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239th out of 3,368 books
—
7,794 voters
Clouds of Witness (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries #2)
Rustic old Riddlesdale Lodge was a Wimsey family retreat with country pleasures and the thrill of the hunt – until the game turned up human and quite dead.
The accused murderer was Lord Peter's own brother.
The accused murderer was Lord Peter's own brother.
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
June 28th 1995
by Harper Paperbacks
(first published February 1926)
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dashing peter wimsey dashes into some more dashing adventures. he's one of literature's greatest detectives. but just as enjoyable is his faithful manservant bunter. peter runs around figuring things out with his clever, clever mind but it is bunter who often gets his hands dirty with rather agreeable tasks like chatting up all the maidservants and various other domestics. tasks he clearly relishes but approaches with suave professionalism. various witnesses never fail to succumb to bunter's cha...more
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Jul 31, 2008
Ann
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fans of "light" mysteries.
Recommended to Ann by:
Katie - thanks!
Shelves:
mysteries
"Clouds of Witness" was a very delightful book! In both the mystery and the characters, I thought Sayers came through brilliantly!
Lord Peter Wimsey (the main character and detective) is truly a humorous, clever, thoughtful, and lovable character! He breezes through life, always seeing the amusement and humor in situations, but doesn't lack the ability to understand people and events for the gravity they may hold.
Wimsey himself was a delightful enough character to hold my interest through the bo...more
Lord Peter Wimsey (the main character and detective) is truly a humorous, clever, thoughtful, and lovable character! He breezes through life, always seeing the amusement and humor in situations, but doesn't lack the ability to understand people and events for the gravity they may hold.
Wimsey himself was a delightful enough character to hold my interest through the bo...more
Jul 05, 2008
Kathryn
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fans of good mysteries, especially 1920s era British ones!
Shelves:
mystery
4.0+ stars. I quite enjoyed my first Sayers mystery, and am delighted to have begun what I assume will be a long and pleasant acquaintance with Lord Peter Wimsey. Hard to describe his mixture of intelligence and thoughtfulness, compassion, humor but served up with a good share of the silly, foppishness of young men of the era who have little to do but spend the fortunes and honor to which they were born as aristocratic Englishmen. Yet, as one character so wisely remarks, Lord Peter doesn't just...more
I read these books several years back (several times) and felt like I wanted to ready Dorothy Sayers again. I read Whose Body some months ago and this was an expanded edition, so I decided to read it. Turns out it's the second book in the series, so I'm reading them in order - don't know if it's chance or latent memory.
Lord Peter Wimsey has been in Sicily for a few months out of reach of anyone. He is returning to London and has reached Paris, when Bunter, his valet, informs him they are leaving...more
Lord Peter Wimsey has been in Sicily for a few months out of reach of anyone. He is returning to London and has reached Paris, when Bunter, his valet, informs him they are leaving...more
Still charming, still a little macabre. I think this is the new mystery series for me. Oh and I hear the series gets even better. I'm having very good luck with Dorothys.
May 25, 2011
Bev Hankins
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everybody
Shelves:
vintage-mystery
I SO needed this book. I've read every Lord Peter Wimsey book and story written by Dorothy L Sayers, so this was a reread for me. But after spending eight grueling days on Tristram Shandy, I really needed a comfort read. I can always count on a Sayers mystery for that. Clouds of Witness is her second novel featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. And this time, it's not just a matter of him indulging his detective hobby--the family honor and his brother's life is at stake.
Lord Peter's brother--Gerald, Duke...more
Lord Peter's brother--Gerald, Duke...more
I do like Lord Peter. I was surprised at how little of him there was in this one, considering the family connection. In the first book, there were hints at his PTSD and such, but I didn't feel like the narrative of this book was as close to him. He wasn't so annoying, either, in his speech or attitude: part of that was probably knowing what to expect, of course, but still, it all felt somewhat toned down in this one, and not much by way of overarching plot seemed to happen -- I'm told it will, l...more
A reread of one of my least-read Lord Peter Wimsey novels—least-read because it's only the second one in the series, and the earliest ones were much more straight-out 'tec yarns in the classic English tradition, before Sayers felt free to deviate from the formula.
