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Albert Campion #3
Look to the Lady
The Gyrth family had guarded the Gyrth Chalice for hundreds of years. It was held by them for the British Crown. Its antiquity, its beauty, the legends that were connected with it, all combined to make it unique. It was irreplaceable. No thief could hope to dispose of it in the ordinary way. And indeed no ordinary thief would dream of trying. Kept in a windowless chapel, and protected by a fearsome curse, the Chalice should be impervious to thievery. But this is 1930, and the crooks have all the advantages of the modern world. Chief among these is the craving for publicity, to which at least one member of the Gyrth clan has succumbed. Her careless chatter about the Chalice seems to have called up all manner of misfortunes - of which larceny is just the beginning. Finding himself the victim of a botched kidnapping attempt, Percival St. John Wykes Gryth, current heir to the Gyrth family and guardian-elect of the Chalice, suspects that he might be in a spot of trouble. Unexpected news to him - but not to the mysterious Mr Campion, who reveals that the ancient Chalice entrusted to Val's family is being targeted by a ruthless ring of wealthy thieves intent on supplementing their own private treasure trove. The vague, bespectacled Albert Campion doesn't look like he'll be much help against them. But looks can be deceptive. Fleeing London for the supposed safety of the village of Sanctuary, in Suffolk, Campion and his trusty assistant Luggand come face to face with events of a perilous and puzzling nature. When Val's aunt is found dead with an expression of terrified - and terrifying - shock upon her face, Campion must preserve not only the safety of Chalice, but also that of the Gyrth family. Campion might be accustomed to outwitting criminal minds, but can he foil supernatural forces?
274 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1931
436 people are currently reading
1247 people want to read
About the author
Margery Allingham
247 books606 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 331 reviews
May 19, 2017
BOTTOM LINE: Another lovely, totally unbelievable romp with Albert Campion and friends, both respectable and otherwise, as he undertakes to guard the heir to an old family and their VIP secret. Still shows Albert as quite peculiar and vapid/vague, but Allingham is gradually bringing the character into better focus in this third book.
The Gyrth family is rural County Aristocracy, very very old, and with lots of peculiar history behind it. Their home is at least a thousand years old, and extremely spooky, and they possess a valuable chalice that is reputed to be even older, around which a lot of pagentry is directed when the eldest son of a family turns 25. Val Garth is about to do so, and has been kidnapped by some strange people, with Campion turning up just in time to help him out of that jam, and to return to his family to undergo initiation into The Family Secrets. But all sorts of sinister folks are about, and it soon becomes obvious that someone wants that chalice very badly, and will stop at nothing to get it. Various attempts to steal it are made, and Campion must call on all his skills and many of his peculiar friends, to solve the assorted mysteries around the Gyrth Chalice, along with a wild horse, a band of gypsies, an odd archeologist, a wild woman and a witch, her demented son, and the various denizens of Tower House itself, where the Chalice is rumoured to be kept safely hidden.
A fast pace, very likeable folks and hiss-a-ble villains, lots of perilous situations and in-the-nick-of-time rescues, and the affable Albert Campion pulling all the strings, makes for a thoroughly lovely afternoon's read. Still a treat, even after many years and several rereads.
NOTE : TV VERSION WONDERFUL, highly recommended, circa 1990 with Peter Davison as Campion - entire series great fun actually, just about perfect, unlike some of the later attempts at "updating" Christie, et al
The Gyrth family is rural County Aristocracy, very very old, and with lots of peculiar history behind it. Their home is at least a thousand years old, and extremely spooky, and they possess a valuable chalice that is reputed to be even older, around which a lot of pagentry is directed when the eldest son of a family turns 25. Val Garth is about to do so, and has been kidnapped by some strange people, with Campion turning up just in time to help him out of that jam, and to return to his family to undergo initiation into The Family Secrets. But all sorts of sinister folks are about, and it soon becomes obvious that someone wants that chalice very badly, and will stop at nothing to get it. Various attempts to steal it are made, and Campion must call on all his skills and many of his peculiar friends, to solve the assorted mysteries around the Gyrth Chalice, along with a wild horse, a band of gypsies, an odd archeologist, a wild woman and a witch, her demented son, and the various denizens of Tower House itself, where the Chalice is rumoured to be kept safely hidden.
A fast pace, very likeable folks and hiss-a-ble villains, lots of perilous situations and in-the-nick-of-time rescues, and the affable Albert Campion pulling all the strings, makes for a thoroughly lovely afternoon's read. Still a treat, even after many years and several rereads.
NOTE : TV VERSION WONDERFUL, highly recommended, circa 1990 with Peter Davison as Campion - entire series great fun actually, just about perfect, unlike some of the later attempts at "updating" Christie, et al
March 24, 2024
Is There a Ghost?
Albert Campion is getting himself mixed up with the Gyrth family. He befriends the Gyrth heir, Val, and his sister Penelope aka Penny.
The Gyrth heirloom, the Chalice, is going to be stolen and Albert is determined to prevent this from happening. An entourage of international thieves are also determined. They are determined to steal the Chalice.
Surrounded by the family and friends of the Gyrths, Albert Campion is sure of one thing. That it’s going to take professional thieves to get their hands on the Chalice.
But despite their efforts they have to wait their turn, because with all of the hullabaloo going on (something spooky is also going on), the heirloom has supernatural powers keeping watch over it.
A special day is coming soon for when the Chalice is put on display and that makes it vulnerable and that makes it fair game for all the thieves and murderers.
Albert knows that he will have to be vigilant as the day begins until it ends. Good luck to Albert Campion and may he succeed.
Four stars. ✨✨✨✨
Albert Campion is getting himself mixed up with the Gyrth family. He befriends the Gyrth heir, Val, and his sister Penelope aka Penny.
The Gyrth heirloom, the Chalice, is going to be stolen and Albert is determined to prevent this from happening. An entourage of international thieves are also determined. They are determined to steal the Chalice.
Surrounded by the family and friends of the Gyrths, Albert Campion is sure of one thing. That it’s going to take professional thieves to get their hands on the Chalice.
But despite their efforts they have to wait their turn, because with all of the hullabaloo going on (something spooky is also going on), the heirloom has supernatural powers keeping watch over it.
A special day is coming soon for when the Chalice is put on display and that makes it vulnerable and that makes it fair game for all the thieves and murderers.
Albert knows that he will have to be vigilant as the day begins until it ends. Good luck to Albert Campion and may he succeed.
Four stars. ✨✨✨✨
May 15, 2018
Recently, I have been reading the Albert Campion series. I have struggled with Margery Allingham before, and, although I have enjoyed the first two books in the series, I was underwhelmed by this.
