From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Hide My Eyes

Margery Allingham

Start date: April 16, 2021

Finish date: May 13, 2021

Discussion: Archive: Albert Campion reads

Why we're reading this: Next in our series of Campion buddy reads.
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Archive: Albert Campion reads

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What Members Thought

Apr 02, 2021 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I have to admit that I have a mixed reaction to many of the Campion books, so I was pleased that I enjoyed this novel more than many of the previous ones - although Campion barely features in this mystery. Indeed, mystery it is - much more of a straightforward crime novel than some of the previous books in the series.

"Hide my Eyes," features a murderer. Jeremy Hawker is a con man, a thief and a killer. Much of this novel takes place over a single day, when the elderly widow, Polly Tassie, who t ...more

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Jun 15, 2009 Tracey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 20th-century, england, mystery, hist-myst

Poor "little Albert", dragged in kicking (literally) and screaming (or at least complaining loudly) to assist the remarkable newly Superintendent Charlie Luke in the investigation of a number of killings. He only wanted to go on vacation – and shortly found himself left unsure whether he was more likely to be kidnapped by the bad guys or the good guys. The plot was handled nicely; since the reader pretty much knows the villain is the villain it's more a matter of suspense – is he going to hurt t ...more

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Apr 04, 2021 Susan in NC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed this Campion much more than others I’ve read with the Reading the Detectives group. It returns to the building tension of The Tiger in the Smoke, as Inspector Charlie Luke follows a hunch to track down an elusive con man and killer. Campion is along for the ride during much of the day during which much of the action takes place, but he is more in the background (where he often prefers to operate, anyway!). Very enjoyable outing.

I very much enjoyed the early Campion mysteries when I rea I enjoyed this Campion much more than others I’ve read with the Reading the Detectives group. It returns to the building tension of The Tiger in the Smoke, as Inspector Charlie Luke follows a hunch to track down an elusive con man and killer. Campion is along for the ride during much of the day during which much of the action takes place, but he is more in the background (where he often prefers to operate, anyway!). Very enjoyable outing.

I very much enjoyed the early Campion mysteries when I read them decades ago, after seeing the PBS Mystery broadcast of Peter Davidson as the eponymous character. I bought many of her books when they were reprinted in attractive paperbacks, but got tired of what one member of our group described as Allingham’s self-indulgent writing. I often felt, though wonderfully descriptive in parts, in other parts she crammed in 15 words where 5 would have worked! But this more straightforward crime story really worked for me, after a very descriptive, but vague opening of a crime on a rainy London night left me wondering if we were off the rails, and I’d be floundering for chapters trying to figure what was going on.

I was reassured by the start of chapter two, eight months later, as a Campion, now in his early 50s, visits a keyed up Charlie Luke at the request of his superior. Luke has got a pet theory about an elusive criminal operating in a London backwater neighborhood, the same neighborhood where the murder in chapter one took place - the killer was never caught, the police were stumped, but Luke is on the trail...okay, this was more like it! An innocent old lady, a young couple, and various others are (or have been) sucked into the murderous conman’s web, and Allingham does an outstanding job having the reader tag along as the killer weaves his spell around those he uses and manipulates to get his way. It was fascinating and powerfully done, and the tension grew to a climax.

I did listen to the audiobook as I read, but find some of narrator David Thorpe’s cockney voices really annoying. I’ve listened to him for other books, and he’s not so grating and strident- so I’m thinking it’s just his cockney accents that bug me! ...more

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Feb 12, 2008 Nancy Oakes rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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

Definitely one of Allingham's best (of the works that I've read), the action starts as a man pulls up in a bus into a cul-de-sac in London called Goff Place. The bus is carrying two elderly people, fast asleep, who stay that way throughout the bus being stopped, the driver getting off the bus and making a phone call, and the murder of a pawnbroker whose body was still missing. Even though there was no corpse, a long trail of blood led back to where the bus had been parked.

Some time later, a you ...more

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Apr 30, 2021 Frances rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-series

This sixteenth novel in Allingham's Albert Campion series was a psychological thriller rather than a mystery, with a very noir feel. Very atmospheric, very compelling, it follows a sociopathic criminal and a naive young man who crosses his path, with a touch of police procedural on the side. While not really my cup of tea, it was an engrossing read and I enjoyed it very much nonetheless. ...more

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Apr 07, 2022 Diana rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery, thriller, read-in-2022

This is more of a suspense thriller than a mystery since the identity of the murderer is known from the very beginning. The suspense builds as the police begin to close in. I thought this was really well done and a departure for Allingham from the typical murder mystery.

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