Death of a Ghost by Margery Allingham - SPOILER Thread

[Susan]

Death of a Ghost (1934) is the sixth Albert Campion mystery and one of our Jan/Feb 2019 Buddy Reads, as we continue this popular series.

John Lafcadio’s ambition to be known as the greatest painter since Rembrandt was not to be thwarted by a matter as trifling as his own death. A set of twelve sealed paintings is the bequest he leaves to his widow – together with the instruction that she unveil one canvas each year before a carefully selected audience.

Albert Campion is among the cast of gadabouts, muses and socialites gathered for the latest ceremony – but art is the last thing on the sleuth’s mind when a brutal stabbing occurs….

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

[Jill]

I liked this and although we found out who the murderer was very early on, I didn't think it detracted from the story at all.

[Sandy]

I enjoyed it as well and agree that knowing the murderer early did not spoil the story. Max was quite an inventive villain and I was worried for the elderly matriarch. He would have gotten away with Campion's murder as it was staged so well, with so many witnesses.

Campion shone through out: sensitive to others, intuitive, good collaborator with Scotland Yard. My only complaint was Max's complete breakdown at the very end; that did not ring true to me.

[Susan]

Sandy, I agree. I don't think Max would have crumpled like that.

[Judy]

I finished this last night and found I remembered very little from previous reads. I agree it doesn't spoil it to know the killer's identity - there is a sort of Columbo-style fascination to seeing whether Campion will be able to prove it or whether Max will be too clever for him. I agree, though, that the breakdown at the end doesn't seem true to character.

It's nice to see a more thoughtful side to Campion in this, but I do miss his more playful side, as in Sweet Danger. I had remembered he calms down somewhat as the series goes on and he gets a bit older. (I think he pretty much ages in real time, in the earlier books anyway, like Wimsey.)

[Susan]

I think I prefer him calmed down, to be honest. I thought he was much more the man that the group leaned on, in this book. Previously, although we knew he was bright, often others tended to tolerate him. I preferred him taken seriously.

[Frances]

I've just finished this and also preferred it to the gang/secret society-type story. I also enjoyed the art world setting, although goodness they were very hard on their models, weren't they? All striking looks and brainlessness and presumably loose morals.

I did like how Belle was such a strong and sympathetic character, and also Linda and even Mrs Potter. I also appreciated the older and wiser Campion.

[Susan]

I felt much the same, Frances. I do hope the books continue in the same way, as I am enjoying the series.