The mystery opens well. We have Val Gyrth, an aristocratic down and out, threatened by kidnappers and lured to safety by Campion. To give him his full name, Percival St John Wykes Gyrth, belongs to an old family who are the keepers of the Gyrth Chalice. Campion informs him that someone is out to steal this historic object and Val is important, as it is shortly his twenty fifth birthday; at which point he has to attend a ceremony at his ancestral home. That is, assuming he overcomes his estrangement with his father, which has led to him living as a down and out.
Campion, Val, and Lugg, head to Val’s family home, where they find a cast of characters all interested in the Chalice. Before long, we are embroiled in an adventure which involves murder, sinister, criminal gangs and more than a hint of the supernatural. This felt a little too much like the second book to work for me. I will try a couple more, but I don’t think that Campion will ever challenge Poirot, or Wimsey, for my Golden Age favourite.
The mystery opens well. We have Val Gyrth, an aristocratic down and out, threatened by kidnappers and lured to safety by Campion. To give him his full name, Percival St John Wykes Gyrth, belongs to an old family who are the keepers of the Gyrth Chalice. Campion informs him that someone is out to steal this historic object and Val is important, as it is shortly his twenty fifth birthday; at which point he has to attend a ceremony at his ancestral home. That is, assuming he overcomes his estrangement with his father, which has led to him living as a down and out.
Campion, Val, and Lugg, head to Val’s family home, where they find a cast of characters all interested in the Chalice. Before long, we are embroiled in an adventure which involves murder, sinister, criminal gangs and more than a hint of the supernatural. This felt a little too much like the second book to work for me. I will try a couple more, but I don’t think that Campion will ever challenge Poirot, or Wimsey, for my Golden Age favourite.
February 22, 2021
This is my 3rd ‘Albert Campion’ mystery (of 19 written by Margery Allingham), and I’m growing to like the idiosyncratic adventurer-come-detective, with his blue-blooded heritage and underworld connections. Something of a hybrid between Sherlock Holmes and Lord Peter Wimsey, he has a pinch of Shakespeare’s Prince Hal thrown in for good measure.
Akin to her contemporaries in the ‘Golden Age of Detective Fiction’ the author has little empathy for the lower classes (which is an entertainment in its own right), but there is an exception in the brilliant caricature, Mr Lugg, Campion’s disreputable batman.
The stories are somewhat fanciful, but they just keep on the sensible side of not having to suspend disbelief too often, or for too long, and they are worth pursuing for their insight into the mores and customs of the time (upper class 1930s England).
Look to the Lady is a tale of duty and inheritance, and the desperate safeguarding of an ancient artefact from ruthless international criminals (something of a recurring theme in books 1-3). It is not the most compelling or twisted of plots, but an enjoyable ride, if a slightly disappointing destination.
These novels work well as audiobooks, with their relatively small casts of generally distinctive characters.
Akin to her contemporaries in the ‘Golden Age of Detective Fiction’ the author has little empathy for the lower classes (which is an entertainment in its own right), but there is an exception in the brilliant caricature, Mr Lugg, Campion’s disreputable batman.
The stories are somewhat fanciful, but they just keep on the sensible side of not having to suspend disbelief too often, or for too long, and they are worth pursuing for their insight into the mores and customs of the time (upper class 1930s England).
Look to the Lady is a tale of duty and inheritance, and the desperate safeguarding of an ancient artefact from ruthless international criminals (something of a recurring theme in books 1-3). It is not the most compelling or twisted of plots, but an enjoyable ride, if a slightly disappointing destination.
These novels work well as audiobooks, with their relatively small casts of generally distinctive characters.
January 30, 2023
Written in 1931 this story is about the Gyrth chalice. The chalice is used in a secret ceremony by the royal family and which has been in the care of the Gyrth family for a thousand years. Albert Campion discovers a plot to steal it by a ring of wealthy untouchable people.
The story is entertaining with kidnappings, witches, ghosts, gypsies and the unlikeable Daisy Shannon. The clue to who is the ringleader is in the title. Once again people are fooled by Campion’s mild mannered innocence and his rude and crude valet Lugg.
Some good twists and turns in this golden age crime tale.
The story is entertaining with kidnappings, witches, ghosts, gypsies and the unlikeable Daisy Shannon. The clue to who is the ringleader is in the title. Once again people are fooled by Campion’s mild mannered innocence and his rude and crude valet Lugg.
Some good twists and turns in this golden age crime tale.
October 24, 2024
“Not the least remarkable thing about a coincidence is that once it has happened, one names it, accepts it, and leaves it at that.”
I usually have my issues with writers who lean too much on the ubiquity of coincidence in the construction of their plots – even though my favourite writer Charles Dickens seems to have had an exclusive lease on the article in question –, and at first sight Margery Allingham’s novel Look to the Lady appears to be written in that rather careless vein: The young and down-at-heel Percival Gyrth, tramping about London, picks up a piece of paper to stop a hole in his shoe, and finds his name and address on it, although, obviously, he has no address at all at present. This remarkable coincidence sets in motion an unbelievable story about wealthy art connoisseurs who have formed a gang employing master thieves that steal invaluable works of art on commission. It is quite difficult to stomach that proposition, all the more so since the major rule by which the organization works – should the master thief die in the execution of his job, the whole thing is called off – seems rather arbitrary, but this is not the only challenge the reader’s common sense is supposed to undergo: The novel has a larger-than-life female villain one of whose many sins seems, in the author’s eye, to lie in her lack of femininity, there are touches of the supernatural here and there which threaten to run away with the story, and then there is the odd couple of Albert Campion and his manservant Luggs. Even though Luggs is blatantly impolite and uncouth – he used to be a burglar, if I got it correctly –, it is easy to see that the two protagonists were modelled on Lord Peter Wimsey and his indomitable butler Bunter.
Campion, for instance, often seems inane and silly, and he says things like this,
That is just the sort of thing you might expect from the quirky Lord Peter, but all the same, where Sayers’s hero comes over as likeable, there is still something odd and off-putting about Campion, whose entire personality is shrouded in mystery.
This was my first novel written by Allingham, who is counted among the four foremost female writers of Golden Age Mysteries, but, strictly speaking, Look to the Lady is not a classical whodunnit but more of a romp of an adventure story instead, the biggest mystery being its title. Needless to say, this mystery is going unsolved.
