Margery Allingham's Mr Campion's Fox

Mr Campion #2

by Mike Ripley

The Danish Ambassador has requested Albert Campion's help on 'a delicate family matter'. His 18-year-old daughter has formed an attachment to a most unsuitable young man. Before Mr Campion can act on the matter however, both the Ambassador's daughter and her beau disappear without trace. Then a body is discovered in a lagoon.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Fiction, British Literature

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2015

About the author

Mike Ripley is the author of the award-winning 'Angel' series of comedy thrillers which have twice won the CWA Last Laugh Award. It has been said that he 'paints a picture of London Dickens would recognise' and that 'he writes like the young Len Deighton, wierd and wonderful information and very, very funny'. Described as 'England's funniest crime writer' (The Times), he is also a respected critic of crime fiction, writing for the Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Times and the Birmingham Post among others.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Danish ambassador's daughter is missing, and her rather sketchy boyfriend has been murdered. Rupert Campion and his wife Perdita go down to the tiny Suffolk village where she's been living and working as an au pair to help out Rupert's school friend, her employer. When someone shoots at Rupert, his parents arrive on the scene, with Lady Amanda constantly reminding Albert of his age and general decrepitude. (Just a note, but Ripley's women are much harder to take than Allingham's.) There are a number of things going on, including some suspicious birdwatchers, possible smuggling, and--could it be?--even some Cold War hijinks. Even after all the peripheral puzzles are cleared up, it doesn't seem that there's an answer to the main problem--until a doctor's passing remark gives Albert an idea...

[Damaskcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether or not you have read Margery Allingham's books featuring Albert Campion this continuation of the series is a good read in its own right. Albert himself is now 'officially' retired but of course, being Albert, he cannot resist getting involved when the Danish Ambassador's daughter disappears - especially as he had already been asked to keep an eye on her boyfriend - Frank Tate. Subcontracting the surveillance to his son, Rupert, Albert takes something of a back seat merely making sure that Rupert comes to no harm.

The Ambassador's daughter disappears from a small village in Suffolk and her boyfriend's murdered body is discovered on the outskirts of the village. Rupert and his wife, Perdita, go to stay with the Sandyman family where the missing girl was working as an au pair, because Rupert was at school with Torquil Sandyman. Naturally Albert Campion wants him to find out what he can. It soon becomes clear that everything is not as it seems when people from the security services become involved in the case.

The plot is complex; the characters are interesting with plenty of eccentric populating the village and the conclusion is well written. I particularly liked the characters of Rupert and Perdita and Lugg in his respectable new incarnation. This is an entertaining and enjoyable crime novel. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review purposes.

[krysti bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely still Campion...and Lugg!

After reading, rereading and missing Margery Allingham's Campion series of 65 British mysteries, I am ecstatic to find Mike Ripley has done a superlative job in extending the series! He has a deft touch with the dry, poignant wit of Albert Campion- with which Margery Allingham imbued her outwardly naive, upper class hero. After the first novel he wrote in this new Campion series, I was convinced - this was a very good simile of one of my all time favorite reads! If you've already known the joys of Albert, Lady Amanda, Lugg, and now doing the physical parts of the detection, the next generation of Campions- Rupert, son and heir to the brains and charm of his Mom and Dad, as well as Rupert's beautiful and brave aspiring actress wife, Perdita.
The original series were whodunnits set in England and developed from the youth of Albert, going from the early 1900s, and as England went to her various wars, Campion was portrayed as a mysterious brain, behind the scenes and being pitted against the enemies of the evil enemies. This novel is set in the early 70s, in the heart of the Cold War and the spy theme is perfectly fine. I heartily advise you to read this delicious book, as well as all of the previous Campions! It can be read as a stand alone, though for myself I usually try to read them in order. Enough of this, I'm about to enjoy the next sheer treat that Mike Ripley wrote.

[Sarah Hearn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given this book 4 stars except that it took me awhile to get into the plot. Many years ago, I read a number of the original Mr Campion stories by Margery Allingham, and I do admit to requiring some of the early part of the book to catch up, as it were. Nonetheless, I felt a bit at sea with timeframes and placements of the characters in time and space and I didn’t find the plot riveting enough to override that. I really didn’t begin to get into the story until about halfway through when Mr Campion and Lady Amanda finally arrived on the scene to assist Rupert Campion and his wife Perdita. All that said, the “double plot”, as one might call it, was confusing and the principal plot of the story - locating the disappeared daughter of the Danish Ambassador - was subsumed by the secondary plot. I can’t even say the secondary one was a red herring because the two are played out in tandem. Confused is what it boils down to.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I enjoyed this so very much more than Allingham's writing. I was not confused by Ripley's writing, he was not attempting to be clever nor were his characters affected.

