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Sweet danger
First published 1966 · 416 pages
A delightfully chaotic Golden Age romp where aristocratic eccentricity meets high-stakes village espionage.
What it feels like
Reading this feels like tumbling headlong into a delightfully chaotic English summer, where the tea is hot but the danger is surprisingly real. It perfectly bridges the gap between a traditional village whodunit and a breathless, high-stakes adventure. The atmosphere is quintessentially Golden Age, steeped in aristocratic eccentricity, crumbling manors, and sharp-witted banter, yet the narrative moves with a kinetic, almost cinematic energy. You are swept up in a whirlwind of midnight chases, hidden secrets, and eccentric locals, all anchored by a wry, unassuming sleuth and a fiercely capable supporting cast. It is a joyful, suspenseful romp that will thoroughly delight fans of classic British mysteries who prefer their puzzles served with a generous dash of adrenaline and wit.
- Mood
- breezy
- adventurous
- quintessentially English
- chaotic
- Tone
- wry
- playful
- eccentric
- suspenseful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- aristocratic eccentricity · hidden legacies · rural disruption · loyalty and duty
- The writing
- Elegant and sharply witty, balancing classic Golden Age gentility with surprisingly kinetic action sequences.
- The arc
- Begins with whimsical curiosity and escalates into a breathless, high-stakes adventure before landing at a triumphant, satisfying resolution.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love Golden Age mysteries that lean heavily into eccentric characters, village hijinks, and thriller-esque adventure.
Content notes
- gun violence
- kidnapping and abduction
- mild peril
- occult references
About the book
Way back during the crusades Richard I presented the Huntingforest family with the tiny Balkan principality of Averna but since then the kingdom has been forgotten, until circumstances in Europe suddenly render it extremely strategically important to the British Government. They hire unconventional detective Albert Campion to recover the long-missing proofs of ownership - the deeds, a crown, and a receipt - which are apparently hidden in the village of Pontisbright. On arriving in Pontisbright, Campion and his friends meet the eccentric, young, flame-haired Amanda Fitton and her family who claim to be the rightful heirs to Averna and join in the hunt. Mr. Campion and his two young friends, Eager-Wright and Farquharson, posted as the Hereditary Paladin of Averna and his entourage! Unfortunately, criminal financier Brett Savanake is also interested in finding the evidence of the oil-rich state's ownership for his own ends. Things get rather rough in the village as Savanake's heavies up the pressure on Campion to solve the mystery before they do. In the course of the hunt, Campion dresses in drag, takes refuge in a tree, is nearly drowned in a mill race, and his friends find themselves bound and gagged in sacks, shot at, and witnesses to a satanic ceremony led by the local doctor. The rural calm of Pontisbright is well and truly shattered.
Description from Open Library.
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