What do you think?
Rate this book
Mr Campion #12
Mr Campion's Christmas
The Campions are snowed in at Christmas, but j
ust when they think it can't get any colder, their holidays take an even chillier turn.
1962, Norfolk. Boxing Day looks set to be a quiet affair for the Campions when they are snowed in at their remote farmhouse, Carterers - until a charabanc full of 'pilgrims' travelling from London to the Shrine of Our Lady in nearby Walsingham crashes into their imposing granite gateposts and the family unexpectedly find themselves playing host to the eccentric passengers.
But any lingering festive cheer is in short supply when a shocking discovery is made the following day, while a terrifying twist reveals that some of the guests are not who they seem. Which - if any - can they trust? Suddenly hostage to events, the Campions are drawn into a fiendish web of espionage as the Cold War comes chillingly close to home.
1962, Norfolk. Boxing Day looks set to be a quiet affair for the Campions when they are snowed in at their remote farmhouse, Carterers - until a charabanc full of 'pilgrims' travelling from London to the Shrine of Our Lady in nearby Walsingham crashes into their imposing granite gateposts and the family unexpectedly find themselves playing host to the eccentric passengers.
But any lingering festive cheer is in short supply when a shocking discovery is made the following day, while a terrifying twist reveals that some of the guests are not who they seem. Which - if any - can they trust? Suddenly hostage to events, the Campions are drawn into a fiendish web of espionage as the Cold War comes chillingly close to home.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published November 5, 2024
16 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Mike Ripley
66 books54 followersMike Ripley is the author of the award-winning 'Angel' series of comedy thrillers which have twice won the CWA Last Laugh Award. It has been said that he 'paints a picture of London Dickens would recognise' and that 'he writes like the young Len Deighton, wierd and wonderful information and very, very funny'. Described as 'England's funniest crime writer' (The Times), he is also a respected critic of crime fiction, writing for the Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Times and the Birmingham Post among others.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 27, 2024
Some interesting facts turned up when I started reading this book as an ARC written by Mike Ripley. I have already read some books about Mr. Campion but those were written by Margery Allingham. Apparently she wrote a long series and Mr. Ripley has been continuing it. He does a good job!
Albert Campion and his wife, Lady Amanda, are living in a rather remote house in Norfolk. The setting is 1962 and the story references the Cold War and involves espionage. The author has a lot of historical knowledge and uses it well. Even the massive snow storm which he uses to trap all his characters in one house actually occurred that year.
This is a spy mystery written in the style of the Golden Age of mystery and crime. As such it is fairly light, almost cosy, and yet it does have real substance, interesting characters and an intriguing mystery. There is humour too in the dialogue and in some of the less than likely events which occur. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it to anyone who reads mysteries. You do not need to have read the previous books to like this one.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Albert Campion and his wife, Lady Amanda, are living in a rather remote house in Norfolk. The setting is 1962 and the story references the Cold War and involves espionage. The author has a lot of historical knowledge and uses it well. Even the massive snow storm which he uses to trap all his characters in one house actually occurred that year.
This is a spy mystery written in the style of the Golden Age of mystery and crime. As such it is fairly light, almost cosy, and yet it does have real substance, interesting characters and an intriguing mystery. There is humour too in the dialogue and in some of the less than likely events which occur. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it to anyone who reads mysteries. You do not need to have read the previous books to like this one.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 5, 2024
A Christmas challenge!
Classic Ripley’s Albert Campion mayhem taking place over Christmas 1962 at their Norfolk farmhouse.
A lively description of Lugg as Santa driving an Arandel Works landrover made out to be Santa’s sled adds to the Christmas spirit.
However later on a blizzard envelopes the area.
A pilgrim’s bus enroute to the shrine of Walsingham crashes into their sturdy entrance pillars during in a blizzard. The stranded passengers, a very mixed and puzzling group, take sanctuary with the Campion’s.
Three young American servicemen help out. They’re heading to the RAF Markham base where Lady Amanda has her aeronautic works.
However things change when Campion and Lugg discover the missing bus driver. His dead body is on the coach.
A startling and unwelcome Christmas surprise for the Campion’s complete with treason and spies.
This is apparently the last Campion writings from Ripley. So sad!
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Classic Ripley’s Albert Campion mayhem taking place over Christmas 1962 at their Norfolk farmhouse.
A lively description of Lugg as Santa driving an Arandel Works landrover made out to be Santa’s sled adds to the Christmas spirit.
However later on a blizzard envelopes the area.
A pilgrim’s bus enroute to the shrine of Walsingham crashes into their sturdy entrance pillars during in a blizzard. The stranded passengers, a very mixed and puzzling group, take sanctuary with the Campion’s.
Three young American servicemen help out. They’re heading to the RAF Markham base where Lady Amanda has her aeronautic works.
However things change when Campion and Lugg discover the missing bus driver. His dead body is on the coach.
A startling and unwelcome Christmas surprise for the Campion’s complete with treason and spies.
This is apparently the last Campion writings from Ripley. So sad!
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
August 9, 2024
This was my 1st Mr. Campion book that I have read.
I believe this author is picking up and writing additional books in an existing series. Haven’t read the original books so can’t compare but Mike Ripley did a good job. I was pulled into the book immediately and there was not a dull moment.
It is set in early 1960s UK. They are still in the Cold War. It was very interesting seeing Soviets impersonating Americans. That’s all I say on that so as not to give a spoiler.
It was quick and engaging spy mystery.
Thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
#Spy#NetGalley
I believe this author is picking up and writing additional books in an existing series. Haven’t read the original books so can’t compare but Mike Ripley did a good job. I was pulled into the book immediately and there was not a dull moment.
It is set in early 1960s UK. They are still in the Cold War. It was very interesting seeing Soviets impersonating Americans. That’s all I say on that so as not to give a spoiler.
It was quick and engaging spy mystery.
Thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
#Spy#NetGalley
October 2, 2024
The twelfth and last, apparently, of Mike Ripley's excellent series of novels based on Margery Allingham's characters. It is set in the early 1960s immediately following the Cuban missile crisis, and the Russians want some payback for their embarrassment at the hands of the Americans.
The Campion family are snowed in at Carterers, their family home in rural Norfolk, when a coach load of pilgrims to the shrine at Wallsingham seek refuge from the extreme weather. The pilgrims individually have their tales to tell and all have secrets they would like to keep. The most open and straightforward appear to be the three American airmen who had cadged a lift on the coach on their way back to their airbase. Things, of course, are not at all what they seem.
Not so much a who-dunnit or standard crime novel, this is much more an action tale, very amusing for the most part, as its action hero is the bespectacled Mr. Campion, now well into his retirement years. Solid stuff, with some good surprises, entertaining and amusing at all times.
