A classic collection of mystery stories: “With skillful plotting laced with tongue-in-cheek humor, Allingham never ceases to intrigue and surprise” (Daily Mail). This volume offers eighteen delightful mysteries from the Queen of Crime that will baffle the most ingenious of armchair detectives—and even, at times, the imperturbable sleuth Albert Campion himself. Enjoy one of England’s great … Enjoy one of England’s great golden-era writers at her witty best as she spins delicious tales of high-risk heists and domestic deceptions in this exquisite short story collection.
“A perfectly splendid collection of short stories.” —H. R. F. Keating
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The Allingham Minibus by Margery Allingham is a collection of short stories from a writer of the Agatha Christie ilk. Although a renowned mystery writer, these stories are not entirely mystery: they verge on the Twilight Zone. Many of them are, or appear to be ghost stories. Some are mysteries. All are delightful. These are the type of short stories I would read my tenth grade English class. They make you think, “Oh, I get it!”
There are only three Campion stories in the minibus. Campion was lead detective in 18 of Allingham’s novel and many short stories. He is up there with Poirot and Wimsey as 1930’s crime-fighting heroes. Not all of the stories in the minibus are as enjoyable as the others but they have weathered the test of time. This work was originally published in 1973 and has a place in today’s world just as it had in 1940 and 1973. I enjoyed it. I am not normally a reader of short stories so it was a nice change of pace. I enjoy the more formal language of the time, as well. I recommend The Allingham Minibus.
I received a free ARC of the Allingham Minibus from Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #theallinghamminibus
Started it. Couldn’t get past chapter two.
Margery Allingham is arguably one of the best of the “Golden Age” mystery writers.
Not worth it
This is a great collection of short stories. Several star Campion and Oates. Several have others, but all are good.
Well-written but rather banal detective stories.
Love Allingham! One of grande dames of golden era of mysteries. Rereading now with much pleasure.
A charming and easy read. Allingham does it again.
Charming stories, just right for relaxing reading when you don’t have time to get heavily into a long, involved novel. Old fashioned short and classic mystery tales by a great writer.
Not as entertaining as the novels, but stories good.
old fashioned murder fun
One outstanding short story after another, all with plots that held on to the end. Wonderful read!
Some of the mysteries are fairly easy to figure out, but still entertaining – and very clever. Most are about 15 pages or so, an easy fit to anyone’s schedule.
True allingham. Lots of puzzles and her characters are fun
I love collection of stories, and this was no exception. What fun to anticipate the next situation. I am delighted to recommend this book.
This is an interesting collection of short stories, about half of them involving Allingham’s Albert Campion and Charlie Luke, two of the most interesting characters in early Golden Era mysteries.
Mildly entertaining mystery stories.
While the stories in the middle of the book were so obtuse as to leave me asking -What was that about? – the stories in the first and last third of the collection were wonderful. Classic Allingham for lovers of golden age British upper crust mysteries.
THIS AUTHOR IS ALWAYS ENTERTAINING.
Classic crime stories, little gems of detection. Some have her series detective Albert Campion but unlike the books he is often present as an listener while various detectives relate cases of their own. Stories are short without excess filler as we often see today.