Review: The Crime at Black Dudley (Albert Campion Mystery, #1)
Gaby Meares
This novel was written in 1929, and it’s very much of its time. It is the first book in a series that features an unusual detective named Albert Campion. It uses the classic crime trope of a group of people trapped in an isolated (and creepy) old mansion, where a murder is committed.
There is not a lot of character development, and the action is very much in the vein of ‘tally ho, old chum’ with an excessive use of (at the time) modern slang terms. Campion calls people ‘my dear old bird’ and makes exclamations such as ‘Oh, Inky-Pinky!’ In fact, he is portrayed as a bit of a fool. I can’t say that I warmed to him particularly.
In regard to the plot, vital information is withheld from the reader until the final reveal, so I felt a bit cheated.
Allingham is considered by many to be a shining light in the golden age of crime writing, however, I’m not convinced. That being said, I will read the next Campion Mystery, to see whether she gets better as she develops the character.