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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
For some reason I’m reading Sayers’ mysteries from Gaudy Night backwards and each preceding book gets a little more typical of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction genre, with less of the thoughtfulness and depth of character that we get with Gaudy Night. That’s not a complaint - I enjoy both for different reasons - but it’s interesting to imagine Sayers trying to do more with each successive book as she got comfortable with the genre.
Hard to talk about the best parts of this mystery without giving away some of the surprises, but there’s plenty to enjoy here. There is also the off-putting use of racial slurs, not as a reflection of Sayers’ or Wimsey’s beliefs, but as a reflection of societal stereotypes.
Hard to talk about the best parts of this mystery without giving away some of the surprises, but there’s plenty to enjoy here. There is also the off-putting use of racial slurs, not as a reflection of Sayers’ or Wimsey’s beliefs, but as a reflection of societal stereotypes.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
really thrilled one of dorothy l. sayers’ mysteries stuck the landing for me!! she seems so up my alley so i was a little let down by the first two. also …. THE LESBIAN SUBTEXT IN THIS? i could write a whole essay about it. so much to think about
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoy how Lord Peter seems clever but also a little silly and impetuous, but there's a point in each of Sayers's novels when his serious side comes through, not in a heavy-handed way, but often just as a glimpse. In many ways I find this mask/true self characterization more realistic than the more either/or characters in many books, and it helps to explain why those around him are so devoted to him, even when he acts like an ass.
Boston marriages and statutory interpretation played a role in this piece of fluff. A nice distraction for the fear, sadness, and anger I've felt for the past few days.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Audible free, waited too long to write the review don't actually remember the plot line anymore. I think I remember pieces and it was a decent book but I can't read it better than 3 for lack of memory
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Classic Wimsey story, quite good in terms of the mystery. A fair amount of weirdness from 1920s British racism. It’s clearly trying to be progressive for the time and is certainly better than some, but ends up being very patronizing, thoughtless and a bit yucky about the one Black character. Also interesting with sexuality. Several of the female characters are/were in female life partnerships. One of them is described wholly positively and another portrayed as a sign of sickness in the eventual murderer . One character specifically says girls having crushes on girls is alright in adolescents but not in adults. Very interesting view into the time overall, but def modifies my feelings about the book.