The Fear Sign (Albert Campion Mystery)

This is not a full size book and I did not know it by the description!

Action, drama, suspense and mystery: all wrapped up in the person of Albert Campion, Allingham's famous solver of mysteries. He's not a detective or the police, just someone who is always there to get you out of a jam. Sweet Danger gives you romance, which after Biddy's marriage, seemed a forgone part of Albert's life. Young fiery red-headed Amanda is there to change all of that! A Campion mystery you can't miss reading!

Margery Allingham's Fear Sign appears complete and unabridged, paired with Francis Matthews' compelling and dramatic voice which brings to life the Albert Campion mystery of a cursed village and a murder. Fans of Sherlock Holmes will appreciate both the problem-solving methods and the tough of comedy, brought to life by British reader Matthews.

Travelling through France, Guffy Randall is surprised to find his old friend Campion and several of their cohorts masquerading as minor nobility. Quickly sucked into the plot, Guffy discovers that Campion is seeking various pieces of evidence that would prove that a tiny piece of very valuable coastline really belongs to England. Hardly have they begun when they discover that the real answer to the mystery is closer to home, at Pontisbright in West Sussex. Off the crew goes to rescue the evidence before it falls into the hands of their devious opponent Brett Savanake."The Fear Sign" combines all the key elements that that Margery Allingham uses to create her classic British adventure stories starring our universal uncle, Albert Campion. Aside from Campion's company of young British upper-class, the novel also stars Amanda, Mary and Hal Fitton (plus Aunt Hatt), who are the possible (and possible illegitimate) Pontisbright heirs, a supporting cast of appropriately quirky villages and a complete host of villains.In short order Guffy is in love with Mary, Campion has found a partner in Amanda and even Lugg has a new buddy in Scatty Williams. When Amanda shows Campion an old verse carved into a hidden tree bole the chase is on."If Pontisbright would crowned be, three strange happenings must he see. The diamond must be rent in twain before he wear his crown again. Thrice must the mighty bell be tolled before he shall the scepter hold, and ere he to his birthright come stricken must be Malplaquet drum."With this clue in hand Campion sets off to save the kingdom and reinstate the Fittons to their title, followed close at hand by Brett Savanake. Then, no soon do they start their quest, but Campion disappears, leaving Guffy and the rest to proceed on their own.Before the mystery is solved readers will find themselves participating in a failed museum theft, listening to the world's first hi-fi system, and invited to a conjuration of the devil. As is often the case, Allingham provides a continuous series of distractions to bemuse the reader, culminating in the classic chase and confrontation between the forces of good and evil.While this style of plot is an Allingham regular, she once again manages to flesh it out with enough novelty, fascinating characters and rip-roaring action to keep the reader fascinated. Like all Campion stories it never fails to entice and delight.

And Campion has to find the lost Pontisbright heir who is the rightful owner before the "other parties" manage to find it first. At stake, a natural harbour on the Adriatic with its own supply of oil. Campion has to solve the riddle of the Pontisbright oak, evade capture, and find the missing papers that will allow Averna to stay in British hands. Along the way, he has to solve the mystery of the fear sign carved into the town walls.Campion, for those of you who don't know him, is a spy in the line of Lord Peter Wimsey-- seemingly effete and ineffective, his demeanor hides deadly incision and a sharp wit. The Fear Sign is a memorable addition to his canon of books.

Fear Sign is a great story where Campion goes on a treasure hunt against a "big-wig" for property and where he meets the heirs of the Pointbright legacy. His escapades and ability to sift through clues give this book a suspenseful and interesting plot. I could hardly put the book down!