The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers is the first book in the Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series. This will be the thread for ongoing discussions. Gisela will moderate the thread.

Enjoy!

There is a separate thread for spoiler type comments.

Hello All,

I have read this book and indeed the whole series when I first came to the UK in 1986. It was recommended by our English language teacher as a good way to improve our English and to learn about the culture of the country! I enjoyed it enormously and found Lord Peter Wimsey a very romantic detective indeed. After 33 year of exposure to the culture and the class system still prevailing here, it will be interesting to see how it will strike me and I am really looking forward to discussing this little book with you. I shall start reading tonight!

I recently reread it, and had a lot of fun with it. My advice: don't get so bogged down on the crime that you overlook the characters

The start of one of my favorite series.

Nancy wrote: "I recently reread it, and had a lot of fun with it. My advice: don't get so bogged down on the crime that you overlook the characters"

Totally agree. Characters and their interaction with each other are more important than the crime. Very Jeeves and Wooster as you mentioned in your recent review of the book.

It will certainly be interesting to see how first-time readers will react to Lord Peter. He can take some getting used to.

by the way, the book is online at Project Gutenberg:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/58820

Gisela wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I recently reread it, and had a lot of fun with it. My advice: don't get so bogged down on the crime that you overlook the characters"

Totally agree. Characters and their interaction..."

I wouldn't say "very" Jeeves and Wooster, but it does come close here and there in spots.

This was not the first Lord Peter book I read so I came to the first of the series out of order. It didn't matter. The topic (no spoilers for those who haven't read it) caused goosebumps and some nightmares. I'm a nurse and the images were very vivid in my head. I am a fan of Lord Peter and recommend him whenever I get the chance. I just wish I could write as well as Dorothy Sayers!

Nancy wrote: "I recently reread it, and had a lot of fun with it. My advice: don't get so bogged down on the crime that you overlook the characters"

I finished this one a few days ago, and I'll move over to the spoiler thread, but just wanted to say that Nancy's advice is spot on. The characters were quite fun and are the reason I'll continue the series.

Interesting, I am now half way through my re-read and I have to say, I can't find my youthful enthusiasm for Lord Peter anymore. I always though Harriet Vane, who joins him in the detecting in later books and with whom he has a difficult relationship was the stronger character. British politics also don't endear any person of unearned privilege to me at the moment!

Gisela wrote: "Interesting, I am now half way through my re-read and I have to say, I can't find my youthful enthusiasm for Lord Peter anymore. I always though Harriet Vane, who joins him in the detecting in late..."

Yes, I think given that it's his first appearance in a novel, he's not as well formed a character here as he is in subsequent books. This is his "test run." This really is not the Peter Wimsey of the rest of the series. Sayers got better over time.

RJ wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I recently reread it, and had a lot of fun with it. My advice: don't get so bogged down on the crime that you overlook the characters"

I finished this one a few days ago, and I'll mo..."

They get better, trust me. After Clouds of Witness.

I appreciate Gisela nominating 'Whose Body?'. I don't know why I never read this as my nephew was reading her books 15+ years ago. I enjoyed this one very much and found it hard to put down. I was happy to have an appointment today so I could read in the waiting room. 😊

Thanks!

Nancy wrote: "Gisela wrote: "Interesting, I am now half way through my re-read and I have to say, I can't find my youthful enthusiasm for Lord Peter anymore. I always though Harriet Vane, who joins him in the de..."

I'm sure your right. I read the series such a long time ago and can remember that I had really enjoyed it. There are a couple of books, whose story line I still have in my mind because I really liked the ambience, especially Murder Must Advertise and Gaudy Night. Gaudy Night describes the experience of a blue-stocking of the age in an Oxford college and is based on Dorothy L. Sayers on time there. Dorothy also worked in an advertising agency and therefore "Murder must advertise" rings very true.

My only exposure to Lord Peter was the PBS Mystery series back in the 80s when Edward Petherbridge played him. They only did three mysteries and they were all the ones with Harriet Vane. That being said, I've always heard wonderful things about this series so was very excited when this came up on our reading list.

