Safer Than Love

by Margery Allingham

Having married a safe, secure headmaster to escape a more dangerous love, Elizabeth lane soon realises she has made a terrible mistake. She plans to leave Victor and get away from Tinworth, a small provincial town where everyone knows everyone else's business. But before she can put her plan into action, she finds her husband dead - his body is stuffed down a well. And, as if that weren't bad enough, she seems to be the chief suspect in the murder!

Genres: Mystery

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Aka Maxwell March.

Margery Louise Allingham was born in Ealing, London in 1904 to a family of writers. Her father, Herbert John Allingham, was editor of The Christian Globe and The New London Journal, while her mother wrote stories for women's magazines as Emmie Allingham. Margery's aunt, Maud Hughes, also ran a magazine. Margery earned her first fee at the age of eight, for a story printed in her aunt's magazine.

Soon after Margery's birth, the family left London for Essex. She returned to London in 1920 to attend the Regent Street Polytechnic (now the University of Westminster), and met her future husband, Philip Youngman Carter. They married in 1928. He was her collaborator and designed the cover jackets for many of her books.

Margery's breakthrough came 1929 with the publication of her second novel, The Crime at Black Dudley . The novel introduced Albert Campion, although only as a minor character. After pressure from her American publishers, Margery brought Campion back for Mystery Mile and continued to use Campion as a character throughout her career.

After a battle with breast cancer, Margery died in 1966. Her husband finished her last novel, A Cargo of Eagles at her request, and published it in 1968.

Also wrote as: Maxwell March

Reviews

[Bobbiann Markle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The recently-married headmaster of a boys’ school is missing and later found murdered. Several people, including his wife, had motive and opportunity to kill him, but who dunnit? This was an enjoyable and well-written mystery story.

[Cooper Renner · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a story of an unhappy marriage than a murder mystery—though the mystery is there—with a local constable who feels almost like a precursor of Columbo.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't pick up for a long time.

[Leona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in 1954. Pretty good; easy to read.

[Grace Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like a good Agatha Christie.