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lokney's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
gia's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jennshelfishlife's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
caaleros's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a bit to get into the writing style because I was expecting something similar in tone to Agatha Christie, and the beginning read more like P.G. Wodehouse. The characters gained more depth half-way through the book. Overall, I liked Sayers' detective novel more than what I've read of Christie's, which is an unexpected delight.
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
First in the Lord Peter Wimsey private investigator vintage mystery series revolving around the younger brother of a duke in England. The focus is on an unidentifiable naked body. The story was originally published in 1923.
My Take
I can't remember the first time I picked up a Dorothy Sayers, but I do know I was captivated.
Lord Peter is a nobleman, bored and suffering PTSD from World War I, and he's discovered that the game of solving a crime is both fun and intriguing. He's well-educated which comes out in his quotations and speech. He loves good food and dressing well. You could definitely say he enjoys life. And of course, there's Bunter, who can be tyrannical, lol.
He's a complex man, intrigued enough to delve into crime, care about his fellow man, and become depressed when he solves it. He's also great friends with a chief inspector at Scotland Yard.
Lord Peter hornswoggled Milligan, pulling his mother in to ingratiate himself with Milligan. Luckily for Peter, his mother is very intelligent, if sometimes confused, lol.
Whose Body? is a peek into the culture, manners, and dress of the early 1920s, as well as phone protocol and transportation. A time with live-in servants, butlers, and a fascination for nobles. Thipps' embarrassment when his friend takes him to an after-hours club is so sweet. And Sayers peppers the story with slang of the period.
I do wish Sayers had indented Lord Peters' quotes. It made for confusing reading. Nor did I understand why Sayers included that childhood memory of Peter yanking the tablecloth.
It's about humiliation, not love. While there is action, it's primarily a character-driven story, focusing on Lord Peter. I do enjoy how Sayers depicts Peter's and Parker's friendship. A nobleman of wealth and a copper with limited income. They're truly friends with a warmth between them and in the story. As much as I love Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn, his stories are a little cold compared to Lord Peter Wimsey.
It can feel slow, however, as Peter goes off on his "flights of fancy".
The ending? Whoa. Whoa. It's too gruesome to believe.
Go get it. It's only 99¢ at Amazon!
The Story
It's a call from the duchess — the church's architect has an unknown body in his bath. It's possible it's the body of a missing financier, but Lord Peter Wimsey discovers too many disconnects.
The Characters
Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey, the younger brother of the duke, enjoys city life and books — I love him for that alone!. Mervyn Bunter had been a sergeant under Major Wimsey in the war and accepted an offer to buttle for him. Bunter is quite handy with photography and understands Wimsey very well. Honoria Lucasta is the Dowager Duchess of Denver, Peter's mother, and an amazing lady. Gerald "Jerry" is Peter's stodgy brother and the Duke of Denver, who is so embarrassed about Peter's hobbies. Mrs Throgmorton is the vicar's wife. The Rev. Constantine Throgmorton presides over St John-before-the-Latin-Gate Vicarage at Duke's Denver.
Chief Inspector Charles Parker is a great friend of Peter's. The unimaginative Inspector Sugg is something of an idiot. Dr Grimbold is the medical examiner. The unimaginative coroner doesn't suffer fools. Sir Andrew Mackenzie appears to be in charge at Scotland Yard. Dr Colegrove was at the Chelsea Workhouse. Mr Levett represents the Home Secretary. Bill will help at the cemetery. Mr Wingate.
The trembly Alfred Thipps is an architect who is working to restore the church roof at Denver. Mrs Thipps is his hard-of-hearing mother who lives with him. Gladys Horrocks is their live-in maid-of-all-work. William Williams, a glazier, is Gladys' boyfriend.
Sir Reuben Levy is a self-made Jewish man and a giant in the world of finance. Christine née Ford, Lady Levy, is his beloved wife. Rachel is their daughter with whom the Honorable Freddy Arbuthnot, a friend of Peter's and in finance in the City, is in love. Mr Levy is Sir Reuben's uncle.
Sir Julian Freke is a famous neurologist who mostly does research at St Luke's Hospital. John Cummings and his wife work for Freke in his house. William Watts is the dissecting-room attendant. Mr Piggott is a medical student; his father is an upholsterer, Piggott of Piggott and Piggott in Liverpool. Other students include Tommy Pringle, the funny man, and Bouncible Binns who is annoyed he didn't get a head to do with Scrooger. Sir James Hodges had been Peter's doctor.
John Milligan, an American, is a rival to Sir Reuben. Scoot is his secretary. Thomas Crimplesham, a lawyer, lost his pince-nez. David Wicks is Crimplesham's junior partner.
Lady Swaffham is having a luncheon and her guests include Mrs Tommy Frayle and Mrs Freemantle, the wife of an eminent railway director, who is celebrated for her ignorance. Wintrington, a millionaire who controls the finances of five countries, can't control his nerves.
The Cover and Title
To be honest, the cover is boring. It has a white background with royal blue for most of the text. The only reverse is in the royal blue box at the top with the initials of the publisher and "Mystery Classic". After that is the title, followed by a vertical Rorschach test with the author's name at the bottom.
The title is too, too accurate, for Whose Body? is it??
My Take
I can't remember the first time I picked up a Dorothy Sayers, but I do know I was captivated.
Lord Peter is a nobleman, bored and suffering PTSD from World War I, and he's discovered that the game of solving a crime is both fun and intriguing. He's well-educated which comes out in his quotations and speech. He loves good food and dressing well. You could definitely say he enjoys life. And of course, there's Bunter, who can be tyrannical, lol.
He's a complex man, intrigued enough to delve into crime, care about his fellow man, and become depressed when he solves it. He's also great friends with a chief inspector at Scotland Yard.
Lord Peter hornswoggled Milligan, pulling his mother in to ingratiate himself with Milligan. Luckily for Peter, his mother is very intelligent, if sometimes confused, lol.
Whose Body? is a peek into the culture, manners, and dress of the early 1920s, as well as phone protocol and transportation. A time with live-in servants, butlers, and a fascination for nobles. Thipps' embarrassment when his friend takes him to an after-hours club is so sweet. And Sayers peppers the story with slang of the period.
"What a blessing it is none of my friends have any ideas at all!"Sayers uses third person global subjective point-of-view with perspectives from Lord Peter primarily as well as Parker and Bunter. It's particularly interesting when Peter explains how detectives work, eliciting information and making connections. He's good.
I do wish Sayers had indented Lord Peters' quotes. It made for confusing reading. Nor did I understand why Sayers included that childhood memory of Peter yanking the tablecloth.
It's about humiliation, not love. While there is action, it's primarily a character-driven story, focusing on Lord Peter. I do enjoy how Sayers depicts Peter's and Parker's friendship. A nobleman of wealth and a copper with limited income. They're truly friends with a warmth between them and in the story. As much as I love Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn, his stories are a little cold compared to Lord Peter Wimsey.
It can feel slow, however, as Peter goes off on his "flights of fancy".
The ending? Whoa. Whoa. It's too gruesome to believe.
Go get it. It's only 99¢ at Amazon!
The Story
It's a call from the duchess — the church's architect has an unknown body in his bath. It's possible it's the body of a missing financier, but Lord Peter Wimsey discovers too many disconnects.
The Characters
Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey, the younger brother of the duke, enjoys city life and books — I love him for that alone!. Mervyn Bunter had been a sergeant under Major Wimsey in the war and accepted an offer to buttle for him. Bunter is quite handy with photography and understands Wimsey very well. Honoria Lucasta is the Dowager Duchess of Denver, Peter's mother, and an amazing lady. Gerald "Jerry" is Peter's stodgy brother and the Duke of Denver, who is so embarrassed about Peter's hobbies. Mrs Throgmorton is the vicar's wife. The Rev. Constantine Throgmorton presides over St John-before-the-Latin-Gate Vicarage at Duke's Denver.
Chief Inspector Charles Parker is a great friend of Peter's. The unimaginative Inspector Sugg is something of an idiot. Dr Grimbold is the medical examiner. The unimaginative coroner doesn't suffer fools. Sir Andrew Mackenzie appears to be in charge at Scotland Yard. Dr Colegrove was at the Chelsea Workhouse. Mr Levett represents the Home Secretary. Bill will help at the cemetery. Mr Wingate.
The trembly Alfred Thipps is an architect who is working to restore the church roof at Denver. Mrs Thipps is his hard-of-hearing mother who lives with him. Gladys Horrocks is their live-in maid-of-all-work. William Williams, a glazier, is Gladys' boyfriend.
Sir Reuben Levy is a self-made Jewish man and a giant in the world of finance. Christine née Ford, Lady Levy, is his beloved wife. Rachel is their daughter with whom the Honorable Freddy Arbuthnot, a friend of Peter's and in finance in the City, is in love. Mr Levy is Sir Reuben's uncle.
Sir Julian Freke is a famous neurologist who mostly does research at St Luke's Hospital. John Cummings and his wife work for Freke in his house. William Watts is the dissecting-room attendant. Mr Piggott is a medical student; his father is an upholsterer, Piggott of Piggott and Piggott in Liverpool. Other students include Tommy Pringle, the funny man, and Bouncible Binns who is annoyed he didn't get a head to do with Scrooger. Sir James Hodges had been Peter's doctor.
John Milligan, an American, is a rival to Sir Reuben. Scoot is his secretary. Thomas Crimplesham, a lawyer, lost his pince-nez. David Wicks is Crimplesham's junior partner.
Lady Swaffham is having a luncheon and her guests include Mrs Tommy Frayle and Mrs Freemantle, the wife of an eminent railway director, who is celebrated for her ignorance. Wintrington, a millionaire who controls the finances of five countries, can't control his nerves.
The Cover and Title
To be honest, the cover is boring. It has a white background with royal blue for most of the text. The only reverse is in the royal blue box at the top with the initials of the publisher and "Mystery Classic". After that is the title, followed by a vertical Rorschach test with the author's name at the bottom.
The title is too, too accurate, for Whose Body? is it??
bibliophilecats's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
My first Lord Peter novel and my first D. L. Sayers. It was quite intersting being transported to the 1920s. Liked that it was not so full of sexism and antisemitism as many other novels from that times while it still clearly showed the sentiments of that time. A little long-winded and very detailed. Still, a witty mystery novel, fun turns of phrases and banters.
jenniferavignon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
swarmofbees's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
margardenlady's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I had never read Sayers before. What a rollicking start to her writing career. I felt like I was transported into a British period mystery. Lord Peter Wimsey is nearly as fun as Bertie Wooster! In this mystery, a middle aged man appears in someone's bathtub, naked and dead. Another middle aged man goes missing. Nobody is certain who the one is or where the other could be. Then Lord Peter starts asking questions. Great fun.