I'm a little over halfway through the book so far. As I mentioned, this is my first time reading the book. It was a bit slow at the start, but has picked up. He really is a rather endearing character. He has an amazing intellect, but can be a bit absent minded at times. He reminds me a bit of Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax in that regard.

One thing that I love about this group is the penchant for going back and reading much older mysteries. I think they give us a glimpse into what it was like in that particular era. The lines of class and race are just 'there', but it's not put in a shocking manner. That's just the way things were at that time. Interesting...

At the rate I'm going, I'll probably finish this evening before going on to the other book for this month. Thanks for suggesting this book!

Roberta wrote: "My only exposure to Lord Peter was the PBS Mystery series back in the 80s when Edward Petherbridge played him. They only did three mysteries and they were all the ones with Harriet Vane. That being..."

Interesting. You are right, the book(s) are a sign of their times. I also feel that the books really come to life when Harriet Vane comes in. Both Lord Peter and Harriet Vane are very autobiographical, if two autobiographies I have read (alas also in the 80s) are believed. Lord Peter is a more perfect version of Dorothy L. Sayer's lover and some of the problems between Peter and Harriet seem to mirror that difficult relationship.

Unfortunately, for me having just finished re-reading this book Lord Peter and all the aristocratic characters in the book are just too close to what is going on at the moment in this country. Whilst I used to love this when I didn't understand the effects this privilege had on everyone else, I now, find it really difficult to take. However, he is a "clever chap" and so is even more is faithful man servant Bunter!

I'm glad you enjoyed the book. I find re-reading books which one has read a long time ago really interesting, as I see many of them in a very different light then I did first time round when I was younger. Often positive, or with this book, more negative. Maybe try again in another 25 years if I'm still around.

I rather enjoyed this book. I never read anything of that era because I tried sherlock Holmes and found it boring. So I never tried anything else but I was pleasantly surprised with this one as i have with others i have tried. So thanks for introducing me to this era of writing.

Linda wrote: "I rather enjoyed this book. I never read anything of that era because I tried sherlock Holmes and found it boring. So I never tried anything else but I was pleasantly surprised with this one as i h..."

There are tons of "Golden Age" mysteries out there if you like this one. You might enjoy Marjorie Allingham's Campion novels -- he reminds me a lot of Lord Peter.

Thanks Nancy

I just joined the group, but instantly found that you wanted to read Lord Peter´s books, so I got the first one on my kindle - if I like it, I might get a printed book too. ;)

This is my first Wimsey book; the series is one that I've been meaning to read for a long time. I read The Documents in the Case last year and really liked it.

I liked the idea of going back to a "golden age" mystery after a long time, and I'd like to thank the group for it. I remember The Nine Tailors as an outstanding book that I read a long time ago - I'm not even sure how long.

Whose Body? has a problem - it is that whose body it is and whodunit become clear very early in the book.

I still liked it very much for the social commentary, the characters and Dorothy Sayers' voice. I am guessing that the plotting became stronger as the series progressed.

I wasn't sure what to make of some of the opinions expressed in the book. For those who are interested, a blog titled "Was Dorothy Sayers anti-semitic (and a snob)?" makes interesting reading. You can google it - I'm not adding a link here as the article has spoilers for those who haven't finished the book.

It also struck me that a well-done TV series based on the books will be a treat to watch.

The Wimsey books have been done twice on British television - in the 70s with Ian Carmichael, which did 5 novels (Clouds of Witness, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, Five Red Herrings, Murder Must Advertise, and The Nine Taylors), and in the 80s with Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter (Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, and Gaudy Night - they were unable to get the rights to Busman's Honeymoon). I would describe both actors as giving good performances of Wimsey, but very different ones. (I think I prefer Petherbridge, but I also like Carmichael.)

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "The Wimsey books have been done twice on British television - in the 70s with Ian Carmichael, which did 5 novels (Clouds of Witness, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, Five Red Herrings, Murde..."

I'll have to check them out, Susanna.

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "The Wimsey books have been done twice on British television - in the 70s with Ian Carmichael, which did 5 novels (Clouds of Witness, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, Five Red Herrings, Murde..."

Many thanks - I will check them out as well:)