I usually have my issues with writers who lean too much on the ubiquity of coincidence in the construction of their plots – even though my favourite writer Charles Dickens seems to have had an exclusive lease on the article in question –, and at first sight Margery Allingham’s novel Look to the Lady appears to be written in that rather careless vein: The young and down-at-heel Percival Gyrth, tramping about London, picks up a piece of paper to stop a hole in his shoe, and finds his name and address on it, although, obviously, he has no address at all at present. This remarkable coincidence sets in motion an unbelievable story about wealthy art connoisseurs who have formed a gang employing master thieves that steal invaluable works of art on commission. It is quite difficult to stomach that proposition, all the more so since the major rule by which the organization works – should the master thief die in the execution of his job, the whole thing is called off – seems rather arbitrary, but this is not the only challenge the reader’s common sense is supposed to undergo: The novel has a larger-than-life female villain one of whose many sins seems, in the author’s eye, to lie in her lack of femininity, there are touches of the supernatural here and there which threaten to run away with the story, and then there is the odd couple of Albert Campion and his manservant Luggs. Even though Luggs is blatantly impolite and uncouth – he used to be a burglar, if I got it correctly –, it is easy to see that the two protagonists were modelled on Lord Peter Wimsey and his indomitable butler Bunter.
Campion, for instance, often seems inane and silly, and he says things like this,
”’[…] There’s nothing unusual about witchcraft. I used to be a bit of a wizard myself, and I once tried to change a particularly loathsome old gentleman into a seal on a voyage to Oslo. Certainly the vulgar creature fell overboard, and they only succeeded in hauling up a small walrus, but I never was sure whether I had done it or not. They had the same moustaches, but that was all. I’ve often wondered if I was successful. […]”
That is just the sort of thing you might expect from the quirky Lord Peter, but all the same, where Sayers’s hero comes over as likeable, there is still something odd and off-putting about Campion, whose entire personality is shrouded in mystery.
This was my first novel written by Allingham, who is counted among the four foremost female writers of Golden Age Mysteries, but, strictly speaking, Look to the Lady is not a classical whodunnit but more of a romp of an adventure story instead, the biggest mystery being its title. Needless to say, this mystery is going unsolved.
November 29, 2021
Three cheers for Margery Allingham! With each book, her creation, the bespectacled, deceptively foolish Albert Campion, becomes better and better. Look to the Lady, the third novel in this Golden Age series, is the best I’ve read yet.
Campion, the pseudonym for a disinherited younger son and self-proclaimed “junior adventurer,” reunites an estranged father and son — and just in time. The pair are the caretakers of a priceless Chalice they’re holding for the Crown, and Campion’s gotten wind that a theft ring has its eye on the Chalice. While such a plot would be pretty cliché in the hands of some novelists, Allingham breathes new life into it, and I finished the novel in a single day. Allingham introduces quite a few twists and adds on a most satisfactory ending. Lovers of Dame Agatha or Dorothy L. Sayers will not regret making Campion’s acquaintance.
Campion, the pseudonym for a disinherited younger son and self-proclaimed “junior adventurer,” reunites an estranged father and son — and just in time. The pair are the caretakers of a priceless Chalice they’re holding for the Crown, and Campion’s gotten wind that a theft ring has its eye on the Chalice. While such a plot would be pretty cliché in the hands of some novelists, Allingham breathes new life into it, and I finished the novel in a single day. Allingham introduces quite a few twists and adds on a most satisfactory ending. Lovers of Dame Agatha or Dorothy L. Sayers will not regret making Campion’s acquaintance.
May 31, 2023
Now I will be the first to admit that I first came across Albert Campion from the Peter Davidson TV series which was then followed up by all the references from others authors to the work of Margery Allingham - so my views I will admit maybe a little skewed.
So for as much as I love the stories and the idea of the characters of Campion and Lugg appeal to me I did struggle with this book. I felt that the distraction tactics used to disarm people over Campions presence were a little too over played. References such as him standing with a imbecilic smile or playing with his tie like a school child did start to wear a little thin.
You have here some fascinating characters who I felt were either over played or certain aspects over emphasised to the point where I felt it started to get in the way of the storyline.
So yes I did struggle with this story and was rather disappointed but the series has a number of books in it - I wonder how it develops through the books
So for as much as I love the stories and the idea of the characters of Campion and Lugg appeal to me I did struggle with this book. I felt that the distraction tactics used to disarm people over Campions presence were a little too over played. References such as him standing with a imbecilic smile or playing with his tie like a school child did start to wear a little thin.
You have here some fascinating characters who I felt were either over played or certain aspects over emphasised to the point where I felt it started to get in the way of the storyline.
So yes I did struggle with this story and was rather disappointed but the series has a number of books in it - I wonder how it develops through the books
February 2, 2013
This is another example of a book I first read about 20 years ago, and upon re-reading discovered it is way better than my memory thought it is. I only remembered about one sentence in the book (and I was happy to see that I remembered it correctly - take THAT middle age!)So even though I had already read this book, it struck me as "new".
Albert Campion is my favorite amateur dectective from all those Golden Age guys. I enjoy the Poroit stories, but find Poroit himself annoying. Campion is a likeable fellow, with no idiosyncracies to put you off. He is amusing like Lord Peter without the aristocratic air. There is no doubt that Campion is also an aristocrat, but he doesn't snob it around like Lord Peter does. He is funny and intellegent, but likes playing dumb. And everyone treats him like he is very simple minded, which increases the enjoyment when you discover along with the bad guys that there is way more to little Albert than there appears to be.
This is an early Campion, and it is a good one. A good mystery with a lot of questions to be answered, and a lot of interesting and engaging characters to keep you guessing. And Lugg is here too!! Great and entertaining read.
Albert Campion is my favorite amateur dectective from all those Golden Age guys. I enjoy the Poroit stories, but find Poroit himself annoying. Campion is a likeable fellow, with no idiosyncracies to put you off. He is amusing like Lord Peter without the aristocratic air. There is no doubt that Campion is also an aristocrat, but he doesn't snob it around like Lord Peter does. He is funny and intellegent, but likes playing dumb. And everyone treats him like he is very simple minded, which increases the enjoyment when you discover along with the bad guys that there is way more to little Albert than there appears to be.
This is an early Campion, and it is a good one. A good mystery with a lot of questions to be answered, and a lot of interesting and engaging characters to keep you guessing. And Lugg is here too!! Great and entertaining read.
July 11, 2017
Not sure why this took so long. Maybe I had it in the wrong place. On the bedstand - but I was always reading the kindle in bed. Then I decided to see if not using electronics before bed would help me sleep better and switched back to actual books. (the jury is still out on the sleeping better, but maybe not quite as many hours, I think, tossing and turning.)
A royal chalice has been left for the Gyrth family to look after at their country home of Sanctuary. It only comes out of hiding when the male heir reaches 25 and there is some kind of secret ceremony. One day a week their chapel is opened to the public and they get a glimpse of a chalice. This includes a bully lady of the county.
