Welcome to Litsy!

I‘ve heard so many people say that Gaudy Night is the best of the Lord Peter Wimsey books. And now I see why.

When Harriet Vane returns to Oxford for a reunion, she is drawn into a poison-pen mystery at her alma mater. That‘s the essence of the plot, but the mystery and the Oxfordian context ends up serving as a vehicle for Harriet‘s own growth as she confronts her own avoidance of the past. ⬇️

I finished this Lord Peter Wimsey mystery at the beginning of March, and it has now been thoroughly eclipsed by Gaudy Night, but I‘ll try to review it on its own merits.😆 Lord Peter & the faithful Bunter get stranded on New Year‘s Eve in Fenchurch St. Paul‘s, a village in the East Anglian fens (the setting immediately endeared me to the book!). The bells of Fenchurch St. Paul‘s play a major role in the life of the village & in the story itself.⬇️

I really enjoy how Lord Peter seems clever but also a little silly and impetuous, but there's a point in each of Sayers's novels when his serious side comes through, not in a heavy-handed way, but often just as a glimpse. In many ways I find this mask/true self characterization more realistic than the more either/or characters in many books, and it helps to explain why those around him are so devoted to him, even when he acts like an ass.

I enjoy coming across and learning new-to-me words, especially when they‘re as cozy and tasty as this one. Although I also have to admit: at first I read that it was “made with oatmeal and madness,” which would be a very different kind of dark gingerbread indeed.

The official prop bets for Dorothy Sayers' The Nine Tailors are up! For those unfamiliar, we have a list of things that we think may happen in the book and you can bet on them like you would with sports!

https://www.patreon.com/posts/9-tailors-prop-100297249?utm_medium=clipboard_copy...

When I was ambivalent towards the first Lord Peter book, I had SO many people tell me that the series gets better as it goes along, so I've had the second book sitting about for quite some time waiting for me to pick it up. I did enjoy this one more (and found Lord Peter less annoying), but I also thought the mystery was a little weak. Still, I'll get around to book 3 one of these days. Soft pick.

Just released a new Patreon episode! We select a Golden Age mystery to read and talk about some random books, including the two that are pictured. And, just a reminder, new patrons will receive a fancy mug!

https://patreon.com/therewillbebooks?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm...

Look at this #FolioSociety set that I found at a secondhand bookshop! Isn‘t it pretty?

I guess I should really get back to reading the series. 😆

My cousin gave me this book years ago. I enjoyed all of the stories in the book. Not my favorite mystery series, I still liked it. I rated this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

I occasionally get lost reading Sayers's novels. I enjoy the pleasant meandering of the plot until I look up and realize I have no idea how we got to where we are. But in some ways I feel like the mystery itself is secondary to the relationships. The friendships in this one are excellent, and it's interesting how emotionally delicate the rich people seem to be, Peter included. I'm interested to watch these characters evolve.

#doublespin for Feb