So you get the usual Agatha Christie sort of setup: a bunch of aristocratic Brits staying at a country house, and one turns up dead, and everyone's got a shaky alibi, and of course there are three or four completely unrelated secret goi...more
So you get the usual Agatha Christie sort of setup: a bunch of aristocratic Brits staying at a country house, and one turns up dead, and everyone's got a shaky alibi, and of course there are three or four completely unrelated secret goi...more
"Clouds of Witness" is the first novel by Dorothy Sayers that I have read. I was an avid Agatha Christie fan in junior high and high school and haven't really read much of the mystery genre since. However, I was recently recommended "Clouds of Witness" so I picked it up.
"Clouds of Witness" follows Lord Peter Wimsey, an amateur detective who lives in Britain, as he tries to clear his brother Gerald, the Duke of Denver, of murder charges that have been brought against him. The victim is their sist...more
"Clouds of Witness" follows Lord Peter Wimsey, an amateur detective who lives in Britain, as he tries to clear his brother Gerald, the Duke of Denver, of murder charges that have been brought against him. The victim is their sist...more
I think I liked Clouds of Witness more on a reread than I did the first time round. I now have a better mental image of Peter & co., after all, and I only comprehensively fell in love with the character when he fell in love with Harriet Vane. It helps that I can picture him as portrayed by both Ian Carmichael and Edward Petherbridge (leaning toward the Petherbridge, though my mother disapproves of my love for the newfangled late eighties Lord Peter), too. I'm not a visual person at all, and...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
"The barometer is falling."
Melodramatic, yes, but one of the most wonderful lines ever uttered in a courtroom, fictional or otherwise. This moment of levity made the excessive use of the courtroom slightly more forgivable. I had very little patience for the entire inquest at the very opening of the book. Even though it did contribute to the character building and presented lots of little clues to be unpacked later on, I could not help but skim the last couple of pages. It just carried on with (i...more
Melodramatic, yes, but one of the most wonderful lines ever uttered in a courtroom, fictional or otherwise. This moment of levity made the excessive use of the courtroom slightly more forgivable. I had very little patience for the entire inquest at the very opening of the book. Even though it did contribute to the character building and presented lots of little clues to be unpacked later on, I could not help but skim the last couple of pages. It just carried on with (i...more
Lord Peter Wimsey is called back from France when his brother, the Duke of Denver, is accused of murder. The man Denver is accused of killing is Denis Cathcart, unluckily also the man affianced to Denver and Wimsey's sister, Lady Mary. Wimsey investigates, aided by friend and capable inspector Parker but it's a sticky family affair as Denver refuses to alibi himself, Mary hides behind illness, and all the visible evidence points against them.
'Clouds', published in 1926, is the second full-lengt...more
'Clouds', published in 1926, is the second full-lengt...more
The least successful of the Wimsey novels for me, this story has a general theme of how non-related events obscure the actual facts of the crime. The primary reasons this one doesn't work for me is that Wimsey spends way too much time not seeing the obvious, I generally didn't like the people involved, and there was a heap of unnecessary padding.
(view spoiler)...more
(view spoiler)...more
It's interesting the degree to which I have to recalibrate to read books such as this one. The language, the pacing, the structure, and even the typeface all force me to slow down and have patience that I'm not accustomed to anymore. I haven't decided how much I appreciate that aspect, but it is more than made up for by the character of Lord Peter Wimsey. I've now read two Wimsey books and seen one of the movies, and I've enjoyed him in all three (as well as loyal and clever Bunter). Wimsey seem...more
Years ago I read 'The Unpleasantness at the Belonna Club' and enjoyed it. This year I picked up two more Sayers', 'Strong Poison' and 'The Documents in the Case', both of which I found a bit disappointing (reviewed elsewhere on Goodreads). Determined to be converted, though, I went looking for more. 'Clouds of Witness' was the earliest in the Lord Peter Wimsey series I was able to order from my library. I feel relieved. This yarn is everything it should be: a convoluted detective story with stro...more
Where I got the book: purchased on Kindle. A re-read.
One thing I always appreciate about the Wimsey stories is that each book has a distinct character. In Clouds of Witness the pace is fast and frenetic, with a wildly confusing murder mystery at the center, and yet Sayers does more to develop her characters here than in some of the other books. The mystery itself almost takes second place to the doings of Wimsey's family, placing Wimsey himself very firmly in a distinct social setting, his home...more
One thing I always appreciate about the Wimsey stories is that each book has a distinct character. In Clouds of Witness the pace is fast and frenetic, with a wildly confusing murder mystery at the center, and yet Sayers does more to develop her characters here than in some of the other books. The mystery itself almost takes second place to the doings of Wimsey's family, placing Wimsey himself very firmly in a distinct social setting, his home...more
In 1926, the scandal of the Duke of Denver up on a charge of murder would have provided riveting copy for the newspapers 'of the day'.
Though of another age it is really not that long ago; having been first published in the year of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II.
It makes for an interesting and very readable novel because, when one stops to think about it, how often does one read detective fiction in which a close family member investigates to clear the accused? How can impartiality be exercised...more
3.5 Stars. Lord Peter Wimsey, amateur sleuth, is leisurely wending his way back home to London from a much-needed vacation abroad when his indefatigable valet, Bunter, stumbles upon some astonishing news in the Paris papers. Gerald, Peter's elder brother and the oh-so-proper Duke of Denver, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering their sister Mary's husband-to-be. Of course the idea of Gerald murdering anybody is completely ridiculous, but Wimsey cannot resist the siren song of a promising c...more
Lord Peter Wimseys Urlaub in Paris nimmt ein abruptes Ende, als er in einer Zeitung lesen muss, dass der Verlobte seiner Schwester Mary, Captain Denis Cathcart, ermordet im Garten von Riddlesdale Lodge, dem Haus seines Bruders, Gerald, der Duke of Denver, gefunden wurde, der nun als Hauptverdächtiger in diesem Mordfall gilt, zumal er über der Leiche kniend von Mary entdeckt wurde und sich weigert auszusagen, was er um 3 Uhr nachts im Garten zu suchen hatte. Ganz abgesehen davon, dass man sich nu...more
Apr 12, 2012
Amélie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2012,
grande-bretagne
Deuxième volet des aventures de Lord Peter Wimsey, dont j’avais tellement tellement tellement aimé le premier tome. & forcément, mes attentes étaient tellement hautes que ça pouvait presque pas faire autrement, petite déception ici.
Dans ce roman-ci, c’est la famille même de Wimsey qui est au cœur de l’intrigue : le fiancé douteux de sa sœur est retrouvé mort aux portes d’une maison louée pour l’été, le frère aîné Wimsey est accusé de meurtre, & commence une longue enquête où PLÉTHORE de...more
Dans ce roman-ci, c’est la famille même de Wimsey qui est au cœur de l’intrigue : le fiancé douteux de sa sœur est retrouvé mort aux portes d’une maison louée pour l’été, le frère aîné Wimsey est accusé de meurtre, & commence une longue enquête où PLÉTHORE de...more
Hebrews 12:1: ‘we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.” Why Dorothy L Sayers moved the s in her title I’m not certain. Perhaps she was suggesting that there were too many witnesses, too many clues, in this difficult case where Lord Peter must prove that his brother, the Duke of Denver, did not murder his sister’s fiancé despite an explosive argument with him shortly before the crime took place.
A few things in this book deserve mention. The dead man was fond of the novel,...more
A few things in this book deserve mention. The dead man was fond of the novel,...more
Once again I picked up a book by Sayers--her second book. She's a wonderfully complex writer, trying to find her niche. Although her plots are intriguing, I have to admit I had a difficult time getting through it. I don't really know why.
