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cimorene1558's review
4.0
Two rather creepy novellas, full of strange and not very pleasant people. Very good indeed, but not cheerful reading!
bev_reads_mysteries's review
3.0
"Wanted: Someone Innocent": Gillian Brayton is struggling to make ends meet. Raised to be a lady, schooled in the art of figuring up a dress budget and making conversation but not how to make a living, she's working at millinery shop when she decides to attend a reunion at her old school. Imagine her surprise when Rita Raven--now Fayre latches onto her. She and Rita were never the bosom pals that the woman is now claiming. But Rita makes a point of saying so to anyone who comes near while they're together. And at the end of the day, Gillian finds that she's agreed to come home with Rita to be a companion at 300 pounds a year. But Gillian hasn't been there long before she feels that she's made a big mistake. The servants seem to think she's there for some devious purpose and there's a strong sense of foreboding. She makes up her mind to leave, but too late. Rita Fayre is found dead and everyone thinks Gillian killed her....
"Last Act": A nasty, manipulative French actress dies under mysterious circumstances. Our heroine and her boyfriend, the actress's heir, become the prime suspects though there are many options (given actress's nasty nature). The actress left clues behind to point to her killer...but do they mean what we think they do?
It's been a while since I've read any Allingham, but these short stories (which do not feature Albert Campion) come across as damsel in danger stories more than mysteries. If the menaces Gillian and Margot faced had seemed (more forcefully) to have come from their love interests, the stories would have had an even more gothic romance/thriller vibe. In all honesty, neither of these represent Allingham at her best, but of the the two "Wanted: Someone Innocent" is the stronger story. It has a much better twisty plot and the denouement is very good. There is a common theme here that ties the two stories together (which I can't mention because--spoiler!) that is used much more effectively in the first.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
"Last Act": A nasty, manipulative French actress dies under mysterious circumstances. Our heroine and her boyfriend, the actress's heir, become the prime suspects though there are many options (given actress's nasty nature). The actress left clues behind to point to her killer...but do they mean what we think they do?
It's been a while since I've read any Allingham, but these short stories (which do not feature Albert Campion) come across as damsel in danger stories more than mysteries. If the menaces Gillian and Margot faced had seemed (more forcefully) to have come from their love interests, the stories would have had an even more gothic romance/thriller vibe. In all honesty, neither of these represent Allingham at her best, but of the the two "Wanted: Someone Innocent" is the stronger story. It has a much better twisty plot and the denouement is very good. There is a common theme here that ties the two stories together (which I can't mention because--spoiler!) that is used much more effectively in the first.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
verityw's review against another edition
4.0
*****I received an advance copy from the Allingham Estate in return for an honest review*****
Two non-Campion novellas from Margery Allingham and they're crackers. The first sees a woman in financial difficulties offed a job by a former schoolmate. But what is really going on at her house? The second sees a young actress caught up in the affairs and rivalries of her elderly adopted mother who is preoccupied with disposing her inheritance.
Both as twisty and full of suspense and very, very readable. I thought on several occasions that I had the solution worked out, but Allingham is great at throwing curve balls and as a modern reader, used to shock twists or simple solutions this can be extra effective.
Definitely worth your time.
Two non-Campion novellas from Margery Allingham and they're crackers. The first sees a woman in financial difficulties offed a job by a former schoolmate. But what is really going on at her house? The second sees a young actress caught up in the affairs and rivalries of her elderly adopted mother who is preoccupied with disposing her inheritance.
Both as twisty and full of suspense and very, very readable. I thought on several occasions that I had the solution worked out, but Allingham is great at throwing curve balls and as a modern reader, used to shock twists or simple solutions this can be extra effective.
Definitely worth your time.
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