The Campion family are snowed in at Carterers, their family home in rural Norfolk, when a coach load of pilgrims to the shrine at Wallsingham seek refuge from the extreme weather. The pilgrims individually have their tales to tell and all have secrets they would like to keep. The most open and straightforward appear to be the three American airmen who had cadged a lift on the coach on their way back to their airbase. Things, of course, are not at all what they seem.
Not so much a who-dunnit or standard crime novel, this is much more an action tale, very amusing for the most part, as its action hero is the bespectacled Mr. Campion, now well into his retirement years. Solid stuff, with some good surprises, entertaining and amusing at all times.
November 19, 2024
If you love the flavor of British mysteries (country estates, multiple secretive characters, surprises at every turn) then the Mr. Campion series is for you. Actually this is an old series with previous authors and Mike Ripley taking over the task of keeping Mr. Campion, his wife Amanda, son, and good friend Lugg afresh in mysterious happenings. Mr. Campion's Christmas is the first Ripley tale I've read, and I loved its blizzard setting. Nothing better than a bus load of strangers stranded at a country estate, leaving its owners (Campion and his wife) to provide warmth, food, and sleeping quarters. It is only when they discover the phone lines dead and the bus driver missing that they suspect all is not right among those who sought refuge within their walls. Grab a hot cocoa or perhaps a hot toddy or a sherry and enjoy a true Brit mystery.
June 25, 2025
I have enjoyed Ripley's continuation of Margery Allingham's Golden Age series, and am sorry to hear this will be the last of them. Campion, his wife Lady Amanda, and his college student son Rupert are enjoying a quiet Christmas at their remote country home when a blizzard strikes, bringing with it stranded bus passengers who are traveling in the post-holiday lull. Soon their unwilling hosts realize that not all of their guests are what they seem, and soon Campion, with the help of faithful Lugg, is trying to puzzle out the motives of an increasingly hostile force, while the weather outside confines them in the house.
August 17, 2024
Four and a half stars. Deducted half a star because I'm a pedant who insists that the representation of Russian language as a plot point be accurate. Please let me know how wrong I am.
This was an enjoyable book from start to finish. I've heard it described as Woodhouse meets Ludlum, which is a bit of a stretch. Ripley isn't the first to pen a Campion story, but I would suggest he is the best to have done so. In his acknowledgments, he offers that this is the last of his Campion efforts - I hope he has a change of heart. He breathes life into these characters like no other.
This was an enjoyable book from start to finish. I've heard it described as Woodhouse meets Ludlum, which is a bit of a stretch. Ripley isn't the first to pen a Campion story, but I would suggest he is the best to have done so. In his acknowledgments, he offers that this is the last of his Campion efforts - I hope he has a change of heart. He breathes life into these characters like no other.
November 16, 2024
I was sad to hear that this is the last Mr. Campion book (which of course is a continuation of Allingham’s vintage Albert Campion series). It’s been fun, and I’m sure I’ll read them all again.
November 1, 2024
Mike Ripley is the author of the Fitzroy Maclean Angel crime series featuring an enigmatic bandleader as its sleuth. Then about ten years ago he picked up where Margery Allingham left off and has written another twelve novels in her Albert Campion series. I feel as if I’m rather late to the party having never read any of the Campion books, which Allingham began way back in 1929, a kind of spoof, supposedly, of Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey novels.
Having just read Mr Campion’s Christmas I feel I have a bit of catching up to do. The story begins with a bus journey from London, leaving the Victoria Coach Station a couple of days after Christmas. It’s 1962, a year that went down in history not only for the Cuban Missile Crisis, but also a severe season of blizzards that particularly rocked East Anglia. The coach is heading for Walsingham, a Norfolk village famous for its shrines and as such a destination for pilgrims.
Walsingham is also near an RAF airbase, so there are three genial American airman on board, as well as a small collection of odd characters: Hereward Henderson, a history buff and general bore, Miss Pounder, a reserved middle-aged woman, Reverend Breck who is planning to retire in Walsingham, and Fred De Vries, a Dutch art dealer who guards his luggage with his life. It’s a nerve-wracking journey for Graham Fisk, the driver, as snow turns to blizzard, so he’s only too happy to hand over the driving to one of the airmen. But even Oscar can’t keep the bus straight in such horrific conditions and the coach collides with one of the gate posts of a country house named Carterers.
Yes, it’s the home of Albert Campion, his wife Lady Amanda and their son Rupert, just home from his first term at a University in America. The three are hunkering down as the snow falls, along with Campion’s side-kick Magersfontein Lugg, a large man with a few rough edges. The hot meals keep coming thanks to Mrs Thursby, the housekeeper, and the family have also rescued Lloyd Thursby, Mrs Thursby’s deaf father-in-law who has a passion for watching westerns on the TV.
Suddenly the Campions are playing hosts to the stranded coach party and sleeping arrangements have to be sorted. But what starts out as Yule-tide hospitality turns into a hostage situation plus a murder, and it’s a return to the old days for Campion and Lugg who must save the day. It’s a classic kind of thriller, made entertaining and fresh by the quirky characters of the household as well as those from the coach. Most of this group seem to be harbouring a secret, just to make things complicated.
Of course the telephone loses connection so there’s no chance of rescue, and the Campions must rescue themselves, although help comes from an unexpected quarter. Lady Amanda is a modern woman, with a career in the aeronautical industry, and also gets to show her mettle. Just as all seems lost, Campion devises an oddball plan that is very entertaining as well as reasonably nail-biting. Campion hides his skill at handling tricky situations behind a facade of batty eccentricity, that’s a little P G Wodehouse, while his brain is in overdrive looking for windows of opportunity. There are codewords and his number one weapon, the size and heft of Lugg, is eventually deployed.
Bubbling through it all is a steady stream of wit, humorous incidents and smart writing that makes this update of an old favourite nicely readable for a modern audience. But you’re still happily in 1962 and the classic crime writing of this era – the perfect light, diverting escapade for Christmas. Mr Campion’s Christmas is a four-star read from me.
Having just read Mr Campion’s Christmas I feel I have a bit of catching up to do. The story begins with a bus journey from London, leaving the Victoria Coach Station a couple of days after Christmas. It’s 1962, a year that went down in history not only for the Cuban Missile Crisis, but also a severe season of blizzards that particularly rocked East Anglia. The coach is heading for Walsingham, a Norfolk village famous for its shrines and as such a destination for pilgrims.
