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Lord Peter Wimsey #5-8
Lord Peter Wimsey: BBC Radio Drama Collection, Volume 2
Ian Carmichael is Lord Peter Wimsey in these consummate BBC radio dramatisations of Dorothy L Sayers' much-loved mysteries
Elegant, erudite and sharp-witted, aristocratic detective Lord Peter Wimsey featured in numerous novels and short stories by ‘Queen of Crime’ Dorothy L Sayers. These full-cast adaptations – first broadcast on BBC radio between 1975 and 1981– are loved by mystery fans all around the world.
In The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, when General Fentiman is found dead at his club, Wimsey suspects foul play. Could he have been murdered for his money?
Strong Poison introduces Harriet Vane – a crime novelist on trial for murdering her lover. Wimsey knows Harriet is no femme fatale, but an innocent victim embroiled in a diabolical plot…
Five Red Herrings sees Peter faced with six men, all of whom have a motive for killing argumentative Scottish painter Sandy Campbell. But who was the culprit?
In Have His Carcase, when Harriet Vane finds a body on the beach with his throat cut, Lord Peter must work out whether it was murder or suicide.
These classic dramas also feature Peter Jones, Joan Hickson, Miriam Margolyes and Warren Clarke.
Duration: 12 hours 15 mins approx.
Elegant, erudite and sharp-witted, aristocratic detective Lord Peter Wimsey featured in numerous novels and short stories by ‘Queen of Crime’ Dorothy L Sayers. These full-cast adaptations – first broadcast on BBC radio between 1975 and 1981– are loved by mystery fans all around the world.
In The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, when General Fentiman is found dead at his club, Wimsey suspects foul play. Could he have been murdered for his money?
Strong Poison introduces Harriet Vane – a crime novelist on trial for murdering her lover. Wimsey knows Harriet is no femme fatale, but an innocent victim embroiled in a diabolical plot…
Five Red Herrings sees Peter faced with six men, all of whom have a motive for killing argumentative Scottish painter Sandy Campbell. But who was the culprit?
In Have His Carcase, when Harriet Vane finds a body on the beach with his throat cut, Lord Peter must work out whether it was murder or suicide.
These classic dramas also feature Peter Jones, Joan Hickson, Miriam Margolyes and Warren Clarke.
Duration: 12 hours 15 mins approx.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published January 1, 2018
1 person is currently reading
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About the author
Dorothy L. Sayers
703 books2,987 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 13, 2022
Relistening to these stories in a continuous run makes for delightful escapist listening. The stories with Harriet Vane in are my very favourites.
May 25, 2021
{4.5 stars for entertainment value}
In this second volume of dramatisations of Dorothy L Sayers's Lord Peter Wimsey character, 4 novels are featured: The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (4/5), Strong Poison (5/50, Five Red Herrings (3/5), and Have His Carcase (3/5).
As before, these are fun dramatisations of the famous novels, all played on BBC radio in the 70s and 80s. Wimsey is played by Ian Carmichael, and he does a really good job.
For me, the best of these four books was Strong Poison, which introduces the crime novelist to the series, herself accused of a crime here. Harriet is a brilliant character and a great partner to Lord Peter. Also, this book has the best most awkward marriage proposal ever - I laughed out loud! Harriet features in one other book of these four, Have His Carcase, which was less fun than the other (she finds a dead man on a remote rocky beach with his throat cut). Five Red Herrings, which I'd been excited to read previously, was a bit of a let down. It was FULL of the promised convoluted red herrings for sure, and I had trouble following the story/mystery. But the Scottish stereotypes kind of annoyed me - maybe reading it would work better for me. The Bellona Club was quite good too - I enjoyed that one though it was a simpler story/murder.
All together, it was almost 13 hours long, covering four books, each with 4+ "episodes" - so nicely broken up but it did feel a bit long. The narrator in the final story changed, and I didn't find him as good. But in all, this was a fun foray into cosy crime and recommended to anyone who likes dramatisations and cosies.
In this second volume of dramatisations of Dorothy L Sayers's Lord Peter Wimsey character, 4 novels are featured: The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (4/5), Strong Poison (5/50, Five Red Herrings (3/5), and Have His Carcase (3/5).
