Traitor's Purse

An Albert Campion Mystery

By: Margery Allingham

Narrated by: David Thorpe

Campion investigates once more, but this time he is on the run from the police - classic British crime writing at its best. Celebrated amateur detective Albert Campion awakes in hospital accused of attacking a police officer and suffering from acute amnesia. All he can remember is that he was on a mission of vital importance to His Majesty's government before his accident. On the run from the police and unable to recognise even his faithful servant Lugg or his own fiancée, Campion struggles desperately to put the pieces together while the very fate of England is at stake.

Margery 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

Critic reviews

"Spending an evening with Campion is one of life's pure pleasures" ( Saturday Review)

Great story, annoying falsetto

David Thorpe is perfectly capable of reading this great story well, and does in every particular except that for some reason he interpreted Campion's "high, light voice" (described in a former book) as an excruciating dowager falsetto that is not only highly irritating, but makes it difficult to follow the action of the story, since it destroys all the emotional innuendo so cleverly written into the dialogue. This is one of Allingham's best Campion novels; this version is still worth a listen as the rest of the character voicings are well done, but I wish Thorpe would do it over without the falsetto. I don't know what the producer was thinking to have allowed it. To be honest, I much prefer the narration of Francis Matthews, who reads some of Allingham's other books.

Campion Favorite

More intrigue than the usual manor house murder that A. Campion usually encounters. The best yet.

WOW!

Allingham has surpassed herself here. This is truly a tour de force. The narrator is superb; the plot is compelling; and the evolution of Campion’s personality is satisfying.

One of Allingham's best

Traitor's Purse may be my favorite Campion novel. Campion himself is such a delightful character. But this is the only one in which he experiences true character development. The device of amnesia forces him to figure nearly everything out with no context and no background, just his wits. It's a very enjoyable read.

A Nail Biter of a Story!

I liked the suspense throughout the story; Would Campion regain his memory in time to save the day? I liked the diabolical plan to distribute counterfeit money. The setting in a dark cave made it even more interesting.