Strong Poison
by Dorothy L. Sayers
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Read in January, 1989
Just reread it for the first time in years, and found it, like all of the Lord Peter stories, every bit as enjoyable.
This was the very first Lord Peter book I'd read, though not the first Sayers; weirdly, I started with her only non-Lord Peter novel, The Documents in the Case, an epistolary mystery that I liked enough to seek out Sayers's other work. I was hooked right away by this oddly silly '30s aristocrat with his monocle and first editions. In retrospect, I would like to...more
This was the very first Lord Peter book I'd read, though not the first Sayers; weirdly, I started with her only non-Lord Peter novel, The Documents in the Case, an epistolary mystery that I liked enough to seek out Sayers's other work. I was hooked right away by this oddly silly '30s aristocrat with his monocle and first editions. In retrospect, I would like to...more
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Read in October, 2005
This may be one of my favorite Lord Peter mysteries. Not only is it rather delightful to see Lord Peter made vulnerable by love, the murder itself is fiendishly clever. I was completely stumped as to the method, and when it was finally revealed I shouted in delight and had to run and tell my housemate all about how it was done. I'm afraid he was probably not as fascinated as I was...
I think I read a review somewhere that mentioned that Harriet Vane is something of a Mary Sue, which may be tr...more
I think I read a review somewhere that mentioned that Harriet Vane is something of a Mary Sue, which may be tr...more
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recommends it for:
People with nothing better to do
It's intersting to read a book from this period by this author, but honestly that's the best thing I can say about it - the main plot device was betrayed to me for many years beforehand by hollywood and the media in general, almost certainly ripped of from Ms Sayers in any case, so the whole idea simply wasn't going to intrigue me like it would have in the 1930s when it was published.
Also the cultural references just aren't in our culture any more, the Gentleman Detective doesn't exist becau...more
Also the cultural references just aren't in our culture any more, the Gentleman Detective doesn't exist becau...more
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Read in December, 2007
This a Lord Peter/Harriet Vane mystery, in fact this book starts off the relationship with Lord Peter meeting Harriet while she is on trial for poisoning her lover. If you have not read the series, they are set in ~1930s London and elsewhere in England. Lord Peter is a wealthy aristocrat who solves crime for fun. I thought the mystery solving was very ingenious, although this book was probably not the best to read after taking law exams -- too much about criminal trials and wills! :) I thin...more
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Read in January, 2006
Harriet Vane is introduced as the suspect in the murder. Her ex-boyfriend is murdered, and she is the primary suspect. Because she had been living in sin with the victim, (it is 1930 or so,) and she actually admits in front of counsel that she had no intention of marrying the deceased, she is considered an extremely unsympathetic character to put in front of a jury. Eventually Lord Peter will marry this woman, but their attraction is decently restrained in this book by the awkwardness of her ...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Happyreader by:
Celia Pastoriza
Very 1930s British. Droll and eccentric. Loved Lord Wimsey and loved Miss Climpson and Miss Murchison. Harriet Vane only gets to be witty and uncompromising while awaiting her fate but I assume she gets promoted to a more active role in the subsequent two books. Carolyn Heilbrun talks about how unattractive Dorothy Sayers was which makes the harsh physical descriptions of the women in the "Cattery" seem cruel. Then you realize that the women may be physically unattractive but they...more
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Read in February, 2008
Liked it. I'm reading the Wimsey/Vane books all out of order. Read Busman's Holiday first, which kind of takes all the will-she-won't-she suspense out of the previous books. Maybe that's a good thing for me. I find that as I get older I have less patience for she-loves-me-she-loves-me-not games in otherwise good books. Move it or lose it at the elbow I say...well, what I actually say is either say yes or tell the fellow convincingly to move along, nothing to see here. What I learned from this bo...more
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Read in September, 2007
I enjoyed how the mystery evolved and that I guessed elements of how the murder was done as the novel progressed and not right at the beginning. I will say that the character of Lord Peter Wimsey, though entertaining in his dialogue, grew tiresome after awhile. I know that the men of the British nobility tend to be portrayed a bit effeminitely in novels, especially as fops, and though Lord Wimsey is supposed to be secretly brilliant, I could only take so much slang and wit. If I'm to believe ...more
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Read in July, 1982
This was the first mystery novel (aside from Sherlock Holmes) that I ever read, some time in my mid twenties. Talk about starting on a high note! I've treasured all the Sayers mysteries time and again over the years. Yes, they're dated and veddy veddy English, and yes, Lord Peter can be a twit, but they're still marvelous.