Walsingham is also near an RAF airbase, so there are three genial American airman on board, as well as a small collection of odd characters: Hereward Henderson, a history buff and general bore, Miss Pounder, a reserved middle-aged woman, Reverend Breck who is planning to retire in Walsingham, and Fred De Vries, a Dutch art dealer who guards his luggage with his life. It’s a nerve-wracking journey for Graham Fisk, the driver, as snow turns to blizzard, so he’s only too happy to hand over the driving to one of the airmen. But even Oscar can’t keep the bus straight in such horrific conditions and the coach collides with one of the gate posts of a country house named Carterers.
Yes, it’s the home of Albert Campion, his wife Lady Amanda and their son Rupert, just home from his first term at a University in America. The three are hunkering down as the snow falls, along with Campion’s side-kick Magersfontein Lugg, a large man with a few rough edges. The hot meals keep coming thanks to Mrs Thursby, the housekeeper, and the family have also rescued Lloyd Thursby, Mrs Thursby’s deaf father-in-law who has a passion for watching westerns on the TV.
Suddenly the Campions are playing hosts to the stranded coach party and sleeping arrangements have to be sorted. But what starts out as Yule-tide hospitality turns into a hostage situation plus a murder, and it’s a return to the old days for Campion and Lugg who must save the day. It’s a classic kind of thriller, made entertaining and fresh by the quirky characters of the household as well as those from the coach. Most of this group seem to be harbouring a secret, just to make things complicated.
Of course the telephone loses connection so there’s no chance of rescue, and the Campions must rescue themselves, although help comes from an unexpected quarter. Lady Amanda is a modern woman, with a career in the aeronautical industry, and also gets to show her mettle. Just as all seems lost, Campion devises an oddball plan that is very entertaining as well as reasonably nail-biting. Campion hides his skill at handling tricky situations behind a facade of batty eccentricity, that’s a little P G Wodehouse, while his brain is in overdrive looking for windows of opportunity. There are codewords and his number one weapon, the size and heft of Lugg, is eventually deployed.
Bubbling through it all is a steady stream of wit, humorous incidents and smart writing that makes this update of an old favourite nicely readable for a modern audience. But you’re still happily in 1962 and the classic crime writing of this era – the perfect light, diverting escapade for Christmas. Mr Campion’s Christmas is a four-star read from me.
December 25, 2025
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: The Campions are snowed in at Christmas, but j ust when they think it can't get any colder, their holidays take an even chillier turn.
1962, Norfolk. Boxing Day looks set to be a quiet affair for the Campions when they are snowed in at their remote farmhouse, Carterers - until a charabanc full of 'pilgrims' travelling from London to the Shrine of Our Lady in nearby Walsingham crashes into their imposing granite gateposts and the family unexpectedly find themselves playing host to the eccentric passengers.
But any lingering festive cheer is in short supply when a shocking discovery is made the following day, while a terrifying twist reveals that some of the guests are not who they seem. Which—if any—can they trust? Suddenly hostage to events, the Campions are drawn into a fiendish web of espionage as the Cold War comes chillingly close to home.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Set today, this final installment of Ripley's continuation of the Albert Campion Golden Age mysteries has Lady Amanda, Rupert, and Lugg doing their festive celebrating in the countryside...and Lugg piloting "Santa's Sleigh" aka Lady Amanda's works Land Rover in Yule drag.
Isn't that an image?
The passengers troop into Carterers, the family's Norfolk-countryside escape from the city, much to every Campion's distress; of course, as it's a literal blizzard outside, they make the stranded pilgrims to a Walsingham shrine welcome. They are signally lacking a driver among them,and thus kicks off the several stages of the murder investigation.
As always, the events in the story hew closely to known and checkable facts, like the blizzard that happened in Norfolk that Boxing Day. Lady Amanda's works (factory in US terms) is targeted for Cold War espionage, which I daresay is something all of us can remember taking place (the war, not the fictional spying), and so we're grounded in trustworthy reality for Ripley to base his fiction atop.
The murder, the weird assortment of religious pilgrims and US war personnel, Lady Amanda's capitalist war machine supplying works, Campion and Lugg doing their sleuthing double act...it's all good fun and results in a resolution that plays fair, still without spilling the beans too soon.
Author Ripley has continued the Allingham series creditably for a number of books. It seems a shame he's decided to make this one his final outing as the pilot of the Campion bus by crashing one into Carterers' gatepost, but permaybehaps it felt fitting to him. I will watch for the next thing he decides to do.
The Publisher Says: The Campions are snowed in at Christmas, but j ust when they think it can't get any colder, their holidays take an even chillier turn.
1962, Norfolk. Boxing Day looks set to be a quiet affair for the Campions when they are snowed in at their remote farmhouse, Carterers - until a charabanc full of 'pilgrims' travelling from London to the Shrine of Our Lady in nearby Walsingham crashes into their imposing granite gateposts and the family unexpectedly find themselves playing host to the eccentric passengers.
But any lingering festive cheer is in short supply when a shocking discovery is made the following day, while a terrifying twist reveals that some of the guests are not who they seem. Which—if any—can they trust? Suddenly hostage to events, the Campions are drawn into a fiendish web of espionage as the Cold War comes chillingly close to home.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Set today, this final installment of Ripley's continuation of the Albert Campion Golden Age mysteries has Lady Amanda, Rupert, and Lugg doing their festive celebrating in the countryside...and Lugg piloting "Santa's Sleigh" aka Lady Amanda's works Land Rover in Yule drag.
Isn't that an image?
The passengers troop into Carterers, the family's Norfolk-countryside escape from the city, much to every Campion's distress; of course, as it's a literal blizzard outside, they make the stranded pilgrims to a Walsingham shrine welcome. They are signally lacking a driver among them,and thus kicks off the several stages of the murder investigation.
As always, the events in the story hew closely to known and checkable facts, like the blizzard that happened in Norfolk that Boxing Day. Lady Amanda's works (factory in US terms) is targeted for Cold War espionage, which I daresay is something all of us can remember taking place (the war, not the fictional spying), and so we're grounded in trustworthy reality for Ripley to base his fiction atop.
The murder, the weird assortment of religious pilgrims and US war personnel, Lady Amanda's capitalist war machine supplying works, Campion and Lugg doing their sleuthing double act...it's all good fun and results in a resolution that plays fair, still without spilling the beans too soon.
Author Ripley has continued the Allingham series creditably for a number of books. It seems a shame he's decided to make this one his final outing as the pilot of the Campion bus by crashing one into Carterers' gatepost, but permaybehaps it felt fitting to him. I will watch for the next thing he decides to do.
