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Albert Campion #21
Mr Campion's Falcon
Matthew Matthews, archaeologist, died of a heart attack. Francis Makepeace, geologist, vanishes. Many problems — not least for Mr Campion. For Makepeace is a maverick with a secret. The results are murder, kidnapping, and the doghouse for his loyal friends who are the last to solve his mystery. But fortunately for them, Albert Campion is just one jump ahead of the sinister forces who can smell money — lots of money — in his disappearance and who will stop at nothing to get it under their grubby paws.
All books in the Albert Campion series are standalone titles and can be read in any order.
All books in the Albert Campion series are standalone titles and can be read in any order.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1970
About the author
Youngman Carter
14 books1 followerPhilip "Pip" Youngman Carter was a journalist, writer, and artist who designed over 2,000 book-wrappers. He was a frequent collaborator of his wife Margery Allingham; completing her final novel and continuing her Albert Campion series after her death.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 13, 2015
Disappointing but ... I did read the whole thing (for some reason). The plot made no sense and I couldn't keep several of the characters straight. There were a lot of throwaway references to mystery classics but they were pretty empty. And there was very little of the charming mr campion. But I did read the whole thing.
May 20, 2008
I picked this book up because it was an Albert Campion mystery--but was surprised to note that the author was Youngman Carter, not Margery Allington. (subsequently I learned that he was her husband and wrote two Albert Campion novels after her death).
It was a fine airport read but this aging Albert Campion lacked the humor, style and finesse of his wife's original character. Mr. Campion's man-servant was also missing from the book (and he added alot to the earlier novels).
It was a fine airport read but this aging Albert Campion lacked the humor, style and finesse of his wife's original character. Mr. Campion's man-servant was also missing from the book (and he added alot to the earlier novels).
June 28, 2013
Philip Youngman Carter has done a good job taking on Campion after his wife, Margery Allingham, died. He has captured the essence of Campion extremely well, I think. The mild and vague impression that Allingham created so cleverly is just as evident here. I was a bit disappointed that there was no Lugg but as Campion appears to be in his sixties, I suppose the old retainer has shuffled off.
Quite a complicated plot involving multi-national business. Not really a detective story, more a thriller but none the worse for that. I enjoyed it very much and will definitely read the other Campion book that PYC wrote. Recommended.
Quite a complicated plot involving multi-national business. Not really a detective story, more a thriller but none the worse for that. I enjoyed it very much and will definitely read the other Campion book that PYC wrote. Recommended.
October 13, 2025
MY RATING GUIDE: 3.5 Satisfied Stars. MR CAMPION’S FALCON (or MR CAMPION’S QUARRY) contains dry wit, meatier reading and a few interesting plot twists in this final episode featuring Campion in his chosen career as an amateur investigator. Campion’s wife, Lady Amanda, aircraft designer/manufacturer, has a very brief cameo near the end. I felt MR CAMPION’S FALCON (MR CAMPION’S QUARRY) as a last book in this series was well done by Margery’s husband, Youngman Carter. (I rounded up as kudos to him, honoring his wife by completing her last 2 Albert Campion stories in the final 3yrs before his own death).
5= I Loved this; it was great! & most likely will read again (I SELDOM give 5 Stars); 4= I liked it a lot & would read it again; 3.5= I ENJOYED THIS & MIGHT RETURN TO READ IT AGAIN; 3= This was okay/fairly good & might or might not read it again; 2= Nope, not for me; 1= dnf/What was that?
MR CAMPION’S FALCON/QUARRY the final book in Margery Allingham’s Classic Mystery series deals with corporate espionage set in Cotswold, England, sometime 1970’s.
‘Elsie’ Cochran, Campion’s retired longtime CID Scotland Yard friend, is now the head of corporate security in a large international conglomerate, Omega Oil. Elsie has requested Campion, now 60yr, to look into the disappearance of a valuable, longtime corporate employee (who possesses proprietary intellectual property which must not fall into the wrong hands). Although the man officially retired 4yrs ago, the company had kept him on a retainer as his knowledge and contacts continued to be useful. But now he has gone missing.
Comments ~
1) MR CAMPION’S QUARRY (UK title MR CAMPION’S FALCON), pub in 1971/1972 is the last book of 21 in Margery Allingham’s Albert Campion Classic British Mystery series set in England during the 1900’s. Each title in this series can be read as a Standalone mystery but I believe more enjoyment is gained by beginning with bk1. Allingham’s writing style changed somewhat over the years, various books having slightly different styles than others.
