From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Sweet Danger (Albert Campion Mystery, #5)

Margery Allingham

Start date: September 14, 2018

Finish date: October 8, 2018

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: One of the best-known Campion books - following on from previous buddy reads.
[close] One of the best-known Campion books - following on from previous buddy reads.

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What Members Thought

Sep 13, 2018 Susan rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is the fifth Albert Campion novel, written in 1933. I have, slowly, been reading two of the Golden Age ‘Queens of Crime,’ this year – Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh. I have already read probably everything Agatha Christie has ever written, and certainly all of Dorothy L. Sayers. Without doubt, both Christie and Sayers remain my favourites. However, I was keen to read the two other giants and am, so far, really loving Ngaio Marsh, while Allingham is more difficult for me to define.

Without ...more

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Sep 12, 2018 Judy rated it it was amazing

Margery Allingham may just be my favourite out of the four "queens of crime," even ahead of Sayers. I just love her writing style, and the fact that so many of her books are set in my part of the world, amid the East Anglian countryside, is a definite bonus.

But the biggest attraction is the enigmatic figure of Albert Campion - the fact that he hides so much of his personality behind endless witty banter, especially in the early, more lighthearted books, only adds to the fascination. This book is Margery Allingham may just be my favourite out of the four "queens of crime," even ahead of Sayers. I just love her writing style, and the fact that so many of her books are set in my part of the world, amid the East Anglian countryside, is a definite bonus.

But the biggest attraction is the enigmatic figure of Albert Campion - the fact that he hides so much of his personality behind endless witty banter, especially in the early, more lighthearted books, only adds to the fascination. This book is especially enjoyable because it is the one where he first meets the flame-haired, resourceful Amanda Fitton, who goes on to play an important part as his romantic interest in later books.

After reading a lot of Golden Age mysteries over the last few years, I've realised that many of those from the late 1920s and early 1930s aren't murder mysteries at all, but breathless adventure capers involving stolen jewels, gangs, fiendish chases through the countryside, etc. Allingham and Patricia Wentworth both wrote quite a few of these, and Agatha Christie's Tommy and Tuppence stories are along the same lines.

This particular story is completely bonkers, with a bizarre treasure hunt-type plot involving a tiny kingdom (I assume Allingham was gently spoofing the then-current passion for Ruritania), a James Bond-type villain and various disguises and escapes along the way. To start off with, I knocked a star off my rating just because it is all so unlikely - but then it struck me that I should really give five stars to a book I love so much, and that I've read many times over the years. I can hardly believe it's more than 10 years since I'd read this last time round - it still seemed so familiar!

On the romance plot, rereading the books this time around, I've been noticing that Albert really has his heart broken by Biddy in Mystery Mile, even though this isn't dwelt on. He is still carrying a torch for her in the next couple of books - there is just a one-sentence mention of her or her family each time, as a pointer to this. In this book, Biddy is mentioned a couple of times by Amanda, who asks him outright if he still ever thinks of her - he answers, "Yes," but is clearly about to think of Amanda instead. I rather like the way this is all kept so terse and underplayed - quite a contrast with some of the romances in other detective stories of this era! ...more

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Feb 12, 2008 Nancy Oakes rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-fiction-uk, crime-fiction, classic-mystery-fiction

So far, this may be my favorite Campion in the series. I haven't read them all yet, but up to this point, definitely my favorite. I'm amazed that so many people here gave it such low ratings, but to each his own, I suppose. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure story, because it's not so much a mystery, but rather more of a suspense/adventure type thing. I would also say that if you've been following Campion up to this point, you're going to really enjoy this one.

In a ...more

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Feb 21, 2023 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: british-mystery, bought-2016, mystery, vintage-mystery, mount-tbr-2023

Albert Campion takes to a bit of thriller/adventurer antics in this fifth entry in Allingham's series. The tiny Balkan principality of Averna becomes a hot-spot when an earthquake opens up a coastline on the Adriatic. There's always been a bit of oil in Averna, but never a good way to get the oil anywhere. Now, it has a handy little place to load up boats with the liquid gold. The hereditary title to Averna belonged to the British family of Pontisbright...but the line is believed to have died ou Albert Campion takes to a bit of thriller/adventurer antics in this fifth entry in Allingham's series. The tiny Balkan principality of Averna becomes a hot-spot when an earthquake opens up a coastline on the Adriatic. There's always been a bit of oil in Averna, but never a good way to get the oil anywhere. Now, it has a handy little place to load up boats with the liquid gold. The hereditary title to Averna belonged to the British family of Pontisbright...but the line is believed to have died out. Campion is called upon to represent British interests and poses as the Hereditary Paladin of Pontisbright and search for the proofs that the place belongs to Britain. There are three proofs that must be found--the crown of Averna, the charter from King Henry the fourth, and a missing receipt for purchase of the land.