June 1, 2025
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Mr Campion's Christmas is the newest (and reportedly last) book in a worthy homage to Margery Allingham's Albert Campion. Released 5th Nov, 2024 by Severn House, it's 272 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in July 2025 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
Author Mike Ripley has written several books featuring Campion (this is the 12th) as well as other fiction and nonfiction. He's an experienced and capable author and this series has been an absolute joy to read. According to the author's afterword, it is sad that this will be the last outing for the characters under his pen. Mr. Ripley has done a truly creditable job with the series and treated the characters and settings respectfully. I've been a fan of golden age mystery (especially British) as long as I've been reading, more or less, and I'm always on the lookout for more golden age fiction since the original authors are sadly long gone.
This installment sees Campion (the elder), Campion (the younger), Lugg, and an ensemble cast of characters trying to untangle a devious cold war espionage plot without getting murdered themselves. Lugg is, as always, wonderful, and Campion (the elder) is self-deprecatingly and devastatingly brilliant.
The book honestly surprised some laughs out of me, which is no mean feat. The clues are fair-play, and the climax and denouement are wonderfully twisty and satisfying. I really love this series. For readers who are not already fans of Mr. Ripley's Campion, but who are fans of Ms. Allingham's, will find much to love here. Ripley treats the canon with the respect (and humour) it deserves. Despite being the last entry, it works well as a standalone.
Four and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Mr Campion's Christmas is the newest (and reportedly last) book in a worthy homage to Margery Allingham's Albert Campion. Released 5th Nov, 2024 by Severn House, it's 272 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in July 2025 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
Author Mike Ripley has written several books featuring Campion (this is the 12th) as well as other fiction and nonfiction. He's an experienced and capable author and this series has been an absolute joy to read. According to the author's afterword, it is sad that this will be the last outing for the characters under his pen. Mr. Ripley has done a truly creditable job with the series and treated the characters and settings respectfully. I've been a fan of golden age mystery (especially British) as long as I've been reading, more or less, and I'm always on the lookout for more golden age fiction since the original authors are sadly long gone.
This installment sees Campion (the elder), Campion (the younger), Lugg, and an ensemble cast of characters trying to untangle a devious cold war espionage plot without getting murdered themselves. Lugg is, as always, wonderful, and Campion (the elder) is self-deprecatingly and devastatingly brilliant.
The book honestly surprised some laughs out of me, which is no mean feat. The clues are fair-play, and the climax and denouement are wonderfully twisty and satisfying. I really love this series. For readers who are not already fans of Mr. Ripley's Campion, but who are fans of Ms. Allingham's, will find much to love here. Ripley treats the canon with the respect (and humour) it deserves. Despite being the last entry, it works well as a standalone.
Four and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
September 12, 2024
In this continuation novel, Margery Allingham's detective, Albert Campion, is spending the festive season at home in the country with his wife, Amanda, his grown son, Rupert, and of course, Lugg. It's 1962 and Albert is now in his 60s. The group goes out for a walk on Boxing Day, but before they get back the snow starts falling fast. When they get home, the housekeeper is ready to go home herself, to see about her deaf father-in-law. It's decided that Rupert and Lugg will go with her and bring her and her father-in-law back to the big house to wait out the storm.
Meanwhile in London, a disgruntled private bus driver is annoyed about having to bring the 7 or 8 passengers, who have already paid for their trip, to a pilgrimage site. He'd rather be home with his family and the weather looks none too promising. While they're on the road, the snow starts. They end up at the Campion family home, so suddenly there's a full house. All of the passengers have stories and some have secrets. It doesn't take long for Campion and Lugg to notice that some things don't add up and the whole lot of them are soon caught up in a plot much bigger than they can imagine.
This was an enjoyable read. I've been reading Allingham's original Campion books in order here and there for a while now, and have only one left that she wrote before she died. I've not read any of the continuation novels until now. The author does a good job of writing in the style of Allingham--I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference if I didn't know who wrote the book. I liked this one just as much as I liked Allingham's later novels. Like the originals, there are a lot of unlikely and unbelievable things that happen, but that's OK. I found myself curious to see how things would be resolved. The book is often funny--I laughed out loud several times. This is a strength of the book. The characters are quirky and sometimes surprising. The setting is fun and the cold and snow add to the tension. If you enjoy a good Christmas mystery that's a bit different, this might be for you! 3.5 stars for a good enjoyable read.
I thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy.
Meanwhile in London, a disgruntled private bus driver is annoyed about having to bring the 7 or 8 passengers, who have already paid for their trip, to a pilgrimage site. He'd rather be home with his family and the weather looks none too promising. While they're on the road, the snow starts. They end up at the Campion family home, so suddenly there's a full house. All of the passengers have stories and some have secrets. It doesn't take long for Campion and Lugg to notice that some things don't add up and the whole lot of them are soon caught up in a plot much bigger than they can imagine.
This was an enjoyable read. I've been reading Allingham's original Campion books in order here and there for a while now, and have only one left that she wrote before she died. I've not read any of the continuation novels until now. The author does a good job of writing in the style of Allingham--I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference if I didn't know who wrote the book. I liked this one just as much as I liked Allingham's later novels. Like the originals, there are a lot of unlikely and unbelievable things that happen, but that's OK. I found myself curious to see how things would be resolved. The book is often funny--I laughed out loud several times. This is a strength of the book. The characters are quirky and sometimes surprising. The setting is fun and the cold and snow add to the tension. If you enjoy a good Christmas mystery that's a bit different, this might be for you! 3.5 stars for a good enjoyable read.
I thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy.
October 16, 2024
Mr Campion’s Christmas sadly brings to an end Mike Ripley’s enjoyable continuation of the Albert Campion novels by Margery Allingham. The books have become a regular feature of the British crime scene, and they conclude in good style with this twelfth volume in the series. As usual, the latest book features Ripley’s marvellous sense of humour, deep historical knowledge and his love for British thriller writing of the 1960s.
Set in in the days following Christmas 1962, Mr Campion’s Christmas opens with Boxing Day looking like being a quiet affair for the Campions who are snowed in at their remote Norfolk farmhouse, Carterers. That changes when a charabanc full of ‘pilgrims’ travelling from London to the Shrine of Our Lady in nearby Walsingham crashes into their imposing granite gateposts and the family unexpectedly find themselves playing host to the eccentric passengers. However, any lingering festive cheer is in short supply when a shocking discovery is made the following day and a terrifying twist reveals that some of the guests are not who they seem to be. Suddenly the Campions are drawn into a fiendish web of espionage, as the Cold War comes chillingly close to home.
Mr Campion’s Christmas is very good fun, with Ripley skilfully concocting an innovative spy plot in the most unlikely location at the most unlikely time. The book unfolds in his typically leisurely style, with an abundance of interesting historical snippets and cultural references, as well as several amusing insider references by Ripley. There are also the twists, surprises, shady characters and red herrings you expect from a crime novel, and a good burst of action towards the end. Campion flits amicably through the story trying to keep one step ahead of the villains, with the concluding heroics coming from an unexpected source.
