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A review by annieb123
MR Campion's Seance by Mike Ripley
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Mr Campion's Seance is the 7th book in the Mr. Campion series homage to Margery Allingham's Albert Campion. Released 4th Aug 2020 by Severn House, it's 288 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Author Mike Ripley has written several books featuring Campion (this is the 7th) as well as other fiction and nonfiction. The point is, he's an experienced and capable author. I've been a fan of golden age mystery (especially British) as long as I've been reading, more or less, and I'm always on the lookout for more golden age fiction since the original authors are sadly long gone. My "acid test" is that there is more than a token effort to channel the original author's voice. Mr. Ripley manages to a preternatural degree. There were a number of places where it really felt like Allingham herself could've written the text: from Campion's affably dotty facade, to his self deprecating humor, to the convoluted plots which resolve in several varying denouements with a twist at the end which leaves the reader really *thinking*; it's all pitch perfect.
This was a very well written and engaging standalone mystery in its own right. The addition of the perennially delightful Campion, Superintendent Oates, Amanda, and the others, made it irresistible. This book really cemented the series in my "must read" pile. I sincerely hope that the author has more in store.
Four stars. Very strong addition.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Mr Campion's Seance is the 7th book in the Mr. Campion series homage to Margery Allingham's Albert Campion. Released 4th Aug 2020 by Severn House, it's 288 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Author Mike Ripley has written several books featuring Campion (this is the 7th) as well as other fiction and nonfiction. The point is, he's an experienced and capable author. I've been a fan of golden age mystery (especially British) as long as I've been reading, more or less, and I'm always on the lookout for more golden age fiction since the original authors are sadly long gone. My "acid test" is that there is more than a token effort to channel the original author's voice. Mr. Ripley manages to a preternatural degree. There were a number of places where it really felt like Allingham herself could've written the text: from Campion's affably dotty facade, to his self deprecating humor, to the convoluted plots which resolve in several varying denouements with a twist at the end which leaves the reader really *thinking*; it's all pitch perfect.
This was a very well written and engaging standalone mystery in its own right. The addition of the perennially delightful Campion, Superintendent Oates, Amanda, and the others, made it irresistible. This book really cemented the series in my "must read" pile. I sincerely hope that the author has more in store.
Four stars. Very strong addition.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.