2) Allingham (b1904-d1966) published the 1st of her 21 Albert Campion books in 1928. She wrote and published Campion Mysteries throughout her lifetime with 2+ mystery Collections published after her death. I have now read the complete published works of Albert Campion. I expect that I will pick this series up again when I’m in the mood to revisit favorite great Classic British Mysteries.
3) As Margery Allingham aged, so did her main character Campion age and mature throughout the series. Campion, a viscount in the early books, is the 2nd son and the brother of a Duke (possibly a cousin or close relative of the King) and is about 28 in the earliest books. In the latter books of the series, Campion is a mature man of 60. Campion is a gentleman amateur investigator who oftentimes works alongside Scotland Yard solving certain crimes, similar to Dorothy Sayer’s Lord Peter Whimsey character (and to a lesser extent Christie’s Hercule Poirot, a retired police inspector).
4) The Albert Campion Mystery series is Character Driven with reappearing secondary characters including widowed Scotland Yard Superintendent Charles Luke, Campion’s mentor Chief Inspector ‘Elsie’ Cochran and Campion’s loyal and ever-capable butler, Lugg. Certain titles are lighter and faster moving than others and, I find, more fun to read. MR CAMPION’S FALCON/QUARRY read as a corporate intrigue novel set in the small villages and towns of Cotswold, England with a somewhat 1950’s ‘villainy’ feel.
5) Allingham died in 1966. The previous book MR CAMPION’S FARTHING (book 20) and MR CAMPION’S FALCON/QUARRY were both completed after Margery’s death by her journalist and editor husband, Phillip Youngman Carter (with whom, apparently, Margery would sometimes collaborate). While Youngman’s writing style differs somewhat from his wife (Allingham) in tone and style, I still enjoyed reading the last 2 Campion novels, books written by her husband with love and dedication in addition to his own literary talent. Youngman died 3yrs after his wife.
6) Margery Allingham wrote during the Golden Age of British Crime writing alongside Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh (the Inspector Richard Alleyn series) and Dorthy Sayers (the Lord Peter Whimsey series), each earning the recognition as Queen of British/Classic Crime fiction/Mysteries. Comparing their series is quite satisfying. Individually, and as a group, they present a perspective of a past period through their mentions of social concerns, issues, technology, and entertainment. SWEET DANGER and 3 other Campion novels were broadcast on BBC television’s Mysteries series years ago. It was through these broadcasts I was first introduced to Albert Campion, along with Hercule Poirot (A Christie), Inspector Roderick Alleyn (Ngaio Marsh) and Lord Peter Whimsey (Dorothy Sayers) mysteries.
7) As a Classic British Mysteries reader, this series is among my favorite. I recommend it to readers who enjoy:
> Classic British Mysteries.
> Mysteries set in England during the early 1900’s-early 1970s.
> Historical Mysteries.
> Character-driven Mystery series.
> Police Procedural Mysteries.
> Seasoned characters (the MC has aged by the latter half of this series).
> Mysteries low in angst with minimal romance.
> Classic literary fiction.
READER CAUTIONS ~
PROFANITY - Minimal use of strong language (2-5).
VIOLENCE - PG. This is a murder mystery, more mysterious than dark or violent.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
5= I Loved this; it was great! & most likely will read again (I SELDOM give 5 Stars); 4= I liked it a lot & would read it again; 3.5= I ENJOYED THIS & MIGHT RETURN TO READ IT AGAIN; 3= This was okay/fairly good & might or might not read it again; 2= Nope, not for me; 1= dnf/What was that?
MR CAMPION’S FALCON/QUARRY the final book in Margery Allingham’s Classic Mystery series deals with corporate espionage set in Cotswold, England, sometime 1970’s.
‘Elsie’ Cochran, Campion’s retired longtime CID Scotland Yard friend, is now the head of corporate security in a large international conglomerate, Omega Oil. Elsie has requested Campion, now 60yr, to look into the disappearance of a valuable, longtime corporate employee (who possesses proprietary intellectual property which must not fall into the wrong hands). Although the man officially retired 4yrs ago, the company had kept him on a retainer as his knowledge and contacts continued to be useful. But now he has gone missing.