Campion thinks there is about to be a theft and they take a bizarre trip to London where they are held up by a mob of men.
It gets stranger from there. But great fun.
A royal chalice has been left for the Gyrth family to look after at their country home of Sanctuary. It only comes out of hiding when the male heir reaches 25 and there is some kind of secret ceremony. One day a week their chapel is opened to the public and they get a glimpse of a chalice. This includes a bully lady of the county.
Campion thinks there is about to be a theft and they take a bizarre trip to London where they are held up by a mob of men.
It gets stranger from there. But great fun.
December 14, 2010
Although an improvement on Allingham’s first two Campion books this outing still suffers from many of the flaws so obvious in its predecessors. Campion himself is shown to do little actual detecting or deducing. He just “knows” things -- often because of an immense circle of informants who, for no particularly obvious reason, have warm feelings towards him. The reader does not follow Campion in his various investigations and quests for information and is often kept ignorant of information in what appears to be an attempt to make Campion seem to be all knowing.
As is often the case in British “mysteries” of this time, there are secret (and yet well known to all the senior members of police and government) organizations whose exploits cannot be thwarted by the standard representatives of authority. This invulnerability is not well justified in the text of the book and appears to have no purpose other than to give a reason for the protagonist to break a variety of rules without fear of arrest or other form of punishment.
In this and the two previous Campion books are set in corners and byways of England that are backward even by the standards of popular English fiction of the time. It is a constant irritation to this reader that poor education, poor health, and bad hygiene are presented as colourful, picturesque and entertaining. The aristocracy seems almost to have a glow about them, the gentry are to be sympathized with if they actually have to work for a living and the rural folk and poor are caricatures more reminiscent of Dickens than of any realistic portrait of England at the time.
Finally, this reader found the ending of the book to be very disappointing for a number of reasons. Campion does not solve anything himself, he does not personally thwart the crime he was hired to prevent and the reader is left to suspect that some mysterious supernatural force intervened at the last minute. Logic dictates that if some unseen and mysterious force was able to prevent the crime then Campion need never have been involved and the whole adventure was an exercise in futility. If that thought occurred to this reader then it should have crossed the mind of at least one of the characters we visit at the end of the book.
As is often the case in British “mysteries” of this time, there are secret (and yet well known to all the senior members of police and government) organizations whose exploits cannot be thwarted by the standard representatives of authority. This invulnerability is not well justified in the text of the book and appears to have no purpose other than to give a reason for the protagonist to break a variety of rules without fear of arrest or other form of punishment.
In this and the two previous Campion books are set in corners and byways of England that are backward even by the standards of popular English fiction of the time. It is a constant irritation to this reader that poor education, poor health, and bad hygiene are presented as colourful, picturesque and entertaining. The aristocracy seems almost to have a glow about them, the gentry are to be sympathized with if they actually have to work for a living and the rural folk and poor are caricatures more reminiscent of Dickens than of any realistic portrait of England at the time.
Finally, this reader found the ending of the book to be very disappointing for a number of reasons. Campion does not solve anything himself, he does not personally thwart the crime he was hired to prevent and the reader is left to suspect that some mysterious supernatural force intervened at the last minute. Logic dictates that if some unseen and mysterious force was able to prevent the crime then Campion need never have been involved and the whole adventure was an exercise in futility. If that thought occurred to this reader then it should have crossed the mind of at least one of the characters we visit at the end of the book.
March 17, 2019
Herewith another late work from one of the Great Dames of the Golden Age of mystery.
I made the proofing (F1) of this book for Distributed Proofreaders Canada and it will be published by Faded Page.
I made the proofing (F1) of this book for Distributed Proofreaders Canada and it will be published by Faded Page.
April 7, 2016
One of the three great dames of British detective mysteries. I find it a bit strange that all three created detectives that came across as vain, smug and a bit foppish, and in the case of Poirot it wasn't a matter of somewhat but rather excessively vain and smug. While for me, Christie's Poirot has become increasingly tiresome. Parkers, Sir Peter Wimsey on the other hand has become more likable and now I'm beginning to see some hope for Allingham's Albert Campion as well. In the books I've read so far, he has become a little less of an inane character and settled into a bit more of your typical amateur detective.
And while I'm still debating the likability of the afore mentioned Mr. Campion I am grudgingly admitting that I'm starting to enjoy Allingham's ability to tell a tale.
And while I'm still debating the likability of the afore mentioned Mr. Campion I am grudgingly admitting that I'm starting to enjoy Allingham's ability to tell a tale.
September 7, 2020
Loved this one. Gave me the same warm and fuzzy feelings that reading Enid Blyton's mysteries (Famous Five, Secret Seven, the 'Mystery of' series, and the 'Adventure' series) did when I was a kid. It was all thoroughly exciting which necessitated the rapid turning of (virtual) pages. Tons of stuff going on: Mysterious artifact guarded by family for generations, terrifying creature lurking in the woods, ruthless criminal gang, witchcraft, gypsies, and mass brawls, what's not to love? Oh and Campion didn't irritate me once in this book. Fourth book incoming!
July 12, 2016
This is one of the sillier of this series, but it has a really excellent first chapter and more likable secondary characters than Allingham often writes.
November 4, 2020
DAME AGATHA CHRISTIE AND HER PEERS
1931
Will there be surprise secret passageways? Little to no real investigation? Last minute 'clues'? Preposterous stupidity? Hot, steamy sex?
CAST: 3=Val Gyrth (Percival St. John Wykes Gyrth) is the only son of Colonel Sir Percival Christian St. John Gyrth of the Tower, Sanctuary, Suffolk is about to turn 25. At 25, the eldest son is taken to a 'secret room' in the castle and the family secret handed down generation after generation is revealed. It's a secret so shocking and horrible that the very sight of it often ruins that son for life. Some good ol' love and compassion from dad would be nice here. Anyway, Val Gyrth receives an invitation from "Mr Albert Campion At Home" which reads:
"Any evening after twelve.
Improving Conversation.
Beer, Light Wines, and Little Pink Cakes*.
(*I'll assume small pods of opium. Cause no man- gay or otherwise - would be caught dead inviting other men over for little pink cakes. NEVER. It's in the rule book even. I'm not saying Campion likes his opium, or is gay, but there is a 50% chance he is smoking on something...)
Do come.*"
(*Need I comment?)
Val Gyrth goes but on the way is almost kidnapped by THE VILLAINS! Upon arrival, Campion spends a good 10 minutes in the bathroom with Val, "administering first aid." So THAT'S what they called it back in the day! Need we be surprised that publishers during the Golden Age of Mystery loved titles with the word 'nurse' in it? That promises private meetings, drugs, and a bit of blackmail.
