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A Treasury of Sayers Stories
24 mystery stories by Dorothy L. Sayers----------------------------------------------LORD PETER WIMSEY The Image in the Mirror 2. The Incredible Elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey 3. The Queen's Square 4. The Necklace of Pearls MONTAGUE EGG The Poisoned Dow '082. Sleuths on the Scent3. Murder in the Morning4. One Too Many 5. Murder at Pentecost 6. Maher-shalal-hashbaz OTHER The Man Who Knew How 2. The Fountain Plays MORE LORD PETER The Abominable History of the Man with Copper Fingers 2. The Entertaining Episode of the Article in Question 3. The Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meleager's Will 4. The Fantastic Horror of the Cat in the Bag 5. The Unprincipled Affair of the Practical Joker 6. The Undignified Melodrama of the Bone of Contention 7. The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps that Ran 8. The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste 9. The Learned Adventure of the Dragon's Head 10. The Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach 11. The Unsolved Puzzle of the Man with No Face 12. The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba
851 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1958
244 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy L. Sayers
716 books3,004 followersThe detective stories of well-known British writer Dorothy Leigh Sayers mostly feature the amateur investigator Lord Peter Wimsey; she also translated the
Divine Comedy
of Dante Alighieri.
This renowned author and Christian humanist studied classical and modern languages.
Her best known mysteries, a series of short novels, set between World War I and World War II, feature an English aristocrat and amateur sleuth. She is also known for her plays and essays.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy...
This renowned author and Christian humanist studied classical and modern languages.
Her best known mysteries, a series of short novels, set between World War I and World War II, feature an English aristocrat and amateur sleuth. She is also known for her plays and essays.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 12, 2021
Snobbery!
Such snobbery! I was at times, perfectly stymied by the unabashed pomposity of Lord Peter Wimsey and his social peers, towards the servants and others not of their class. And they are totally oblivious!
Of course the servants, and others of that class are content with their social standing and wouldn’t have it any other way.
But, I digress! This collection consists of twenty-four short stories. Most of them are about Peter Wimsey, but there are six of them about someone named Montagu Egg. Yes! That’s right!
Those six stories are all delightful. Most of the others, which are of Lord Peter, are very good, too. Lots of meat on the bone.
Such snobbery! I was at times, perfectly stymied by the unabashed pomposity of Lord Peter Wimsey and his social peers, towards the servants and others not of their class. And they are totally oblivious!
Of course the servants, and others of that class are content with their social standing and wouldn’t have it any other way.
But, I digress! This collection consists of twenty-four short stories. Most of them are about Peter Wimsey, but there are six of them about someone named Montagu Egg. Yes! That’s right!
Those six stories are all delightful. Most of the others, which are of Lord Peter, are very good, too. Lots of meat on the bone.
November 12, 2013
As a diehard mystery fan, it's always been a secret source of shame for me that I've never loved Dororthy Sayers' full-length novels as ardently as I felt I should. Objectively, I can readily see that they're intelligent, carefully plotted and nicely written. Subjectively, they've tended to be insufferably dull for me, leaden with repetitive exposition and trudging along at a tortoise-like pace. I'll readily admit this may say more about my attention span than the quality of her work :)
In any case, it was with guarded expectations that I downloaded this book, but I'm exceptionally glad that I did. Short stories suit this author wonderfully well, in my opinion---we get her nicely crafted prose, subtly thought-provoking themes and "that's so true" insight, but the format forces her to write with far more focus and purpose and to movie along at a brisker and, for me, far more engaging pace.
I'm confident that established Sayers fans will enjoy and appreciate these stories, but even if you're as ambivalent about Sayers' full-length novels as I am, I highly recommend giving these a chance! This is already on my 'to reread in the near future' shelf.
In any case, it was with guarded expectations that I downloaded this book, but I'm exceptionally glad that I did. Short stories suit this author wonderfully well, in my opinion---we get her nicely crafted prose, subtly thought-provoking themes and "that's so true" insight, but the format forces her to write with far more focus and purpose and to movie along at a brisker and, for me, far more engaging pace.
I'm confident that established Sayers fans will enjoy and appreciate these stories, but even if you're as ambivalent about Sayers' full-length novels as I am, I highly recommend giving these a chance! This is already on my 'to reread in the near future' shelf.
Want to read
December 31, 2015Free download available at Faded Page.
October 9, 2022
"Speak the truth with cheerful ease, if you would both convince and please."
In his famous NEW YORKER essay "Who Cares Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?" acerbic critic Edmund Wilson boldly attacked Agatha Christie's books and took a swing at Dorothy Sayers' famous detective Lord Peter Wimsey, calling him "a dreadful stock English nobleman" with an "embarrassing name." Christie's readers may have laughed it off, but Sayers' fanatical followers never forgave him.
