Police at the Funeral cover art

Police at the Funeral

An Albert Campion Mystery

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Police at the Funeral

By: Margery Allingham
Narrated by: David Thorpe
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About this listen

When Albert Campion is called in by the fiancee of an old college friend to investigate the disappearance of her uncle, he little expects the mysterious spate of death and dangers that follows among the bizarre inhabitants of Socrates Close, Cambridge. He and Stanislaus Oates must tread carefully, and battle some complex family dynamics, to solve the case.

AuthorMargery Allingham was born in London in 1904. Her first novel was published when she was seventeen. In 1929 she published The Crime at Black Dudley and introduced the character who was to become the hallmark of her writing - Albert Campion

©2013 Margery Allingham (P)2013 Audible Ltd
Crime Fiction Detective Fiction Mystery Traditional Detectives Crime

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Critic reviews

"Allingham's work is always of the first rank" ( New York Times)
"Margery Allingham has worked her way up to a worthy place among the tiny hierarchy of front-rankers in the detective world" ( Tatler)
"Margery Allingham deserves to be rediscovered" ( P.D. James)
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The story, as usual with Margery Allingham, went along swimmingly: she writes so well that the endless intricacies of the plot never detract from the compulsive pleasure of reading. An old house and family of very strange dependents, ruled with a rod of iron by its horrible matriarch: the perfect scenario for a gruesome unravelling.

However, it is not until the final pages where ALL IS REVEALED, that we are offered the shocking revelation of - tainted blood - and the condemnation in the word “blackamore”. Since Albert Campion seems to take it all in his stride, I can only assume that this is not an objective slur on the old aunt who tells of the family scandal, but an example of unwitting prejudice on the part of the author.

Which raises the question: is this novel negated by the racial prejudice it reveals; or do we accept it as being “of its time”? ( I remember enjoying John Buchan’s ripping yarns despite the frequent occurrence of bloodsports and slurs on Jews). I can understand any reader consigning either novelist to the flames of Hell. Still, I feel that this is a difficult one… .
,

Tainted

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This is a true thriller, where you don't know where the next danger is coming from. Read brilliantly again by David Thorpe.

Police at the Funeral

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The dated language won’t be for everyone - but a cracking yarn nevertheless and brilliantly narrated.

Great listen

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Engaging tale showing a glimpse into a past, simpler age. Not sure policemen were ever that deferential or welcoming of amateurs - however talented & well connected! Great narration too.

Wonderful period piece

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This is the third Campion book I've listened to - the other being the two that preceded it - and it's my favourite so far. A murder mystery with corpses piling up while no-one seeming like the likely culprit. I found it really entertaining and the conclusion satisfying (though there was one aspect of it which, let's just say, was of its time and reflects outdated attitudes). The narrator did an excellent job skillfully bringing the different characters to life in a wonderful way.

Definitely a book I'd revisit for its entertainment value.

Very enjoyable romp

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David Thorpe portrayed the characterisations so well. An ancient family within the walls of a house dominated by an ancient frail but so clear minded senior relative. When murder occurs, all seem to have the necessary motive. Can Campion remain a bystander?

Enthrallingly Chilling

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In chapters 14 and 15 there are repeat lines of script but a very loud impromptu yawn! Recording couldn’t have been checked. It’s put me off this series. Hope it’s a one off.

Ends up with a but of discomfort at the end because of the treatment of black people. Was a book of it’s time. Still well written but outmoded thinking.

Good if dated story with couple of errors on recording!

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It's classic and it's great I loved it and I've now bought 4 more to enjoy

A great listen

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I am not fond of this narrator but his inane performance is made worse by the fact that repetition and yawning have not been edited out. Wherever possible I choose Campion stories narrated by Francis Matthews.

Poor narration and editing

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I enjoyed some of the accents although the female ones sounded quite similar. in the middle of the story the narrator reads a line, does a huge yawn ( not in the book) , reads the line again and carries on! I think they missed that bit in the editing process!

Did he yawn mid-story?

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