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Whose Body?
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
131 posts | 157 read | 4 reading | 81 to read
There's a dead body in his bathtub, wearing nothing but a pair of pince-nez spectacles. Enter Lord Peter Wimsey, the original gentleman sleuth, who debuted in this 1923 novel.
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CSeydel
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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#february

Two of these were very very short, and one is an audiobook that I listened to in the car with my son on our weekly drive. My favorite is probably The White Mosque, but I enjoyed all of them!

review
Chrissyreadit
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Pickpick

This was the #goldenageofcrime buddy read hosted by @Mitch for Feb. it was a solid mystery- but definitely problematic in terms of anti Semitic views and racial slurs. It was difficult to overlook, but as an adult reading it also kept thinking this is why Desantis in Florida is evil.

Crazeedi I keep meaning to read this author, I'm not sure which one to pick up first. I haven't read a book since December, but I somehow need to get into one that's keeps me engaged. 1mo
Chrissyreadit @Crazeedi it was ok- but not a favorite. What are some of your favorite mysteries? 1mo
Crazeedi @Chrissyreadit vera series was excellent , montalbano series excellent, Kate Ellis books great, a bunch of other authors and detective/ mysteries I totally enjoy 1mo
See All 6 Comments
Chrissyreadit @Crazeedi have you read Ambrose Parry? @Mitch recommended them and they were perfect to me! 1mo
Crazeedi @Chrissyreadit no I haven't but I'll definitely check them out!! 1mo
Vansa I'm reading this now!I found it annoying that Wimsey seemed so flip about everything and suddenly,the writer pulled the rug out.I really liked Bunter, interesting sidekick who gets a lot of airtime!I didn't much care for the entire PC Plod stereotype of the cop,and of course it's quite elitist.Im quite enjoying it though 1mo
62 likes6 comments
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quietjenn
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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Didn't finish rereading this before yesterday's #goldenagecrimeclub discussion, but don't think I would've added much to it. It's ok, I guess, but later books are so much better. Glad it wasn't my actual intro to Whimsey & co.

batsy That's what I thought, too! If this was my first I think I'd have been put off. 1mo
56 likes1 comment
review
kwmg40
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Pickpick

A light pick for me. Not among the best of the Lord Peter Wimsey series, but it was interesting to reread this first book and see how Wimsey, Bunter and Parker were initially introduced to us.

#BookSpinBingo #DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks
#goldenagecrimeclub @Mitch
#20in4 @Andrew65

Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 1mo
TheAromaofBooks I hadn't read any of the Lord Peter stories, but I found this one entertaining enough to plan to continue the series. 1mo
kwmg40 @Andrew65 Thanks for the encouragement! 1mo
kwmg40 @TheAromaofBooks If you enjoyed this one, then you probably won't regret continuing the series, as the books get even better as the series progresses. 1mo
39 likes4 comments
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LitsyEvents
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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The discussion for the tagged book in the #goldenageofcrime is up and running. This is open to anyone interested - see @mitch to join discussion

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Mitch
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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And finally…… anything left unsaid in previous discussions that you‘d like to finish on?

#goldenagecrimeclub

Image: sealhouette

Mitch I‘d like to say a big thank you to everyone for joining in. This is a new genre for me really and it‘s fab to tackle new things critically and in the company of friends ❤️ 1mo
Cuilin Thanks for hosting @Mitch I‘m enjoying the reading and discussions. I‘m traveling for March but still hope to read the book and participate in the discussion. 🤞 1mo
jlhammar @Mitch Thanks so much for hosting. I‘m really enjoying our exploration of golden age crime so far! 1mo
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Mitch @Cuilin yeah. I really appreciate your thoughts. 👍🏼 1mo
Mitch @jlhammar it‘s been great thinking about the themes and emerging thoughts together 👏🏼 1mo
batsy Thank you for hosting! And I've greatly enjoyed the discussions. Eagerly anticipating your pick for April 😁 1mo
Ruthiella Thanks a million for making this happen! 😃 I think I might read a few more Sayer‘s novels now and see how they compare with this debut and my memories. I‘ve read Golden Age Crime before, but mostly uncritically. Its fascinating to revisit and also discover new authors, like next month‘s pick. 1mo
Mitch @batsy I‘ll post sometime next week April, May and June - trying to find some with lots to themes to talk about! 1mo
Mitch @Ruthiella thanks ! My feelings too. I‘m going to read a few more Wimsey books and see what happens and next months is also a brand ‘new to me‘ author - loving discovering with you 1mo
rabbitprincess I want to go back to the Sayers I‘ve already read and revisit them, then perhaps try the rest. I look forward to seeing what is up next! 1mo
CarolynM Thank you for hosting. Interesting perspectives on this one. I‘ve intended to read Sayers for a long time, so I‘m grateful for the push to actually do it. I‘d like to read more, but my TBR is already overflowing. 1mo
Chrissyreadit Great questions! 1mo
kwmg40 I'd read some of the later books in this series recently, and I'd forgotten the large role that Parker played in this first book. I like Parker, but he often gets forgotten among the more charismatic supporting characters. @Mitch Thank you for hosting and initiating discussion with these great questions! (edited) 1mo
Mitch @kwmg40 Parker was interesting wasnt he. I like the contrast in circumstances he gave the book 1mo
45 likes14 comments
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TheAromaofBooks
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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#BookReport - Another week of doing a good job reading a terrible job reviewing 😂 Finished the Chesapeake Shores series (finally!). Read Girls Made of Snow & Glass for #LMPBC (so-so; I found the characters annoying). Tagged book was fun but a little disjointed - I'm still going to read the next one in the series, though! Not the Witch You Wed was a #TrappedonanIsland pick and was just the fluffy, silly read I needed. Just started The Girls at ⬇

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) the Kingfisher Club this morning - a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses for the #FairyTaleReadingChallenge. Nothing life-changing this week, but steadily plowing through the piles with some interesting reads. I can't believe my next windowsill picture is going to include March books...!!!!

