Saturday, March 21, 2015

Margery Allingham's Mr Campion's Fox, A brand-new Albert Campion mystery by Mike Ripley

The Danish ambassador has asked Mr. Campion to check out his daughter's man.  She's young and in love but she's also his daughter and puts him in a vulnerable position.  Mr. Campion is retired and not looking for new adventures but he could have his son do snooping for him.  It would be good practice for Rupert.  Of course, while Rupert is following Frank Tate, Albert is following him.  If only Albert had looked behind himself he might have noticed he was being followed too.

Severn House and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 1st, so watch for a copy then.

I've read books by Ms. Allingham and I found her Campion a bit stuffy.  Mr. Ripley writes about the same character but adds enough other players in to make it a more enjoyable read for me.  It also seems to move along a bit faster.  It's been some time since I read anything in this series but I wouldn't mind reading more by this author.

Mr. Campion's wife is a force in own right.  Everyone around her obeys her.  She will allow no one to harm her husband or her son.  And she's willing to defend them herself.  She's quite the lady.

They have done nothing except tail Mr. Tate in town.  When he leaves for the weekend to go hang out with the ambassador's daughter, they think their job is done.  Unfortunately, he gets killed and the girl goes missing.  Instead of being done, they are just getting started.

There's something for everyone in this book.  You have two old women who are bossy and opinionated and own almost the whole town and the brewery, which is the major employer.  You have Rupert's friend and his family that Rupert and his wife go to stay with.  You have a nosy cop.  You also have a mad man who chops wood and smokes fish and never baths.  (He saw bad things in the war and was injured there, too, you see.)  There's also a dog and a fox, and even a few spies.  What more could you want?

With secrets everywhere and even Frank not being Frank, most of the mysteries are solved.  However, the young woman is still missing.  No body is has been found.  It's not until a chance conversation brings up a thought for Rupert that they have any chance of finding her.  But will they be in time?

This book is an enjoyable read and is busy to the last page.  Even if you never met Mr. Campion before, you can enjoy this read.  Give it a try!

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