Comments ~
1) MR CAMPION’S QUARRY (UK title MR CAMPION’S FALCON), pub in 1971/1972 is the last book of 21 in Margery Allingham’s Albert Campion Classic British Mystery series set in England during the 1900’s. Each title in this series can be read as a Standalone mystery but I believe more enjoyment is gained by beginning with bk1. Allingham’s writing style changed somewhat over the years, various books having slightly different styles than others.
2) Allingham (b1904-d1966) published the 1st of her 21 Albert Campion books in 1928. She wrote and published Campion Mysteries throughout her lifetime with 2+ mystery Collections published after her death. I have now read the complete published works of Albert Campion. I expect that I will pick this series up again when I’m in the mood to revisit favorite great Classic British Mysteries.
3) As Margery Allingham aged, so did her main character Campion age and mature throughout the series. Campion, a viscount in the early books, is the 2nd son and the brother of a Duke (possibly a cousin or close relative of the King) and is about 28 in the earliest books. In the latter books of the series, Campion is a mature man of 60. Campion is a gentleman amateur investigator who oftentimes works alongside Scotland Yard solving certain crimes, similar to Dorothy Sayer’s Lord Peter Whimsey character (and to a lesser extent Christie’s Hercule Poirot, a retired police inspector).
4) The Albert Campion Mystery series is Character Driven with reappearing secondary characters including widowed Scotland Yard Superintendent Charles Luke, Campion’s mentor Chief Inspector ‘Elsie’ Cochran and Campion’s loyal and ever-capable butler, Lugg. Certain titles are lighter and faster moving than others and, I find, more fun to read. MR CAMPION’S FALCON/QUARRY read as a corporate intrigue novel set in the small villages and towns of Cotswold, England with a somewhat 1950’s ‘villainy’ feel.
5) Allingham died in 1966. The previous book MR CAMPION’S FARTHING (book 20) and MR CAMPION’S FALCON/QUARRY were both completed after Margery’s death by her journalist and editor husband, Phillip Youngman Carter (with whom, apparently, Margery would sometimes collaborate). While Youngman’s writing style differs somewhat from his wife (Allingham) in tone and style, I still enjoyed reading the last 2 Campion novels, books written by her husband with love and dedication in addition to his own literary talent. Youngman died 3yrs after his wife.
6) Margery Allingham wrote during the Golden Age of British Crime writing alongside Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh (the Inspector Richard Alleyn series) and Dorthy Sayers (the Lord Peter Whimsey series), each earning the recognition as Queen of British/Classic Crime fiction/Mysteries. Comparing their series is quite satisfying. Individually, and as a group, they present a perspective of a past period through their mentions of social concerns, issues, technology, and entertainment. SWEET DANGER and 3 other Campion novels were broadcast on BBC television’s Mysteries series years ago. It was through these broadcasts I was first introduced to Albert Campion, along with Hercule Poirot (A Christie), Inspector Roderick Alleyn (Ngaio Marsh) and Lord Peter Whimsey (Dorothy Sayers) mysteries.
7) As a Classic British Mysteries reader, this series is among my favorite. I recommend it to readers who enjoy:
> Classic British Mysteries.
> Mysteries set in England during the early 1900’s-early 1970s.
> Historical Mysteries.
> Character-driven Mystery series.
> Police Procedural Mysteries.
> Seasoned characters (the MC has aged by the latter half of this series).
> Mysteries low in angst with minimal romance.
> Classic literary fiction.
READER CAUTIONS ~
PROFANITY - Minimal use of strong language (2-5).
VIOLENCE - PG. This is a murder mystery, more mysterious than dark or violent.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
January 28, 2023
I've never not enjoyed a murder mystery by Margery Allingham, so I thought I would give this a try. Youngman Carter was Margery Allingham's husband, a journalist, well-respected artist and (apparently) a co-plotter of her novels. When she died prematurely in 1966 he completed her last Albert Campion novel and set out to keep Campion alive in a further series of books. Unfortunately, he died from lung cancer (I guess everyone smoked back then) after only two had been completed, and this was the second of those.
