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Inspiring, fascinating, powerful.

Revisado: 01-26-25

Found her realizations and awareness applicable not only to wilderness survival, but to life. In a time of deep transition myself her story was a remarkably welcome message to hear. And, oh by the way-- her skillful engagement with this epic experience makes for gripping listening.

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Another marvelous book

Revisado: 03-16-23

Well written, well read, well conceived- another joy. Thank you Richard Osman & Leslie Manville and everyone who supports this wonderful series.

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Painful read: sexism, classism & racism

Revisado: 01-04-23

I have enjoyed so many of Allingham’s stories, but the titled white male culture of 1930s England in this one was appalling. I wanted a paper version just to black out certain parts, the “N” word features prominently, Lug is made a laughing stock, and when a human-negating marriage proposal was accepted it really hurt.
The character of Amanda reappears, and she st least is powerful: I was grateful for her being there. I found myself reading it as a reminder of how blind us humans can be.

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Somehow her women faded in this later novel

Revisado: 08-12-22

I enjoy Allingham in part for her refreshingly clear view of the genders. In this story, writing in 1965, the roll of the women characters is suddenly subservient to the men and the children involved in the story. The men and boys take center stage, the women are entirely in support roles. It was unpleasant to be confronted with neurotic, clinging, limited women from a writer who’s “Amanda” was a capable partner to Campion in sleuthing, and later a loving and practical mom while right along an accomplished aeronautical engineer.
She’d previously written male characters who were evidently gay without disparagement, the one gay male in this account is written in a less favorable manner as well. Unpleasant to feel that cultural shift. Campion himself felt dated, and I missed Lugg, too.
Allingham died in 1966, the year after this was published, and it feels as though “her light was fading” in this last completed piece.
Her earlier material will remain for me well worth re-reading, and she is - along with Josephine Tey- one of my favorite classic mystery writers. but this last story I’m not likely to pick up again.

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A powerful presentation of evil and good

Revisado: 07-09-22

Allingham tells a dark, troubling story in this one. Murder isn’t entertaining, it is what it is: evil, twisted, madness, isolated, self centered, unfettered greed: a horror. And she examines goodness. Goodness shows as loving, dedicated, simple and kind, aware of complexity and supportive of joy. The contrasts in this story become the rhythm of the narrative.
Not a “friendly” story! Not light hearted. But well written as always and perhaps more modern in approach than her earlier novels.

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Well written and worth the time

Revisado: 06-23-22

Allingham is a master of her craft, and this one is another great read. She knows her characters and creates them brilliantly, spinning a fascinating tension between obligation, duty and desire.

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My favorite of the series

Revisado: 06-14-22

Allingham’s writing is such a pleasure, her affection for, and understanding of, people so clear, and her humor so quick, well written and joyful- it’s just a delight clear through.
The reader “does the voices” of the various characters well, though Campion is given a falsetto, which is unnecessary- and one character has a voice that the author describes as “honking like a goose”. This is read as written and a bit much if you’re planning to be “read to sleep”! But his Lugg and the new policeman she introduces are both brilliantly created in his reading. I listened twice in succession just for the pleasure.

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