – while he is present throughout, his is largely a supporting role and he hovers in the shadows, giving the occasional insightful nudge to the police detectives. Of course, the author had him ageing, and by direct chronology he would have been in his late fifties (although it is not the impression given).
The tale features a charismatic, ruthless fraudster, Gerry, and his strangely dependent relationship with a saintly stepmother figure, Aunt Polly (who in turn is corrupted by her loyalty to him); and an innocent young couple, niece Annabelle and her friend Richard, who become inadvertently entangled with Gerry’s murderousness – and whom he views as dispensable when it comes to his escape from justice.
This novel avoids the meandering digressions of several of its immediate predecessors, and the plot develops into a page-turning race against the clock. Indeed, it is a well-crafted cat-and-mouse detective story with just a hint of suspense that ought not unsettle the cozy reader.
October 15, 2020
Margery Allingham is an old favorite of mine, first discovered in adolescence (some decades ago now). I have reread most of the books several times over the years, but when my eye fell on this one on the shelf I realized I remembered nothing about it. That meant, first, that I probably hadn't read it in forty or fifty years and second, that it probably hadn't knocked my socks off the first time. But of course I had to pull it down and revisit it.
It's one of Allingham's later books, written in the fifties, when she had left the frivolities of her early books far behind and was pushing the boundaries of the mystery story, doing little novels of manners set in a slightly shabby postwar Britain. It has all of the hallmarks, with the eccentric characters and the offbeat settings in odd corners of London.
It's got Albert Campion, too, but he really doesn't do much in this book, besides watch his policeman pal Charlie Luke at work. He certainly doesn't solve a mystery, because there is no mystery. It's a suspense novel, in which we are introduced to a villain and some potential victims early on and watch as their paths converge.
An elderly London widow is fond of a young man without family whom she has informally adopted; she tries to play matchmaker by inviting a young niece from the country up to town with an eye to bringing them together. The niece has one friend in London, whom she contacts upon arrival. He doesn't like the setup, and neither do we, because we quickly find out that the young man is an utter sociopath, responsible for a series of murders.
Charlie Luke has a hunch about the murders, and he invites Campion along for the ride as he investigates. The point of view shifts among villain, victims in waiting and coppers as the situation evolves toward crisis.
It's witty, nicely written, evocative, all of the things we love about Allingham's stories; not the most complex or compelling entry in the series but a satisfying read for a fan.
It's one of Allingham's later books, written in the fifties, when she had left the frivolities of her early books far behind and was pushing the boundaries of the mystery story, doing little novels of manners set in a slightly shabby postwar Britain. It has all of the hallmarks, with the eccentric characters and the offbeat settings in odd corners of London.
It's got Albert Campion, too, but he really doesn't do much in this book, besides watch his policeman pal Charlie Luke at work. He certainly doesn't solve a mystery, because there is no mystery. It's a suspense novel, in which we are introduced to a villain and some potential victims early on and watch as their paths converge.
An elderly London widow is fond of a young man without family whom she has informally adopted; she tries to play matchmaker by inviting a young niece from the country up to town with an eye to bringing them together. The niece has one friend in London, whom she contacts upon arrival. He doesn't like the setup, and neither do we, because we quickly find out that the young man is an utter sociopath, responsible for a series of murders.
Charlie Luke has a hunch about the murders, and he invites Campion along for the ride as he investigates. The point of view shifts among villain, victims in waiting and coppers as the situation evolves toward crisis.
It's witty, nicely written, evocative, all of the things we love about Allingham's stories; not the most complex or compelling entry in the series but a satisfying read for a fan.
March 8, 2008
Definitely one of Allingham's best (of the works that I've read), the action starts as a man pulls up in a bus into a cul-de-sac in London called Goff Place. The bus is carrying two elderly people, fast asleep, who stay that way throughout the bus being stopped, the driver getting off the bus and making a phone call, and the murder of a pawnbroker whose body was still missing. Even though there was no corpse, a long trail of blood led back to where the bus had been parked.
Some time later, a young woman and young man ask a policeman where they might find a certain address. He remembers that it is a home at which there is a bizarre museum of curiousities, and then a thought strikes him. It is this thought which sparks an investigation into a most curious series of crimes by Campion and Scotland Yard.
The reader already knows what's happened, whodunit, and is privy to witnessing the perpetrator at work during the course of a day. The suspense comes in trying to understand the mind of this criminal and in watching how events play out so that Scotland Yard can not only figure things out, but capture this guy as well.
In truth, Campion does not play a very active role as he has in most of Allingham's previous series where he is usually the main character, but it is a chance question that he asks which sets the climax of the story into motion. I won't say any more, but if you were only going to read one Campion, this one might be it. Most excellent; highly recommended.
Even if you don't follow the Campion series, you won't be lost reading this one, even though it's quite late in the series. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a good suspense novel, and to readers of British mystery and mystery in general.
Some time later, a young woman and young man ask a policeman where they might find a certain address. He remembers that it is a home at which there is a bizarre museum of curiousities, and then a thought strikes him. It is this thought which sparks an investigation into a most curious series of crimes by Campion and Scotland Yard.
The reader already knows what's happened, whodunit, and is privy to witnessing the perpetrator at work during the course of a day. The suspense comes in trying to understand the mind of this criminal and in watching how events play out so that Scotland Yard can not only figure things out, but capture this guy as well.
In truth, Campion does not play a very active role as he has in most of Allingham's previous series where he is usually the main character, but it is a chance question that he asks which sets the climax of the story into motion. I won't say any more, but if you were only going to read one Campion, this one might be it. Most excellent; highly recommended.
Even if you don't follow the Campion series, you won't be lost reading this one, even though it's quite late in the series. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a good suspense novel, and to readers of British mystery and mystery in general.
October 5, 2016
A very good Campion novel with no Amanda or Lugg. One that kept my attention to the end, not because of knowing who was the villain but whether he would be tracked to earth or if he would escape justice. I will not give away the plot.
January 2, 2017
3-4 stars. Thrilling! Although very different to her earlier books, Allingham still knows how to get you hooked in the first few pages and the suspense is kept up all the way through.
August 10, 2023
Read for #buzzwordchallenge 2023-body part
This really isn't a mystery as you know who the bad guy is. Its more of how they caught him. Its very good and the characters relatable.
This really isn't a mystery as you know who the bad guy is. Its more of how they caught him. Its very good and the characters relatable.
July 3, 2017
This is the sixteenth outing for Albert Campion, but he figures little in the narrative.
It is a thrilling study of a psychopath, thoroughly rooted in 50’s London and its atmosphere is so redolent of post-war seediness and criminality. It is a tale of human imperfection and self-deception.
The book opens with a country bus containing two elderly passengers being driven into an alley in London’s theatreland. The driver alights, makes a phone call, does a good turn for an elderly lady and goes off to carry out a murder.
Eight months later, Albert Campion visits Superintendent Charles Luke who has evolved a theory about the criminal which links him to several crimes and to a place in London called Garden Green: there is no evidence to support his hunch.
Soon we are introduced to Gerry Chad-Horder whose psychology is explored extensively.He expounds his philosophy to Richard Waterfield who he is trying to involve in one of his elaborate alibis.
"I never let anything tear the skin. I've never been faintly fond of anything or of anybody in my life." He spoke lightly but with satisfaction. "I'm deadly serious about this. I spotted the plain mechanical truth of it as a child. You could almost call it the Chad-Horder discovery. Any kind of affection is a solvent. It melts and adulterates the subject and by indulging it he loses his identity and hence his efficiency. By keeping myself to myself in the face of every conceivable attack I have remained successful, bright and indestructible.”
So early on we are introduced to the criminal and the detectives and the questions are how or if the two will meet. Therein lies the suspense of this book.
We meet Polly Tassie, one of Allingham’s marvellous elderly ladies. It is she who hides her eyes to Gerry’s evil nature and the awful truth about him…..until the end when Gerry tells her:
“Murder is a word, a shibboleth. People get killed every day and sometimes it's called murder and sometimes it isn't. Sometimes it's war and sometimes it's accident, sometimes it's . . . well, it's just the logical conclusion of a sequence of events.”
The final chapter set in a Museum of Oddities is as thrilling as the first. At the end, we do not know all; as the final sentence states: “There was great deal of work to be done”.
Hide My Eyes is a masterpiece.Do read it.
Thank you to the Allingham Estate for my review copy.
It is a thrilling study of a psychopath, thoroughly rooted in 50’s London and its atmosphere is so redolent of post-war seediness and criminality. It is a tale of human imperfection and self-deception.
The book opens with a country bus containing two elderly passengers being driven into an alley in London’s theatreland. The driver alights, makes a phone call, does a good turn for an elderly lady and goes off to carry out a murder.
Eight months later, Albert Campion visits Superintendent Charles Luke who has evolved a theory about the criminal which links him to several crimes and to a place in London called Garden Green: there is no evidence to support his hunch.
Soon we are introduced to Gerry Chad-Horder whose psychology is explored extensively.He expounds his philosophy to Richard Waterfield who he is trying to involve in one of his elaborate alibis.
"I never let anything tear the skin. I've never been faintly fond of anything or of anybody in my life." He spoke lightly but with satisfaction. "I'm deadly serious about this. I spotted the plain mechanical truth of it as a child. You could almost call it the Chad-Horder discovery. Any kind of affection is a solvent. It melts and adulterates the subject and by indulging it he loses his identity and hence his efficiency. By keeping myself to myself in the face of every conceivable attack I have remained successful, bright and indestructible.”
So early on we are introduced to the criminal and the detectives and the questions are how or if the two will meet. Therein lies the suspense of this book.
We meet Polly Tassie, one of Allingham’s marvellous elderly ladies. It is she who hides her eyes to Gerry’s evil nature and the awful truth about him…..until the end when Gerry tells her:
“Murder is a word, a shibboleth. People get killed every day and sometimes it's called murder and sometimes it isn't. Sometimes it's war and sometimes it's accident, sometimes it's . . . well, it's just the logical conclusion of a sequence of events.”
The final chapter set in a Museum of Oddities is as thrilling as the first. At the end, we do not know all; as the final sentence states: “There was great deal of work to be done”.
Hide My Eyes is a masterpiece.Do read it.
Thank you to the Allingham Estate for my review copy.
March 16, 2021
Margery Allingham is practically perfect in every way
Characters: a cold blooded killer, Mr. Campion, Charlie Luke, a perfectly ducky old lady, and a pair of Sweet Young Things
Numerous side characters as vuctims, witnesses, unwitting accomplices, and members of the force
Time: a single day
Setting: London
Plot: Less of Camoion, more of the ducky old girl, the lover, and the coldblooded killer, good and evil, what it means to be human and connected to the human race, and Allingham's delightful prose.
Characters: a cold blooded killer, Mr. Campion, Charlie Luke, a perfectly ducky old lady, and a pair of Sweet Young Things
Numerous side characters as vuctims, witnesses, unwitting accomplices, and members of the force
Time: a single day
Setting: London
Plot: Less of Camoion, more of the ducky old girl, the lover, and the coldblooded killer, good and evil, what it means to be human and connected to the human race, and Allingham's delightful prose.
April 1, 2021
After the last book I read in this series, I was so pleased to get back to a straight forward mystery, if a mystery can be called straight forward. Although Campion did make an entrance into this story, it was more about Charles Luke as the detective. The villain here was a pretty clever man, and Allingham did a great job at making him thoroughly despicable and completely without conscience, and yet the people around him were fooled. Most of the book takes place during one day, so is fast moving, and holds the reader's attention.
March 23, 2024
FAB mystery. I haven't read Allingham in a while and I'd forgotten how good she can be. Campion is barely in the book and that's ok. The plot and characters and setting are all strong enough that he is not needed as a hook to hang the story upon.
The story takes place pretty much in about 24 hours. The murderer is known from the very beginning. The book is more about how the murderer is a charming sociopath and his thought process/actions to avoid getting caught. Set in the early 1950's in London, the reader gets a strong sense of place and time. The characters are all well developed. The reader is drawn into the story, wanting to continue reading because the pacing is just right, not too fast and not too slow.
If you are looking for a classic Golden era British mystery to read, then look no further, here it is.
The story takes place pretty much in about 24 hours. The murderer is known from the very beginning. The book is more about how the murderer is a charming sociopath and his thought process/actions to avoid getting caught. Set in the early 1950's in London, the reader gets a strong sense of place and time. The characters are all well developed. The reader is drawn into the story, wanting to continue reading because the pacing is just right, not too fast and not too slow.
If you are looking for a classic Golden era British mystery to read, then look no further, here it is.
November 20, 2024
An interesting approach by Allingham, as the 2 stories (hunted and hunter) run in parallel. Campion is not as much in evidence, but as the story unfolds, it becomes more and more interesting. This is the last 'Summer of Mystery' book, but I think I'll try and fill in the gaps with the ones I missed as I have enjoyed Allingham so much!
September 27, 2023
By far my least favorite
It wasn’t a Campion mystery. He played the smallest of parts. It was a thriller following a sociopath. It wasn’t fun. Why would she write one so unpleasant as this?
