Sayers, Dorothy - Clouds of Witness

[oyceter]

I ended up liking this much better than Strong Poison, mostly because I found the mystery more engaging.

Wimsey's brother, the Duke of Denver, has been accused of murdering his sister's fiancee. Despite the fact that the mystery is centered around the Wimsey family, Lord Peter doesn't make that much of an impression on me in this book, even when compared to the not-so-character-based Strong Poison. I didn't mind so much, though, because the supporting characters were for some reason more appealing to me. Also, as mentioned before, I was more interested in the mystery itself and so the resolution of it was more satisfying for me.

There seemed to be much more hidden passions and secrets in this book than in Strong Poison (this is going to get compared to SP very often, because I have no other Sayers benchmark), and because of that, the backstory geek in me was much happier about the revelations concerning Denis Cathcart (the murdered man), Mary Wimsey and Gerald Wimsey.

I also grew rather fond of the Wimsey family as the book progressed. Come to think of it, I grew rather fond of Peter as well, so nix the bit about him not making that big of an impression. I was quite possibly won over by his affection for his brother and his rather dashing last minute... er... dash to save Gerald.

Have now bought Murder Must Advertise and am trying to save it for the flight back.

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Murder must Advertize is my favorite, I have to admit. (Be warned: Harriet only comes in as a single line, obliquely referred to. Don't blink!)

See if you can spot the Dorothy Sayers figure in it, as Harriet isn't...

[thinkum]

Murder Must Advertise was my first foray into Wimseydom, and boy, was I ever confused (you'll likely understand why when you read it, although having already read two Peter books, you won't share the confusion). Nonetheless, I was almost immediately engaged in the story, and totally hooked on Peter by the end of it. Definitely a fun read, and probably the non-Harriet novel that most draws on Sayers' real life experiences.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Lord Peter will grow on you--but Harriet's still my favorite. So glad you gave Sayers one more chance.

[revdorothyl.livejournal.com]

In some ways, I think Murder Must Advertise is the book in which the voice of Dorothy L. Sayers the essayist (and her essays are wonderful to read, even if you don't necessarily agree with her world-view at all times) comes through most clearly. Her critique of the whole concept of advertising and mass consumption is developed at even greater length in her essays, but is expressed most pithily and entertainingly in this novel.

Enjoy!

[gwynnega]

Glad you're continuing on with Wimsey. (I'm looking forward to what you think of the other books with Harriet in them, when you get to 'em!)