1st In A Series Challenge
The Crime at Black Dudley
by Margery Allingham
first UK printing in 1929
Reading has never been a problem for me. Writing has. I have always wanted to be a diarist, a journalist but have never been successful. This spring I have had trouble with both! But I redeemed myself over the Memorial Day weekend by reading 6 titles! Now I just have to force myself to blog about them. I am being spurred on by watching the French Open this week, by watching players match point down coming back to win their matches. Their never give up attitude has inspired me to just write. My entries may not be inspiring, but I hope to persevere!
Though my favorite genre is the Mystery and my favorite authors of that genre are those of the Golden Age, Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie, I was not familiar with Margery Allingham. What a delightful find! The Crime at Black Dudley is technically the first in a series featuring Albert Campion. However, Campion in my opinion plays a very minor, very mysterious part in this country house mystery. Physician George Abbershaw takes center stage as the amateur sleuth. During a weekend house party at the remote, stark, ominous mansion named Black Dudley, a ritual supposedly dating from medieval times, is reenacted. A dagger is passed from hand to hand - in total darkness, without knowing whose hand passes the blade, for a designated time limit. When the ending gong sounds, the person left holding the bag, so to speak, forfeits the game and pays the price - kisses! The medieval origin of the ritual, however, was played to identify a murderer! The person whose hand was covered with blood at the end of the time limit, was identified as the murderer and paid the forfeit - life for a life! The currently played ritual turned the tables. The person left with the dagger was literally holding the dagger - in his back. Murder was committed in the darkness of Black Dudley!
The blade of the Black Dudley Dagger was its most remarkable feature. Under a foot long, it was very slender and exquisitely graceful, fashioned from steel that had in it a curious greenish tinge which lent the whole weapon an unmistakably sinister appearance. It seemed to shine out of the dark background like a living and malignant thing.There are many elements of the gothic used to great advantage by Allingham. A secluded, brooding, primitive mansion; hidden passageways; physically strange, totally evil villains; a helpless maiden; a mentally unstable crone. The setting is dark and isolated. There are references to the great Sherlock! The description of the villain is very Moriartyish who is in charge of a well organized multi national crime syndicate. I loved it!. There is nothing like a well written early 20th century mystery! Early motorcars. Early airplanes landing on isolated coastal grass strips. Upper class characters with the leisure to play.
Allingham to her credit meets one of my requirements for a great read - she includes a female character who shows spunk and independence.
Meggie glanced at him sharply, and again the faint smile appeared on her lips and the brightness in her dark eyes. For all his psychology, his theorizing, and the seriousness with which he took himself, there was very little of George Abbershaw's mind that was not apparent to her, but for all that the light in here eyes was a happy one and the smile on her lips unusually tender.
One of the characteristics of these early mysteries I find very amusing. There is a tendency for characters to fall in love literally at first sight - to agree to marriage on the basis of this first sight love without knowing a single thing about the other person. This characteristic plays a crucial part in the motive for the murder.
The ending is well worth the read!. Anything that I say about it will give it away! Though not - in my opinion - on the same level as the great Sayers and Christie, Allingham is a fascinating author. I plan to read as many Campion mysteries that I can find.
3 delights with 2 dollups of whipped cream!!!^^