So I want to be very careful what I say about Lord Peter, but I WILL mention that I find Sayer's very long mystery novels a bit over-whelming. I love short mysteries and I like Lord Peter best in small does. That's diplomatic, isn't it?
But I bought this collection, not for the twelve Lord Peter stories but for the six that feature the wonderful Montague Egg. Monty Egg is a "commercial traveler" (what we call a sales rep) for the staid firm of Plummet & Rose Wines and Spirits of London. He is as unlike Lord Peter as possible, being happily working class.
Perhaps even Sayers herself got tired of lofty, literary Lord Peter and wanted some time with a more comfortable protagonist. Monty Egg is never at a loss for an apt quotation, but he quotes the SALESMAN'S MANUAL, not Shakespeare or Chaucer. It's a relief, frankly.
As a good salesman, Monty is observant and is therefore (as policemen are quick to notice) the perfect witness. He's also familiar with household routines and what would be normal and what would be out of character. And he has a wide knowledge of human nature, as a successful salesman must.
He's also cheerful, modest, and quietly humorous. If you had to be marooned on an island with one person, you could do much worse than old Monty. If you haven't made his acquaintance you should.
DOROTHY L.SAYERS: THE COMPLETE STORIES contains all twenty-one short stories featuring Lord Peter, all eleven Montague Egg stories, and ten others. It was released in 2002 and isn't available as a Kindle edition. I hope it will be. I want those other five Monty Egg stories!
In his famous NEW YORKER essay "Who Cares Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?" acerbic critic Edmund Wilson boldly attacked Agatha Christie's books and took a swing at Dorothy Sayers' famous detective Lord Peter Wimsey, calling him "a dreadful stock English nobleman" with an "embarrassing name." Christie's readers may have laughed it off, but Sayers' fanatical followers never forgave him.
So I want to be very careful what I say about Lord Peter, but I WILL mention that I find Sayer's very long mystery novels a bit over-whelming. I love short mysteries and I like Lord Peter best in small does. That's diplomatic, isn't it?
But I bought this collection, not for the twelve Lord Peter stories but for the six that feature the wonderful Montague Egg. Monty Egg is a "commercial traveler" (what we call a sales rep) for the staid firm of Plummet & Rose Wines and Spirits of London. He is as unlike Lord Peter as possible, being happily working class.
Perhaps even Sayers herself got tired of lofty, literary Lord Peter and wanted some time with a more comfortable protagonist. Monty Egg is never at a loss for an apt quotation, but he quotes the SALESMAN'S MANUAL, not Shakespeare or Chaucer. It's a relief, frankly.
As a good salesman, Monty is observant and is therefore (as policemen are quick to notice) the perfect witness. He's also familiar with household routines and what would be normal and what would be out of character. And he has a wide knowledge of human nature, as a successful salesman must.
He's also cheerful, modest, and quietly humorous. If you had to be marooned on an island with one person, you could do much worse than old Monty. If you haven't made his acquaintance you should.
DOROTHY L.SAYERS: THE COMPLETE STORIES contains all twenty-one short stories featuring Lord Peter, all eleven Montague Egg stories, and ten others. It was released in 2002 and isn't available as a Kindle edition. I hope it will be. I want those other five Monty Egg stories!
December 13, 2021
This was such a nice collection of stories. I had not previously read any of her stories featuring Monty Egg, salesman of Wine and Spirits. Her humour is so very rich in his stories. Quite an enjoyable read.
March 16, 2019
Delightful. I had never read any of her Montague Egg stories and what a lovely character. I especially liked the last story in the collection, The Fountain Plays. I also loved the physicality of this old book which I got at my local library. It is of a smaller format and fit comfortably into my small hands. The type is well spaced and large enough to read without glasses. Reminds me why I love reading physical books. By the way, this edition was not on the Goodreads list (or perhaps I gave up looking for it too soon!) It's called Hangman's Holiday Volume 2, printed in 1977 by Lowe and Brydone Printers Limited, Thetford, Norfolk in England. Adds to my delight in the book!
May 21, 2022
Old Fashioned Mysteries
I like the challenge of reading the formal language and learning new words in Sayers' stories. She writes in a style that I enjoy very much. Some of these stories feature the well-known Lord Peter Wimsey, but not all of them. I couldn't solve the puzzles that depended on clues specific to her generation, but I still find the historical references interesting. There is a section in the back of the book that explains some of them. All these short stories were very good.
I like the challenge of reading the formal language and learning new words in Sayers' stories. She writes in a style that I enjoy very much. Some of these stories feature the well-known Lord Peter Wimsey, but not all of them. I couldn't solve the puzzles that depended on clues specific to her generation, but I still find the historical references interesting. There is a section in the back of the book that explains some of them. All these short stories were very good.
