Clouds of Witness

Lord Peter Wimsey is one of the great English sleuths of literary history. His creator was Dorothy Sayers, one of the first women to receive a degree from Oxford University. Wimsey is a complex yet agreeable character, a peer of the realm who has a witty, urbane facade which can slip to reveal a steely resolve as well as a tender and sometimes fragile psyche. "The essential Peter," Sayers once wrote, "is seen to be the familiar figure of the interpretative artists, the romantic soul at war with a realistic brain." In this second of eleven Lord Peter books, the accused is Lord Peter's brother, the Duke of Denver, suspected of murdering his sister's fiance after discovering he is a cad. The Duke refuses to share his whereabouts the night of the murder, so Lord Peter must solve the mystery in record time in order to prevent his brother being executed for murder. This is a well devised mystery plot with enough emotional involvement to make it a page turner. In addition the portrayal of English culture of the 1920's is enjoyable.

Acclaimed for his portrayals of Lord Peter Wimsey on BBC, Ian Carmichael is the ideal voice for this story. As the London Daily Express put it he plays Wimsey so perfectly that "Sayers might have created Wimsey just so Carmichael could portray him." Dorothy Sayers (1893 - 1957) is surely one of the most popular mystery writers of all time. Today, some years after her death, her stories continue to be widely read. With "Clouds of Witness" her protagonist Lord Peter Wimsey is called upon to investigate the death of his sister's fiancé. At least it may have been a fragrant departure as the recently murdered was found dead among the chrysanthemums, sartorially perfect in dinner jacket and slippers. Most shocking is the fact that Sir Peter's brother, the Duke of Denver, stands accused. Surely that cannot be so. Sir Peter begins his own investigation in order to save his brother. As is often the case, Sayers creates a surprising courtroom scene and Carmichael reads it with gusto. - Gail Cooke

Dorothy Sayers' second Lord Peter Wimsey novel comes in on a more serious note. Wimsey, just returned from a long rest in Corsica, finds himself embroiled in a murder far closer to home. While staying at a hunting lodge with friends Peter's brother Gerald has gotten tangled up in a murder, and has become the chief suspect. To make matters more complicated, the victim is their sister Mary's ex-fiancée. Very recently ex, as a matter of fact. The murder was done shortly after Gerald has thrown him out of the house as a card cheat.When an alibi is demanded, Gerald refuses to give one, and so is charged with the crime. As he is the Duke of Denver, Gerald's case will not be heard in court, but before the House of Lords. Lord Peter is confronted with a case in which the accused seems bound and determined to get himself hung. Gerald offers no help to his brother, the police, or even Impey Biggs, his barrister. Peter and his long time friend Inspector Parker, are left with only faint clues and surmises as the basis for building a defense.It quickly becomes apparent that there is guilt everywhere. Denis Cathcart, the victim, had lived a suspicious life in Paris, Lady Mary has complicated ties to the British socialist movement, and Gerald, if he wasn't killing Cathcart, had to be doing something he didn't want to reveal. Wimsey and Parker find a surplus of suspicious behavior, in England and abroad, but the puzzle refuses to be unlocked. Worse, those mysteries they can solve do nothing to help Gerald. Time marches inexorably on, and Lord Peter must make a last minute race against time in an effort to solve the mystery.Despite the seriousness of this case, with all its lurking tragedies, Lord Peter retains his sarcastic style, providing both comic relief and the insights of the master detective. This time however he does reveal more of serious side, leaving behind his facetious exterior as he displays new depth. Sayers, of course, continues to write brilliantly, providing finely grained characters and a wonderful sense of place. An unexpected side romance shows signs of beginning, which will delight the readers, as Inspector Parker leaves behind theology long enough to embarrass himself.The Wimsey novels can be read in any order, although the latter part of the series does have some thematic material with develops over several volumes. The early novels are independent tales, and I exhort the reader to start with whatever is at hand. In little time you will find yourself addicted to an England that never really was, but certainly should have been.

For those who are not yet familiar with Dorothy L. Sayers' aristocratic sleuth, Lord Peter Wimsey, this book proves a perfect introduction to Lord Peter and his whole family as his brother Gerald, Duke of Denver, is accused of murder! Sisters, Bolsheviks, and green-eyed cats tangle up the path as Lord Peter strives to find out who REALLY killed Lady Mary's fiance, as Britain gears up the whole cumbersome mechanism required to try a peer of the realm. Entertaining and well-plotted, with red herrings galore!