The Crime at Black Dudley
The narrative unfolds in a gloomy mansion known as Black Dudley, where a group of friends, including Dr. George Abbershaw and Margaret "Meggie" Oliphant, gather for a weekend. The atmosphere is tense and foreboding, heightened by the presence of Colonel Gordon Coombe, the elderly host, who is revealed to have a mysterious past. Abbershaw, a respected pathologist, is on holiday but finds himself entangled in a web of intrigue and potential danger. As the weekend progresses, the group engages in a bizarre ritual involving a dagger, which is steeped in the mansion's dark history. During this ritual, Colonel Coombe is found murdered, and the guests are thrust into a perilous situation as they realize they are being held captive by a criminal gang led by the sinister Eberhard von Faber. The gang is after a package containing valuable information that Coombe had hidden, and they suspect that one of the guests may have it. Abbershaw, determined to protect Meggie and the others, devises a plan to escape. He learns that the gang has been monitoring their every move and that they are willing to resort to violence to retrieve the package. The tension escalates as the group attempts to outsmart their captors, leading to a series of confrontations and revelations about loyalty, betrayal, and the true nature of the people around them. Throughout the ordeal, Abbershaw's character evolves from a methodical scientist to a decisive leader, driven by his feelings for Meggie and the need to ensure their safety. The story culminates in a dramatic confrontation where the characters must confront their fears and fight for their freedom, ultimately revealing the depths of human courage and the complexities of morality in the face of danger. The narrative weaves together themes of love, loyalty, and the struggle against evil, set against the backdrop of a hauntingly atmospheric mansion filled with secrets and treachery. The resolution of the plot hinges on the characters' ability to work together and confront the darkness that surrounds them, both literally and metaphorically.
By Margery Allingham · First published 1929 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Thriller · 29 chapters · 84,238 words
First lines
The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressibly lonely. Miles of neglected parkland stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond. On all sides it was the same.
The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
What this Textopian page supports
The Crime at Black Dudley is listed on Textopian as a novel by Margery Allingham, dated 1929 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Margery Allingham
- Date: 1929 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 84,238 words
- Structure: 29 chapters, 2,172 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Crime at Black Dudley?
- How does this novel by Margery Allingham fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Murder In The Maze by J. J. Connington
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Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around a crime that needs to be solved, typical of the mystery genre.
- Detective Fiction — Features a detective character who investigates the crime, aligning with detective fiction conventions.
- Thriller — Contains suspenseful elements and tension as the investigation unfolds.
- Crime Fiction — Focuses on criminal acts and their implications, characteristic of crime fiction.
Tags
Mystery · Thriller · Detective Fiction · Crime Novel · English Literature · Classic Mystery · 1920s Setting · Country House Mystery · Family Secrets · Murder Investigation · Private Detective · Amateur Sleuth
Contents
- Candlelight
- The Ritual of the Dagger
- In the Garage
- Murder
- The Mask
- Mr. Campion Brings the House Down
- Five o'Clock in the Morning
- Open Warfare
- Chris Kennedy Scores a Try Only
- The Impetuous Mr. Abbershaw
- One Explanation
- "Furthermore . " Said Mr. Campion
- Abbershaw Sees Red
- Abbershaw Gets his Interview
- Doctor Abbershaw's Deductions
- The Militant Mrs. Meade
- In the Evening
- Mr. Kennedy's Council
- Mr. Campion's Conjuring Trick
- The Roundup
- The Point of View of Benjamin Dawlish
- The Darkest Hour
- An Error in Taste
- The Last of Black Dudley
- Mr. Watt Explains
- "Cherchez La Femme"
- A Journey by Night
- Should a Doctor Tell?
- The Last Chapter