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In 'Crime and Mr. Campion', Margery Allingham artfully constructs a narrative that is at once a gripping detective story and a rich foray into the complexities of human behavior and justice. Allingham's writing, renowned for its wit and elegance, shines as she weaves numerous tales that display the cunning and dexterity of her famed protagonist, Albert Campion. Falling within the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, her work captures the essence of the period with its intricate plotting, multidimensional characters, and a literary style that melds the light-hearted with the grave, the traditional drawing-room mystery with action and adventure. Allingham's oeuvre delicately balances humor with suspense, making her writing both distinctive and enduring within the literary context of crime fiction. Margery Allingham's own journey as a writer undeniably influenced her creation of the urbane and enigmatic detective Albert Campion. Born in London in 1904, she came of age in a Britain rich with literary tradition and was contemporaneous with such giants as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. Yet, it was her unique voice and perspective that established her as a pillar of the detective genre. Her personal fascination with psychology and the social issues of the times often breathed life into her characters, painting a vivid portrait of the English society in which she lived and wrote. 'Crime and Mr. Campion' represents the culmination of Allingham's skilled narrative craft and her insightful exploration of the human psyche. 'Crime and Mr. Campion' is a must-read for aficionados of classic detective fiction. With its astute character development and meticulous plotting, the book offers more than just a puzzle to be solved; it invites readers to immerse themselves in the intellectual pleasure of unraveling the subtle interplay among characters, motives, and the pursuit of justice. Engaging for new readers and rewarding for those well-acquainted with Allingham's world, this collection of stories not only stands as a testament to her mastery of the genre but also provides a timeless commentary on the enduring nature of crime and investigation.

The killer of a pawnbroker left few clues--not even a body--but Albert Campion has reservations when the outlandish theory of Superintendent Charles Luke leads them to a curio museum called Tether's End

“The Tiger in the Smoke is a phenomenal novel.” —J. K. Rowling A fog is creeping through the weary streets of London—so too are whispers that the Tiger is back in town, undetected by the law, untroubled by morals. And the rumors are true: Jack Havoc, charismatic outlaw, knife-wielding killer, and ingenious jail-breaker, is on the loose once again. As Havoc stalks the smog-cloaked alleyways of the city, it falls to Albert Campion to hunt down the fugitive and put a stop to his rampage—before it’s too late . . . “Allingham’s work is always of the first rank.” —The New York Times

The first novel in Margery Allingham’s renowned series introducing the legendary aristocratic sleuth Albert Campion. Pathologist George Abbershaw is on holiday in Suffolk attending a social weekend at the remote Black Dudley manor. His friend Wyatt Petrie has organized a party to provide some diversion for his elderly uncle. With charming young Meggie Oliphant in attendance, George hopes to win her affections. But the lighthearted gathering soon takes a dark turn as the guests are caught in a deadly game. The group soon discovers that the house is under the control of hardened criminals, and there is a killer among them. Now trapped, George must find a way to thwart their plans while getting himself and Meggie out alive. Luckily, one of the guests is Albert Campion—a notorious party crasher with a surprisingly good knack for solving mysteries.

Classic Crime from the Golden Age. Margery Allingham is J.K. Rowling's favourite Golden Age author. Eric Crowther collected secrets and used them as weapons. Delighting in nothing more than torturing those around him with what he knew, there is no shortage of suspects when he is found dead in the White Cottage. Chief Inspector Challenor and his son Jerry will have to look deep into everyone's past – including the victim's – before they can be sure who has pulled the trigger. The fact that Jerry is in love with one of the suspects, however, might complicate things. The White Cottage Mystery was Margery Allingham's first detective story, originally written as a serial for the Daily Express in 1927 and published as a book a year later. With a country house, blackmail and murder, The White Cottage Mystery is a classic of the Golden Age of detective fiction.

A classic collection of mystery stories: “With skillful plotting laced with tongue-in-cheek humor, Allingham never ceases to intrigue and surprise” (Daily Mail). This volume offer eighteen delightful mysteries from the Queen of Crime that will baffle the most ingenious of armchair detectives—and even, at times, the imperturbable sleuth Albert Campion himself. Enjoy one of England’s great golden-era writers at her witty best as she spins delicious tales of high-risk heists and domestic deceptions in this exquisite short story collection. “A perfectly splendid collection of short stories.” —H. R. F. Keating

“Wonderfully plotted . . . A marvelous mixture of witchcraft, sacred relics and ancient oaths. [Allingham was a] rare and precious talent.” —The Washington Post Estranged from his father, young Percival St. John Wykes Gyrth wanders the streets of London, penniless and homeless, until he’s lured to the house of gentleman sleuth Albert Campion. An underground ring of the most powerful and wealthy art collectors in the world have turned their attention to the Gyrth Chalice, a state treasure guarded by the family for centuries. To stop its theft, Campion and Val head back to the family seat in Suffolk, where folklore and ancient superstitions abound—and where, in its supposedly haunted woods, Val’s aunt is found literally scared to death. With Val’s coming-of-age ritual approaching—in which he is initiated into the secret of the Chalice—Campion must sort through new religion followers, landed gentry, suspicious villagers, and a cast of London’s ne’er-do-wells for suspects, all while putting his own life on the line. Praise for Margery Allingham “Margery Allingham stands out like a shining light.” —Agatha Christie “The best of mystery writers.” —The New Yorker “Don’t start reading these books unless you are confident that you can handle addiction.” —The Independent “One of the finest Golden-Age crime novelists.” —The Sunday Telegraph “Spending an evening with Campion is one of life’s pure pleasures.” —The Sunday Times

Private detective Albert Campion hunts a serial killer in London’s theatre district, in this crime novel from “the best of mystery writers” (The New Yorker). A spate of murders leaves Campion with only two baffling clues: a left-hand glove and a lizard-skin letter-case. These minimal leads, and a series of peculiar events, set the gentleman sleuth on a race against time that takes him from an odd museum of curiosities hidden in a quiet corner of London to a scrapyard in the East End. Margery Allingham shows her dark edge in Hide My Eyes and evokes the sights, sounds, and inimitable atmosphere of 1950s London, once again proving herself “one of the finest ‘golden age’ crime novelists” (Sunday Telegraph). “Allingham has that rare gift in a novelist, the creation of characters so rich and so real that they stay with the reader forever.” —Sara Paretsky “Allingham’s characters are three-dimensional flesh and blood, especially her villains.” —Times Literary Supplement

A baker's dozen of stories in which Mr Albert Campion, the gentle detective, relieves friends and acquaintances from inconveniences of assault, blackmail, confidence tricks and the like. At the close of one short, sharp case of espionage, Superintendent Oates remarks, "Campion, you frightened me. Something looks after you". He's right - and it is generally the young detective's legion of disreputable friends.