Scan barcode
dawngarrett's review against another edition
4.0
Library.
In many ways, this was a good vacation read. Short stories. I didn't realize that it was a selection of short stories when I began it. The positive of short stories is that you can read a section, then go to the beach. The negative of short stories is that unsatisfying feeling of having to pick up a book you feel you have "finished."
The stories themselves are excellent little mysteries, interesting enough to spend some time considering. My favorite was the final one, Inside Ali Baba's Den (or somesuch). The stories are cohesive on the character of Lord Peter and they advance his character and wit.
While, in general, I wouldn't choose a book of short stories, this one feels important to cement Lord Peter's established set of work as a detective before Strong Poison. I note this only because I followed this book by immediately reading Strong Poison.
In many ways, this was a good vacation read. Short stories. I didn't realize that it was a selection of short stories when I began it. The positive of short stories is that you can read a section, then go to the beach. The negative of short stories is that unsatisfying feeling of having to pick up a book you feel you have "finished."
The stories themselves are excellent little mysteries, interesting enough to spend some time considering. My favorite was the final one, Inside Ali Baba's Den (or somesuch). The stories are cohesive on the character of Lord Peter and they advance his character and wit.
While, in general, I wouldn't choose a book of short stories, this one feels important to cement Lord Peter's established set of work as a detective before Strong Poison. I note this only because I followed this book by immediately reading Strong Poison.
franklyfrank's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bookhound's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Not my favorite of the series because these are short stories, but I do love Lord Peter Wimsey. It was harder to play along in solving the crimes. My favorites are the ones with Harriet Vane (Strong Poison, Gaudy Night, Busman's Honeymoon...)
saareman's review
5.0
The Best of the Wimsey Shorts
Review of the Hodder & Stoughton paperback edition (2017) of the 1928 original
I actually read all of these 12 stories earlier this year in [b:Lord Peter Wimsey: The Complete Short Stories|36661909|Lord Peter Wimsey The Complete Short Stories|Dorothy L. Sayers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511651519l/36661909._SY75_.jpg|529122] (2018) which also collects all of the Wimsey shorts from Hangman's Holiday (Wimsey #9) (1933 - only 4 Wimsey stories), In the Teeth of the Evidence (Wimsey #14) (1939 - only 2 Wimsey stories) and Striding Folly (Wimsey #15) (1939/1973 - only 3 Wimsey stories). That collection ends on a sliding down note though as the later stories see a domesticated Wimsey handling mundane issues such as squabbling neighbours.
In contrast, Lord Peter Views the Body portrays a wide range of stories with a dynamic younger Wimsey solving crimes from the macabre opening of The Abominable History of the Man With Copper Fingers through to his proto-James Bond in The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba. That closing story has Wimsey single-handedly defeating a proto-SPECTRE gang led by a cold villainous proto-Ernst Stavro Blofeld-like Number One character.
Each story features unique solving methods which include everything from vintage wines, playing cards, treasure maps, crossword puzzles and site-removed deductions. Lord Peter Views the Body was a delightful re-read that had none of the downsides of the longer anthology.
Review of the Hodder & Stoughton paperback edition (2017) of the 1928 original
Too much modern crime fiction dwells in degradation and pain. Sayers acknowledges tragedy but has grander schemes in mind - to entertain and enlighten with suspense, subtlety and a sense of humour. - from the Introduction by [a:Christopher Fowler|3912|Christopher Fowler|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1457401390p2/3912.jpg].
I actually read all of these 12 stories earlier this year in [b:Lord Peter Wimsey: The Complete Short Stories|36661909|Lord Peter Wimsey The Complete Short Stories|Dorothy L. Sayers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511651519l/36661909._SY75_.jpg|529122] (2018) which also collects all of the Wimsey shorts from Hangman's Holiday (Wimsey #9) (1933 - only 4 Wimsey stories), In the Teeth of the Evidence (Wimsey #14) (1939 - only 2 Wimsey stories) and Striding Folly (Wimsey #15) (1939/1973 - only 3 Wimsey stories). That collection ends on a sliding down note though as the later stories see a domesticated Wimsey handling mundane issues such as squabbling neighbours.
In contrast, Lord Peter Views the Body portrays a wide range of stories with a dynamic younger Wimsey solving crimes from the macabre opening of The Abominable History of the Man With Copper Fingers through to his proto-James Bond in The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba. That closing story has Wimsey single-handedly defeating a proto-SPECTRE gang led by a cold villainous proto-Ernst Stavro Blofeld-like Number One character.
Each story features unique solving methods which include everything from vintage wines, playing cards, treasure maps, crossword puzzles and site-removed deductions. Lord Peter Views the Body was a delightful re-read that had none of the downsides of the longer anthology.
renny_reads's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great collection of short stories, all featuring my new favorite amateur sleuth, Lord Peter Wimsey. The stories were a great blending of light and humorous, to macabre, to the usual surprise twist endings.
Personally, I love short story collections, too, because they fit well into my schedule!
Personally, I love short story collections, too, because they fit well into my schedule!
stephenmatlock's review against another edition
4.0
What a romp. Lord Peter Wimsey is the creation of Dorothy Sayers, and although most of the cultural elements are hard to understand, given that they're placed largely around the time of the Great War (1910s through the mid 1920s), they contain enough familiar elements so that you are intrigued and guessing. In some ways Ms Sayers doesn't play fair to American readers, for she assumes the cultural experience of the sophisticated Brits (remember, they're just across the Channel from Europe), so in one story some knowledge of this would be helpful to spot the turning point. I won't say more, because I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. From wine-tasting to hunting in the English countryside, from lunching at a British club to a trip to down-home Scotland, the stories in this book give you a full picture of British life and also mislead you openly about the plots, motives, and characterizations.
Get this book!
Get this book!
escragg92's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
iceangel9's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Three and a half in the Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery series. Twelve short stories from Lord Peter's canon that fans of the series will love. All of the stories give us more information about Lord Peter and his man servant Bunter, as well as the different people in his sphere. Some of the stories are short and involve Lord Peter becoming involved in cases from mere conversations he has overheard; the last story is quite reminiscent of Conan Doyle as Peter fakes his own death to infiltrate a gang of thieves. Wonderful classic mysteries.