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A review by morj
Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The body of a man, wearing nothing but a pince-nez is found in a bathtub. Who is the mystery man, and why was he killed? Lord Peter investigates.
What I Liked
This is an interesting setup for a mystery. I liked the main character, Lord Peter and how his relationships with his mother, his butler, and a policeman friends of his are portrayed. He is much less insufferable than I'm used to seeing detectives portrayed, which is a breath of fresh air. Additionally, there is some discussion of post-WWI PTSD in this book, which I felt was well done.
What I Didn't Like
The mystery itself seems very implausible and convoluted. It takes a long time to get to the reveal, and it felt like we stumbled into it instead of revealing it bit-by-bit. I also didn't really believe the killer's motivation. There is also some antisemitism in this book.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book as a quirky mystery, if you aren't too particular about the details being air-tight.
What I Liked
This is an interesting setup for a mystery. I liked the main character, Lord Peter and how his relationships with his mother, his butler, and a policeman friends of his are portrayed. He is much less insufferable than I'm used to seeing detectives portrayed, which is a breath of fresh air. Additionally, there is some discussion of post-WWI PTSD in this book, which I felt was well done.
What I Didn't Like
The mystery itself seems very implausible and convoluted. It takes a long time to get to the reveal, and it felt like we stumbled into it instead of revealing it bit-by-bit. I also didn't really believe the killer's motivation. There is also some antisemitism in this book.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book as a quirky mystery, if you aren't too particular about the details being air-tight.
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism