Busman's Honeymoon

by Alistair Beaton (Adapter), Dorothy L. Sayers, Ian Carmichael (Narrator)

Society's eligible women are in mourning. Lord Peter Wimsey has married at last, having finally succeeded in his ardent pursuit of the lovely mystery novelist Harriet Vane. The two depart for a tranquil honeymoon in a country farmhouse, but find, instead of a well-prepared love nest, the place left in a shambles by the previous owner. His sudden appearance, dead from a broken skull in the cellar, only prompts more questions. Why would anyone have wanted to kill old Mr. Noakes? What dark secrets had he to hide? The honeymoon is over, as Lord Peter and Harriet Vane start their investigations. Suspicion is rife and everyone seems to have something to hide, from the local constable to the housekeeper. Wimsey and his wife can think of plenty of theories, but it s not until they discover a vital fact that the identity of the murderer becomes clear.

Dramatised by Alistair Beaton for BBC Radio 4 with Ian Carmichael as Lord Peter Wimsey, Sarah Badel as Harriet Vane and Peter Jones as Bunter. It was first broadcast from 2 January to 7 February 1983.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Crime, Fiction

3 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 1937

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Before I talk about the "book", I think it is worth noting that the dramatised audiobook I listened to this morning is NOT the book, and should not really be included as an "edition" of the book. It is a BBC Radio 4 dramatised version that is only 150 minutes long, and reading some other people's reviews I realise that it does NOT include certain aspects of the book at all.
I have set up dramatised versions where they did not exist but as I am not a librarian I do not have the "power" to split this version off from the paper or e-book reviews).

The cast of this dramatised version, are excellent, and reads like a who's who of classic British actors from the 1970/80s, including of course the indomitable and ubiquitous Ian Carmichael, who to me is Lord Peter Wimsey, as he played the role in numerous TV episodes and radio plays.

The story (of this dramatisation) begins with Lord and Lady Peter (the ex Miss Vane) heading off to a cottage they have bought in the village where Harriet grew up. Of course for a private detective and a mystery writer nothing is ever going to go smoothly, and it doesn't. So the honeymoon is abandoned in favour of detection.
It is an excellent story (as I'm sure is the book) with some believable characters, brought to my ear by some brilliant actors. Why oh why did I give all my mum's Sayers books to charity, hey ho, rhetorical question, and years too late to do anything about it except buy them again.

So, story good, dramatisation excellent and a happy morning spent in the garden concentrating on my iPod ha ha.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ian Carmichael made a surprisingly good Lord Peter, with none of the 'what-ho' exclamations I was expecting, and I enjoyed seeing Peter and Harriet in their newly-wedded bliss which wouldn't have been complete without a mystery to solve.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Newlyweds Lord Peter & Harriet spend their honeymoon in their newly purchased country home. The previous owner's corpse turns up in the basement. Bunter doesn't get along with the housekeeper. The cast of local characters produces some interesting characters and a variety of motives. The first hour or so of the audio book was told in an epistolary fashion, but after that, Sayers turned back to her tried and true methods of telling the story. Overall it's an interesting plot, but it drags out a little longer than necessary. (3.5 stars)

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could have sworn I had reviewed the audio version of Busman's...but apparently not. No review here on my blog and no indication of it here on Goodreads. [full review on hard copy text]

Listening to the audio version with Ian Carmichael, I'm still delighted by the opening. What a wonderful way to let us know what happened to Peter and Harriet between the moment Harriet says "Placet" to the moment they head off to their honeymoon. But I also thoroughly enjoyed the scenes with Tom Puffett cleaning out the chimney--absolutely hilarious. And Peter's reaction to the audible evidence of chimney-sweeping going on is gold.

One is afraid to believe in good fortune. The sweep! I crushed down my rising hopes. I said, No--it is a thunderstorm, a small earthquake, or at most a destitute cow dying by inches in the chimney. I dared not court disappointment. It is so long since I was taken into anybody's confidence about a sweep. As a rule, Bunter smuggles him in when I am out of the house, for fear my lordship should be inconvenienced.

I love the image this conjures and the whole exchange between Bunter and Puffett leading up to the actual sweeping is not to be missed. In fact, there are so many little moments in this novel that I can't possibly talk about them all without completely spoiling the plot. You just need to go read it (or listen to it) yourself. ★★★★★ always.

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really don't want to be on the last radioplay (though I suppose the Paton Walsh books might've been recorded too?). By this point in reading the books, I was in love with both Peter and Harriet and I never wanted to leave them. It's worse coming to the book a second time -- and with the fact that it's a full cast audiobook. (And I've been watching Edward Petherbridge as Lord Peter in the mini-series, too.)

They managed to keep the balance between the mystery and the new marriage very well, in this adaptation. Although by this point I'm flaily over Peter and Harriet's marriage, so I don't know how a person starting with this one would feel. Probably not as enraptured as I did -- but really, very enjoyable.

And now I don't know what to do with my life while I crochet. No one's quite like Ian Carmichael as Peter Wimsey.

[Lyn Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really a bit of a cheat to say I've read these four Sayers mysteries Four Classic Dorothy L. Sayers Mysteries: Strong Poison / Have His Carcase / Gaudy Night / Busman's Honeymoon because I listened to dramatised versions as audio files.
I suspect they were condensed, but they were brilliantly done and wonderfull entertaining.
Perfect for this time of year (summer).

