Bill's Reviews > The Black Dudley Murder

The Black Dudley Murder is the first Albert Campion mystery by Margery Allingham. It was originally published in 1929.

Campion is amongst a number of guests invited to a weekend party at Black Dudley Manor, located outside of London. The host, Colonel C0ombe, confined to a wheel chair, dies during a game played one evening. It is a supposed Black Dudley tradition, the passing along of an old dagger, while the house lights are turned down.

Two of the guests are doctors. At separate times they are asked to sign the death certificate to indicate that Coombe died of a heart attack. The first refuses as he is not permitted to look at the body. The second, George Abbershaw, is pretty well forced to sign the paperwork. Combe has been accompanied by three threatening individuals. While in the room, Abbershaw takes a billfold, filled with papers that seem to be in code.

Later, the mysterious guests, Dawlish and Gideon, lock the others in their rooms as they search for said documents. So there you go, this begins a relatively action-filled story, while the young guests try to keep the gang from finding the info they need. Campion, who it seems had come to the party to get the same documents from Combe, helps them. He remains a mysterious character throughout the story. As well, he is somewhat peripheral to the final action, which makes it curious as it is an "Albert Campion" mystery after all. The story focuses mainly on Abbershaw.

It's a curious, somewhat confusing story. Along with Abbershaw and his friends, we try to discover who killed Combe. What are Dawlish and Gideon and the gang looking for? Who will win the struggle between Abbershaw's friends and Dawlish's cohorts? And who is this mysterious Campion, who seems to have various aliases, who seems to be fool, but at the same time, who is effective when combating the enemy?

All in all it's an interesting story and a good intro to Campion. It leaves you wanting to know more about him. I've read others in this series and enjoyed them. Worth trying and checking out the Campion series. (3.5 stars)