Death of a Ghost

By: Margery Allingham

Narrated by: Francis Matthews

The unrivalled Albert Campion returns to solve another shocking murder - classic crime fiction at its very best. J.S. Lafcadio, the painter, is dead. He wanted lasting fame and he left instructions to his wife for one painting to be exhibited every year after his death. Eight years later in Little Venice, a group of friends and family gather to view the painting. They are treated instead to a murder....

©1949 Margery Allingham (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

More Campion!

This had never been my favorite Allingham but I am thrilled to have more of my favorite series available on Audible. I have always admired the lightheartedness of Margery Allingham's books. They are silly and they know it but they are good fun to read.
The story is well read by Francis Matthews, who is my favorite narrator for the Campion series (I have them all on cassette). I just hope I am not the only one who loves these books and that Audible releases the full collection unabridged. I would love to see the Gyrth Chalice, Beckoning Lady, Traitor's Purse and The China Shepherdess available here.

Campion turns sleuth

No Lugg in this one! Argh!!! And people refer to Campion as a sleuth, which he'd always denied before, preferring to be called an adventurer and universal uncle. Even though he seems to accept detective status now, this one is hardly a mystery, as the killer is known very quickly. After that, it's just getting evidence. Good, but my least favorite Campion so far.

A most clever story and superb reader

Fine writing, devilishly clever plot, and one of the finest narrators I’ve ever come across

good story but

This was an interesting setup and enjoyable story. the only thing is Albert Champion seems reticent to act in this one. In previous books I think he would have been more proactive. I guess the author just wanted to let this villain run his course instead of having Champion take care of him early.

a mostly great story and excellent narration

This was a classic who done it with great characters and the likable Albert Campion at the heart of it. it was a little slow to start, but once it got going the plot was very well done. however there was a major logic flaw was in the last twist, wherein Albert Campion became drunk well out of his character in order to make the plot work. I thought the plot could have worked without all of his highly contrived and out of character drinking.

Matthews brings the characters to life!

The story is complex and interesting. The ending was a bit outrageous, as were several of the characters. I enjoyed the book - not a 'page turner', but it kept my interest. It was the monthly selection for a book club - we are reading various books from this period - seems the different prominent authors of crime stories were satirizing each other. This is a good one!

Enjoy Margery!

I enjoyed this mystery classic. Being familiar with most of the golden age mystery classic writers like Christie, Sayers, Marsh; I only recently came across Margery Allingham and the Albert Campion series. I’m steadily making my way through the series. I really like this book which is a mix between what i would call the more adventure themed of her earlier novels (e.g., Mystery Mile) and the more psychological thriller themed of her later novels (e.g.. The Tiger in the Smoke). I enjoyed this book and the narrator. I’m a David Thorpe fan by far. However, Francis Matthews’s narration of Albert Campion has grown on me. And I now like them both equally

Beautifully read!

The story is quite fascinating and ingenious, and as always with Allingham's work, the characters are beautifully drawn--very real, very distinct one from another.

The man who reads the book is brilliant with voice, and each person is differently accented as appropriate. One can tell the character speaking from his voice alone. I am often not thrilled with readers doing voices, because they do not do them well enough to fool my ear. I am from the USA, and someone with a British ear might pick out errors, but I definitely could not.

Fascinating book, brilliantly read.

May be my Favorite

I especially love these Allingham novels read by Francis Matthews since the falsetto in Campions voice I hear in the Thorpe readings disappears.
Death of a Ghost has everything I love about Allingham— the off-beat characters, the engaging mystery, the intelligent dialogue, the descriptions. The drawing rooms, the drawing rooms.. oh my.

Wow!

Recently the NYT published a list of Golden Age detective writers and books worth reading. I’m a longtime Agatha Christie fan and have ready many of her books and short stories, and I thought it time to branch out. This title was on the list and it came to me as a revelation. What a wonderful writer! And a fabulous narrator! This one had it all, characters, plot and a truly interesting setting in the contemporary art world in the ‘30’s. Definitely planning on checking out others!