@Cinfhen
1mo
Cinfhen Excellent progress😄I know…I keep reminding myself February only has 28 days 😉 1mo
71 likes2 comments
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Mitch
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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I‘ve not read any P G Wodehouse but it‘s been said he has some Bertie Wooster vibes. Sayers described Bunter as part Wooster part Fred Astaire! Are you on TEAM BUNTER??
#goldenagecrimeclub

Cuilin I saw Peter Wimsey as more like Wooster and Bunter as Jeeves. This relationship was the most redeeming aspect of the novel for me. 1mo
AmyG I liked Bunter the best of all. The man has the patience of a saint!!! 1mo
jlhammar I‘ve not read Wodehouse either, but yes, definitely a Bunter fan. 1mo
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Read-y_Picker Yes! In fact once I was done with this one I sought out and am currently enjoying 1mo
Read-y_Picker Favourite takeaway was the reenactment of the (maid‘s?) testimony in court. That was hilarious. Was anyone else bothered by the confession taking up about a full fifth of the novel? 1mo
jlhammar @Read-y_Picker I quoted the maid's testimony in my review! That whole court scene was my favorite part. Yeah, I didn't love the confession either. 1mo
Mitch Agreed Bunter has the patience of a saint ! Especially has he gets paid in a year less than Wimsey spends on one antique book! 1mo
batsy Definitely #TeamBunter! Love how he talks Wimsey down when he has an anxiety attack while trying to solve the murder and he recognises that there's PTSD with war flashbacks. We all need a Bunter in our lives. 1mo
batsy @Read-y_Picker Yes, the pacing of the novel wasn't the best re: how it was resolved & the confession. 1mo
DGRachel I should have read all the questions before commenting. I haven‘t read Wodehouse, but I definitely got strong Fry & Laurie version of Jeeves & Wooster. #TeamBunter all the way! 1mo
Ruthiella Love Bunter! Totally agree with the Wodehouse vibes. They are a team and for sure Wimsey would not be such a good detective without him. I do think that Wimsey appreciates Bunter as an equal, even though he is his employee. Same with Parker, who is of a lower class than Lord Peter. He‘s not condescending at all. He sees these men as his peers. 1mo
rabbitprincess Ian Carmichael, who played Wimsey in a TV adaptation, also played Bertie Wooster in a different Jeeves adaptation, so I definitely got Wooster vibes from Wimsey here. 1mo
CarolynM I think it‘s a very different vibe from Jeeves and Wooster. For all his foppishness, Lord Peter is not an airhead like Bertie Wooster and Bunter, much as I liked him, has nothing on Jeeves. 1mo
Chrissyreadit I have not read any Jeeves books yet. I really liked their relationship and agree that he seems to be better about seeing the value of others (especially compared to his brother) 1mo
kwmg40 I do like Bunter as a character. I can see some parallels with the Wooster and Jeeves relationship, but I find the comparison with Campion/Lug in Margery Allingham's Golden Age novels more interesting. In Whose Body, I loved Bunter's description of his meeting with Cummings and his commentary on his employer's wine cellar! 1mo
Larkken The Bunter-lord Peter relationship was my favorite part! I know DLS wasn‘t explicitly making this book into satire, but that‘s how I read it. It read very much like a first novel, so I could see how the farce element might get downgraded and the mystery more developed in later books… I‘d like the latter, but will miss the former 😂 very interesting to read the first in such an est series! 1mo
46 likes16 comments
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Mitch
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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I struggled at first with Lord Peter Wimsey - his class and language just didn‘t sit well with me! What did you make of him and how he begun to develop?

#goldenagecrimeclub

Cuilin He seemed more of a caricature than a real person it was difficult to place confidence in anything he said. It was a first novel, so it will be interesting to compare him in later novels. 1mo
AmyG Yes, he does seem a bit of a caricature. Also a bit entitled. And he talks way too much. But, he is smart and was able to fit all the pieces together to figure out the crime….very clever, smart and witty…..but long-winded. 1mo
jlhammar Wasn‘t overly charmed by Lord Peter at first, but he did grow on me, especially after Sayers shows his history and vulnerability a bit with the PTSD episode. 1mo
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Mitch @AmyG @Cuilin @jlhammar I agree with you all! I thought the PTSD moment was the first that I thought ok - she‘s taking him somewhere. We‘re acknowledging mental health, we‘re acknowledging the legacy of the war and perhaps I‘d started off being to harsh on him! 1mo
batsy In the later books there's a more developed Peter imo, but it's true that in this one he does come off like a caricature. I do get the feeling Sayers kind of started writing his character in an ironic sense and then grew to like him! I agree the PTSD moment was the turning point in how the reader sees him. 1mo
Ruthiella Yes to all the above. I came at this book with a lot of hope and fond memories of previous books and was surprised to see how much Lord Peter annoyed me at the start. I‘m not sure if he got better or if I just got used to him but by the end, I liked him more. 1mo
Mitch @batsy I read that she gave him everything as a working woman, living in a very small bed sit, that she didn‘t have - posh address, a library, meals out in town! Everything she wished she had! 1mo
rabbitprincess Wimsey‘s habit of droppin‘ his g‘s always reads rather weird for me. Roderick Alleyn (from Ngaio Marsh‘s books) does it too. 1mo
CarolynM Yes he‘s annoying, but probably accurate for a youngish aristocrat of the time. 1mo
Chrissyreadit I was not really bothered by him. I was curious about his relationship with his Valet. And to be honest that‘s why I thought he couldn‘t be too bad. And his relationship with his mom. 1mo
kwmg40 I like the Wimsey books but never cared for the man himself. I do like a lot of Sayers's other characters, such as Bunter, Parker and Vane (introduced in a later book), and Wimsey's interactions with them affect his development throughout the series. 1mo
Mitch @Chrissyreadit I agree! I wanted to write him off as a bad caricature of a 2 dimensional toff! But whilst he may have started out like that I think Sayers has put a lot more depth on him and I warmed to him after a while! 1mo
34 likes12 comments
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Mitch
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Sayers has written some truly awful antisemitic La gauge and stereotypes- what did you make of this? How do we read the past from the present ?

#goldenagecrimeclub

Cuilin This was difficult, I‘m interested to see what others say on this because while it‘s unfair to judge the past with present morals, how do we communicate to a contemporary audience that racism is just not OK. Warnings on new editions doesn‘t seem enough. 🤷‍♀️ or maybe it‘s just reading them and having discussions like this!! 1mo
AmyG The anti-semitic and racist talk (someone was compared to a tarbaby?) reminded me of an incident wih Camilla King Charles‘s wife) and how she made racist comments about a black woman. I wondered about royalty and is there racism in the older generation? 1mo
jlhammar Definitely found this off-putting as a modern reader. I was really surprised that it wasn‘t addressed at all in some sort of intro or preface (there was nothing in my edition). I feel like that was needed. 1mo
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jlhammar And, I can‘t say for sure, but the sense that I got was that Sayers was trying to shine a light on/make fun of the ridiculousness of the prevalent antisemitic and classist attitudes. Doesn‘t make it any more palatable though and certainly complicated and questionable. Sayers is a fascinating woman and I enjoyed learning some about her life in this fantastic work of nonfiction 1mo
Mitch I agree with you all - without something addressing this in the intro it was alarming. And more alarming that it went unchallenged. 1mo
Mitch There‘s a really interesting essay here that tries to grapple with Sayers and her Jewish characters https://momentmag.com/curious-case-dorothy-l-sayers-jew-wasnt/ 1mo
batsy Yes, I was really uncomfortable. And it's clear that the operative framework was that antisemitism was kind of taken as the norm, and Sayers was doing her best to try to present a counterpoint, but I think being of that time and era her own (unconscious?) prejudice also appears. I appreciated the article @jlhammar shared; it provided some fascinating insight into Sayers. 1mo
DGRachel @AmyG I‘d forgotten this was the tarbaby book. 😳 The racism and antisemitism is hard to stomach in any of the crime novels I‘ve read over the past few years. I find it rather shocking (though perhaps I shouldn‘t be surprised) that books with such hateful speech are still so widely read and popular. 1mo
Ruthiella I agree that the racism was blatant and yet, I also feel that Sayers was trying to be fair, showing how Lord Peter didn‘t care one way or a other. The article provided by @jlhammar was interesting is showing where Sayers was possibly influenced. But yeah, it is always startling when I encounter these attitudes in literature. 😠 1mo
rabbitprincess Lord Peter‘s mum‘s full-page monologue about Jewish stereotypes was super uncomfortable to read and I almost bailed right there 😬 1mo
Chrissyreadit I struggled- and appreciate the article @Mitch . My thoughts reading this and that article also point to why it was so many people overlooked what was happening to Jewish people in Germany and Russia. And even with all we know now- places like Fox News are allowed to support and give voice to people who espouse racist and prejudice stereotypes. So I find it easy to see how tv and literature influence negative stereotypes. 1mo
Chrissyreadit I also had another thought based on the article and Jewish stereotypes. There are jobs that are/were traditionally held by Jewish men- I believe because so many jobs were refused to them. I remember reading about Hollywood. I know money lending and jewelry probably have some history as well and I‘m sure at some point I will look. I also think it‘s interesting that circumcision has taken the turn it has. I do think this is a good book to read for 1mo
Chrissyreadit Sociology for nuanced discussion about embedded racism. (I feel the same way about Little House books and chose not to read them with@my children because they needed to be able to understand and recognize problematic stereotypes) 1mo
Mitch @Chrissyreadit I agree Chrissy. Whilst this wasn‘t a book full of enjoyment for me - I did like the close reading of it and the thoughts it has spurned! 1mo
Larkken I actually found the typological view to be in line with the current thoughts of the era (in anthropology and medicine) and found the book to be subversive to them. I mean, the educated, upper class doctor as the killer subverts many themes about criminology and the brains of criminals which that doctor supported, too. I found the language off putting as well, but again, in line with the archaic language used throughout… agree on a better intro! 1mo
30 likes15 comments
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Mitch
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Naked body in a bath tub wearing nothing but Pince - nez! How did you like the opening ? Sayers originally wrote the body in the tub as a woman‘s - how would this have changed the book do you think?