August 22, 2017
I love this edition because it's a comfortable size, and it makes a point of noting how many pages you get for your money. The print size is a bit small, though, which is one reason why I thought I'd re-read it now, before I get too old to read it!
I love Peter Wimsey stories, and I enjoyed all but one of these, which I felt was too implausible even for him. It was the longest story. The other stories in the book are good fun, too. Great summer holiday reading.
I love Peter Wimsey stories, and I enjoyed all but one of these, which I felt was too implausible even for him. It was the longest story. The other stories in the book are good fun, too. Great summer holiday reading.
April 27, 2020
These tend to be a little half-baked as far as plot goes, with the resolution coming just as the stories are getting good. It read more like plots that didn't work out for full length novels that she threw together into a collection than a thoughtful book of short stories. Also, apparently England is crawling with wacky great uncles who like leaving bizarre treasure hunts in their wills.
January 27, 2021
Spoiled by page numbers appearing in the text.
I was thrilled to discover Lord Peter and Montague Egg stories that I had never read but they were spoiled by the page numbers appearing mid text. I hoped to ignore them but, once I got involved in the story, up the next page number popped, and my concentration broke.
I was thrilled to discover Lord Peter and Montague Egg stories that I had never read but they were spoiled by the page numbers appearing mid text. I hoped to ignore them but, once I got involved in the story, up the next page number popped, and my concentration broke.
June 27, 2020
A fine collection
Some Wimsey, some not so whimsical. An interesting collection, much of which was new to me...Sayers never disappoints, and unlike a lot of these anthologies, this seemed well copy-edited
Some Wimsey, some not so whimsical. An interesting collection, much of which was new to me...Sayers never disappoints, and unlike a lot of these anthologies, this seemed well copy-edited
July 5, 2020
A collection of short stories about Lord Peter Wimsey and Montague Egg.
My favorite is "The Incredible Elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey." It is both romantic and filled with evil. The horror of it has haunted me for years.
My favorite is "The Incredible Elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey." It is both romantic and filled with evil. The horror of it has haunted me for years.
July 12, 2020
A book of clever mystery stories from the pen of Dorothy L Sayers, some involving her aristocratic detective Lord Peter Wimsey and some involving Montague Egg, a wine salesman who is often in the right place to offer assistance when a puzzle needs solved.
July 17, 2017
Reread, although a couple of the stories I don't recognize and irritatingly the Talbotts' story isn't here - I think got put in a later edition. Some Montague Egg stories here as well.
April 28, 2019
Was looking for short stories to read at lunch. These were entertaining, a combination of Lord Peter Whimsey stories and Montegue Egg stories, and one or two with neither protagonist.
December 16, 2019
Stories by a Master Craftswoman
Every story was crafted carefully to cause the reader to try to find the answer to "who did it and how did they do it?" !
Every story was crafted carefully to cause the reader to try to find the answer to "who did it and how did they do it?" !
March 9, 2020
Brilliant short stories
I like be everything that Dorothy Sayers wrote. She is able to weave together an intricate story that leaves you guessing until the end. Brilliant author.
I like be everything that Dorothy Sayers wrote. She is able to weave together an intricate story that leaves you guessing until the end. Brilliant author.
July 6, 2020
A good cross section of Wimsey stories and a few other gems.
August 24, 2021
Marvellous. Loved the book and got lost in it - so many cunning plots; so many well defined characters.
Currently reading
April 12, 2024I enjoy Campion.
This was good. A wham bang up of an ending. I read it’s while ago. Just reread the ending. Done.
This was good. A wham bang up of an ending. I read it’s while ago. Just reread the ending. Done.
March 11, 2017
Seems I have developed quite a fondness for Sayers' short stories!
Sure, some of them may be quite far fetched or implausible but they are always a fun experience with quirky characters and written in such a way that you feel as if you are right there looking over their shoulders without getting lost in too many details.
Only read about 40% of this treasury however as I have already covered the stories from the "More Lord Peter Stories" when reading Lord Peter Views the Body
Thoroughly enjoyable quick reads!
Sure, some of them may be quite far fetched or implausible but they are always a fun experience with quirky characters and written in such a way that you feel as if you are right there looking over their shoulders without getting lost in too many details.
Only read about 40% of this treasury however as I have already covered the stories from the "More Lord Peter Stories" when reading Lord Peter Views the Body
Thoroughly enjoyable quick reads!
February 12, 2017
There are authors I forget about occasionally...I had forgotten Sayers until this collection showed up randomly on Amazon.
She so much fun. Smart.
I realized that Lord Peter and his multi-functional valet Bunter are quite a bit like Bertie Wooster and the wonderful Jeeves. Lord Peter is much more on-the-surface clever than Old Bertie (although I think Bertie far cleverer than he seems)...they are similar in their very self-abasing upper-class, extremely wealthy way. It was amusing to think of that.