The story was easy to read & held my interest.

Albert & Amanda's son, Rupert is now an adult and married to Perdita; all four become involved in the mystery of a diplomats missing daughter.

A Danish Diplomat wants to know more about the "unsuitable" young man his 18-year old daughter is in love with. Overhearing his conversation, Lugg recommends Albert., who in turn sends Rupert to investigate.

The young man is found w/ his head smashed in and his motorcycle in the lagoon but they young woman is nowhere to be found. While searching for the young woman Rupert & Perdita come across many people who are not who they appear to be....

I liked the story and I liked the characters (as quirky as they were, but not overly so).

[Vic Lauterbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this mild adventure, Mr. Ripley captures the essence of the elder Campion's charm but his real achievement is making Lady Amanda, son Rupert and daughter-in-law Perdita equally charming. Amanda steals all the key scenes near the climax of the novel! While the plot isn't overly complex or intriguing, it held my interest, and the unusual setting helps a great deal. This story harks back to the light adventures in the early Campion books rather than the more introspective mysteries in the later books. Recommended mainly to fans of Ms. Allingham's Campion.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can anybody tell me who made the phone call to Frank Tate and implied he had to do something to the Ambassador’s daughter? This gives a totally misleading impression and is never explained.

Same for the phone call to Dorothy Monk. You never find out who made the calls or why. And both calls ask you to think Frank and Mrs Monk are involved in the kidnapping. Red herrings are ok, but they need to make sense in the end.

[Laurena Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent - Mike Ripley has done a superb job of continuing the Marjorie Allingham novels. The characters, plots and descriptions are all faithful to the originals with the addition of a bit more humour and a lot of affection. I accidentally started with the third book in the series, went back to the first (only to discover that I had already read it several years ago...) so this has been read to fill in the gap, and was very enjoyable. Now to read the rest in sequence!

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who wouldn’t believe Margery Allingham didn’t write this?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was a real Albert Campion adventure! Exciting and full of love and adventure.

[Ed Essey sr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have now read the first 2 Ripley Campions and really enjoyed them. Especially when both Albert and Amanda are together. I read most of the original series a couple years back, but I dont remember enjoying them as much as Ripleys.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

It is the first of the new Campion I have read and thought the author did a great job.

Even if you are unfamiliar with the original books you do not need it for the story.
However I do recommend reading the originals as well.

[Tracy Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this, I found it a struggle to keep picking it up. I read it as an ebook and I can only hope that in the print copy there is something to indicate when the story was changing location and characters. In my copy it was one sentence to the next which was annoying.

[Mr Derek Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

A first class read. Great characters which were well thought out and very entertaining. The background geography was well explained. I always enjoy the Mr Campion's novels. G

[Dougj · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too contrived for my taste.

[Corrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into but once I did it was thoroughly enjoyable.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Ripley does a great job

Mr Campion is back! And Ripley does a commendable job of reproducing Mrs. Allingham's characters, style and story type. I cant wait to read more.

[Linda Hendry]

Perfectly adequate follow up in the series.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end we finally got more Albert Campion.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Margery Allingham's Mr Campion's Fox. By Mike Ripley
Publisher: Severn House
272 pp
Genre: mystery, English mystery, English cozy, series, murder mystery
4 stars****
Author: Mike Ripley is an award winning British author of mysteries (Fitzroy MacLean Angel series) and historical novels (Legend of Hereward and Boudica). He also writes a brilliant column (March 2015 was his 100th: gems include an axiom of Raymond Chandler "...with agents, it's enough that you let them live." And "this column prides itself on being reliably unreliable.") Working with the Margery Allingham Society he wrote the first Campion mystery in 40 years Mr Campion's Farewell (2014). He is obviously a long time fan and finds her voice, not just of Campion and his companions but also of the English countryside. I read every Allingham, as well as Sayers, Marsh Tey and Christie. Lord Peter Wimsey was my favourite, but Campion developed his own following, not just as a similar detective (English, aristocrat, well educated, amateur sleuth helping Crown and Scotland Yard). Campion is an alias as he disliked his first name (Rudolph) and as a second son wouldn't inherit so was encouraged by his grandmother (the Dowager) to be an adventurer. (His grandmother who demanded the Church of Scotland change its name in 1884.) Campion is an old french word for champion, but also may refer to martyr St Edmund Champion given other clues.
Story Line:
These are character driven novels, more adventure than mystery. The Danish Ambassador has requested personal help as his daughter has fallen in with a shady chap. Then they disappear, and of course a body turns up. Finally, Campion's wife Lady Amanda Fitton has a larger role (she wants him retired, and isn't altogether approving when her son gets involved). No spoilers, read and enjoy! Campion has aged in this series, he is now in his early seventies(?), but is still mentally sharp, full of wit and t wisdom of age. He recruits his unemployed actor son Rupert, which involves his interesting wife Perdita. I always look forward to any appearance of Lugg too, the reformed burglar/ butler "with the courage of his previous convictions"! Lugg is now Beadle of Brewers' Hall.
I think you need to know the series in order to fully enjoy these books, but it does make a delightful entertaining read as a stand alone. Lovely details with village map and building facades. I do hope there is another sequel to follow to continue their lives. I loved the glimpses of London, Suffolk countryside, Gapton Spit, and the pubs. North Sea seaside, in November. I am also picturing Peter Davison from the 1989/1990 BBC adaptations of the first 8 novels. (Not forgetting Brian Glover as Lugg and Andrew Burt as Insp Oates).
Read On:
Mike Ripley Mr Campion's Farewell (2014)
Margery Allingham from 1929-1969) in order! Novels and short stories.
(Tiger in the Smoke (1952) and Death of a Ghost (1934) were among the Best 100 mysteries of the 20th century)
Dorothy Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey series
Josephine Tey Inspector Grant series
Julia Jones biographer Adventures of Mary Allingham
Note
Several authors have also taken on these previous characters including Jill Paton Walsh with the Lord Peter Wimsey and Sherlock (by so many!). But of note also are novels using authors: Josephine Tey is the subject of excellent mysteries by Nicola Upson.
Quotes:
From the preface "For the insatiable collector of trivia, British passport number 1111924, which I have allocated to Francis Tate in this story, was in fact issued to Mrs Margery Louise Carter (nee Allingham) in 1947."
Opening: "My wife's people have never quite forgiven you for the Battle of Maldon, Mr Ambassador." (991AD!)
Like most titles, a hindrance more often than an advantage...
I hope you took an improving book with you...
Immediately would do very nicely, sir.
I reckon he's the only man in England to go into mourning when the halfpenny stopped bein' legal tender.


Read as an ARC from Netgalley! Thanks!

[Rog Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always a bit dubious when another author has a go at continuing a deceased author's series but Mike Ripley does a reasonable job here. Of course Campion is an implausible character who featured in many unlikely adventures but if you accept this then this is a good read. Judging by the vague cultural references this story is probably set in 1968 and Campion is probably in his late 60s so much of the energetic stuff is done by Campion's son and daughter-in-law. It features a murder, a missing girl, some smugglers and spies and is written in an amusing manner. So a good read though I prefer the author's series about his own character, Angel.

[Rita Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Very true to Margery Allingham's style and voice. I feel like Oliver Twist -- "can I have some more please."

[Judy Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I selected this novel to read from those offered by Severn House Publishing through NetGalley with a slight bit of hesitation because I'm such a fan of the original stories. I need not have worried. Yes, Mike Ripley does add more subtle humor to this story than Ms. Allingham did, but that turned out to be quite good in my overall enjoyment of the book. In this one, set sometime in the 1960's, Albert Campion is supposed to be retired from all the involvements he had with crime, police, and secret government agencies but we still meet Lugg and Amanda with son Rupert and his wife Perdita starting off the investigation of finding out facts about the boyfriend of the Danish Ambassador's daughter. Rupert's week long shadowing of Francis Tate only adds more questions. When a murder victim is found and someone else disappears, everybody heads to the Suffolk coast and the tiny village of Gapton. Luckily Rupert's school chum Torquil Sandyman, of Sandyman's Brewery, lives right on the spot and can provide a convenient location for investigating all the strange happenings in this village.

I enjoyed this novel very much because the characters are well drawn and the mysterious happenings are not just interesting, but also complex enough to keep me guessing about who, what and why. I have put the first novel in this series, Mr. Campion's Farewell, on my Kindle and plan to read it very soon.

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

pub date 06/01/15

Margery Allingham perfected the characters of Mr. Albert Campion and his wife, the lovely Lady Amanda, in previous tales .