In all, Mr Campion’s Christmas is an enjoyable seasonal feast of a story and a good finale for the series.
See full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/i...
4.5 - rounded up
Set in in the days following Christmas 1962, Mr Campion’s Christmas opens with Boxing Day looking like being a quiet affair for the Campions who are snowed in at their remote Norfolk farmhouse, Carterers. That changes when a charabanc full of ‘pilgrims’ travelling from London to the Shrine of Our Lady in nearby Walsingham crashes into their imposing granite gateposts and the family unexpectedly find themselves playing host to the eccentric passengers. However, any lingering festive cheer is in short supply when a shocking discovery is made the following day and a terrifying twist reveals that some of the guests are not who they seem to be. Suddenly the Campions are drawn into a fiendish web of espionage, as the Cold War comes chillingly close to home.
Mr Campion’s Christmas is very good fun, with Ripley skilfully concocting an innovative spy plot in the most unlikely location at the most unlikely time. The book unfolds in his typically leisurely style, with an abundance of interesting historical snippets and cultural references, as well as several amusing insider references by Ripley. There are also the twists, surprises, shady characters and red herrings you expect from a crime novel, and a good burst of action towards the end. Campion flits amicably through the story trying to keep one step ahead of the villains, with the concluding heroics coming from an unexpected source.
In all, Mr Campion’s Christmas is an enjoyable seasonal feast of a story and a good finale for the series.
See full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/i...
4.5 - rounded up
December 1, 2024
This Book Was Hard To Put Down!
This was the first book in the Campion series that I have read, and I can only ask: why? I loved the homey combination of mystery, suspense, and wry banter between characters. At times when Mr. Campion and his man servant, Lugg, were on center stage I felt the shadow of Jeeves and Wooster hovering near. Still, it was a serious spy drama with the ever so capable Albert and Amanda Campion taking charge. It was a delight that kept me focusing to see just how they would find a way out of this mess. And since this was listed as the very last Campion books that Mike Ripley would write, would anything untoward happen to our heroes.
It was the Christmas holiday and the Campion family was gathered at their home, Carterers. With a blizzard going on outside, the Campions decide to invite housekeeper, Mrs. Thursby and her elderly father-in-law to stay at Carterers where it was warm and safe. They had just nicely settled down when a tour bus crashes on the road just outside the property. The Campions kindly invite the odd mixture of passengers into the house as well. Then overnight, the bus driver slips out of the house and was murdered, his body left inside the bus.
Someone in the festive gathering was not who they seemed to be. Was it one of the pilgrims to a famous shrine not to far away? One of the three American military personnel returning to the nearby base at which Amanda worked? Or one of the other characters? It doesn't take long for truth to become know, and that is when the suspense begins.
This is a wonderfully tightly woven story that keeps the reader engaged, wondering how it will all turn out—and what will happen next. It was a delight to read and has drawn me into the Campion series to find out what other adventures Mr. Campion found himself embroiled in.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me to read and offer my honest review of this book. I highly recommend it to any fan of good writing and a great story!
This was the first book in the Campion series that I have read, and I can only ask: why? I loved the homey combination of mystery, suspense, and wry banter between characters. At times when Mr. Campion and his man servant, Lugg, were on center stage I felt the shadow of Jeeves and Wooster hovering near. Still, it was a serious spy drama with the ever so capable Albert and Amanda Campion taking charge. It was a delight that kept me focusing to see just how they would find a way out of this mess. And since this was listed as the very last Campion books that Mike Ripley would write, would anything untoward happen to our heroes.
It was the Christmas holiday and the Campion family was gathered at their home, Carterers. With a blizzard going on outside, the Campions decide to invite housekeeper, Mrs. Thursby and her elderly father-in-law to stay at Carterers where it was warm and safe. They had just nicely settled down when a tour bus crashes on the road just outside the property. The Campions kindly invite the odd mixture of passengers into the house as well. Then overnight, the bus driver slips out of the house and was murdered, his body left inside the bus.
Someone in the festive gathering was not who they seemed to be. Was it one of the pilgrims to a famous shrine not to far away? One of the three American military personnel returning to the nearby base at which Amanda worked? Or one of the other characters? It doesn't take long for truth to become know, and that is when the suspense begins.
This is a wonderfully tightly woven story that keeps the reader engaged, wondering how it will all turn out—and what will happen next. It was a delight to read and has drawn me into the Campion series to find out what other adventures Mr. Campion found himself embroiled in.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me to read and offer my honest review of this book. I highly recommend it to any fan of good writing and a great story!
October 21, 2024
Mr. Campion's Christmas is the last in the splendid Albert Campion series started by Margery Allingham in 1929. Allingham is a favourite writer of mine but Mike Ripley writes just as superbly with oodles of wit, clever red herrings, gorgeous vocabulary and vivid historical detail. We all know at least one of the characters in real life.
On Boxing Day in 1962, a blizzard blankets the rural Norfolk landscape including Carterers House (yes, there's a background story) with a thick layer of seclusion and atmosphere. But for some the deep snow becomes a nuisance. Campions' housekeeper and her father in law are inconvenienced and a charabanc gate crashes the festive spirit. Thankfully, there is food, hospitality and electricity. What could possibly go wrong amidst a motley crew of strangers and nationalities during a blizzard and no telephone service? Murder and mayhem, of course.
After settling in their guests, stoic Albert, aeronaut Amanda, their university son, and sidekick Ugg discover more than they had bargained for. Some of the group are tight lipped, others prone to drone. Suspicions quickly arise. Who are these people, exactly, and what are they hiding? Cold War underpinnings seep into nooks and crannies as the Campions investigate.
I absolutely adored Mr. Campion's Christmas. It has all the elements a reader seeks in a whodunit. The humour and witticisms are brilliant and frequent and caused me to chuckle many times. I stuck to the book like cling film and happily got utterly and completely lost in the delightful reading experience.
Look no further for a Golden Era Christmas Mystery which will warm the cockles of your heart and put a twinkle in your eye.
My sincere thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enchanting novel.
On Boxing Day in 1962, a blizzard blankets the rural Norfolk landscape including Carterers House (yes, there's a background story) with a thick layer of seclusion and atmosphere. But for some the deep snow becomes a nuisance. Campions' housekeeper and her father in law are inconvenienced and a charabanc gate crashes the festive spirit. Thankfully, there is food, hospitality and electricity. What could possibly go wrong amidst a motley crew of strangers and nationalities during a blizzard and no telephone service? Murder and mayhem, of course.