Anyway, I hate to say it, but I struggled through this book from the very start. Unlike an original Margery Allingham authored book, I found the writing to be often rather showy and over-elaborate, as if to display the author's erudition and knowledge of history, rather than move the story along. I also found some of the characters less than believable and quite inconsistent, such as the main female protagonist Miss Anthea Peregrine. A young woman, she finds herself up against the sinister Mister Porteous, yet hardly bats an eyelid. Impossibly cool and confident, even when kidnapped, as if she feels no fear. And yet later on, no spoilers, it is obvious that she does.
I also struggled to follow what was going on, in the rather convoluted plot involving one man's dead body being found near an archaeological dig and another former oil executive who has disappeared. That could be my fault though for being thick, I suppose.
Most difficult of all though, and this no fault of the author, was seeing Campion both grown old and also existing as something of an upper-class anachronism in a 1970s world that had moved on, suddenly full of Cortinas and casual sex. It just felt uncomfortable. A clash of worlds.
However, to be fair, in the last few chapters the story gave itself a thorough shake, started to make far more sense and delivered some quality plot and action ... so all the time spent reading was not lost.
Not a classic but worth the read in the end.
Anyway, I hate to say it, but I struggled through this book from the very start. Unlike an original Margery Allingham authored book, I found the writing to be often rather showy and over-elaborate, as if to display the author's erudition and knowledge of history, rather than move the story along. I also found some of the characters less than believable and quite inconsistent, such as the main female protagonist Miss Anthea Peregrine. A young woman, she finds herself up against the sinister Mister Porteous, yet hardly bats an eyelid. Impossibly cool and confident, even when kidnapped, as if she feels no fear. And yet later on, no spoilers, it is obvious that she does.
I also struggled to follow what was going on, in the rather convoluted plot involving one man's dead body being found near an archaeological dig and another former oil executive who has disappeared. That could be my fault though for being thick, I suppose.
Most difficult of all though, and this no fault of the author, was seeing Campion both grown old and also existing as something of an upper-class anachronism in a 1970s world that had moved on, suddenly full of Cortinas and casual sex. It just felt uncomfortable. A clash of worlds.
However, to be fair, in the last few chapters the story gave itself a thorough shake, started to make far more sense and delivered some quality plot and action ... so all the time spent reading was not lost.
Not a classic but worth the read in the end.
March 6, 2021
This is the final adventure for Albert Campion.
Campion is called upon by an old friend to help locate a man who has suddenly disappeared, a Mr. Makepeace. Makepeace is well respected for his geographical knowledge of oil sources around the world. He has worked for Omega Oil for a long time and Omega is afraid Makepeace may be considering selling his knowledge to a competitor.
A Mr. Porteous is searching for something a Mr. Matthews, and Porteous is a man who gets what he sets out to get. His methods are not gentlemanly. But Mr. Matthews has suddenly died and Miss Anthea Peregrine is now handling Matthews’ affairs. She also finds she must deal with Porteous.
As Campion goes about unravelling Makepeace’s disappearance, he find there is much more than oil secrets involved and missing persons. There is a question of relationships between Makepeace, Matthews and Porteous. There are double agents, murder, and kidnapping. It isn’t a simple last case.
With multiple threads going on, it can be quite a tangle to undo. Campion may seem laid back and maybe a bit slow, but that is just a front. He checks each possible lead — good ones and dead ends — until he can finally weave a solid solution to the mystery and the parties involved.
Campion is called upon by an old friend to help locate a man who has suddenly disappeared, a Mr. Makepeace. Makepeace is well respected for his geographical knowledge of oil sources around the world. He has worked for Omega Oil for a long time and Omega is afraid Makepeace may be considering selling his knowledge to a competitor.
A Mr. Porteous is searching for something a Mr. Matthews, and Porteous is a man who gets what he sets out to get. His methods are not gentlemanly. But Mr. Matthews has suddenly died and Miss Anthea Peregrine is now handling Matthews’ affairs. She also finds she must deal with Porteous.
As Campion goes about unravelling Makepeace’s disappearance, he find there is much more than oil secrets involved and missing persons. There is a question of relationships between Makepeace, Matthews and Porteous. There are double agents, murder, and kidnapping. It isn’t a simple last case.
With multiple threads going on, it can be quite a tangle to undo. Campion may seem laid back and maybe a bit slow, but that is just a front. He checks each possible lead — good ones and dead ends — until he can finally weave a solid solution to the mystery and the parties involved.
