Mr Campion's Mosaic

‘Campion, a word if you please.’

London, 1972. The Evadne Childe Society convenes to celebrate what would have been the author’s eighty-second birthday. Albert Campion, invited as a last-minute replacement guest speaker, is invited to cut the cake. But after the cake is eaten, Mr Campion finds that his investigatory skills are also sought. There is to be a television remake of a twenty-year old film adaptation of one of Evadne Childe’s novels ‘The Moving Mosaic’, and someone seems to be trying to sabotage the production. But who, and why?

Albert Campion travels to Kingswalter Manor in Dorset, where filming is to take place. Assisted by his son Rupert, a ‘resting’ actor and the formidable Magersfontein Lugg, Mr Campion soon discovers a series of dark secrets and more than one mystery. And no, I did not manage to work out who was trying to sabotage the film until very close to the end.

I really enjoy this series (this is the tenth instalment) and I think this is one of the best yet. Mr Campion has a wonderful turn of phrase and Magersfontein Lugg is definitely one of my favourite characters. I really should make time to go back to the beginning and read Margery Allingham’s original series.

‘As he was now seventy-two years old, although he would insist, still as fit as a Stradivarius, Mr Campion maintained publicly that he was ready for a quiet life of retirement out of the public eye.’

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This is book 10 in the Mike Ripley series where he picks up the stories of Albert Campion where Margery Allingham left off. I have read them all and have enjoyed them quite a lot, enough that I make sure to read each one as it is released. Picking up where Allingham left off meant that Ripley was presented with a gentleman sleuth in his 70s (here he's 72), so I've enjoyed watching Ripley handle that interesting situation. So far, very good.

Albert finds himself as the main speaker at the annual gathering of the Evadne Childe Society to celebrate what would have been her 82nd birthday. After the speeches, and before he could get any birthday cake, Albert finds out why the society wanted him to attend. It seems there is a notion abroad that the BBC is going to do a remake of one of Childe's novels for television and very unpleasant things seem to be happening to those involved in getting the project going. Naturally Albert agrees to traveling into deepest, darkest Dorset to check out all that is going on.

This novel feels a little lighter in tone than most of the others. Albert is helped by Lugg, Charlie Luke, and Rupert, his son and heir. Rupert is also a "resting" actor so he has a reason of his own for wanting to accompany his father. I enjoyed this one very much and waited patiently to find out exactly how one would go about moving a mosaic floor. The mystery is quite good too. These stories are written with great sensitivity to the works of Margery Allingham. If you are a fan of her work, you can safely dip into this continuing series because all the characters are still just as she developed them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for an e-galley of this novel.

Campion In Demand..,
The eleventh in the Albert Campion series of mysteries finds Campion in Dorset following a series of bizarre occurrences. Having been a speaker, albeit reluctant, at the Evadne Childe Society gathering to celebrate what would have been the celebrated author’s eighty second birthday, he has once again found himself in demand. It appears as though someone is attempting to sabotage the television adaptation of one of Evadne’s most famous books. Is someone trying to murder the leading man? The Society wants Campion to investigate. Campion is soon to find himself deep in the depths of something very disturbing. With a perfectly crafted cast of characters, an immersive storyline and a wonderfully evocative turn of phrase this is another delightful and wholly enjoyable addition to this superlative series.

I'd never read any of the Marjory Allingham Campion stories. I picked up this book because I liked the blurb. A detective visiting a literary society where a murder takes place. Throw in a film and a Roman mosaic and I was hooked. The story was a solid read keeping me interested throughout the story with only a minor drop in the middle. I sadly can't compare it to the originals, but if this is any indiction then it'll be worth reading some of them.

Campion, a man in his seventies is invited to be a guest speaker at the Evadne Childe Society conference. Whilst there, he is persuaded to investigate a problem the society are having with getting a TV programme made of the books of Childe. Intrigued by the mystery, Campion agrees and with his son Rupert, 'a resting actor' heads for deepest Dorset.

The story was a delightful read. The characters interacted with each other really well. I loved the landlord of the Dorset pub who put a BBC crewman in hospital after eating one of his 'curries'. Lugg, Campions foil, is a great likeable character who for some reason made me think of Brian Glover (the school teacher in Kes), but with a posh accent. The village in Dorset seemed like a beautiful place. I could almost smell the grass and trees. All in all the story was a solid read. The story was set in the seventies, but something in my head had me placing it in the thirties. It had that same style of writing of books from that era.

All in all a good book and recommended if you like those writers like Agatha Christe and Majory Allingham.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of Mr Campion’s Mosaic, the tenth novel to feature the elderly Albert Campion, originally created by Margery Allingham, set in 1972.

Campion is asked at the last minute to make a speech at a celebration of what would have been her eighty second birthday by the Evadne Childe Society, but it is not just a speech they want from him, but his investigative skills. The BBC is remaking the only film made from Evadne’s novels, The Moving Mosaic, and a series of unfortunate events, not least the attempted murder of the leading man, are plaguing pre-production. Could Mr Campion possibly look into it?

I thoroughly enjoyed Mr Campion’s Mosaic, which has a plot that had me glued to the pages and, as a bonus, made me laugh out loud. I haven’t read many novels in this series and none of Ms Allingham’s, but this gave me the taste for more. The author has a light, deft touch with both his writing and plotting and the inclusion of some absurdities makes it a pleasure to read.