It wasn’t a Campion mystery. He played the smallest of parts. It was a thriller following a sociopath. It wasn’t fun. Why would she write one so unpleasant as this?
September 11, 2021
I’ve had a couple of Margery Allingham books in my collection of vintage thrillers for years but have never read one before. I suspect I bought them purely on her reputation or perhaps because of the dust jacket art work. Often I am disappointed by the stories in vintage novels from this period as the plots are sometimes simple or even naive, although perversely that is also one of their appeals as they don’t take too much thought or effort, but this particular story has whetted my appetite in Allingham as it is far from simple. The story surrounds a murderer who seemingly leaves no clues other than a bizarre series of unrelated things which appear to have no connection and are consequently dismissed. To be honest the story of his exploits is more than a bit odd in places, but as a reader I still enjoyed it as things slowly became apparent and the previously dismissed clues start to add together and make some sense.
This book was the 16th outing for one of Alligham’s most famous characters, Albert Campion who allegedly was designed as a parody of Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey. Again, this was the first of his stories I’ve ever read, and although he popped up constantly throughout the story, he didn’t seem to add anything to what was happening and his presence could easily have been missed. I guess you need to have perhaps read more about him previously to have appreciated his contribution.
To conclude, I thought the story was a little odd if not bizarre in places although I did enjoy some aspects and found the writing style enjoyable. I will be reading more of her works although will perhaps try to find an earlier book because I wonder if by this stage in her career the author was relying a little to heavily on the readers’ knowledge of her previous works to hold their attention.
This book was the 16th outing for one of Alligham’s most famous characters, Albert Campion who allegedly was designed as a parody of Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey. Again, this was the first of his stories I’ve ever read, and although he popped up constantly throughout the story, he didn’t seem to add anything to what was happening and his presence could easily have been missed. I guess you need to have perhaps read more about him previously to have appreciated his contribution.
To conclude, I thought the story was a little odd if not bizarre in places although I did enjoy some aspects and found the writing style enjoyable. I will be reading more of her works although will perhaps try to find an earlier book because I wonder if by this stage in her career the author was relying a little to heavily on the readers’ knowledge of her previous works to hold their attention.
March 20, 2011
Hide My Eyes is more of a suspense novel than a whodunnit - as we know who did it- although exactly what has gone on we are not sure of right away. Allingham's details of London streets, the inhabitants of Garden Green, and the odd little house and museum which are at the centre of the story - are brilliantly evocotive. These characters figure far more than dear old Albert Campion, who is quietly in the background, trying to figure out how several things fit together. The tension is just perfect, lending this story a deliciously creepy air. When naive and beautiful Annabelle Tassie goes to the house in Garden Green - the reader is instantly worried for her, Annabelle's childhood friend Richard, knows somthing is not quite right about the man he sees coming out of the house and sets out to find out more. Campion and Inspector Luke are not that far behind in unravelling the various strands of one man's horrible misdeeds. Great stuff.
December 29, 2014
I have a shelf full of Campion books, many of which I read many years ago. I found a few copies on the library give-away pile recently, and read The Tiger in the Smoke, which was truly one of the best I've ever read in the series, with much more depth and a much better plot than many of the early Campions. This one, like Tiger in the Smoke, is written later in Allingham's career and has much more depth and a much more interesting plot and characters than many of the early Campions. I raced through it, was completely surprised by every plot twist, and found the characters to be unusual and interesting but also very true to life. As with Tiger in the Smoke, the least interesting character was actually Albert Campion; I think one reason these later books are better is that, even though I like Campion, he's a fairly minor character.
This one was also published under the name Hide My Eyes.
This one was also published under the name Hide My Eyes.
June 9, 2020
As with all of Margery Allingham's books, this is a delicious read! The characters have substance, the story is clever, and being transported back to a more simple time is darn good medicine. Regarding the appearance of Campion in this story, he is barely there (I think it is so with several of the Campion stories). I get the feeling he was just included for the fans of Campion who expect to see him in her books. Probably a selling tool, too, though I'd hate to think she would prostitute him like that to turn a buck (or a pound, as it were). His presence is decidedly unnecessary. Regardless, a well-written and fun read.
September 2, 2021
Great cloak and dagger novel about a deadly confidence man, his victims and the sleuths (official and unofficial) who persue him in late 1950's London. The killer and persuers have backstory but the adventure happens in but a days time. It was my first by the author, who kept me turning pages eagerly. Glad I happened upon her work at the loal library; I plan to read more.
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