#goldenagecrimeclub

Cuilin Great idea but not sure it was executed well. It should have been gripping but it fell flat. I read 40% of the book before it felt interesting. 1mo
AmyG I agree with @Cuilin. It fell flatfor me, too. And then the anti-semitic talk really turned me off. So I was a bit mad at the beginning which continued through the book. 1mo
Read-y_Picker @AmyG it was sooo off putting! I had to go back to see when it was originally published because I originally thought it was thrown in to emphasize how far society has come in their acceptance but it turns out that‘s probably just what was socially acceptable back then… (edited) 1mo
See All 16 Comments
jlhammar My favorite part about the opening was the Dowager alerting Lord Peter. I found their exchanges and relationship amusing. Gosh, I think a woman in the tub instead of a man would have had a very different vibe. Darker maybe? Perhaps because women are more often victims of violence and sexual assault? Not sure, but interesting to think about. 1mo
Mitch @Read-y_Picker @amyg I felt the same and tried to do a little research - even when published there was an attempt to change one characters nationality and make him French to tone down the antisemitism. So even in its day I think it was alarming. I also read that Sayers had just been jilted by her lover who was Jewish on the grounds of his family not accepting her. 1mo
Mitch @jlhammar I agree - I think the idea of a naked woman changes it all! And I did like the Dowager too - she was probably my favourite character. 1mo
AmyG @Mitch Very interesting. A woman scorned. And I get the family not accepting her as that was the view for that generation. I am guessing more so following the Holocaust. (edited) 1mo
DGRachel The jilted lover thing makes a lot of sense (although still wrong) - less antisemitism and more woman scorned. Not an excuse, but a different perspective. I loved the interplay at the beginning between the duchess and Lord Peter. There was a strong Fry & Laurie/Jeeves & Wooster vibe that I found entertaining and I kept picturing Fry & Laurie in my head for Lord Peter & his butler 1mo
batsy I thought it was an arresting start but like @AmyG said the turn towards antisemitic physiognomy observations were a big yikes. I'm trying to imagine how it would have been if it was a woman. The idea makes me nervous—Sayers is clearly feminist in some ways but perhaps wouldn't have been very kind in her depiction of a Jewish or foreign woman? Or a working class woman. 1mo
Cuilin @DGRachel yep it was Fry and Laurie all the way. Lol. 1mo
Ruthiella @DGRachel @Cuilin I also thought of Jeeves and Wooster! When he mentioned his plum colored socks, I thought Jeeves would NOT approve! 😂 Also, Freddie Arbonaght(sp?) could easily be in a Wodehouse book. 1mo
Ruthiella A woman victim would have changed the tone considerably. 🤯 1mo
Mitch @DGRachel there were moments that had a very Black Adder vibe! 1mo
rabbitprincess If the victim had been a woman, it would have read as a standard episode of CSI and I would have either bailed or not picked it up ? It would have seemed salacious and done for shock value. With the victim being a man, the overriding thought was « huh weird ». 1mo
CarolynM Given the solution to the mystery, a woman‘s body would have had to be a completely different story. 1mo
Chrissyreadit I love the Duchess and appreciated her role in the story. Am glad you found she was a woman scorned that explains a bit, and it‘s seems it was a good choice to go with a male victim. Though from watching how PM is done it seems the mystery could have been examined more closely with the coroners office 😆 1mo
31 likes16 comments
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Mitch
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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#goldenagecrimeclub
Welcome everyone to our second #buddyread! And this one was hugely more problematic for me that the first ( more on that in later discussion prompts!) But let‘s kick off with your journey to finding Sayer, relationship with the books and their relevance 100 years on.

AmyG This book pissed me off. 1mo
Read-y_Picker @AmyG 🤭🙌 1mo
Mitch I love that @AmyG ! Such a succinct and passionate and accurate description! It‘s funny I‘d never read any Sayers before and she has a very broad and loyal following ( from people I admire) so I was curious to dip my toe in the water and see for myself! 1mo
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Mitch I wonder if they get less annoying as the characters develop and her ideals change?? 1mo
jlhammar I‘d consider reading another Sayers someday (especially since others have said some of the later Wimsey books are better), but I‘m not going to be in any rush to do so. I adored Marple (and prefer Christie‘s writing) and can‘t wait to read the next in that series so this was a very different experience from last month. You can‘t do golden age without Sayers though so glad to have read it. 1mo
DGRachel I haven‘t finished it and am only at the 40% mark. This is my first Sayers, but my mom read a ton of golden age crime and the family bookshelves were packed with Christie (she owned them all), Sayers, Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh. I‘m interested to see if I feel the same way as you all so by the end. So far, it hasn‘t really seemed much worse than some of Christie‘s to me with the racism, but I also can‘t remember much of it already. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 1mo
batsy I remember loving the Sayers books I read (the ones involving Harriet Vane and the others like The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club and Murder Must Advertise) but I did read them long ago and wonder how I would feel about them now. I can totally understand someone being put off by Sayers and Wimsey if this was their introductory book. 1mo
Ruthiella I‘d not read this one before but like @batsy , I read some of the later ones in my 20s and I particularly have fond memories of the ones featuring Harriet Vane. I didn‘t think the racism and classism was worse here than in other books of the era. It comes with the territory. Like at @jlhammar , I prefer Christie‘s writing style. It took me a long time to get used to Lord Peter and his “aints” and mannerisms in this debut. (edited) 1mo
Mitch @batsy it‘s always a battle isn‘t it - do you read in order or jump to the good ones! 1mo
Mitch @Ruthiella his language is really hard to get your head around! But once I did his voice was in my head and I‘m not sure that I liked that either!!🤣 1mo
Mitch @DGRachel my first Sayers too and I was expecting another Christie but it‘s really not! 1mo
rabbitprincess I‘d read several other Wimseys before this: Gaudy Night, Murder Must Advertise, and Clouds of Witness, as well as Lord Peter Views the Body. Murder Must Advertise was my favourite because he actually had to work at a real job, so hijinks ensued 😂 This was fine but I‘m glad I didn‘t start here with Wimsey. 1mo
SamAnne Oof. I just couldn‘t get into this one and bailed after 3 chapters. Tried both print and audio. 1mo
CarolynM My first Sayers too. I wasn‘t keen on the writing, I found it helped to have a break between chapters. I knew what to expect of Lord Peter (my husband is a fan) but I was a bit put off by the way he spoke, although I thought it was probably fairly accurate for a young aristocrat of the time. Ditto the general social attitudes. I don‘t mind being reminded that the world was different then & I tend to be amused rather than annoyed by the snobbery. 1mo
Chrissyreadit This was my first Sayer, and I have big thoughts- (have similar struggles with Heyer who I love). I think it is interesting that there are books written in different times that don‘t feel as classist or racist. BUT I‘m listening to the Attica Locke books too and can see the horrible way of treating people as part of the crime. It‘s how I‘m able to enjoy the mystery. 1mo
Aimeesue I‘d read this one before, but had forgotten much of the plot. I like Sayers, but the later ones are def better. The classism/ racism/ sexism was of its time, so isn‘t particularly bothersome to me. I think maybe it‘s good to read them once in a while just to remind ourselves how bad it used to be? (Obviously, we have a lot further to go!) Plus, It‘s so nice when the villain writes out his confession for you! 1mo
kwmg40 I've read most of the Wimsey series and Whose Body was a reread for me. I agree that the racism/classism is problematic but accept it as a part of that era. Wimsey isn't one of my favourite Golden Age detectives, but there are a few of Sayer's later books (such as Murder Must Advertise and Gaudy Night) that I really love. 1mo
Mitch @kwmg40 Gaudy Night gets a lot of love! I might jump to that one! 1mo
32 likes18 comments
review
CarolynM
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Pickpick