But the British government isn't the only party interested in Averna. And Campion and his man Lugg--and loyal friends Eager-Wright, Farquharson, and Guffy Randall are in a race to find the proofs with some very shady and determined characters. They all wind up in the village where the Pontisbright Estate used to stand (it's since been demolished) looking for an inscription on a tree. Near the abandoned estate is an old mill which belongs to the Fittons. In the early 1800s a Fitton tried to claim the Pontisbright Estate--saying that his mother had been secretly married to the Pontisbright heir, but the claim failed for lack of evidence. If Campion can find one group of proofs, he may just find the other--but the ruffians on the other side may have something to say about that...

It had been quite some time since I read a Campion book by Allingham. She really has a way with characters. All of the good guys are quite distinct and their own special flavor. The villains of the piece do get a bit short shrifted...all except for the main villain. So, they don't seem quite as menacing as they might. But the opening scenes with Guffy and the hotel manager are absolutely delightful and well worth the price of admission. In fact, Guffy may just be my favorite character in the book. He is an interesting combination of ready-for-anything....

"It sounds mad," said Guffy. "But I'm with you, of course, if there's anything I can do."

and being shy about trying to get hold of one of the clues by false pretenses (posing as lay-members of the local church and trotting off with an old drum in the possession of a museum)...

Guffy looked profoundly uncomfortable. A naturally law-abiding soul, he was appalled by the illegality of the project.

But he's still game to do what has to be done in the name of justice. In fact, all three of Campion's friends are willing to do whatever he needs them to do--even die in the name of Averna, if necessary. But, of course...it isn't.

My one slight quibble with character is with Dr. Galley. I do think it was a bit much to have the near over-the-top thriller villains vying with the very over-the-top maniacal demon-summoning doctor. His little Ashtaroth ceremony did serve to bring another piece of the puzzle to light, but surely we could have managed that without the theatrics. But overall this was great fun and I enjoyed watching Campion and company get the better of the bad guys.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. ...more

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Jan 01, 2018 Teri-K rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-golden-age, historical-mystery

When you pick up a book by one of the Grand-Old-Dames of mystery you may have certain expectations - a fine country house bursting at the seams with family including an ingénue and the neer-do-well son just back from Australia or the continent, the faithful gossipy cook, an absent minded vicar and his bossy wife... If you're expecting that in this book you'll be disappointed.

From the opening scene I felt like I was reading a farce rather than a serious mystery, as Campion is posing as the ruler ...more

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Aug 25, 2019 ShanDizzy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The old house seemed very quiet after the hullabaloo. It was really amazingly attractive. Like all very old houses it had a certain drowsy elegance that was very soothing and comforting in a madly gyrating world.

Guffy, who had privately decided that a man who could drink ‘78 port without recognising it was a lunatic and not fit for human society anyway, was inclined to feel uncomfortable, but EagerWright was plainly interested.

The three young men responded according to their temperaments. Guffy ...more

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Feb 05, 2020 Carol Evans rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery

I’m a fan of Albert Campion. I like how he pretends to be a little dull and inoffensive, but is really pretty brilliant, daring and rather charming.

Oil has been found in Averna, which is on the Adriatic Sea. Big Oil in the person of the millionaire financier Savernake wants to take possession of it. Historically, the principality to an aristocratic family named Pontisbright. Although the line is believed to have died out, a young family in a Suffolk village think they have a claim to the title. ...more

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Mar 24, 2009 Susan in NC rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I've become a huge fan of Margery Allingham's Campion series; I've enjoyed Sayers and Christie for years, but after reading one Campion years ago, didn't really "feel it"! I found a reissue of "Police at the Funeral" at a used book store and decided to try again, and I'm glad I did. I'm reading them in order and just ordered several from Amazon to fill in the missing books my library doesn't have.

This book is more of an adventure than a mystery, really, set in 1933 rural Suffolk and once again ...more

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Aug 31, 2020 Laura Anne rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: espionage, suspense-thrills-chills, adventure, british-isles, crime

Something about the 1920s and '30s really works well for international intrigue adventures. Campion is up against riddles, witchcraft, and a big bad guy in a secret lair. ...more

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