Val Gyrth and and Campion are clueless and hilariously silly at times. There is the rest of the Val Gyrth family, and one commits suicide shortly into the story so she doesn't have to hang around any longer and I don't blame her at all! Then there are THE GYPSIES, who just happen to be camping out in a nearby forest, and are villains of THE VILLAINS. They growl at each other at midnight. Not EVERY midnight, though. Gyrth and Campion are good for lots of laughs. Then there is Mrs. Dick Shannon. Campion can only say "Who is the rude lady?" Val responds that she is "One of these damn women-with-a-personality." The next woman-with-a-personality certainly makes a grand entrance: she is stone-dead. But before dying, she's filled the castle with perfect strangers who've simply made themselves at home. Are they the villians? Did the stone-dead lady try to steal the treasure herself?
ATMOSPHERE - 3 stars: The 'stone-dead' lady had been hanging out late at night at the forbidden and mystical 'Pharisses' Clearing" Why, one can take the clearing all the way past Mrs. Munseys to the first gypsy camp. (Allingham offers us a nicely drawn map of the area). But what we'd like is a blue blueprint of the haunted English Manor House, or the chapel with secrets,given the fields of gypsies and villians moves around a lot. Fun times. Allingham does what she did in her first novel, "Crime at Black Dudley": out of any ol' place, there conveniently appears a secret passageway. Fun times, really. Just tap on any convenient panel and a door pulls back. Beware of what may cometh at you with a weapon: there is some kind of monster lurking around.
CRIME - 3: Every single wealthy collector in the world is after The Chalice and there is a gang of VILLAINS doing the dirty work. The deal is that if they don't steal the longed for object, the move on to the next treasure, never to return to the one they missed. Naturally, here, it's in the SECRET ROOM. It might be Thousands of Years Old. British Royalty has bestowed upon the Gyrth family the duty of protecting The Chalice forever. Personally, I'd have placed it in the Tower of London for safekeeping but I'm not Royalty. (In Britain, that is, but just here at home.) Perhaps in 1931 The Chalice conspiracy books had not yet come in vogue so maybe this hadn't been done in every other conspiracy book. I do like that the author never attempts to reference this chalice as THE Chalice. Plus, there is indeed further crimes committed. Then there are the rumored crimes, like the witch who "tried to change a particularly loathsome old gentleman into a seal on a voyage to Oslo." Which begs the question: do seals get cruise discounts?
INVESTIGATION - 2: Little to none. Unless you count the villains and the gypsies fighting in the stable for some reason. I've no idea why. I'd reveal what, exactly, is in the SECRET ROOM, but I'd have to make it up, cause Allingham doesn't much explain anything. When actual authority figures show up and want to see the chalice, they are told it's being cleaned. I hope they aren't using Bon Ami, that stuff eats, FAMOUSLY, right through gold and blood, you know. (If you have never seen the film, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken", you must!)
RESOLUTION - 2: For centuries, this manor house has had a SECRET ROOM in the southern south-east northern wing near the 8th or 9th floor, but no way to get to it. But on the last few pages we learn that on the night THE SECRET is to be visited, a light stays on in the room, ALL NIGHT, and anyone passing by can easily see where THE SECRET ROOM is because...it's lit up! Then, they can climb to the roof with a rope and just drop down the side for entrance. I am not kidding. Nancy and the Hardy boys could have figured this one out by 1807. But this is such a silly notion: Allingham's just having a bit o' fun.
SUMMARY: YES, YES, YES, YES, and X plus Y in the hayloft I'm pretty sure (the answers to my opening questions). I don't know if this is a goth/rom send-up (Val and Campion the romantic couple) or what. But it's all so silly it is sorta fun. And one chapter is even titled "The Fairy Tale." I'll rate this a 2.6 for laughs.
1931
Will there be surprise secret passageways? Little to no real investigation? Last minute 'clues'? Preposterous stupidity? Hot, steamy sex?
CAST: 3=Val Gyrth (Percival St. John Wykes Gyrth) is the only son of Colonel Sir Percival Christian St. John Gyrth of the Tower, Sanctuary, Suffolk is about to turn 25. At 25, the eldest son is taken to a 'secret room' in the castle and the family secret handed down generation after generation is revealed. It's a secret so shocking and horrible that the very sight of it often ruins that son for life. Some good ol' love and compassion from dad would be nice here. Anyway, Val Gyrth receives an invitation from "Mr Albert Campion At Home" which reads:
"Any evening after twelve.
Improving Conversation.
Beer, Light Wines, and Little Pink Cakes*.
(*I'll assume small pods of opium. Cause no man- gay or otherwise - would be caught dead inviting other men over for little pink cakes. NEVER. It's in the rule book even. I'm not saying Campion likes his opium, or is gay, but there is a 50% chance he is smoking on something...)
Do come.*"
(*Need I comment?)
Val Gyrth goes but on the way is almost kidnapped by THE VILLAINS! Upon arrival, Campion spends a good 10 minutes in the bathroom with Val, "administering first aid." So THAT'S what they called it back in the day! Need we be surprised that publishers during the Golden Age of Mystery loved titles with the word 'nurse' in it? That promises private meetings, drugs, and a bit of blackmail.
Val Gyrth and and Campion are clueless and hilariously silly at times. There is the rest of the Val Gyrth family, and one commits suicide shortly into the story so she doesn't have to hang around any longer and I don't blame her at all! Then there are THE GYPSIES, who just happen to be camping out in a nearby forest, and are villains of THE VILLAINS. They growl at each other at midnight. Not EVERY midnight, though. Gyrth and Campion are good for lots of laughs. Then there is Mrs. Dick Shannon. Campion can only say "Who is the rude lady?" Val responds that she is "One of these damn women-with-a-personality." The next woman-with-a-personality certainly makes a grand entrance: she is stone-dead. But before dying, she's filled the castle with perfect strangers who've simply made themselves at home. Are they the villians? Did the stone-dead lady try to steal the treasure herself?
ATMOSPHERE - 3 stars: The 'stone-dead' lady had been hanging out late at night at the forbidden and mystical 'Pharisses' Clearing" Why, one can take the clearing all the way past Mrs. Munseys to the first gypsy camp. (Allingham offers us a nicely drawn map of the area). But what we'd like is a blue blueprint of the haunted English Manor House, or the chapel with secrets,given the fields of gypsies and villians moves around a lot. Fun times. Allingham does what she did in her first novel, "Crime at Black Dudley": out of any ol' place, there conveniently appears a secret passageway. Fun times, really. Just tap on any convenient panel and a door pulls back. Beware of what may cometh at you with a weapon: there is some kind of monster lurking around.