A light pick. I found I needed to take it in small doses. Lord Peter and Bunter had their moments, I was quite touched by the PTSD episode. While I was happy with the resolution of the mysteries, I can‘t say I liked the way Sayers chose to explain it all in so much detail. This is my first Sayers. My husband is a fan, hence the Folio edition. #GoldenAgeCrimeClub

Cathythoughts Gorgeous pic💫 1mo
CarolynM @Cathythoughts Thank you 😘 1mo
jlhammar Beautiful edition! 1mo
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batsy Lovely edition and photo! 1mo
sarahbarnes Cool photo! 1mo
LeahBergen Ooo, how pretty! I liked (but didn‘t love) this book. I do want to read a few more as I‘ve heard this is the weakest of the series; is this your husband‘s opinion, too? 1mo
Ruthiella Beautiful edition! I didn‘t love this debut either, but I‘ve enjoyed later books. 1mo
erzascarletbookgasm Cool photo👌. I wasn‘t very impressed with the book either, read it some time back. I continued with the next 3 books and it was okay. 1mo
CarolynM @LeahBergen Thank you😘 He didn‘t remember the story, even when I told him it was the one with the unidentified body in the bath. His memory is often unreliable, but I think we can safely assume that this isn‘t one of his favourite Sayers😆 1mo
LeahBergen Got it! 😆😆 1mo
70 likes11 comments
review
jlhammar
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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Pickpick

“it was a cruel shame a girl couldn‘t ‘ave a bit of fun without a nasty corpse comin‘ in through the window to get ‘er into difficulties.” Poor Gladys 😂

My first Sayers and for the most part I enjoyed it. Very dialogue-heavy! The courtroom scene was my favorite—the serious Coroner opening windows, the testimony quoted above, the commentary from the Dowager Duchess—funny stuff. I also really liked Wimsey and Bunter as a dynamic duo.

jlhammar Thought I'd join Lord Peter in some celebratory brandy. Looking forward to our #GoldenAgeCrimeClub discussion on Sunday! 1mo
jlhammar Given that this was published in 1923, it unsurprisingly does portray characters with antisemitic and classist attitudes. For those of you who may have missed my comments on previous reviews, I found this to be an interesting read:
https://momentmag.com/curious-case-dorothy-l-sayers-jew-wasnt/
1mo
batsy Sayers was having a lot of fun with the character of the Dowager! 1mo
Ruthiella Glad you liked it! I think the later books are even better! 😃 1mo
68 likes4 comments
review
Cuilin
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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Mehso-so

I‘m with @batsy on this one. First of all it took about 40% to get into the book. Some attitudes made me squirm. There were a few moments I liked, especially the Jeeves and Wooster-esque relationship but they were few. Looking forward to further discussions with #goldenagecrimeclub @Mitch

jlhammar I just mentioned this piece in the comments of @batsy 's review. You may find it interesting:
https://momentmag.com/curious-case-dorothy-l-sayers-jew-wasnt/
1mo
Cuilin @jlhammar thank you. Will read. 1mo
batsy There's something a bit rough in this first book re: Wimsey and Bunter, but I agree that it's one of the highlights. And it does become something quite nuanced and interesting in the later books as the characters are developed further 🙂 1mo
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AmyG Yeah, the anti-semitism….and also racism was very cringeworthy. Turned me off. 1mo
Cuilin @batsy This was a first Sayers for me. I will read others for comparison. (edited) 1mo
Cuilin @AmyG seriously 😒 1mo
Mitch Agreed - tough read in parts - looking forward to chatting on Sunday 1mo
Ruthiella I‘ve other Lord Peter books that I‘ve enjoyed more, for sure. It‘s been ages though. So I‘m also not the same reader from 20 years ago. 1mo
Cuilin @Ruthiella I‘ll definitely try another. 1mo
SamAnne I bailed on this one. I couldn't get into it. 1mo
Cuilin @SamAnne no reproach here. I thought of bailing once or twice myself. I want to try another as this was her first and hopefully they improved 🤷‍♀️ 1mo
51 likes11 comments
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batsy
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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Mehso-so

It's a shame; I expected to like this a lot more. I've read some of the later Wimsey (+Harriet Vane) books & enjoyed it. This one does read like a first book, though. Structurally, it has the plot of a hasty thought experiment. There's the antisemitism, which sadly is prevalent in a lot of British fiction of the era, & the classism. I wasn't sure if Sayers was depicting it to partly skewer the nobility or not. The vibes were off, as the kids say.

batsy Glad I read it, in my quest to be a Peter Wimsey completist, and I'm sure there will be lots to discuss during the #GoldenAgeCrimeClub @Mitch 1mo
kspenmoll I knew this book was definitely not a parody but if felt like that- agree re antisemitism, classism, but as you said, that was true to that time. 1mo
batsy @kspenmoll Yes, it was in this weird space of making me think it was like a parody of upper-class attitudes, but at the same time not. 1mo
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jlhammar I'm about halfway through. I learned some about the life of Sayers in the wonderful Square Haunting by Francesca Wade, but this is my first encounter with her writing. I was a little surprised that the antisemitism wasn't addressed in some sort of an intro/preface. It wasn't mentioned in my afterward either so did a little searching. 1mo
jlhammar This article exploring “the odd relationship“ between Sayers and her Jewish characters is really interesting. I guess she was surprised at the charges of antisemitism in this book and replied “My own opinion is that the only people who were presented in a favourable light were the Jews!“
https://momentmag.com/curious-case-dorothy-l-sayers-jew-wasnt/
(edited) 1mo
batsy @jlhammar Thanks so much for that! A fascinating read, & I'm always intrigued by how unaddressed psychological issues can show up in an author's work, & possibly harden into something like prejudice. I felt like in Whose Body there is that tension of trying to present a "good" version of a Jewish person to counter the prevailing norms, but that in itself is also problematic. Lots to mull over. & I must read Square Haunting! 1mo
Ruthiella I found it hard to get used to Lord Peter. He‘s SO FOPPISH! It‘s been a long time since I read these books and I‘ve never read this first one. 1mo
batsy @Ruthiella I do wonder if I'll feel a bit different about Wimsey now! I read it awhile back and was really taken by those books—especially Gaudy Night. 1mo
rwmg @jlhammar An interesting article. I must admit it's 10 or more years since I read the book, but my memory of it is of anti-Semitic characters rather than an anti-Semitic author. 1mo
kspenmoll Thanks for the article- plan to read this after work. 1mo
jlhammar @rwmg I think you‘re right. That‘s my impression as well. I agree with @batsy that it does seem like Sayers was trying to counter prevailing norms &/or shine a light on their ridiculousness to some degree. Probably all well-intentioned, but definitely a complex issue. 1mo
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AmyG
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Mitch 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 1mo
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batsy
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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I've read a bunch of Sayers but not this one, so am excited to hang out with this over the weekend for the #GoldenAgeCrimeClub @Mitch

Ruthiella It‘s so short! I‘d never read it before either but thought at first I‘d gotten an abridged version by mistake. 😂 1mo
batsy @Ruthiella I know, I was a bit confused at first when I received my copy! The Dover edition has smaller print so it's an extra slim book 😆 1mo
TrishB I love your mug 😁 1mo
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rockpools What @TrishB said! 1mo
batsy @TrishB @rockpools Thanks! The day doesn't feel right if I don't drink out of my Snoopy mug 😆 1mo
Aimeesue Mad Snoopy 😆 1mo
batsy @Aimeesue The frown! 😁 1mo
Mitch Yeah - looking forward to chatting soon! 1mo
jlhammar Yay! I'll be starting this soon - can't wait! 1mo
batsy @Mitch @jlhammar It's started off well! 1mo
dabbe @TrishB Same here! ☕️ 1mo
merelybookish Mug is perfect! 😂 1mo
batsy @dabbe @merelybookish Cheers to Snoopy, who can never do wrong really 😁 1mo
dabbe @batsy The coolest beagle in town. #longlivetheredbaron 🤣 1mo
batsy @dabbe That's right! 😆 1mo
Graywacke Snoopy! Great mug. Enjoy the book. 1mo
batsy @Graywacke Thanks 🙂 1mo
erzascarletbookgasm Love the mug! 1mo
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kspenmoll
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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Andrew65 Brilliant, love her books 👏👏👏 1mo
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AmyG
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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While reading the tagged book, my husband yells “look in the back”! And I found this body. Elk! How glorious.

(Thanks for indulging me and my nature photos)

Amiable Wow! That is an incredible sight! And an amazing photo! 1mo
DinoMom Gorgeous! 1mo
dabbe Nature awesomeness. ❣️ 1mo
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Cinfhen That‘s incredible 1mo
charl08 😍 1mo
JenReadsAlot Amazing! 1mo
BookNAround Wow! 1mo
ElizaMarie Please... Post all the pictures! This is amazing! 1mo
AmyG Thanks everyone! (edited) 1mo
PageShifter I love this! 1mo
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kspenmoll
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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1) Louise Penny
2) tagged
3) Unknown Body in the Bathtub

Tagging anyone who wants to play!

Eggs Love Armand❤️❤️ 1mo
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kspenmoll
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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I am acquiring new vocabulary as Lord Peter Wimsey ruminates out loud to others around him, even quoting poetry to an unsuspecting waiter who was only interested in his food order. As his thoughts zig zag & ramble, Wimsey gives the illusion that he is bumbling about,but when his razor sharp focus breaks through, one is confronted with his intuitive intelligence. #goldenagecrimeclub

dabbe Fun to say out loud, too! ❣️ 1mo
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LitsyEvents
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Reminder: this is the February book for the #goldenagecrimeclub hosted by @mitch Anyone can join, and the discussion will be Feb 26.

LitsyEvents @ann_reads I saw we were tagged by you- but wanted to let you know since your page is private we can‘t see the tag- and anyone you wanted to share via litsy events would not be able to either. 2mo
Ann_Reads @LitsyEvents Thanks for letting me know. I've removed LitsyEvents from a tag list I copied & pasted. I'm filling in hosting On the Banks of Plum Creek buddy read this month. I had sent a friend request to nearly everyone on the buddy read list, hoping the tags would work correctly but failed to notice LitsyEvents was still on the tag list prior to posting. (edited) 2mo
Ann_Reads Also sorry to @Mitch for replying here for an unrelated topic. 2mo
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Mitch
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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Just 2 weeks to go until our second #goldenagecrimeclub chat about the first Lord Peter Wimsey novel - Whose Body? Everyone welcome to follow the tag and join in the chat on Sunday 26th February

AllDebooks How's this slipped by me? I'd love to join in please 😊 2mo
Mitch @AllDebooks of course! We had a fab discussion last month about the first Miss Marple book ! Moving on this month to Dorothy L Sayers. 2mo
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Soubhiville I love these book covers, what a fun theme. 2mo
AllDebooks @Mitch thanks 😊 Is there a post with upcoming titles? 2mo
Mitch @AllDebooks Just tagged you in the original post 👋🏻 2mo
Mitch @Soubhiville 👍🏼 2mo
CogsOfEncouragement I really enjoyed this series and I adore these covers. 2mo
Mitch @CogsOfEncouragement They‘re lovely aren‘t they … 2mo
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kspenmoll
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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I just loved this sentence. Lord Peter Whimsy is describing the as yet unknown murderer of the body discovered in the bathtub of another person‘s house. #goldenagecrimeclub

dabbe Woah. Really makes you think, doesn't it? ❣️ 2mo
Mitch Can‘t wait to chat about this! 2mo
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Read-y_Picker
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Pickpick

@mitch I wanted to join in on the fun too so I listened to the audio of February's #goldenagecrimeclub. Sayers was a new-to-me author and I quite enjoyed this though I found it a bit confusing and might have done better to read it. It also felt like a good 20% of the book was the murdered explaining how he would have gotten away with it if it weren't for that meddling Lord Wimsey and co lol. But still good 3.75⭐️

Mitch Brilliant. Let chat on the last Sunday of the month. 2mo
Clwojick Well done! (edited) 2mo
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Read-y_Picker @Mitch Excellent, thanks!
2mo
TheSpineView Great job! 2mo
Andrew65 So easy to start new series 😂 I hope you enjoy the series. 2mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! I'm planning to read this one this month as well - and I've also not read a Salyers yet, so I'm excited!! 2mo
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kspenmoll
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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An afternoon with Lord Peter Whimsy. #dorothysayers #goldenagecrimeclub

Mitch Yeah! 2mo
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catiewithac
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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Pickpick

I‘m ready for this month‘s #GoldenAgeCrimeClub discussion! You can tell it‘s an early novel in the author‘s career, but it shows enough promise that I would read more from her. 👓 🛁

AmyG I like this cover. I am reading it now. 2mo
SamAnne Starting today. 2mo
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rabbitprincess
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers

Lord Peter: It's much easier to work on someone else's job than one's own—gives one that delightful feelin' of interferin' and bossin' about, combined with the glorious sensation that another fellow is takin' all one's own work off one's hands.

(This is me doing housework—so much more satisfying to tidy up my parents‘ place than my own 😂)

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rabbitprincess
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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Pickpick

This is the fourth Wimsey I‘ve read but the first in the series. A light diversion from my heavy non-fiction. Looking forward to the #GoldenAgeCrimeClub discussion!

I stayed at the Cathedral Hotel, Salisbury, in 2015 and thus breakfasted where Lord Peter lunched. His lunch is commemorated by a blue plaque, which is shown in the photo 😄

batsy That's so cool! 2mo
AvidReader25 That is so fun that you were actually there! 2mo
rabbitprincess @batsy @AvidReader25 Yes and how fun for this picture to come in handy nearly 8 years later! I like collecting pictures of little things like this when I travel 😄 2mo
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rabbitprincess
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers

The Coroner […] directed all the windows to be opened, thus letting in a stream of drizzling fog upon the heads of the unfortunates on that side of the room. This caused a commotion and some expressions of disapproval, checked sternly by the Coroner, who said that with the influenza about again an unventilated room was a death-trap; that anybody who chose to object to open windows had the obvious remedy of leaving the court.

(100 years later…)

batsy Oh wow. The more things change... (I haven't started this yet and am looking forward to it!) 2mo
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LitsyEvents
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Repost for @Mitch

Tagged book is the choice for the February #goldenageofcrimeclub hosted by @mitch Open to anyone interested.

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Mitch
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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Just a reminder our ##goldenagecrimeclub February read is the first book in the Peter Wimsey series. See you all on Feb 26!

MoonWitch94 Ohhhh yay! Thanks for the reminder. 2mo
Librarybelle Hooray!! 2mo
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johncadams
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Whose Body? by Dorothy L Sayers was written by one of the major voices of the Golden Age of Murder Mystery. Read my book review at John C Adams Reviews.

https://www.johncadamsreviews.com/single-post/whose-body-by-dorothy-l-sayers

#dorothylsayers #murdermystery

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johncadams
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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“Whose body? And why the carbolic soap?“ Questions no self-respecting detective should ever have to ask themselves. As the novel opens, a body has been found naked (besides a pince nez) in the bath. Thankfully, Wimsey isn‘t daunted by the unusual circumstances. His socially-well-connected mother is on hand to help, too, of course.

Read my review at John C Adams Reviews:

https://www.johncadamsreviews.com/single-post/whose-body-by-dorothy-l-sayers

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kat_forster
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Pickpick

For some reason I thought this was one of the Harriet Vane books. It is in fact the first Wimsey novel, and (despite the lack of Harriet), it‘s a brilliant mystery. We also get Bunter at his most devious, which I enjoyed immensely. Sayers‘s characters are always superb - and it‘s interesting to note the development from the duchess‘s significant role here to the whole sections written from Miss Climpson‘s or Harriet‘s point of view in later works.

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TheKidUpstairs
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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I was away, so here's a quick #OnThisDay catch up!

June 9, 1949 Deyda Hydara was born. Hydara was co-founder and editor of The Point (Gambian independent newspaper) and correspondent for Reporters Without Borders.

June 10, 1881 Leo Tolstoy set out on a Pilgrimage to the Optina Pustyn monastery.

June 11, 1572 poet and playwright Ben Jonson was born.

June 12, 1942 Anne Frank received a diary for her birthday.

June 13, 1893 Dorothy Sayers born.

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kspenmoll
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Pickpick

Finished this last night. Saw it in the library & picked it up for nostalgia‘s sake. It was a fun reread, thrusting me back into the aristocratic class in 1920‘s England. Lord Peter Whimsey spoke of his investigations as a “distraction“ from his life of dinners, luncheons., his club, & his rare books. But I have no inclination to visit his world again by rereading more in the series.#20in4 #readathon #marvelousmay
Total pages:213

Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 10mo
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kspenmoll
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Went for something comforting tonight. I went through all of Dorothy Sayers novels so long ago that I can reread without a clue! So I am enjoying myself. The tagged book is Set in England after WWI in 1923.
I forgot the author used the format of footnotes to explain the rare province (or not) of the books Wimsey was buying. #DorothySayers #MistressoftheGoldenAgeMystery #libraryfind #LordPeterWimseyMystery #porchlife #20in4 #readathon

Andrew65 Love these books. 10mo
CogsOfEncouragement I enjoyed that series too. 10mo
Maria514626 @kspenmoll Oooh. I‘ve been eyeing net books. Glad to hear they‘re lovely. I‘ll pick them up! Thanks! 10mo
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Librarybelle Sounds like a perfect plan! 10mo
LiteraryinLawrence I‘m the same with Agatha Christie books. I can reread them and not remember the resolution at all. 😋 10mo
Dragon Love Lord Peter and his monocle 🧐 💚🐉 10mo
Ruthiella I‘ve read a few of her mysteries and don‘t remember whodunnit either! 😆 10mo
LiteraryinLawrence I mailed The Maid out to you today so you should see it Tuesday or Wednesday! 💗 10mo
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StaceGhost
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Pickpick

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs @Yuki_Onna @BookwormAHN

1. Mystery is probably my most read genre & I‘ll always love Poirot but Dorothy Sayers is the master

2. Don‘t Believe a Word, a book I received last Christmas 🤦‍♀️I‘ve tried to start multiple times & even tried the audiobook! I think I have too much to say about it & no one to say it to 🤔

3. My beautiful family & partner, every day. 🥰

Eggs #2 good description!!! Thanks for joining in 📚😊📚 1y
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bookwrm526
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Pickpick

I swear I‘ve read this one before, but I didn‘t remember much about it! A classic Golden Age mystery, which I‘m apparently on a bit of a kick for lately! Work is almost done for the year (seven more days!!) so maybe I‘ll get to pick up some more soon.

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galueth28
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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Pickpick

This is the first Peter Wimsey mistery and it's a fun one. The murder was quite creative and Peter is a delightful protagonist. Oh, and I love the Dowager Duchess 😍

It's also the first book I finished for #wintergames2021 and my December #bookspin
#teamgamesleighers #bookspinbingo

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galueth28
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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"Oh, damn!" said Lord Peter Wimsey at Piccadilly Circus. "Hi, driver!"

#firstlinefridays

DrexEdit Oh! I have an ebook set of Dorothy Sayers Lord Whimsey novels! Looking forward to reading them! 😊 1y
galueth28 @DrexEdit I've read other books by her and they're really worth it. 1y
DrexEdit @galueth28 👍😊 1y
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galueth28
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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TheAromaofBooks ❤ ❤ ❤ 1y
Lynnsoprano Oh, I love Lord Peter, too! 1y
StayCurious This is great! Thanks for playing! 1y
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shortsarahrose
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Signed up for this event for the first time! Super excited to see my match‘s picks. Also, I know I put Capital by Marx as my first book on the list; I don‘t actually expect my match to read it 😆 but it was one of my two five star books this year (other is tagged).

See @monalyisha to sign up

shortsarahrose Oops #NewYearWhoDis (I can type) 1y
monalyisha Oh my gosh. I love everything about this post. 😅 Welcome! 👋🏻🍐 1y
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shortsarahrose @monalyisha 😆 thanks! I‘m pretty sure signing up for this is the only thing that has gone right for me today (furnace maintenance guy was running late, so I had to reschedule so I could go to my booster shot appointment...only to find out when I got there that the appointment was for next week 🤦🏻‍♀️) 1y
monalyisha @shortsarahrose Oh no! 🙈 Relatable. Hope the rest of your day improves! 1y
shortsarahrose @monalyisha I went and got pancakes 🥞 mood definitely improved after that! 1y
monalyisha @shortsarahrose I think we‘re kindred. 1y
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johncadams
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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BarbaraJean
Whose Body? | Dorothy L. Sayers
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Pickpick

I‘ve been hearing wonderful things about Dorothy Sayers‘ Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries for years, and I finally picked up this first one. It was an intriguing setup, and although I sensed where the clues were going, the details of the mystery still kept me curious. I loved the intro to Lord Peter and his faithful valet Bunter (and his mother, the Duchess of Denver!). Looking forward to more in this series.

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AnneCecilie
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Pickpick

A dead man is found is a bath tube in a stranger‘s home. At the same time, a rich man goes missing. Are these two cases connected? Or are they two separate ones? Follow Detective Parker and Lord Peter Wimsey as they investigate the two cases.

I enjoyed this and reading the beginning of the crime genre.

LiteraryinLawrence So right at the start of the pandemic lockdown I tried reading my first book with these characters. It was a disaster. I think I was just so stressed and terrified that I wasn‘t understanding anything I read. I should give the series another try, shouldn‘t I? Do you have a favorite one? 1y
AnneCecilie @LiteraryinLawrence This is the first book of hers I‘ve read. I would absolutely give her an other chance. 1y
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betsyhaddox
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers
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Mehso-so

I really like murder mysteries and silly British characters, but this missed the mark for me. I think because (a) it‘s from a different time and some of the language around Jewish people had me like “yikes” and (b) the mystery wasn‘t mysterious enough. Too easy to see the connections. So it wasn‘t a good enough book for me to work past some of my discomfort for the sake of enjoying what the book was when it was written. If that makes sense. :)

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shanaqui
Whose Body? | Dorothy Sayers

Been watching the Ian Carmichael BBC adaptation all weekend and now I have the fiercest craving to reread some Sayers... but would I start here at the beginning, or wherever I got up to in my last reread? Hmmm.

BookishMarginalia Choices, choices! 2y
11 likes1 comment