The crimes start low key with attacks and woundings and ramp up to murder as the novel progresses. Both Campion and the reader puzzle over motive - who would want to disrupt filming and why? The answer, when it comes, is neat and, I think, tips a hat to the golden age. It was not, however, my prime suspect, so it involves a certain amount of misdirection. Clever.

The novel is as much about the characters and their dialogue as it is about the plot. Campion, at the age of 72, is clear sighted and, more to the point for the reader, ironical. There is a running gag about his nice but dim son, Rupert, being a “resting” actor and a few references to his past portrayals. Then there is his ongoing verbal sparring with his factotum Magersfontein Lugg. That made me laugh.

Mr Campion’s Mosaic is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I'm loving these stories featuring Albert Campion and loved this one, a lighter stories than other I read. There's some satire about tv world, there's Lugg, old and new actors.
Albert Campion is as clever and likeable as usual. I appreciated Rupert and was glad to catch up with Lugg
The mystery is solid, full of twists, and the solution surprised me.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A deceptive read!

There I was completely foiled by Mr Campion’s mild mannered air of concern. Albert Campion, an investigator with formidable contacts including the Commander of the Metropolitan Police, has that rare something that makes him appear deceptively naive, concerned, and an old fashioned air of the polite gentleman who somehow stumbles into things. And stumble he does in this latest foray in his retirement. He’s been asked to speak to the Evadne Childe Society because their guest of honor had a mishap (which turned out to be an argument with a car). Evadne Childe was a mystery writer he happened to share a godmother with. The club asks him to follow a few things up about the Evadne’s book, The Moving Mosaic, to be remade into a two hour BBC production. The first of many it’s hoped. But there are problems and as Albert trundles on there are more—including attempted blackmail and murder.
Rupert, Albert’s son becomes his father’s chauffeur and foil. Magersfontein Lugg is ever present, and his wife Lady Amanda Fitton is the voice of reason.
A homage in many aspects to crime writer Margaret Allingham. Reading the author’s After Notes I was entranced by the twisted logic and air of benign benevolence that surrounds the story.

A Severn HouseARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

It's always a pleasure to spend time with Albert Campion and the revolving cast of characters that he assembles to uncover puzzling crimes.

This time, Campion's son Rupert, the indispensable manservant Lugg, and executive policeman Charlie Luke are tasked with understanding why a film set in Dorset is being sabotaged.

Mike Ripley does a great job of capturing Campion's self-deprecating humor. The plotting and pace are appropriate for a Golden Age homage.

I highly recommend this book and the series to anyone who enjoys Christie, Sayers, Wolfe, and, of course, Allingham!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mike Ripley’s seamless and enjoyable continuance of the Albert Campion novels by Margery Allingham have become a regular feature of the British crime scene and Mr Campion’s Mosaic (Severn House, 4 October 2022), the tenth in the series, once more features Ripley’s marvellous sense of humour and his love for history.

One of the highlights of the Ripley additions has been his creation of Evadne Childe, a mystery writer from the ‘Golden Age’ of British detective fiction, who featured in the highly enjoyable Mr Campion’s Séance. The latest book is set in 1972, seven years after Evadne’s death, and involves some nefarious antics around the BBC remake of a twenty-year-old film adaptation of one of her classic novels, The Moving Mosaic. Campion is asked by the Evadne Childe society to investigate why someone would want to sabotage the production of the television show and finds himself in the picturesque village of Kingswalter Manor in Dorset where filming is due to start.

It is the usual busy plot by Ripley and Mr Campion’s Mosaic finds the ageing detective caught up in dark secrets from World War II, an impressive Roman mosaic, ghosthunters and murder. The story proceeds at a leisurely pace and is full of interesting historical snippets and cultural references, as well as several amusing inside jokes and references by Ripley. Underlying it all is a good murder mystery that is neatly resolved.

As usual, it is a light and enjoyable treat that goes down as well as the local Dorset beer. Recommended.

Mike Ripley continues Margery Allingham's Albert Campion series in Mr Campion's Mosaic. In 1972 Albert Campion fills in for a speaker at a dinner in honour of Evadne Childe the author now deceased. He is recruited by the Evadne Childe Society to find out what is happening with a BBC production of a movie based on one of her novels. Troubles plague the actors, the site, and anyone involved with the novel's production rights. Lots of red herrings. Campion is his usual campy and nosy best. Enjoy.

It's 1972 and a TV remake of a classic novel published in the 30's by the celebrated crime writer Evadne Childe is being sabotaged by one or more individuals. Why? And how far would he/they go in order to disrupt the filming to go on?

Determined to resolve the disturbing incidents, the Evadne Childe Society decides to send the talented Albert Campion on the movie set in Dorset in order to investigate the various misdeeds and murderous shenanigans plaguing the production....

A captivating and highly entertaining whodunit set in rural Dorset, blessed with a delightful plot full of twists and turns, sparkling dialogues and a brilliant cast of exquisitely drawn characters. Another winner from the talented Mike Ripley!

Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this terrific ARC

Remaking Evadne Childe

This series of tributes to Marjorie Allingham’s Campion novels gets better and better. Albert Campion is the substitute guest speaker at the Evadne Childe Society dinner. When he discovers why he is the substitute and for whom, he finds himself plunged into a mystery of attempted and real murder, a house full of retired actors, a TV remake of a failed movie of an Evadne Childe mystery dogged with misfortune, peopled by a mix of eccentric characters and the ever witty and amusing Albert Campion himself, comfortable, pleasurable, amusing reading. It’s light reading, but it’s great fun.