From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey, #1)

Dorothy L. Sayers

Start date: May 1, 2022

Finish date: May 31, 2022

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: Next in our Detection Club challenge.
[close] Next in our Detection Club challenge.

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Group Challenges

* 2026 Challenge
By Susan · 24 posts · 27 views

last updated Oct 17, 2025 02:23AM

* Oct 25: A Murder Is Announced (1950) by Agatha Christie
By Susan · 16 posts · 16 views

last updated Oct 16, 2025 07:31AM

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What Members Thought

Dec 21, 2015 Kavita rated it did not like it

Shelves: uk, mystery

What a complete and utter mess of a book! I had been informed by many reliable sources (including Lucy Worsley in her documentary A Very British Murder) that Sayers was even better than Christie where murder mysteries are concerned. They are all wrong!

This mystery has an intriguing enough premise - a naked dead body is found in the home of a harmless man that everyone automatically knew was not the murderer because well, the Wimseys (mother and son) said so! Lord Wimsey is called on to investiga ...more

55 likes · Like · see review

May 19, 2013 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

In this first Lord Peter Wimsey mystery we are introduced to our amateur detective, his friends and family. Living in a sumptuous apartment in Piccadilly, aided by his manservant Bunter, Wimsey is a collector of books with a hobby of criminal investigation. His mother, the Dowager Duchess of Denver is supportive of this interest and telephones him one morning to inform him that the architect working on the church roof was most upset, as he found a dead body in his bath. As a body is found, anoth ...more

19 likes · Like · see review

Aug 17, 2021 Ellen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-favorites

Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey, #1) by Dorothy L. Sayers.

This was my first Lord Peter Wimsey book on CD and it was a welcomed joy to listen to. So uplifting with humor added to it. I couldn't have chosen a better story by a more perfect writer.

Hint: if you've been led to a top rated book that has gone nowhere but has led to headaches at the thought of continuing to read...try one of the past authors. Dorothy L. Sayers it at the top of my list. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Jan 02, 2016 Damaskcat rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is one of my least favourite books by Dorothy L Sayers but I still found plenty to enjoy in re-reading it for the first time in many years. I had to admire the way the crime was committed and the way the clues are scattered throughout the text. A dead body is found in the bath in a flat belonging to a Mr Thripps an acquaintance of Lord Peter Wimsey's and an expert on matters architectural.

The police naturally suspect Thripps himself though it is patently obvious to everyone that he couldn' ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jul 09, 2013 Lynnie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-1970s, read-in-2010s, golden-age-detective-story, london, favorite-authors-first-time-read, read-in-2022

English Mysteries Club - Continuing Buddy Read of the Lord Peter Wimsey stories.

It was wonderful to revisit Lord Peter at the beginning. I had forgotten the plot so it was like reading a new book. Very enjoyable and engaging and humourous too, I loved the inquest scene -
"In reply to a woman juror - well, yes, she was walking out with a young man. Williams was his name, Bill Williams - well, yes, William Williams , if they insisted." ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 13, 2012 ShanDizzy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I'm revisiting an old friend, Lord Peter Wimsey and Bunter. I love this series!!

Re-reading July 2024 -(still 5 stars) ”…the thing that rankles is old vanity.” said Lord Peter. ...more

1 like · Like · see review