CRIME - 3: Every single wealthy collector in the world is after The Chalice and there is a gang of VILLAINS doing the dirty work. The deal is that if they don't steal the longed for object, the move on to the next treasure, never to return to the one they missed. Naturally, here, it's in the SECRET ROOM. It might be Thousands of Years Old. British Royalty has bestowed upon the Gyrth family the duty of protecting The Chalice forever. Personally, I'd have placed it in the Tower of London for safekeeping but I'm not Royalty. (In Britain, that is, but just here at home.) Perhaps in 1931 The Chalice conspiracy books had not yet come in vogue so maybe this hadn't been done in every other conspiracy book. I do like that the author never attempts to reference this chalice as THE Chalice. Plus, there is indeed further crimes committed. Then there are the rumored crimes, like the witch who "tried to change a particularly loathsome old gentleman into a seal on a voyage to Oslo." Which begs the question: do seals get cruise discounts?
INVESTIGATION - 2: Little to none. Unless you count the villains and the gypsies fighting in the stable for some reason. I've no idea why. I'd reveal what, exactly, is in the SECRET ROOM, but I'd have to make it up, cause Allingham doesn't much explain anything. When actual authority figures show up and want to see the chalice, they are told it's being cleaned. I hope they aren't using Bon Ami, that stuff eats, FAMOUSLY, right through gold and blood, you know. (If you have never seen the film, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken", you must!)
RESOLUTION - 2: For centuries, this manor house has had a SECRET ROOM in the southern south-east northern wing near the 8th or 9th floor, but no way to get to it. But on the last few pages we learn that on the night THE SECRET is to be visited, a light stays on in the room, ALL NIGHT, and anyone passing by can easily see where THE SECRET ROOM is because...it's lit up! Then, they can climb to the roof with a rope and just drop down the side for entrance. I am not kidding. Nancy and the Hardy boys could have figured this one out by 1807. But this is such a silly notion: Allingham's just having a bit o' fun.
SUMMARY: YES, YES, YES, YES, and X plus Y in the hayloft I'm pretty sure (the answers to my opening questions). I don't know if this is a goth/rom send-up (Val and Campion the romantic couple) or what. But it's all so silly it is sorta fun. And one chapter is even titled "The Fairy Tale." I'll rate this a 2.6 for laughs.
August 13, 2023
ENGLISH: In this, the third Albert Campion adventure, the fifth I have read, it's very clear that Allingham's novels are atypical mystery stories. Rather more than a "who done it" puzzle, we have here a set of adventures where the protagonists run terrible risks for their lives.
A mysterious chalice to be protected from an international gang of high-level burglars whose plunders go to extremely rich collectors, whose plots Mr. Albert Campion must counteract. Which he does with his accustomed incredible skill.
ESPAÑOL: En esta, la tercera aventura de Albert Campion y la quinta que he leído, queda muy claro que las novelas de Allingham son relatos de misterio atípicas. En lugar de contestar a la pregunta "quién lo hizo", tenemos aquí un conjunto de aventuras en las que los protagonistas corren riesgos terribles que ponen en peligro sus vidas.
Un cáliz misterioso que hay que proteger de una banda internacional de ladrones de alto nivel cuyos robos acaban en poder de coleccionistas extremadamente ricos. Albert Campion debe hacer fracasar esos intentos, y lo hace con su acostumbrada e increíble habilidad.
A mysterious chalice to be protected from an international gang of high-level burglars whose plunders go to extremely rich collectors, whose plots Mr. Albert Campion must counteract. Which he does with his accustomed incredible skill.
ESPAÑOL: En esta, la tercera aventura de Albert Campion y la quinta que he leído, queda muy claro que las novelas de Allingham son relatos de misterio atípicas. En lugar de contestar a la pregunta "quién lo hizo", tenemos aquí un conjunto de aventuras en las que los protagonistas corren riesgos terribles que ponen en peligro sus vidas.
Un cáliz misterioso que hay que proteger de una banda internacional de ladrones de alto nivel cuyos robos acaban en poder de coleccionistas extremadamente ricos. Albert Campion debe hacer fracasar esos intentos, y lo hace con su acostumbrada e increíble habilidad.
May 24, 2013
As another Campion book, this one seems to contain all the key points of Allingham's style - Campion seems to be quite ineffectual but works out crimes within seconds, it's a basically one house mystery with assorted jaunts into London at times, a hint of romance between side characters and a secret society of criminals out to work their nefarious ends. However, it contains a lot of aspects that are not even close to likely.
First, why would a criminal society decide to stop their crime just because of the death of a member - I know Allingham states that they are not common criminals, but collectors, but surely that would make it more valuable? Secondly, there are a few too many deus ex machina - particularly when Campion has walked into the enemy's lair. Thirdly, the main baddy was blindly obvious from the moment the character entered the novel.
However, the worst part of the book was the lead up to the unveiling of the true chalice - I was very interested to se what it was, but the unveiling was badly done and did not even answer what the chalice really was, as it needs to be seen at night with candles to truly see it. The Professor says best not to think about it, but that isn't a good answer.
First, why would a criminal society decide to stop their crime just because of the death of a member - I know Allingham states that they are not common criminals, but collectors, but surely that would make it more valuable? Secondly, there are a few too many deus ex machina - particularly when Campion has walked into the enemy's lair. Thirdly, the main baddy was blindly obvious from the moment the character entered the novel.
However, the worst part of the book was the lead up to the unveiling of the true chalice - I was very interested to se what it was, but the unveiling was badly done and did not even answer what the chalice really was, as it needs to be seen at night with candles to truly see it. The Professor says best not to think about it, but that isn't a good answer.
April 15, 2018
Unusual for a detective story (closer to a Bond, really) in that Campion
These early Allinghams have 'semi-redoubtable' girls in them: they're relatively brave, and involved in the action for the first half of the book, and then get withdrawn from the scene.
Listening to these in audiobook is interesting because the narrators go full on in 'falsetto twit' voice for Campion, which makes other characters' reactions to him all the more understandable. :)
These early Allinghams have 'semi-redoubtable' girls in them: they're relatively brave, and involved in the action for the first half of the book, and then get withdrawn from the scene.
Listening to these in audiobook is interesting because the narrators go full on in 'falsetto twit' voice for Campion, which makes other characters' reactions to him all the more understandable. :)
May 23, 2018
May 2018 reread:
I am downgrading my rating of this from 4 to 3 stars. My previous rating was based upon fuzzy memory of reading this years before. I found on this reread that something about the blend of mystery & adventure doesn't quite work for me in this. I can't put my finger on what exactly the problem is as these are two genres I generally like both separately & together.