After settling in their guests, stoic Albert, aeronaut Amanda, their university son, and sidekick Ugg discover more than they had bargained for. Some of the group are tight lipped, others prone to drone. Suspicions quickly arise. Who are these people, exactly, and what are they hiding? Cold War underpinnings seep into nooks and crannies as the Campions investigate.
I absolutely adored Mr. Campion's Christmas. It has all the elements a reader seeks in a whodunit. The humour and witticisms are brilliant and frequent and caused me to chuckle many times. I stuck to the book like cling film and happily got utterly and completely lost in the delightful reading experience.
Look no further for a Golden Era Christmas Mystery which will warm the cockles of your heart and put a twinkle in your eye.
My sincere thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enchanting novel.
October 24, 2024
‘Oh, you never know,‘ said Mr Campion. ‘We might be lucky and get a white Christmas.’
1962, Norfolk, England. The snow that was absent on Christmas Eve as Magersfontein Lugg stands in for Santa Claus, arrives with a vengeance, and the Campions are snowed in by Boxing Day. But any thought of a quiet interlude at their remote farmhouse, Carterers, evaporates when a ‘charabanc full of pilgrims’ crashes into their granite gateposts and need shelter.
Lady Amanda rises to the occasion, and the unexpected guests are made comfortable. The Campion’s housekeeper and her father-in-law are also part of the group joining Albert, Amanda and Rupert Campion together with the formidable Magersfontein Lugg.
The following day, a shocking discovery makes it clear that not all the unexpected guests are benign visitors. One of the guests seems obsessed with an item he is carrying, another is boring everyone within earshot, and an overheard conversation between some of the guests involving foreign language casts doubt about who they are. Hmm. Meanwhile, the snow continues, and the telephone is out of commission.
In this, Mike Ripley’s twelfth and final instalment of his continuation of Margery Allingham’s Albert Campion novels, the snowed-in Campions become caught up (both literally and figuratively) in the Cold War. While Lady Amanda has a particular part to play, every character is involved. And the reader has a wonderful time sorting red herrings from important clues. Another terrific blend of history and humour!
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
1962, Norfolk, England. The snow that was absent on Christmas Eve as Magersfontein Lugg stands in for Santa Claus, arrives with a vengeance, and the Campions are snowed in by Boxing Day. But any thought of a quiet interlude at their remote farmhouse, Carterers, evaporates when a ‘charabanc full of pilgrims’ crashes into their granite gateposts and need shelter.
Lady Amanda rises to the occasion, and the unexpected guests are made comfortable. The Campion’s housekeeper and her father-in-law are also part of the group joining Albert, Amanda and Rupert Campion together with the formidable Magersfontein Lugg.
The following day, a shocking discovery makes it clear that not all the unexpected guests are benign visitors. One of the guests seems obsessed with an item he is carrying, another is boring everyone within earshot, and an overheard conversation between some of the guests involving foreign language casts doubt about who they are. Hmm. Meanwhile, the snow continues, and the telephone is out of commission.
In this, Mike Ripley’s twelfth and final instalment of his continuation of Margery Allingham’s Albert Campion novels, the snowed-in Campions become caught up (both literally and figuratively) in the Cold War. While Lady Amanda has a particular part to play, every character is involved. And the reader has a wonderful time sorting red herrings from important clues. Another terrific blend of history and humour!
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
October 25, 2024
Classic Campion with a Cold War twist.
The latest, and probably last of author Michael Ripley's Campion novels open in 1962, in Norfolk. Having enjoyed a smaller than usual family Christmas, and looking forward to a relaxing Boxing Day, the Campions find themselves snowed in at their remote farmhouse, until a bus full of pilgrims travelling from London to the Shrine of Our Lady in nearby Walsingham crashes onto their property. The family suddenly find themselves playing host to an unusual and eccentric bunch of travellers, and when the following morning a certain event reveals that some of the guests are not what they seem, they are plunged into a situation where they don't know who to trust or who to believe.
What follows is a tale which I'm sure Margery Allingham could have written today. This is a witty story, full of period detail, and just complex enough to satisfy modern readers. The 1962 setting fits the Cold War story perfectly, and fans will be delighted to meet again Campion, Lady Amanda, their son Rupert, their housekeeper and of course, the formidable Magersfontein Lugg. And then there's the bus passengers - a shady little man who won't let go of his briefcase, three loud Americans, and more.
The author manages to retain the feel of the original books, but adds his own flavour of menace and mystery. It will probably appeal most to fans of the Campion series, and of classic Golden Age thrillers - those looking for darker Le Carre stuff, or even Val McDermid might feel a bit short-changed, but would be advised to stick with it.
Heartily recommended.
The latest, and probably last of author Michael Ripley's Campion novels open in 1962, in Norfolk. Having enjoyed a smaller than usual family Christmas, and looking forward to a relaxing Boxing Day, the Campions find themselves snowed in at their remote farmhouse, until a bus full of pilgrims travelling from London to the Shrine of Our Lady in nearby Walsingham crashes onto their property. The family suddenly find themselves playing host to an unusual and eccentric bunch of travellers, and when the following morning a certain event reveals that some of the guests are not what they seem, they are plunged into a situation where they don't know who to trust or who to believe.
What follows is a tale which I'm sure Margery Allingham could have written today. This is a witty story, full of period detail, and just complex enough to satisfy modern readers. The 1962 setting fits the Cold War story perfectly, and fans will be delighted to meet again Campion, Lady Amanda, their son Rupert, their housekeeper and of course, the formidable Magersfontein Lugg. And then there's the bus passengers - a shady little man who won't let go of his briefcase, three loud Americans, and more.
The author manages to retain the feel of the original books, but adds his own flavour of menace and mystery. It will probably appeal most to fans of the Campion series, and of classic Golden Age thrillers - those looking for darker Le Carre stuff, or even Val McDermid might feel a bit short-changed, but would be advised to stick with it.
Heartily recommended.
November 25, 2024
A Christmas snow storm brings unexpected guests to Albert Campion’s Norfolk farmhouse. A bus carrying passengers to a nearby shrine crashes into the granite gateposts leading to his home. With phones down and the bus damaged Campion and Lady Amanda, his wife, invite the travelers to stay until help can be summoned. With everyone settled for the night, the draft from an opened window leads Campion and his assistant Lugg to follow a trail in the snow ending at the bus, where they find the driver murdered. Someone in the group is a killer and the holiday is about to get dangerous for everyone. Three American servicemen heading to a nearby base, a priest hoping to retire, a Dutch art dealer transporting a religious relic, a professor and Miss Pounder, an older woman with a secret past, are told that the driver has gone for help. The crash was no accident. Lady Amanda, an aeronautical engineer, is the target of a plot that involves Russia’s revenge for the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Mike Ripley has written his final Campion story and it is sure to please his fans. Campion is now in his sixties and acknowledges that his reflexes and abilities are not what they used to be. There is still the witty banter between Campion and Lugg, who once again proves that he would do anything to protect the family. With clever mysteries and characters who have become so familiar, this is a series that will be sorely missed. I would like to thank. NetGalley and Severn House for providing this book.
