Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, the (original 1928; edition 1987)

I figured this one out far too quickly, before I was even half-way through reading it. That made it just a little tiresome, especially as it isn't very plotty in any over-arching way. I do love Lord Peter as a character, though -- initially I didn't, for much the same reasons as I do now: his manner, his way of talking... He lightens it, in some ways. I wish there was more of Bunter, really, more than ever. He did very little in this book.

One thing I did like was the characters we get introduced to, in this book: Sheila Fentiman for one, with her devotion to her husband, and I really rather liked the Dorland girl when we actually got to know her a little. I was glad for the chance of a happy end for her, really.

Fun in its way, but I figured the mystery out too fast, which made some parts drag rather. I hope the more character-driven stuff comes soon... ( )

First book of the current readathon!

This is more or less the third time I've read this, so there were no surprises left. I can't actually remember the audio version very well, though -- in fact, this book in general left very little impression on me. I remembered the murderer, but I forgot all about Wimsey's tortured conscience, and about Ann Dorland, who turned out to be rather a good person. I only remembered the ending, with the suicide-as-justice theme, just before I read it.

There is a lot here I like, though: Wimsey's quarrels with Parker, Sheila, Ann, the awkward moments with Marjorie... Peter is, as usual, frightfully clever, and as usual, I wish there was more of Bunter. I do like the way it all resolves: it's very neat. ( )

In this one, Lord Peter stumbles on to a dead body who has all the signs of a natural death with one tiny, little quibble of the rigor mortis sort. When Murbles comes to Wimsey to pinpoint the time of death of the deceased it opens up a can of worms. Interesting and intricate little mystery. It has all the charm and fun of the others Lord Peter novels with the added touch of a "vernis" of personal conflict and tortured conscience. Add the character of George which might be a distorted vision of what might have happen to Lord Peter without his family after the War, you have a fascinating mystery with a social conscience. I liked it a lot. ( )

I really love this book. For an unpretentious 1920s mystery novel, it really has a lot going on. There's the mystery itself, which has enough twists and turns to remain interesting. (I didn't guess the outcome, which is always a plus!). Then there is the social commentary: the plight of World War I veterans, the effects of poverty and unemployment, the changing role of women in society, relationships between men and women. And of course there is Peter Wimsey: intelligent, intuitive, funny and compassionate. Some scenes from this novel will remain with me for a long time: George Fentiman's breakdown, Peter's argument with Charles Parker, the easy camaraderie between Peter and Marjorie Phelps and Peter's conversation with Miss Dorland. Reading this book - and Dorothy L Sayers' other novels - makes me so much wish that I had known the author. What an interesting mind she had. ( )

Another dose of rollicking good fun from the slightly affected but still likeable Lord Peter Wimsey. An old fossil at the Bellona Club is found dead, his newspaper in hand, and it's assumed he's simply gone off from natural causes. A question over his sister's will, however, soon brings out that not everything is as simple as it seems.

I read this in a day or so. While Lord Peter is unbearably silly (living up to his name) he's also fairly sharp and frequently kind, so spending time with him is always a pleasure. ( )