I am downgrading my rating of this from 4 to 3 stars. My previous rating was based upon fuzzy memory of reading this years before. I found on this reread that something about the blend of mystery & adventure doesn't quite work for me in this. I can't put my finger on what exactly the problem is as these are two genres I generally like both separately & together.
February 14, 2025
2,5 Sterne
Ich fand die Charaktere sehr blass und die Geschichte etwas zu handlungsgetrieben. Dadurch wirkte alles auf mich sehr oberflächlich. Viele spannende Elemente kamen da zu kurz.
Ich fand die Charaktere sehr blass und die Geschichte etwas zu handlungsgetrieben. Dadurch wirkte alles auf mich sehr oberflächlich. Viele spannende Elemente kamen da zu kurz.
December 29, 2025
3.5 rounded
November 28, 2018
My first Margery Allingham book. This might be controversial, but I like her mystery writing almost as much as Agatha Christie's. Exciting, quick page-turner. I definitely want to read more by Allingham! I like Campion's humility and goofiness and non-genius look and manner. As the book says, he has an "ineffectual face." Though, of course, he is a bit of a genius. I definitely prefer him to Poirot, possibly even to Miss Marple (gasp!) My only complaint was I didn't understand who Campion's employer was at the ending.
August 9, 2015
Cozy classics are usually fairly quick reads. This book,however, took me a deliciously long time. I became lost in Allingham's descriptions of places that existed in her day but are now long gone, in turns of phrase cleverly wrought, and flirtations that nowadays are considered quaint. Five stars.
March 6, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2025
Fun continuation of the series, featuring a shadowy organization trying to steal a sacred chalice. Campion is sort of an off-brand Lord Peter, in the best way possible.
September 17, 2022
Three books in, and I still don't really know what to make of this series. I wasn't particularly sold on Book 1, liked 2 quite a lot, and am back to wishy-washy middle ground here. (2.5 stars?)
One issue, I think, is that Allingham apparently didn't actually intend to make this a series, which is why Campion was kind of a side character in The Crime at Black Dudley. She was persuaded by her American publisher to bring Campion back, which she ultimately did for about 20 books - so hopefully it was a decision she ended up being happy with. But perhaps as a result, his characterization feels...strained, still, at times.
I am getting pretty tired of the unnecessarily frequent descriptions of his face having an "inane," "vague," "almost imbecile" expression. I get that was his selling point in Black Dudley, and that the outward appearance of empty stupidity is how he's able to effectively bump around the countryside misleading people and solving mysteries.
And there are parts of that personality that I really do enjoy. His first appearance in this book, holding a balloon that he futilely attempts to hide behind his back, was marvelously funny. It's fun, too, to watch him drive criminals batty by throwing them off the track with his pointless chatter. And he has some delightful interactions with Penny, a girl who's too sweet and young to capture his interest (especially when he's still hung up on Biddy from Book 2), but who falls a teeny bit in love with his charmingly infuriating personality and extreme capability.
But it didn't feel as balanced here as in Mystery Mile, maybe because the side characters weren't nearly as strong this time around.
Fortunately, Lugg, his righthand man and supposed servant, had a good amount of page time; I adore all their interactions and how horribly disrespectful Lugg is to him. (While obviously respecting him quite a bit, considering he's thrown his lot in with him for good.) Penny was okay. The Professor was interesting, although I really did think near the end that there'd be some rough twist with him turning out to be the true villain. It would've been an awful betrayal, but...a more interesting story? The villain was obvious and completely one-dimensional, and her defeat was uh. Incredibly anti-climactic. Made the entire book pointless?
Look, if all you had to do was have someone peer in the window at the Chalice, their resulting and inevitable fright making them plummet to the ground, solving the whole problem through their death, then why was Campion even there? Why any of the running around the countryside and back and forth from London? I felt like the majority of the book was a complete waste of time, because the mysterious Chalice's scary guardian would've led to the same result regardless of what anyone else, including Campion, did.
That ending was frustrating for a number of reasons.
Allingham set up a situation where Campion was going to have to murder someone to complete his assignment, and she did some legwork to attempt to make it a reasonable execution.
It's not just protecting some valuable old artifact; there's a mystical significance to it, and a deep connection to the Crown, and some whole shady deal where England would topple, maybe, if the Chalice was taken, so killing someone would essentially be Campion's patriotic duty. This is all kind of hand-wavy and a bit over-the-top, but it's part of the story's presentation, so you have to take it at face value.
Campion's not the happiest about this task, but we get the bits of groundwork leading up to him making that decision. Lugg catches him pocketing an actual pistol, filled with actual bullets, instead of the water gun he prefers - because part of Campion's established personality is that while fully capable with a gun, he detests weapons.
Then we see him grappling with the increased difficulty once he finds out that his target is a woman. Granted, she's the most horrible, soulless woman you could possibly imagine, so the readers would never feel any sympathy for her. But Campion is a True British Gentleman, and offing a lady is still something that's Just Not Done.
But this woman attempts to murder him first (via rampaging horse - incidentally, how did none of her neighbors know she was flat broke and had no stables left?), which leads to the final confrontation on the roof of the Chalice's Tower, with the villain's life literally in Campion's hands as they face off. All he has to do is sever the rope, and she will fall. His mission will be complete. It's a simple, horrible task that he's been gearing himself up for the entire book.
And then...she just falls. Anyway. Without him doing a single thing.
Allingham built up an entire storyline that hinged on this scene, but at the final stroke, she shied away from staining Campion with actual murder.
I agree, actually: I don't think he's the kind of person who would take that step. But then don't write it as an intrinsic element in your story. Don't solve it with some silly supernatural-bordering deus ex machina.
The supernatural teasers were kind of pointless, too. We have a "witch" in the woods who's just some crazy old lady wearing bloody goat skins. The Chalice's guardian is kinda creepy but nothing particularly dreadful. There's an attempt to go "oh ho ho maybe there was something terrifying in the woodshed after all" in the very last lines, but it's not effective or bone-chilling just tossed in like that, when all the rest of the unmasking has been very Scooby-Doo.
Val, the son who came of age in the final chapters and shouldered his part in protecting the Chalice, was a completely forgettable character. I didn't understand a lot of his arc, either. He started out homeless. Which was apparently self-imposed and temporary, since he'd planned all along to go back home for his 25th birthday, which was like...a week, max, after the first chapter? (I'd need to go back and track the actual timeline, but very few days passed altogether.) And he'd only been living on the streets for a week to begin with.
And it was all because of some heartbreak and failed marriage, except a week later he'd met a new girl - his sister's friend, the Professor's pretty daughter - and was on his way to another engagement.