As before, these are fun dramatisations of the famous novels, all played on BBC radio in the 70s and 80s. Wimsey is played by Ian Carmichael, and he does a really good job.
For me, the best of these four books was Strong Poison, which introduces the crime novelist to the series, herself accused of a crime here. Harriet is a brilliant character and a great partner to Lord Peter. Also, this book has the best most awkward marriage proposal ever - I laughed out loud! Harriet features in one other book of these four, Have His Carcase, which was less fun than the other (she finds a dead man on a remote rocky beach with his throat cut). Five Red Herrings, which I'd been excited to read previously, was a bit of a let down. It was FULL of the promised convoluted red herrings for sure, and I had trouble following the story/mystery. But the Scottish stereotypes kind of annoyed me - maybe reading it would work better for me. The Bellona Club was quite good too - I enjoyed that one though it was a simpler story/murder.
All together, it was almost 13 hours long, covering four books, each with 4+ "episodes" - so nicely broken up but it did feel a bit long. The narrator in the final story changed, and I didn't find him as good. But in all, this was a fun foray into cosy crime and recommended to anyone who likes dramatisations and cosies.
August 2, 2024
4 books in one collection. Very entertaining. Wimsey’s a champ, a beta male with nooks and crannies of vulnerability and humanity, he’s just a decent geezer with some solid smarts, and brilliantly high camp to boot. You really want him to succeed.
The new dame in town, Vane, is suitably independent for this reader: she starts the last book, have his carcase, on a walking trip alone. This from - when was this written? - the forties? Not sure I’ve ever read in a book before of a woman walking alone without her ending up being murdered or at least threatened with violence of some sort.
Vane isn’t taking any nonsense from anyone but has her own vulnerabilities, and the dynamic as to needs and wants between her and Wimsey in that last book is really maturely done. It’s only a paragraph, about why he’s appeared on the scene and not left her to it but it’s just so rare to read of a frank and thoughtful exchange.
I enjoyed the 5 red herrings as well simply for its Scottish setting. A delight. Anyway time to move swiftly onto the next instalment.
The new dame in town, Vane, is suitably independent for this reader: she starts the last book, have his carcase, on a walking trip alone. This from - when was this written? - the forties? Not sure I’ve ever read in a book before of a woman walking alone without her ending up being murdered or at least threatened with violence of some sort.
Vane isn’t taking any nonsense from anyone but has her own vulnerabilities, and the dynamic as to needs and wants between her and Wimsey in that last book is really maturely done. It’s only a paragraph, about why he’s appeared on the scene and not left her to it but it’s just so rare to read of a frank and thoughtful exchange.
I enjoyed the 5 red herrings as well simply for its Scottish setting. A delight. Anyway time to move swiftly onto the next instalment.
August 11, 2022
Another solid instalment. Not as good as the first volume but still good.
Loved the introduction of Harriet Vane and her romantic dynamic with Wimsey.
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club - 4 stars
Strong Poison - 3.5 stars
The Five Red Herrings - 2 stars
Have a Carcase - 3.5 stars
Loved the introduction of Harriet Vane and her romantic dynamic with Wimsey.
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club - 4 stars
Strong Poison - 3.5 stars
The Five Red Herrings - 2 stars
Have a Carcase - 3.5 stars
September 3, 2019
A great presentation full-cast BBC radio adaption. Excellent Cosy crime, will be listening to volume 3.
August 15, 2022
This collection kept me sane while moving and unpacking. Highly recommended!
May 12, 2023
the power of a potential proposal, oh my
August 27, 2024
I got all teary during Gawdy night. Super sad t0 have reached the end of this excellent series. If you want a smart, feminist, sleuth with a sense of humor and class all the way - choose Whimsey.
November 14, 2025
Although abridged, these performances capture the spirit of the original novels brilliantly.
December 11, 2025
Well done, enjoyable full cast, radio productions of The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, Strong Poison, Five Red Herrings, and Have His Carcase with Ian Carmichael playing Lord Peter Wimsey
December 23, 2025
Another fine collection of mysteries for Lord Peter Wimsey to solve as broadcast by BBC as a radio play.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews