The Tenth Book in the Albert Campion Series

It’s always a treat to learn something–something that’s actually true–about Albert Campion, and this novels offers a particularly delicious bonbon in the form of an introduction to Campion’s sister, a talented young clothing designer with a roster of celebrated clients. The most celebrated among them is certainly Georgia Wells, a glamorous actress who exemplifies the 1930s femme fatale.

Georgia is vain, stupid, and self-centered, but men fly to her like moths to a flame. And like those moths, they often meet unhappy ends. Georgia’s fans chalk it up to her irresistibly dangerous allure, but Campion isn’t so sure. For one thing, he reckons, Georgia isn’t actually all that alluring. And for another, he suspects she might be just a bit more deliberately fatale than her public would like to believe.

This is what the reviewers had to say at the time of the book’s original publication in 1938:

“One of the finest books ever written” –The New Yorker

“Ingenious and sophisticated”–New York Times
“Beautifully planned and written”–Times Literary Supplement

Also look for Black Plumes, a Margery Allingham mystery that does not feature Albert Campion, in March 2009