What a wishy-washy, boring young man who didn't seem to particularly deserve such a high honor, with the fate of England apparently resting on his and his (also kind of bland and boring) father's shoulders.
I don't know. I'm still interested in this series, but I'm not sure yet how far into it I'll go. I was hoping by this point, I'd have a good sense of how much I liked it, and what the tone and style of the rest would be, but Allingham still seems to be kind of wobbling around trying to find her footing.
Maybe the fourth one will have firmer ground, and a more solid, character-focused plot.
One issue, I think, is that Allingham apparently didn't actually intend to make this a series, which is why Campion was kind of a side character in The Crime at Black Dudley. She was persuaded by her American publisher to bring Campion back, which she ultimately did for about 20 books - so hopefully it was a decision she ended up being happy with. But perhaps as a result, his characterization feels...strained, still, at times.
I am getting pretty tired of the unnecessarily frequent descriptions of his face having an "inane," "vague," "almost imbecile" expression. I get that was his selling point in Black Dudley, and that the outward appearance of empty stupidity is how he's able to effectively bump around the countryside misleading people and solving mysteries.
And there are parts of that personality that I really do enjoy. His first appearance in this book, holding a balloon that he futilely attempts to hide behind his back, was marvelously funny. It's fun, too, to watch him drive criminals batty by throwing them off the track with his pointless chatter. And he has some delightful interactions with Penny, a girl who's too sweet and young to capture his interest (especially when he's still hung up on Biddy from Book 2), but who falls a teeny bit in love with his charmingly infuriating personality and extreme capability.
But it didn't feel as balanced here as in Mystery Mile, maybe because the side characters weren't nearly as strong this time around.
Fortunately, Lugg, his righthand man and supposed servant, had a good amount of page time; I adore all their interactions and how horribly disrespectful Lugg is to him. (While obviously respecting him quite a bit, considering he's thrown his lot in with him for good.) Penny was okay. The Professor was interesting, although I really did think near the end that there'd be some rough twist with him turning out to be the true villain. It would've been an awful betrayal, but...a more interesting story? The villain was obvious and completely one-dimensional, and her defeat was uh. Incredibly anti-climactic. Made the entire book pointless?
Look, if all you had to do was have someone peer in the window at the Chalice, their resulting and inevitable fright making them plummet to the ground, solving the whole problem through their death, then why was Campion even there? Why any of the running around the countryside and back and forth from London? I felt like the majority of the book was a complete waste of time, because the mysterious Chalice's scary guardian would've led to the same result regardless of what anyone else, including Campion, did.
That ending was frustrating for a number of reasons.
Allingham set up a situation where Campion was going to have to murder someone to complete his assignment, and she did some legwork to attempt to make it a reasonable execution.
It's not just protecting some valuable old artifact; there's a mystical significance to it, and a deep connection to the Crown, and some whole shady deal where England would topple, maybe, if the Chalice was taken, so killing someone would essentially be Campion's patriotic duty. This is all kind of hand-wavy and a bit over-the-top, but it's part of the story's presentation, so you have to take it at face value.
Campion's not the happiest about this task, but we get the bits of groundwork leading up to him making that decision. Lugg catches him pocketing an actual pistol, filled with actual bullets, instead of the water gun he prefers - because part of Campion's established personality is that while fully capable with a gun, he detests weapons.
Then we see him grappling with the increased difficulty once he finds out that his target is a woman. Granted, she's the most horrible, soulless woman you could possibly imagine, so the readers would never feel any sympathy for her. But Campion is a True British Gentleman, and offing a lady is still something that's Just Not Done.
But this woman attempts to murder him first (via rampaging horse - incidentally, how did none of her neighbors know she was flat broke and had no stables left?), which leads to the final confrontation on the roof of the Chalice's Tower, with the villain's life literally in Campion's hands as they face off. All he has to do is sever the rope, and she will fall. His mission will be complete. It's a simple, horrible task that he's been gearing himself up for the entire book.
And then...she just falls. Anyway. Without him doing a single thing.
Allingham built up an entire storyline that hinged on this scene, but at the final stroke, she shied away from staining Campion with actual murder.
I agree, actually: I don't think he's the kind of person who would take that step. But then don't write it as an intrinsic element in your story. Don't solve it with some silly supernatural-bordering deus ex machina.
The supernatural teasers were kind of pointless, too. We have a "witch" in the woods who's just some crazy old lady wearing bloody goat skins. The Chalice's guardian is kinda creepy but nothing particularly dreadful. There's an attempt to go "oh ho ho maybe there was something terrifying in the woodshed after all" in the very last lines, but it's not effective or bone-chilling just tossed in like that, when all the rest of the unmasking has been very Scooby-Doo.
Val, the son who came of age in the final chapters and shouldered his part in protecting the Chalice, was a completely forgettable character. I didn't understand a lot of his arc, either. He started out homeless. Which was apparently self-imposed and temporary, since he'd planned all along to go back home for his 25th birthday, which was like...a week, max, after the first chapter? (I'd need to go back and track the actual timeline, but very few days passed altogether.) And he'd only been living on the streets for a week to begin with.
And it was all because of some heartbreak and failed marriage, except a week later he'd met a new girl - his sister's friend, the Professor's pretty daughter - and was on his way to another engagement.
What a wishy-washy, boring young man who didn't seem to particularly deserve such a high honor, with the fate of England apparently resting on his and his (also kind of bland and boring) father's shoulders.
I don't know. I'm still interested in this series, but I'm not sure yet how far into it I'll go. I was hoping by this point, I'd have a good sense of how much I liked it, and what the tone and style of the rest would be, but Allingham still seems to be kind of wobbling around trying to find her footing.
Maybe the fourth one will have firmer ground, and a more solid, character-focused plot.
March 7, 2020
'How on earth did you know?' she said.
Mr Campion sighed with relief.
'The process of elimination,' said he oracularly as he picked up the suitcase and trudged back to the car with it, 'combined with a modicum of common sense, will always assist us to arrive at the correct conclusion with the maximum of possible accuracy and the minimum of hard labour. Which being translated means: I guessed it.' He lifted the case into the dickey once more, and held the door open for Penny and her companion.
She hung back. 'That's not fair,' she said. 'Suppose you explain?'
Mr Campion sighed with relief.
'The process of elimination,' said he oracularly as he picked up the suitcase and trudged back to the car with it, 'combined with a modicum of common sense, will always assist us to arrive at the correct conclusion with the maximum of possible accuracy and the minimum of hard labour. Which being translated means: I guessed it.' He lifted the case into the dickey once more, and held the door open for Penny and her companion.
She hung back. 'That's not fair,' she said. 'Suppose you explain?'
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