Lord Peter Views the Body: The Queen of Golden age detective fiction (Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery, #5)

by Dorothy L Sayers

A book of short stories featuring Dorothy L Sayers' classic character Lord Peter Wimsey, introduced by thriller writer Christopher Fowler - a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie's Poirot and Margery Allingham's Campion Mysteries.

'D. L. Sayers is one of the best detective story writers' Daily Telegraph

Lord Peter Wimsey - expert on subjects as diverse as crosswords and cats - displays his detective genius in some of the cleverest mysteries ever devised.

One solution requires expertise in fine wines; another calls on his knowledge of fine art. Lord Peter has the knack of being on the spot at just the right time to spot a thief or blackmail a blackmailer. Or even prevent a murder...

Whatever the occasion, the aristocratic detective uses his razor-sharp mind and unerring instincts to unmask the guilty and go to the aid of their victims.

'She brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit.' P. D. James

• ISBN10: 1473621321
• ISBN13: 9781473621329
• Publish Date: 1 November 1982 (first published 7 May 1970)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 9 June 2023
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Imprint: Hodder Paperback
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[brokentune]

On re-reading the stories, I liked them a whole lot better. However, I'd recommend to readers that the short stories are best left until you've read the novels.

Updated review on my WP blog here.

Original review:

2.5*

I like Peter and Bunter but the stories in this collection were lacking something - either the development of other characters or a hook. I stand by my hypothesis that some authors are great at creating novels but can't quite transfer the same skill to short stories or - without referring to the format - simply shorter stories.

Still, some fun adventures with Peter.

Now on to the next Wimsey novel...

[Aidan Brack (Mysteries Ahoy)]

A disappointing collection that focuses on the whimsical at the expense of detection.

Read my full review, including notes on each of the short stories, at Mysteries Ahoy!