Mike Ripley has written his final Campion story and it is sure to please his fans. Campion is now in his sixties and acknowledges that his reflexes and abilities are not what they used to be. There is still the witty banter between Campion and Lugg, who once again proves that he would do anything to protect the family. With clever mysteries and characters who have become so familiar, this is a series that will be sorely missed. I would like to thank. NetGalley and Severn House for providing this book.
August 5, 2024
This is one not to be missed! Having read quite a few of the original Margery Allingham Campion stories, I was keen to try this book. Previously to seeing it on NetGalley, I had no idea that Mike Ripley was producing Campion novels in the style of the originals, even though this is number 12. All I can say is what a treat! The book stayed true to the original characters and, if anything, was slightly more readable than the Allingham versions. I loved the way the story was set in 1962 and how the writer made such good use of the savage winter that year and the aftermath of the Cuban missile crisis. So much of the story is based on fact (as I discovered from the after notes) which aids the plot. The adventure takes place at Christmas time and, for once, the snow on the ground is historically accurate. A coach crashes into the gates of Albert and Amanda's home and the passengers seek shelter from the blizzard. Some passengers are not what they seem and so the adventure begins with a suspicious death! With a cast of characters that include a retiring vicar, a postmistress with a past and the inimitable Lugg, I loved every second and read it all in one sitting. if you love golden age crime or just love a well-paced adventure, this is one to read.
November 29, 2024
In this last installment in the Mr. Campion series, that was originally written by Margery Allingham, we are reminded of the nightmares of the Cold War Era. It all starts with a bus ride in a blizzard that goes horribly wrong and deposits a group of near frozen travelers upon the doorstep of The Campions. They passengers are a strange mix of people headed to the shrine at Walsingham in Norfolk, or so we are led to believe. But there is something “off” about each passenger and the Campions, their son Rupert and their “valued family retainer” Magersfontein Lugg are going to have their hospitality and largesse tested.
Ripley’s characterization of Lady Amanda Fitton, an aeronautical engineer with a close affiliation with the Royal Air Force, and her devoted husband Albert Campion are just the best with their tongue-in-cheek dialog and ability to read each other’s intents. Ripley has drawn a very tight spider’s web that is so perfectly frustrating that it is going to take an inhuman effort to best the situation and restore the peace and status quo. All sorts of crazy tactics are going to be employed and while things are getting out of hand, the levity never subsides. It is such a shame that this series is now finished.
Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for a copy.
Ripley’s characterization of Lady Amanda Fitton, an aeronautical engineer with a close affiliation with the Royal Air Force, and her devoted husband Albert Campion are just the best with their tongue-in-cheek dialog and ability to read each other’s intents. Ripley has drawn a very tight spider’s web that is so perfectly frustrating that it is going to take an inhuman effort to best the situation and restore the peace and status quo. All sorts of crazy tactics are going to be employed and while things are getting out of hand, the levity never subsides. It is such a shame that this series is now finished.
Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for a copy.
November 10, 2024
This is the twelfth and the last in the Campion series by Mr. Ripley. This Campion mystery is all about the Cold War and spies. Ripley has written a quick read but has interesting characters and an intriguing mystery. I was pulled in right from the start with its humor and the cast of characters. This book had plenty of action with a hero who is mild and bespectacled and well into his retirement years and the rest of his family. There are plenty of surprises along the way and it is so entertaining as you turn each page. The story takes place in the 1960’s in the UK. The countries are still in the Cold War, so you have the UK against Russia. The Campion family are snowed in at their home in Norfolk when a group of pilgrims on their way to a shrine seek refuge because of the weather. The Campions give find themself held hostage plus a murder. Can Campion and Lugg solve this murder and stop the espionage happening against the UK. I really enjoyed this mystery and would recommend this book for anyone who loves mysteries or cozy mysteries. Thank you, Edelweiss and Overlook Press for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2025
Once again, Mr. Ripley proves his skill at evoking both the structure and tone of Ms. Allingham's novels. His style is a bit looser, but it fits the period of this novel (1962-3) and the other post-Allingham books. His story is a fine example of a "slow cooking" thriller. It starts with a blizzard that strands a group of travelers at Carterers, the Campion country home, but little hints and oddities slowly reveal a disquieting reality. Things and people at not what or who they seem. But what or who are they? Once the pot boils, the rest of the novel is a roller coaster ride worthy of Alistair McLean. It's fun to read and more fun to see if you can connect the dots faster than Albert, Amanda, Rupert and Lugg! My only quibble is that, sadly, Mr. Ripley's research lapsed a few times. One instanced is on page 93, where he introduces the USAF rank of Senior Airmen 12 years before it existed. Overall, this is a superior mystery-thriller combo novel. Sadly, Mr. Ripley reveals in his Afterward that it will be his last. Highly recommended to readers fond of Campion or fans of period, English mysteries in general.
November 14, 2024
To my great regret Mr Ripley concludes this mystery by advising that it will be his last Campion story.
My mother and I have enjoyed all of the previous eleven and, though this is not the best of them, it retains Lugg, Lady Amanda and Rudy himself within the character bounds established with the first one, Mr Campion's Farewell.
I was hoping that Mr Ripley would, at some later point reintroduce us to the two boys who dominated The Mind Readers at an older age as they both appeared to be heading to at least the same instinctive IQ level as Campion himself. That would have been a treat for readers as the cerebral Campion (from Allingham through Ripley) really is in a class shared exclusively with Wimsey and Merrivale amongst the Golden Age collection (my opinion obviously).
This story is cleverly constructed though the denouement was clearly signalled. A couple of old friends put in appearances so no more hints required. Maybe it is a touch too "cosy" but then this series has always tended in that direction.
So a big thank you!
My mother and I have enjoyed all of the previous eleven and, though this is not the best of them, it retains Lugg, Lady Amanda and Rudy himself within the character bounds established with the first one, Mr Campion's Farewell.
I was hoping that Mr Ripley would, at some later point reintroduce us to the two boys who dominated The Mind Readers at an older age as they both appeared to be heading to at least the same instinctive IQ level as Campion himself. That would have been a treat for readers as the cerebral Campion (from Allingham through Ripley) really is in a class shared exclusively with Wimsey and Merrivale amongst the Golden Age collection (my opinion obviously).