I recall being secretly in love with Bunter. Who wouldn't want a Bunter, I ask you?
Harriet Vane got on my nerves a bit, but I put up with her for Peter's sake. ...more
I recall being secretly in love with Bunter. Who wouldn't want a Bunter, I ask you?
Harriet Vane got on my nerves a bit, but I put up with her for Peter's sake. ...more
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Murder mysteries are always fun -- at least for the reader -- but toss in a James Bond crossed with Sherlock Holmes protagonist and an Elizabeth Bennet-Nora Charles heroine and you have a perfectly blended whodunnit with a touch of Wimsey . . . Lord Peter Wimsey that is. Dorothy Sayers is the intelligent Agatha Christie mystery writer. You may not get one step ahead of her, but she won't toss in incomprehensible trails at the end. The flirtation that starts between Lord Peter and Harriet continu...more
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Read in February, 2008
Instantaneous love for both Peter and Harriet. Absolutely loved them, the plot, the mystery, the atmosphere. There were a few moments where I was completely surprised that this was published in 1930, because it seemed so modern. Also, Connie Willis made a very deep homage to this book throughout To Say Nothing of the Dog, which I had not realized. I figured, with the mentions, that I was missing allusions, but the seance, especially, was much closer than I'd have thought.
Can't wait to track ...more
Can't wait to track ...more
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Okay, I have a little crush on Peter Wimsey, but it was reported that Dorothy Saers may have as well--so I'm in good company. This was the 1st Sayers I read, and one of her best. A clever puzzle, a real sense of urgency as Peter matches wits with the real murderer to clear the name of the woman he loves--but hasn't really met. He sees Harriet Vane sitting in the docket (is that what they call it?) and falls hard. And so begins one of the great loe stories in literature. Plus...Miss Climpson...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Christie and Conan Doyle fans
The mystery in this was quite facile, to the point where I figured out who did it before the character even appeared, and the method the moment the clue was mentioned, but I didn't care about that. Lord Peter is utterly adorable and smitten here, and Miss Climpson, who does most of the heavy lifting in acquiring evidence, is absolutely kick-ass. The book is also very funny - the funniest Sayers I've read to date - and the dialogue is executed with a deft touch. I think this will be a favourite c...more
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Read in February, 2004
recommends it for:
like mysteries
It's possible I love this book so much because I was able to solve the mystery, but I don't really think that's all there is to it. This falls somewhere in the middle of the Peter Wimsey series, where he meets the uncompromising Harriet Vane, whom I adore, which says something considering how many heroines I want to remove from books. But it is, in fact, one of those books that has a good story as well as a solvable mystery, and Lord Peter is always a joy to read about (well, except when its ...more
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I just listened to this book for the first time, after having read it several times before, and I was struck at how lyrical the prose is. Maybe it was Ian Carmichael's reading?
Some of the characterizations are a little un-PC now, but that is to be expected. I don't read mysteries, generally, but if they were all like this, I would read more of them. Let me know if you like Sayers, and have another, similar mystery author to recommend.
Some of the characterizations are a little un-PC now, but that is to be expected. I don't read mysteries, generally, but if they were all like this, I would read more of them. Let me know if you like Sayers, and have another, similar mystery author to recommend.
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Read in January, 2008
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Read in February, 2008
I thought there was a great chance I'd dig these, since I like Agatha Christie so much, but no go. I found myself making fun of how boring certain passages were, and not caring whether I found out whodunnit. But I COULD see myself enjoying, like, an A&E mini-series of this book. The main character--a charming, over-confident almost-playboy--would probably be a lot of fun to portray.
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I got interested in this book because of To Say Nothing of the Dog. I have to admit that I skimmed certain sections of this book that seemed a little slow, but it was fun to read the strategies for the fake seance, and how they influenced To Say Nothing of the Dog. I am now starting to see a little bit of the 1940's detective novel in-jokes that I'd missed without this context.
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Friends, have any of you read these? The characters sound great--quirky and amusing and intelligent--and inhabiting 1930s London! I'm considering starting with this one as it introduces a romance and doesn't sound as heavy on the murder aspects as, say, the first in the seires ("Whose Body") does. If you have, let me know what you think and also about the reading order!
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Read in December, 2007
My reviews of Sayers are going to get old, but I loved it, loved it, loved it. Favorite quote of dry humor: [to Lord Peter Wimsey]: "What a clear mind you have!" [Lord Peter]: "When I die you will find 'Efficiency' written on my heart". As well, Lord Peter's conversation encouraging his best friend to marry Peter's sister is priceless.
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