I like a mystery writer who doesn't always fall back on murder as the mystery. One gets so dang tired of the old murder game. Many of the stories in this collection were, oh so thankfully, sans murder.
Montague Egg was new to me. I love him. I love his traveling salesman wisdom and all of his little tricks. He was a new delight.
Highly recommend for a bit of adorable entertainment.
She so much fun. Smart.
I realized that Lord Peter and his multi-functional valet Bunter are quite a bit like Bertie Wooster and the wonderful Jeeves. Lord Peter is much more on-the-surface clever than Old Bertie (although I think Bertie far cleverer than he seems)...they are similar in their very self-abasing upper-class, extremely wealthy way. It was amusing to think of that.
I like a mystery writer who doesn't always fall back on murder as the mystery. One gets so dang tired of the old murder game. Many of the stories in this collection were, oh so thankfully, sans murder.
Montague Egg was new to me. I love him. I love his traveling salesman wisdom and all of his little tricks. He was a new delight.
Highly recommend for a bit of adorable entertainment.
October 12, 2015
Two of my favorite stories in this collection don't feature Lord Peter Wimsey or Monty Egg, but rather characters who are affected in some way by crime. One in particular could have been an Alfred Hitchcock movie with a little tweaking and sanding of rough edges for its sheer psychological thrills. The most effective Monty Egg story features some affect of the crime on the protagonist as well, as he contemplates whether some crimes are too horrible to imagine. For Wimsey, however, it's all about the puzzles which can be hit or miss. Some of the solutions, while predictable, are darkly funny, and the best stories in this collection are the least tightly manufactured. My favorites are flawed but character-driven. A few of the Wimsey stories are pulpy fun, revealing a bizarre unfolding story that overshadows a nobleman who considers mysteries just another amusing pastime, like fine wine and coffee. Some of the stories had potential, when he almost started to feel something, but the weirdest ones were at least entertaining enough to make the reading worthwhile. I don't recommend this book, but it wasn't a total waste.
July 30, 2014
An interesting collection, though a bit uneven. Several of the stories really focus more on "technical" or "amazing" solutions as in "how could the detective (Wimsey or Montague Egg) have possibly figured that out?" and thus to some extent the stories exclude the reader. One says "how clever" but does not form an emotional attachment to the stories and characters.
So, overall, I prefer Sayers' full length Lord Peter novels to the short stories, since in the novels, the warmth and foibles of Lord Peter, Bunter, Harriet Vane, the Dowager Duchess, etc. shine through. However it was fun to read all these after having read and re-read all the Wimsey novels many times.
So, overall, I prefer Sayers' full length Lord Peter novels to the short stories, since in the novels, the warmth and foibles of Lord Peter, Bunter, Harriet Vane, the Dowager Duchess, etc. shine through. However it was fun to read all these after having read and re-read all the Wimsey novels many times.
July 3, 2013
While a couple of these stories left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, as though Sayers had been an angry hung over drunk when she wrote them (they have a bit of a 60s horror movie feel to them), the rest are clever, on so many levels, and make great mysteries. You can work hard to solve them- one even has a long list of clues with hints in the back of the book- you can also just sit back and enjoy the banter. This book includes Lord Peter Wimsey, Montague Egg, and some others. It's a very enjoyable buffet of story telling. There are some terrible puns!
June 15, 2013
Nice collection of Lord Peter stories - I've read them but can never read them enough. My favorite is his infiltration of a gang of thieves and its commentary on class relationships in Britain. I'd not read any of the Montague Egg stories and they were a nice addition, but only 'on the side' and would not make a good main course. Egg reminded me a bit of Parker Pyne (Christie) but the stories were not nearly as fun. Perhaps it is because Egg is missing a side-kick but saw him as a watered down and untitled version of Lord Peter.
June 21, 2022
Mostly Wimsey stories, with a handful of Montague Egg ones (always fun). My biggest problem is with the poor Kindle formatting - huge breaks in the text between some paragraphs, none at all between others. Some "pages" only had a few lines of text. Also, what I can only assume were the print edition page numbers are embedded in the text, occurring at the middle, top, and bottom of the Kindle page such as:
"They had a[Pg 304] thing like that in Italy once."
July 12, 2015
Dated as they are, once the readers get past the cultural references and old-fashioned language, we find exquisitely crafted stories. Dorothy Sayers is the perfect writer both for those who read for the puzzle of a mystery and those who read for the sake of the setting and the characters. She balances both with a rare sensitivity.
December 27, 2018
Well-written short stories. I enjoy the Lord Peter Wimsey stories better than the others. Some of these are kind of horrifying--the things that people do to each other. Love Lord Peter's detecting and his friends.
August 18, 2015
These were great little tidbits, quick reading. I'd never heard of the Mantague Egg character, and found him amusing. The mysteries involved some great sleight-of-hand and brainwork. Worth re-reading on vacation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews