The Beckoning Lady: Albert Campion #15 (Volume 15) Paperback – August 16, 2010

This novel offers everything fans of classic British mysteries could hope for. Albert Campion is an appealing amateur detective surrounded by a cast of very well-developed characters of all ages and walks of life. The convoluted mystery plot, which unfolds with drama, humor and a touch of romance, blends suspected murder with attempted financial fraud. It will keep readers guessing to the very end. Like most of Allingham's books, this one is also graced by truly stylish prose writing. The only knock I have on the book is that readers who are new to the Campion novels could find themselves a bit at sea. Several characters in this book first appeared in much earlier books in the series, and Allingham seems to take for granted that readers will remember them and their previous connections to Campion. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this novel as the epitome of a classic mystery from the Golden Age.

As much as I love the books about Mr. Campion, this particular one was one of my least favorite. So much time is spent getting ready for the party which sets up the stunt at the end of the book that reveals all, that I was in grave danger of being bored. I did not find the characters engaging enough to fill 80% of the pages. The end of the book is very fun. Justice prevails and all questions are answered. But not in a way that reflected well on my Mr. Campion. I just wasn't crazy about this story.

Up to this point I’ve been a fan of the Campion mysteries, and I’ll keep on reading them in the hope that they’ll regain the charm of the earlier books. But I found The Beckoning Lady a disappointment.Throughout most of the story a rather inane party is in preparation. This gets tedious. There’s entirely too much silly banter among people whose identity and purpose is vague for too long. The murder is barely noticeable amidst the proliferation of affectedly eccentric behavior. The humor overall is outdated and adds to the confusion that plagues the plot. Things improve only in the last forty pages with the appearance of another body.Still, there are some interesting plot elements here and there. I enjoyed, for example, Chief Inspector Luke’s attack of lovesickness.But otherwise I was discouraged and kept reading only to keep up with events in the lives of Campion and his circle. I figured this might be important as I go on with the series.

Written at the beginning of the last decade of her life, this entry in the Campion series gives us a good deal more of the sleuth than is to be found in some number written later. While not up to the level of much of her earlier work, it is a quite readable and enjoyable return of the hero to the setting in which he first met and came to love his wife, Amanda. On stage, as well, is the young son, youthfully articulate and mischievous. There are a plethora of characters involved, mostly interesting, as they play their part in the drama of which we know nothing till the end of the book, the hidden agenda for Campion's visit, and the one which motivates most of the action, the Big Party, thrown by one of his oldest friends and the friends wife, with much of the rustic community taking a hand in the preparation and consumption of the feast. There is a death that all are persuaded is natural and death that is not so viewed. A strong role is played by an old friend and near comrade-in-arms, high in the Scotland Yard hierarchy, though still a working officer, but currently on holiday and in Love to Campion's dismay since she is manifestly the Wrong Woman for him.All in all, while the story sans mystery is almost strong enough to stand alone; with the criminal element included, it is one of the stronger late novels by this member of the elite of Classic British Mystery writers in their Golden Age. I read each book that I find with gratification, which varies only in degree of pleasure with the strength of the mystery component. This is one most Allingham readers should enjoy, others who like good writing and a richness of characterization, should also be pleased.

The Beckoning LadyIn this 15th Campion novel Albert returns to Pontisbright on holiday with Amanda, their son Rupert, Magersfontein Lugg, and Chief Inspector Charlie Luke, who much to Campion’s dismay is in love. Much of the story centers around the preparation for a country party being thrown by friends Minnie and Tonker Cassands. There are three deaths, one of which is Allingham’s way of exacting a little gleeful revenge on all the tax trouble she had in real life. This is a story strong on characterization, atmosphere, and Intrigue to be read and reread. I received a copy of this book from the Allingham Estate for an impartial review.

Margery Allingham has become my favorite author of the four Queens of Murder and one of my top five all time best entertainment fiction writers! Her characterizations are superb and just plain good fun and the somewhat twisty and always creative plots often surprising as well as providing"food" for thought. My favorite novels include Amanda Fitton and I wish I had started reading them in order. Great read for insomniacs like myself. Linnea

I've read a few Campion, but sometimes this wandered around the tree too much and I think I got lost and started chapters over. Don't know if it is the Kindle version or if the print is also this way. Seemed to assume I knew too much about these characters, and I guess I missed that one in the series.

I like all of Margery Allingham's work, including this. However, the disc skips throughout the story, making listening to it an annoyance rather than a pleasure. I shall not return it because I have played it through several times, hoping it would right itself, but will hesitate to order future audio books from this source.

I’ve been reading the Campion novels in sequence and I am disappointed with those that are set after WW2. The novels seem to be based around eccentric characters and Albert Campion is almost a supporting artist.This book contains far too many characters all of whom seem to be weird or eccentric. There is far too much dialogue and very little action. There is not much of a plot and when the mystery is solved it is not clear as to how it was solved. The person responsible for the deaths hardly featured in the story and was really a peripheral character.It appears to me that Margery Allingham was struggling to fit Campion into post war England as the world he inhabited was disappearing and so she had tried to be inventive with her stories. Unfortunately it didn’t work (for me anyway) and I think she should have retired him. I shall carry on reading the novels in the hope that they may improve but I am not hopeful.

Found this book, confusing and rambling. I normally enjoy Campion stories, not this one.

It was a cd what do you think I used it for

My order was very quickly despatched and as advertised. Thank you.

in not too bad a condition