Reading the Detectives discussion

Death of a Ghost (1934) is the sixth Albert Campion mystery and one of our Jan/Feb 2019 Buddy Reads, as we continue this popular series.

John Lafcadio’s ambition to be known as the greatest painter since Rembrandt was not to be thwarted by a matter as trifling as his own death. A set of twelve sealed paintings is the bequest he leaves to his widow – together with the instruction that she unveil one canvas each year before a carefully selected audience.

Albert Campion is among the cast of gadabouts, muses and socialites gathered for the latest ceremony – but art is the last thing on the sleuth’s mind when a brutal stabbing occurs….

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

I think I enjoyed this Campion more than previous ones. No secret societies, no gangs, just a well written mystery and a good cast of characters. Interested to hear your thoughts.

Very much enjoyed this, one of the best in my opinion. Campion comes across as being as a very caring man , as opposed to the devil-may-care character he has played in previous books.

I’ve just started rereading this one and am enjoying it a lot so far.

I really like the Bohemian, artistic atmosphere here, something which is popular with GA mystery writers and also featured in Allingham's non-Campion mystery Black Plumes.

I have been finding it a slight struggle to keep track of all the characters in the early chapters, though, even though I must have read this at least three times previously over the years!

I suspect we just read so many GA mysteries, with vaguely similar settings, that the characters merge :) I do think the artistic setting is very popular and I liked the idea behind this mystery - it was very clever to have paintings unveiled after the death of the artist.

Jill wrote: "Very much enjoyed this, one of the best in my opinion. Campion comes across as being as a very caring man , as opposed to the devil-may-care character he has played in previous books."

I'm about a third of the way through and he seems very caring so far, I agree - it strikes me, I don't think we saw through his eyes much at all in many of the earlier books, as we do here - he was more of a man of mystery seen from outside. (It all helps to make him such an intriguing character.)

Susan, I agree it is clever to have the paintings unveiled after the artist's death - I think books with someone pulling the strings from beyond the grave tend to work very well, like Nemesis with Miss Marple sent on a guided tour.

And I remember there was one book we read recently where the younger generation is ordered in a will to keep meeting up - I'm not sure which one that was now though!

Who else is reading along with this one, or has read it before? I know we have a few Campion fans in the group.

I'm around the halfway mark and enjoying it very much. I really like Campion's sensitivity to other's feelings and his relations with Scotland Yard. And no whiff of a criminal gang. I miss Lugg however. He must be stuck at home polishing boots.

Wishing I could, I like this one a lot, but my reading dance card is full just now!

I know that feeling, Abigail. Well, if you get a space on your dance card later, the threads will still be open. :)

I miss Lugg too, Sandy. His relationship with Campion is one of the aspects of the series I love - more comic than Wimsey and Bunter, but the same affection is still there!

Yes I also missed Lugg. As you say their relationship really works for me. I'm not sure where he would have fitted in with this one though.

Judy wrote: "Who else is reading along with this one, or has read it before? I know we have a few Campion fans in the group."

I’ve read this one, but it’s been years; I’m currently finishing up The Singing Sands, and would like to read Inspector Chopra, but my library’s lending system has gone wonky - I requested it a week ago, and still not showing as available!

I love Campion, I’m up to Tiger in the Smoke in the series- I might dive in with this reread once I finish Singing Sands.

I was happy enough to miss out Lugg. I find him as annoying as others seem to find Bathgate in the Marsh novels. Perhaps I enjoyed this more as it had less of the usual ingredients - secret societies, etc.

Judy wrote: "Who else is reading along with this one, or has read it before? I know we have a few Campion fans in the group."

Just started it, I'm really enjoying Campion this time around.

Me too, Pamela. I think it is my favourite so far.

Judy wrote: "Who else is reading along with this one, or has read it before? I know we have a few Campion fans in the group."

I've just started this-I had to finish The Singing Sands first! I actually joined this group for the Campion reads so count me as a fan.

I read this one a few years ago and very much enjoyed it. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....