About the Author

Margery Allingham was born in Ealing, London in 1904 to a family immersed in literature. Her first novel, Blackkerchief Dick , was published in 1923 when she was 19. Her first work of detective fiction was a serialized story published by the Daily Express in 1927. Titled The White Cottage Mystery , it contained atypical themes for a woman writer of the era. Her breakthrough occurred in 1929 with the publication of The Crime at Black Dudley . This introduced Albert Campion, albeit originally as a minor character. He returned in Mystery Mile , thanks in part to pressure from her American publishers, much taken with the character. Campion proved so successful that Allingham made him the centrepiece of another 17 novels and over 20 short stories, continuing into the 1960s.

Reviews

Margery Allingham stands out like a shining light. And she has another quality, not usually associated with crime stories, elegance
*Agatha Christie*

Always of the elect, Margery Allingham now towers above them
*The Observer*

Margery Allingham has precious few peers and no superiors
*The Sunday Times*

Very good work, almost certain to entertain readers of the Classic mystery.
*Amazon Reviewer*

I've always enjoyed the Campion books, but this is one of my favorites.
*Amazon Reviewer*