Since her death, and with the blessing of the Margery Allingham Foundation, Mike Ripley has picked up the reins and has woven a masterful story involving not only the Senior Campions, but their son, Rupert, and his wife Perdita. The cast of characters in this offering include "the sisters Mister" -- Hyacinth and Marigold [Marigold says "It's a perfectly good name, but a bit strange if you're a man because you'd be Master Mister to begin with and then Mister Mister later on."] -- who live in the tiny berg of Gapton on the English North Atlantic coast. The sisters Mister own and operate a brewery, and often make deliveries to local ale houses using a team of well-cared-for horses pulling a cart.

When the daughter of the Danish Ambassador vanishes [having last been seen in Gapton], he contacts his friends, Mr. Campion and Lady Amanda, are brought out of retirement and pressed in to service.

This is a well-written mystery filled with feisty characters, innuendo, and just a touch of English country life.

I read this e-ARC courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read because it recreates the 1960s in England. We move from an embassy reception to the back streets of Soho, then out to Suffolk coastline. All the time the atmosphere is created by old coinage, 45rpm records and squat telephones, while brewery dreys are considered out-dated but impressive and people staff a mysterious Ministry of Defence listening post.

Oddly I found the past thus shown somewhat claustrophobic. I suppose it's knowing that you can't easily summon help or look up answers, and a newspaper has to be fetched from a vendor to learn the news of the day.

Mr Campion, the eponymous amateur detective, appears at the start but afterwards much of the legwork is taken over by his son and that young man's girlfriend. This is believable given the locations and action scenes involved where younger people are required. The Danish Ambassador's daughter has taken up with a somewhat scruffy young London lad, and Campion's son is set to tail this lad and ensure he is above board. Both the Danish girl and her boyfriend vanish in Suffolk. Location detail is good and there are plenty of quirky characters, before and after the finding of a dead body.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Albert Campion is one of my favorite fictional characters and, without a doubt, one of my top five fictional detectives. The original Campion books by Margery Allingham were classic British country house mysteries filled with high life and mostly set in the 1930's and 40's.

Ripley has taken on the formidable task of bringing this classic character into the 1960's. He very skillfully presented Campion and his wife, Lady Amanda, as retirees and none of the classic Campion charm or humor was missing.

My only quibble with the book is that Campion's young, married son plays almost a more significant role in the book than the elder Mr. Campion. Ripley could be setting the stage for a nice series featuring both generations, but it was the aristocratic elegance and false foolishness of the original Campion that endeared me to the stories and it would take some wooing for me to dismiss him for his son.

But, that is small stuff compared to the pleasure of reading a fresh Albert Campion story. Thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

[Maurynne Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was grateful to receive a review galley of this attempt to revive interest in Allingham's works. I enjoyed the Campion books thoroughly when I was a teen, along with Agatha Christie's books and John Creasey's "Toff" books, and of course Sayers' Wimsey books. Campion is similar to Wimsey, an aristocrat who sleuths. This novel, rather than focusing on Campion, focuses on his son--continuing the series arc where it ended in the 1960s. Unfortunately I leapt to the correct solution of the central mystery right away (due to similar circumstances in a contemporary mystery series) so the mystery element was not there; Campion was not featured much, nor his wife--a faulty expectation on my part, not realizing it was a continuation. There's potential here, but be prepared for 1960s and '70s Britain, not the Golden Age.

[Julia]

Margery Allingham was a good writer and Campion was a memorable detective, so I picked this up with some trepidation since continuations of a series by different authors don't always work out. I thought Mike Ripley did a good job with Campion; the balance of inanity, seriousness, and hints of wartime service matched the character that I remembered. Lugg was also well-rendered, although he only had a background role. I was less satisfied with the portrayal of Amanda. Allingham's Amanda was always ready to jump into action, but Ripley's Amanda is more concerned with pointing out that her husband is retired.

The mystery, including the red herrings, was very good.

[judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you probably know, Ripley was chosen by the Allingham Society to continue her Campion series. Having never read her actual books, I'm not really qualified to judge. It seemed like it would fit beautifully into the writing of the era and Ripley has a great sense of humor. Anyone who can keep you guessing until the last page, deserves praise. Since I haven't read her before, I haven't been missing her. It is perfectly upper class British if that's your thing. I would read another if I came across it but have no plans to systematically acquaint myself with Allingham. I'm not saying it isn't really good. I'm saying it isn't me at this moment in time.

[Kevin Lanahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is lovely mystery, very much in the style of classic British mysteries. There's spies, smugglers, missing people and Campion to put it all together.

The story takes place in the 60's, and son Rupert does most of the legwork on this case. It proceeds at a stately pace, taking its time setting the scene and slowly coming to its climax.

I'd recommend it to any fan of classic English mysteries, and it is a fitting tribute to Campion.