A group gathers for the weekend at an old English mansion. They are mostly young folk, friends of Wyatt Petrie. But the house is occupied by his uncle by marriage, Colonel Gordon Coombe. A few of the gathering are there for the Colonel, including his personal physician and two other men, Benjamin Dawlish and Gideon. This story is told from the point of view of George Abbershaw, who is a doctor of pathology. George went to school with Wyatt, and wanted Wyatt to invite Meggie Oliphant as part of the group, since he is interested in her.
After dinner the first night, they gather in the drawing room, which has an ornate 15th century Italian dagger incorporated into the middle of a group of hanging lances and banners. After hearing a story about the dagger being part of a ritual in the past, someone proposes that they use the dagger to play a game. Who could foresee that playing a game with a dagger‒in the dark‒would end in disaster?!
A death occurs, of course. Meanwhile, something of value is missing, and the remaining persons are held against their will at the mansion. Albert Campion, a funny guy with large eyeglasses whom no one can really figure out (is he a good guy or a bad guy?), sometimes jokes and sometimes has good ideas on what to do next.
This was a fun, old-fashioned mystery with a full array of colorful characters. I wasn't surprised to hear that there was a couple seasons of a Campion television series.
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