"Murder turns a weekend house party at Black Dudley Manor into a deadly affair when the host is discovered brutally slain. Nor do gruesome rituals, callous interrogations, and perilous traps add to the fun. Fatal mystification might win the day, if Albert Campion were not there to sift through the motives and clues as with brilliant detection and his signature charm he penetrates the heart of the crime."
My Thoughts:
This book was an absolute delight to read!! Reminiscent at times of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, this book was just as good but slightly less deadly. It had the same tense, creepy atmosphere that kept me wondering what was going to happen next. For such a little book, this one certainly packed a punch! The setting of the house, the atmosphere that the author created, and the overall mystery added up in a way that was both dark and thrilling. And I loved every minute of it!
I found this book to be a page turner the entire time I was reading it. It was a bit unrealistic at times but that just didn't matter because I was so caught up in the entire reading experience. I loved the idea of a secluded house party where a murder has taken place, everyone is a suspect, and you never know what is going to happen next. It was the perfect read for me and I couldn't get enough. I'm going to get a bit spoiler-ey here but my only question was in regards to Albert Campion. I don't understand why we didn't get to know him more as a character as it seems this mystery series is based on him. This book was narrated by a different character who played more of a prominent role in the book. And as a reader I never really got a true feel for Albert's character and his motivations. Maybe in the next book of the series??? Anyone read any books by this author and want to chime in? It wasn't a bad thing but it did leave me wondering.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The author did an amazing job in regards to the setting and atmosphere. It was so creepy at times! I can only hope that the other books in this series are just as good! I will definitely be reading more by this Allingham. I wouldn't be surprised if this book ends up on my top reads of the year list...it was just that good! Highly recommended but especially to fans of vintage mysteries!
Bottom Line: A thrilling, engaging read that I didn't want to set down!
Disclosure: Checked out from my local library! I read this as part of the Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge.
This does sound great, hopefully you'll learn more about Albert's character in the next books.
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds great. I loved And Then There Were None so you just comparing it that book means it's a winner!
ReplyDelete