Perhaps it's because I couldn't relate to some of the characters. Lord Peter Wimsey's brother is on trial (and facing the death penalty) for murder, and even though I thought I would feel anxious about it, I didn't In fact, at one point in the reading, I put the...more
Perhaps it's because I couldn't relate to some of the characters. Lord Peter Wimsey's brother is on trial (and facing the death penalty) for murder, and even though I thought I would feel anxious about it, I didn't In fact, at one point in the reading, I put the...more
Ever since having read Gaudy Night in an undergraduate modern British history course, I have been intrigued by the Lord Peter Wimsey series. A few years ago, I read The Nine Tailors, but it wasn't until last January that it dawned upon me that it might make a bit more sense to read the books of the series in order. Fancy the thought! I read Whose Body?, which I thoroughly enjoyed, only to abandon the project out of no malice -- merely neglect on my part. So, here I am, nearly one year later, to...more
As always, Sayers provides a good mystery, but in Clouds of Witness she also explores ideas about honor and family. Wimsey's brother is arrested for murder, and refuses to give an alibi, because (view spoiler) If not for Wimsey (and Parker), he probably would have been declared guilty of a murder he didn't commit. Mary, Wimsey's sister, is hysterical and is caught up in a string of lies,...more
This book was obviously when Sayers stepped into her own as a mystery writer. Lord Peter Wimsey's brother is arrested for murder when his sister's fiance is found dead outside of their hunting lodge. The fiance had been a bit of a cad, and Wimsey's brother had been heard threatening him...so of course in those days, when forensics were in their early years...a lot of cases were made on circumstantial evidence. And a lot of the circumstantial evidence was against the brother, who was being stoic...more
The second in the series. A little long winded, but it sets up the Wimsey family, especially Mary (Peter's younger sister).
I liked learning about the British legal system for the peers and all of the social nonsense.
http://manybooks.net/
I liked learning about the British legal system for the peers and all of the social nonsense.
http://manybooks.net/
I needed something really well-written after the last abysmal book. Dorothy Sayers never fails to entertain me. This is a Lord Peter Wimsey book. Clever characterizations, dialog and plot points. The only failing was a little disappointment in the ending, honestly. Maybe I'd seen where it was going if I could speak or read French, which I cannot; but I believe that's where the clue was. And then I also wished I had it on the Kindle where I could have looked it up, not on the train, where it woul...more
So far, thoroughly enjoying this, although there's definitely a marked stylistic difference from "Whose Body?" and "Clouds of Witness" to "Murder Must Advertise" and all of the Harriet Vane books. Sayers changes the way that Wimsey talks later on, but materially not that much changes. Glad to have so much of the Dowager Duchess of Denver and her colorful turn of phrase.
Not much to add to this review now that I've finished it. I think I may have actually forgotten what the solution to the murder...more
Not much to add to this review now that I've finished it. I think I may have actually forgotten what the solution to the murder...more
Dorothy Sayers is great fun, in addition to being the creator of some excellent mysteries. This book is more on the fun side. The dialogue is filled with upper crust British idioms, what? Bunter, Lord Peter Wimsey's unflappable man servant, is a treasure. The warm friendship between Lord Peter and Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector Parker goes beyond mere professionalism. The counsels for the defense are quirky but sharp. Lord Peter's mother is an enlightened woman in an age where woman are too oft...more
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Dorothy Leigh Sayers (Oxford, 13 June 1893 – Witham, 17 December 1957) was a renowned British author, translator, student of classical and modern languages, and Christian humanist.
Dorothy L. Sayers is best known for her mysteries, a series of novels and short stories set between World War I and World War II that feature English aristocrat and amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. However, Sayers herse...more
More about Dorothy L. Sayers...
Dorothy L. Sayers is best known for her mysteries, a series of novels and short stories set between World War I and World War II that feature English aristocrat and amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. However, Sayers herse...more
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“Wimsey stooped for an empty sardine-tin which lay, horribly battered, at his feet, and slung it idly into the quag. It struck the surface with a noice like a wet kiss, and vanished instantly. With that instinct which prompts one, when depressed, to wallow in every circumstance of gloom, Peter leaned sadly against the hurdles and abandoned himself to a variety of shallow considerations upon (1) The vanity of human wishes; (2) Mutability; (3) First love; (4) The decay of idealism; (5) The aftermath of the Great war; (6) Birth-control; and (7) The fallacy of free-will.”
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9 people liked it
“It's not the innocent young things that need gentle handling--it's the ones that have been frightened and hurt.”
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7 people liked it
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