[Jeffery Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine mystery but perhaps an even better study of mature romantic love and partnership.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final novel in the LPW mysteries suffered some from being too sappy at times between newlyweds Peter and Harriet, but not so much as other reviewers had made it out to be. The mystery plot is light certainly, not nearly as interesting as some of the cases.

I gather there were short stories about them after this? Will look into it.

[Gundrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favourite of these dramatised stories. There's a genuine rapport between Peter and Harriet, and it's a fabulous cast. There's something cosy about the whole story being set in one place, and the foley effects really evoke the house.

One of the most enjoyable things about Sayers's mysteries is that the 'how' is usually as interesting as the 'who', and that's very much the case here. It's great fun to solve, and is set amidst an engaging mix of comedy, tragedy and romance.

[Isabella ⸙ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad that I listened to the radio plays in chronological order instead of publication order because I got to end off the series with the familiar jingle and Ian Carmichael's youthful energy that he brought to the role. Unfortunately, that is all I'll really miss about the series - his portrayal of Peter Wimsey. Aside from one or two gems, the mysteries themselves are pretty unremarkable, and Busman's Honeymoon is no exception. Sayers cares more about creating as intricate, almost mathematical, a murder as possible, which to me doesn't hold as much weight as the psychology of the suspects. My suspicions were finally confirmed in this instalment:

If a thing could only have been done one way, and if only one person could have done it that way, then you've got your criminal, motive or no motive.

If I wanted pure logic, I'd do a Murdle 🤣

(Also, it took me an embarrassingly long time to find out that "busman's holiday" is a saying. I spent most of the time wondering when they'd get on a bus. 😭)

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is an amazing wealth of …stuff to listen to out there. The BBC Radio website alone could keep me happy for months.

As, for example: the three-hour BBC Radio adaptation of Busman's Honeymoon. (It's not available on the site as of this writing, unfortunately.) It's always a little iffy when a beloved book is dramatized – things are going to be lost, of course, as a 400-odd page book is pared down to fit six half-hour slots; but this worked very nicely.

The cast is lovely. Ian Carmichael, of course, does a marvelous job with Peter – he can piffle up a storm, and then a minute later put real emotion in his voice as he allows himself to realize that he has his Harriet, he truly does. And I really like Sarah Badel as Harriet, showing genuine affection for her Peter and holding up her end of the piffle. I didn't remember Superintendent Kirk being so adept at piffle himself in the book – what fun. And Bunter sounded very Bunter indeed.

I'd forgotten about the dreadful case of Miss Twitterton. Her deeply misplaced love for Frank Crutchley is portrayed as both pathetic and hilarious. I honestly don't remember how it was handled in the book – has it been that long since I read it? That must be remedied! – but it's initially a joke to Peter and Harriet, with sympathy and empath only being aroused in them when more facts come out. Hers is a horrible story, though, almost a throwaway.

[Sheryl Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Third reading: I love these characters even more!! Can't find most of the books on audio, though].

[Second reading: I love these characters so much! Such beautiful writing! I'm going to buy all the ones I can find that are read by Ian Carmichael!]

This is the final and most personal book in the Lord Peter Wimsey series. I have come to love all of Peter's family--such great characters! I am so delighted to have finally found this Ian Carmichael audiobook.

It is wonderful to read the books in order, so I am reluctant to say much about this book. I think it is necessary to read this book to fully understand Peter and many of his reactions in earlier books.

A new favorite. Highly recommended.

[Agnesxnitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its always a pleasure to pay a visit to the world of LPW and fresh from his wedding to Miss Harriet Vane, mystery monger supreme and fellow Oxford Graduate, the couple are caught up in the heady whirl of their honeymoon.
Which is all going swimmingly. Until the former owner of their new country home can't initially be found and then is - dead in the cellar.
West End Detective and Lady Crime Novelist find corpse on Bridal Night (well the morning after to be honest)? Who else could? Poor Peter's nerves are not what they were, but with Harriet to help and Bunter to support them both, its all marvellous.
The last of the DL Sayers Wimsey novels completed in her lifetime and a joy.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the full cast recording of the book which is similar to a short story (only 2 CDs) and it deals primarily with the murder and resolution it is a very efficient and focused. There are no events or references outside when the couple reach the cottage and then the story is all about the murder and Peter and Harriet's reaction to it. The audio book was great and he cast did a fantastic job, I do think there could have been a little more included in the story but I like what I heard. BBC did a wonderful job. I recommend this version of the book for anyone who does not have a lot of time but wants a good mystery.

[Mary Newcomb]

Lord and Lady Peter Wimsey are on their honeymoon in a newly purchased country home. No one seems to be expecting them, the reason becomes clear when the former owner's body is discovered in the basement. The detecting is top notch, looking forward to more in these series.

[Joanna]

Unfortunately, the audio quality was too poor to enjoy this as an audiobook. The recording was very quiet and the narrator didn't do enough to differentiate speakers and asides, so it was impossible to follow the narrative. I've switched over to reading this on kindle.

[Elizabeth Bridcut · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining but quite of its time and you get the impression that solving crimes is like a more exciting version of the Times crossword for the upper classes! I can see why Agatha Christie outlasted Dorothy L Sayers as a crime writer.

[CatBookMom · Rating 3 out of 5]

full-cast version

[ReadKnitHoard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this book is as enjoyable as a drama as it is as a read. Too many frustrating people in it who make my hackles rise. JMO.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick mystery, that entertained.

[Seth Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slow and racist. Did not finish.