Two Campions by Allingham

The Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham (1955)  4/5 stars

Albert Campion series, Book 15

Campion returns to his wife's old home to attend a funeral and, later, a party, only to becomes involved in a murder investigation while he is there.

Unlike a good many of the Campion tales, The Beckoning Lady is a true mystery and not an adventure or thriller.  There are plenty of suspects, red herrings, and false scents.  The plot is engrossing, with many well-drawn characters (both old and new).  I found the solution to be most satisfying, and the build-up nicely done.  

(This one could be read without reading the previous Campion stories, but it may be confusing at times due to the recurring and returning characters)   

Hide my Eyes by Margery Allingham (1958)  5/5 stars

Albert Campion series, Book 16

An unsolved murder has gotten under the skin of Detective Superintendent Charlie Luke, to the concern of both his superiors and his friend Albert Campion.  When a surprise bit of evidence appears, it gives Luke the spark he needs to start another investigation, this time with the encouragement and help of Campion.  

In this psychological thriller, the reader knows who the murderer is early on, and waits in agony and suspense as he prepares to kill again, all the while watching Campion and Detective Superintendent Luke play a game of "hot and cold" trying to identify him.  This is one of Allingham's finest, to my mind.  It's extremely well written, deeply explores some of the characters, is emotional without being sentimental, and is quite memorable.  I had read it before, but was as impressed and moved as I was the first time.

(I generally advise reading these books in order, as many of the characters are recurring, but I think this one could stand alone.)