November 15, 2020
Written by Allingham's husband, this Champion adventure is set in a twentieth century world of oil drilling, mining, and archeological digs coupled with industrial sabatoge. Champion is matched with Anthea Peregrine, the falcon of the piece, in protecting a brilliant but reckless geologist against the mountainous Mr Porteous. It takes a while to find out what the actual object of contention is but the ending is very satisfying. Almost as good as Allingham's writing.
October 13, 2024
Written by Margery Allingham's husband, this book sticks mainly to her formula, i. e., a young couple involved in a situation that is over their heads getting help from Campion to get out of trouble. Well-written and complicated, it has a villain who is deserving of the name and keeps up the tradition of Campion. Carter finished a Cargo of Eagles and wrote Mr. Campion's Farthing and this book after his wife's death. He did a great job.
January 30, 2026
An intelligent Classic!
I was worried that Mr. Carter’s continuation of a Marjorie Allingham character would not respect his well established identity. No fear! If I had not known who wrote this book, I would have assumed with no question in my mind that this was an Allingham book.
It is written with subtlety and delightful description of setting and characterization.
Superb!
I was worried that Mr. Carter’s continuation of a Marjorie Allingham character would not respect his well established identity. No fear! If I had not known who wrote this book, I would have assumed with no question in my mind that this was an Allingham book.
It is written with subtlety and delightful description of setting and characterization.
Superb!
March 3, 2020
I tried to finish it, but two weeks of reading myself to sleep every night was just torture. It was slow moving...every night I had to backtrack because it was boring. Nothing made much sense. So I gave up. I have read several Allingham stories and enjoyed them. Life is too short to waste on boring reads.
Read
August 22, 2023Quite good fun, and an enjoyable bit of fluff after a long and serious history book. Written by the husband of Margery Allingham after her death. It wasn't really clear how Albert Campion worked out what on earth was going on, but of course he did, and it all ended satisfactorily.
December 24, 2021
The 21st book in the Albert Campion series. This book was written after Margery Allingham's death by her husband. Light and entertaining, but doesn't deliver as well as the earlier books.
August 8, 2022
A little too much adventure for my taste. I like my mysteries to be more character driven.
November 9, 2022
Realized I had read this before under a different title.
March 27, 2024
Excellent
Phillip Youngman-Carter wrote an excellent Campion reprise. Margery Allimgham could not have done better if she had written it herself.
Phillip Youngman-Carter wrote an excellent Campion reprise. Margery Allimgham could not have done better if she had written it herself.
November 19, 2025
Convoluted but ultimately made sense (I guessed).
Read
July 13, 2019It's a little unclear whether Margery Allingham wrote any of this or if it's entirely her husband Youngman Carter's work. At the time it came out, it got some excellent reviews (the back cover quotes some raves from Saturday Review, Publisher's Weekly, and New York Times Book Review, but commentary on Goodreads some fiftyish years later is fairly savage, which is interesting. My opinion falls in neither camp. It's not a bad read for a mystery-thriller of its period, and Youngman Carter did pick up a fair amount of his wife's style, so it doesn't sound jarringly different than late work written entirely by her. On the other hand, it lacks most of the humor and all of the weirdness that is characteristic of the books I have liked most by her. So if you enjoy literate (but not at all literary) late-sixties thrillers--for instance if you enjoy late Agatha Christie mysteries--this could be a decent option for light reading, but if you're looking for Margery Allingham's best, this ain't it.
July 17, 2012
Crap, complete crap. I expect that, although he stuck his dead wife's name on this, her husband really wrote it, completely abandoning the witch, charm, and continuity, of his wife's creation and replacing it with his own James Bond fantasies. I like to think that, if there is a Hell, there is a special place for family members who appropriate good art and then turn it into trash just to make a few bucks.
November 19, 2014
The first Youngman Carter p.p. Allingham I've read. It worked rather well, in the same slightly cool style of her later Campion books, though I miss the occasionally potty exuberance of the younger models.
September 20, 2020
Did not like this version of Campion. Very little of the warmth and wittiness og Ripleys version. I often did not know who was talking and what was happening in the scenes. No lady Amanda Check out the Ripley books. They are really well done. and do not bother with this one.
July 5, 2010
Who done it. Fast read.
September 21, 2013
6/26/91. No library.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews