Reviews

The Documents in the Case by Robert Eustace, Dorothy L. Sayers

aggressive_nostalgia's review against another edition

5.0

This was loaned to me by a wise friend who caught wind of my current obsession with [a: Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1321738793p2/123715.jpg] – and what a turn in my summer reading chronicle! Sayers writes a very different type of mystery than Christie, less of a "whodunit" than a "why-and-how done it". Instead of keeping the reader constantly guessing about the culprit and pulling out a twist ending, Sayers keys in the main part of the solution about halfway through and keeps the reader hooked with witty writing and exquisitely unfolding drama. I love a good character-driven story, and this was certainly that. And it was, unexpectedly for me, very funny.

I have three more of Sayers' books waiting on my shelf, and I'm definitely making time for them ASAP.

katharine_whitfield's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

bmip666's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

allie_shu's review against another edition

mysterious relaxing tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

coops456's review against another edition

3.0

Not a Lord Peter Wimsey title as I had anticipated, but a decent read nonetheless. Unusual format - the story is presented in the form of multiple documents, mainly letters between the various parties.

aunesofia1993's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

aamccartan's review against another edition

4.0

While it wasn't a Peter book, Documents in the Case is a Sayers mystery of first-class quality. I will admit to skimming a lot of the technical details that did not bear heavily on the plot, but the plot and characterization themselves spoke to her regular skill of turning an ordinary murder-mystery thriller into a heart-wrenching examination of human souls and morals.

mauxbs's review against another edition

I actually bailed on this book - where's the button for that? It's not that I wasn't enjoying it, but I picked it up thinking it was a Lord Peter Wimsey book. I didn't have the mental energy for an epistolary novel at present, so I took it back to the library.

marlisenicole's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

rachel_from_cambridge's review against another edition

3.0

Enjoyed it, but prefer the Peter Wimsey books