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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
This chugged along nicely for the most part, until the final 10% when the pace kicked up and unleashed a dramatic sequence of events that had me glued to the page. Or, well, Kindle. Also I'd been thinking in my head that this was really a very simple mystery which just took a long time to unravel, but then the marvellous plot twist shut me up.
I don't know if it's because my sense of humour is based on jokes in 19th century novels, but I genuinely find these books very funny. It's a wry, narratorly sort of humour, stuff like:
I don't know if it's because my sense of humour is based on jokes in 19th century novels, but I genuinely find these books very funny. It's a wry, narratorly sort of humour, stuff like:
"... Murder's so easy, Charles, so damned easy — even without training."And my crush on Lord Peter lives on, of course, because he says dramatic things like:
Parker [Charles, that is] looked troubled.
"Why this interest all sudden? You snub me in my bed, but, but you woo me in my bath. It sounds like a music-hall song of the less resigned sort. Why, oh why?"There are literary allusion in every other line and it's always a satisfaction when I, with my lowly A level knowledge, manage to spot one. And there's a particularly good mention of Satan, which I shall reference as a tantaliser for someone to pick up this book.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
This was an engaging read, as Sayers tends to be, but not one of my favorites. It's rather obvious who did it (as it's meant to be), and so we spend the book chasing around after their increasingly convoluted attempts to cover their tracks, which is in turns entertaining and frustrating. Note: this one has more period racism than some of the others, for those not in the mood to deal with it.
I'm still rationing my reading of Sayers' Lord Peter series but it's hard. I liked this one a lot too. Almost the perfect murder. An very clever villain, Parker and Peter, on the road, staying in pub, kicking themselves under the table to stop the other one from making a mistake. Bunter being just Bunter. So, story, this great old lady died of natural death and left her money to her great niece. The doctor makes a fuss because even if his patient was very ill (cancer) she wasn't on death's door. Lord Peter sends one of his best informer Climpson, an old maid finding a new way to make a difference. Sayers' description of women's conditions in this book is quite varied and balanced. On one hand, we have Miss Climpson, even if she's unmarried and past middle age is still making a difference, very involved and not a shrinking violet. We have the Gotobed sisters. Both young women had a career, improved their conditions, both were married or engaged. Then we have the "couples": Miss Clara Whittaker and Mis Agatha Dawson. Both very unusual for their times. Clara, business woman, living a man's life and Agatha sharing her life. It's not said but it's understood that Clara and Agatha were together. Both very devoted to each other. Clara leaving all her belongings to Agatha, spoiling her brother. The other couple : Mary Whittaker and Verna Findlater is more of a dysfunctional relationship, the infatuation of a young woman with someone very strong willed and cunning. As Clara and Agatha relationship was described as strong and healthy, Mary and Verna's relationship is shown as nefarious and damaging. Balanced views all thru the book. So far, the best of the novels in the series, than again I've only read three. Lots to look forward.
I just love this apparently flaky detective, the references to classics and other book characters. Lord Peter Wimsey is such a delightful character. However, it surprised me a bit on seeing the N word. Of course, it was written by a British author in 1927, but the clear racism did rattle me. It was not used by any of the main characters, but still...
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A lady detective! Lesbians! Intrigue!
I love that Wimsey is employing a middle aged woman to do some detecting for him that he can’t do as a man and a lord. And it’s great how much he respects her and her abilities! Her speech and writing is littered with italics and bolds and underlines, but rather than treating this as a sign of unintelligence or flightiness, he listens carefully to what she has to say and trusts her ability to follow his instructions.
Also there are definitely four lesbians in this book! It’s always a bit tricky to spot queer folks in novels written in the 20s and 30s, but I am quite confident about these four! I won’t say who they are in case of spoilers, but it gave me great joy finding them in the book.
I also liked how much of a conscience Wimsey has in the book. His investigation of a potential murder stirs up more deaths and he is broken up over having had a part in causing them even though he was trying to solve a crime.
On to the next in the series!
I love that Wimsey is employing a middle aged woman to do some detecting for him that he can’t do as a man and a lord. And it’s great how much he respects her and her abilities! Her speech and writing is littered with italics and bolds and underlines, but rather than treating this as a sign of unintelligence or flightiness, he listens carefully to what she has to say and trusts her ability to follow his instructions.
Also there are definitely four lesbians in this book! It’s always a bit tricky to spot queer folks in novels written in the 20s and 30s, but I am quite confident about these four! I won’t say who they are in case of spoilers, but it gave me great joy finding them in the book.
I also liked how much of a conscience Wimsey has in the book. His investigation of a potential murder stirs up more deaths and he is broken up over having had a part in causing them even though he was trying to solve a crime.
On to the next in the series!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
I really enjoy these mysteries. Not just because they are interesting mysteries but because she brings up such soulful and truthful observations. The quotes and book references don’t hurt either.
Here is just one I liked and wrote down from Chapter 9:
“How about crimes that are never suspected?” Parker shrugged his shoulders.
“How can anybody answer that?”
“Oh one may guess. Read any newspaper today. Read the news of the world. Or now that the press have been muzzled. Read any divorce court lists. Wouldn’t they give you the idea that marriage is a failure? Isn’t the sillier sort of journalism packed with articles of the same effect? And yet, looking around at the marriages you know personally are the pajority of them a success? In a humdrum, undemonstrative sort of way? Only you don’t hear of them! People don’t bother to come into court and explain that they dotter around very comfortably on the whole, thank you!”
I love it.
Great Christians Challenge: A Good Ole Detective or Mystery Novel
2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book with a two-word title
Here is just one I liked and wrote down from Chapter 9:
“How about crimes that are never suspected?” Parker shrugged his shoulders.
“How can anybody answer that?”
“Oh one may guess. Read any newspaper today. Read the news of the world. Or now that the press have been muzzled. Read any divorce court lists. Wouldn’t they give you the idea that marriage is a failure? Isn’t the sillier sort of journalism packed with articles of the same effect? And yet, looking around at the marriages you know personally are the pajority of them a success? In a humdrum, undemonstrative sort of way? Only you don’t hear of them! People don’t bother to come into court and explain that they dotter around very comfortably on the whole, thank you!”
I love it.
Great Christians Challenge: A Good Ole Detective or Mystery Novel
2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book with a two-word title