This story is cleverly constructed though the denouement was clearly signalled. A couple of old friends put in appearances so no more hints required. Maybe it is a touch too "cosy" but then this series has always tended in that direction.
So a big thank you!
November 4, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC
Another well-crafted story of the continuing adventures of Albert Campion, quasi-retired detective / adventurer, though this time, the intrigue and danger are literally at his doorstep. As a massive snowstorm approaches and looms heavily over his home in Norfolk, a bus crashes (also literally) at his doorstep, and the eclectic passengers received as 'pilgrims' to take shelter from the storm, though some of the passengers are not who they seem...
The story unfolds at an even pace, with the stakes always at a high level, with the added touch of a snowstorm isolating everyone in one location. The characters are well developed, and it's a credit to the author to continue to capture the essence of Campion and his family and how they would be in the early 1960s.
A bit sad to know this will be Ripley's final Campion story, but it's an equally heartwarming and (at times) heart-stopping adventure.
Another well-crafted story of the continuing adventures of Albert Campion, quasi-retired detective / adventurer, though this time, the intrigue and danger are literally at his doorstep. As a massive snowstorm approaches and looms heavily over his home in Norfolk, a bus crashes (also literally) at his doorstep, and the eclectic passengers received as 'pilgrims' to take shelter from the storm, though some of the passengers are not who they seem...
The story unfolds at an even pace, with the stakes always at a high level, with the added touch of a snowstorm isolating everyone in one location. The characters are well developed, and it's a credit to the author to continue to capture the essence of Campion and his family and how they would be in the early 1960s.
A bit sad to know this will be Ripley's final Campion story, but it's an equally heartwarming and (at times) heart-stopping adventure.
November 18, 2024
Mike Ripley is continuing to tell the story of Albert Campion, a creation of Margery Allingham. Her books started in the late 1920s and went on for several decades. Ripley picked it up from there.
I've not read his other books, so I'm starting with this latest Christmas story. In it Campion and his family plus Lugg and a few others are celebrating Christmas. It's a festive time, but it's disrupted by a snow storm.
Meanwhile, a bus of unlikely pilgrims get caught up in the bad weather and crash at their doorstep. The Campions take them in. However, not everyone is who they say they are. I don't want to spoil it, but the holiday gets hijacked by some bad actors.
Overall, there's a lot of dense narrative and attempts at humor. There are a lot of characters to keep up with and some things happen that are very unrealistic. It had some nice Christmas elements and interesting characters, but my suspension of belief was stretched to the limit when it came to the plot.
I've not read his other books, so I'm starting with this latest Christmas story. In it Campion and his family plus Lugg and a few others are celebrating Christmas. It's a festive time, but it's disrupted by a snow storm.
Meanwhile, a bus of unlikely pilgrims get caught up in the bad weather and crash at their doorstep. The Campions take them in. However, not everyone is who they say they are. I don't want to spoil it, but the holiday gets hijacked by some bad actors.
Overall, there's a lot of dense narrative and attempts at humor. There are a lot of characters to keep up with and some things happen that are very unrealistic. It had some nice Christmas elements and interesting characters, but my suspension of belief was stretched to the limit when it came to the plot.
August 16, 2024
I read and loved the original Campion stories, and I was very pleasantly surprised how this recreates the feeling of the originals. It is set in the 1960’s-1970’s era when Campion is in his 60’s. A small group of travelers, some heading to a pilgrimage site and three American soldiers are on a bus together. A blizzard soon leads to a crash into the gates of Campion’s estate and are uninvited guests for Christmas. They are stranded, no telephone service, and yet all seems fine at first. Not everyone is who they seem, however, and the Campions are soon dealing with dangerous and deadly foes.
This was a great mystery and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I now have to go back and read the rest of this series!
Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.
This was a great mystery and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I now have to go back and read the rest of this series!
Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.
December 26, 2024
I am always a bit dubious when another author has a go at continuing a deceased author's series especially when I have read most of the original author's books but Mike Ripley does a good job here. Of course Campion is an implausible character who featured in many unlikely adventures but if you accept this then this is a good read. The story is set in 1962 so Campion and his wife are no longer young and their son is nineteen years old. It's Christmas and the Campions are at home in their remote house in Norfolk when due to heavy snow they get some unexpected visitors seeking refuge. Not all the visitors are what they appear to be and with the telephone lines down and a dead body to deal with Campion has a problem. It's a fun read which I actually read on Christmas Day.
November 4, 2024
There always was the sense of a spy work background in Campion's story and this is a good mix of mystery and spy thriller
A closed circle of people snowed in the country, a group of people who could not be who they are supposed to be.
A festive atmosphere that becomes tense because the killer must be in the closed circle.
I enjoyed this novel that kept me hook and I read it in two sitting.
The last Campion novel by Mike Ripley is an excellent and entertaining one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
A closed circle of people snowed in the country, a group of people who could not be who they are supposed to be.
A festive atmosphere that becomes tense because the killer must be in the closed circle.
I enjoyed this novel that kept me hook and I read it in two sitting.
The last Campion novel by Mike Ripley is an excellent and entertaining one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
November 6, 2024
The Campions host an unexpected holiday house party. A van full of strangers is stranded by a storm at their front gate, and with their usual sang froid, Campion and family take them in and make them as comfortable as possible. But this group doesn't bring holiday cheer, they bring dangerous secrets and treasonous plots.
Mike Ripley has pulled off another great rendition of Margery Allingham's Campion series. The characters feel true to her golden age standard. Sadly, it appears that this is the end of the run. I'll greatly miss new episodes in the series.
Mike Ripley has pulled off another great rendition of Margery Allingham's Campion series. The characters feel true to her golden age standard. Sadly, it appears that this is the end of the run. I'll greatly miss new episodes in the series.
January 25, 2025
I loved Marjorie Allingham’s Campion books and Mike Ridley has continued them flawlessly. This is his twelfth Campion story and a great Christmassy read.
Albert Campion is now 60 and living in Norfolk with his family, it is 1962 and the Cold War is ongoing. This is a tale of spying and espionage, full of humour with a cast of characters who are not all what they seem.
I really enjoyed reading this book, Mike really does do justice to Allingham’s characters and it is so good to be able to read more about Campion and Lugg.
Albert Campion is now 60 and living in Norfolk with his family, it is 1962 and the Cold War is ongoing. This is a tale of spying and espionage, full of humour with a cast of characters who are not all what they seem.
I really enjoyed reading this book, Mike really does do justice to Allingham’s characters and it is so good to be able to read more about Campion and Lugg.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews