Clouds of Witness (Lord Peter Wimsey, #2) in Reading the Detectives

Jan 12, 2019 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: british-mystery, mcpl-book, audionovel, mystery, virtual-mount-tbr-2019, vintage-mystery

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ~Hebrews 12:1

Clouds of Witness (1926) by Dorothy L Sayers (read by Ian Carmichael) is an old favorite. The Lord Peter Wimsey stories are comfort reads for me. I have read them many times since I first discovered them in my late teens. When I found this audio version at the library, I coul Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ~Hebrews 12:1

Clouds of Witness (1926) by Dorothy L Sayers (read by Ian Carmichael) is an old favorite. The Lord Peter Wimsey stories are comfort reads for me. I have read them many times since I first discovered them in my late teens. When I found this audio version at the library, I could not resist. I own several of the audio novels read by Ian Carmichael, but this is not one of them and I wanted to hear him read this early story in the Wimsey mysteries. He does a fantastic job giving each character their own voice and it's quite lovely to hear him as Lord Peter again.

On this particular round of Clouds of Witness, I was quite taken with the trial scene at the House of Lords--all the pomp and circumstance and Sir Impy Biggs for the defense. It is all quite theatrical and impressive. And it made me wish I had kept the "trial/courtroom scene" square on the Just the Facts Detective Notebook. It's not everyday that one reads about the trial of a peer of the realm. Another delightful part of the story is the friendship of Lord Peter and Parker. Their interactions while detecting in the grounds of Riddlesdale Lodge are great fun and Carmichael does justice to the humor and good feeling between the two. Overall, another wonderful visit to the world of Lord Peter Wimsey.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block

2/19/22:
I've been listening to audio books when I drive to work and then at work while doing mindless tasks. And when I listen to audio books, it works better for me if I listen to something I've already read--that way if I get distracted it doesn't matter and I won't lose the thread of the story or have to go back to pick it up again. The Lord Peter books are perfect for this--I've read them so often and love them so much that I can listen/read repeatedly and I never lose my enthusiasm for them. It's also lovely to pick up on new episodes or details that I either didn't notice properly before or that have never stood out in quite the same way. The last time I listened to I was struck by the courtroom scenes: the pomp and circumstance of the House of Lords and the impressive persona of Sir Impey Biggs (counsel for the defense) as well as the friendship between Lord Peter and Charles Parker. The friendship was still a highlight this time around--especially the gentle ribbing Peter gives Charles over his fascination with Peter's sister, Mary. And the end scene with Peter, Charles, and Freddy Arbuthnot found out and about after celebrating (a bit excessively) after Denver's acquittal is very amusing. Another good round of Wimsey and friends. ...more

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Jul 30, 2018 Julie Durnell rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: england-uk, mystery

Was not overwhelmed with this one-found it a bit dry. But I will pick up the next one at some point!

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May 25, 2011 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: vintage-mystery, british-mystery, mystery, bought-2010

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 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 of Denver--has gathered a small hunting party at Riddlesdale Lodge. All went well--there was plenty of game and decent company--until one of the guests turned up dead at the most unsuitable hour of three o'clock in the morning. And not just any guest--but the brother-in-law-to-be of Peter and Gerald, Denis Cathcart. The Duke is found crouching over the body. Lady Mary, sister to the Duke and Lord Peter, has secrets of her own and in covering those up manages to throw the light of suspicion ever brighter on her brother. There are all sorts of clues...mysterious footprints in the garden that belong to no one known, a disappearing letter full of comments about the dead man, a suitcase that travels from conservatory to hall oak chest to who-knows-where, a bejewelled cat charm, and tracks made by a motorcycle with sidecar. It will take all of Wimsey's wits, Bunter's way with the maids and barmaids, and Inspector Parker's ruthless routine to get to the bottom of the mystery. It all wraps up with the pomp and circumstance of the trial of a British peer in the House of Lords and an exciting last-minute burst of evidence on the part of Lord Peter to save his brother from the gallows.

I love the Lord Peter stories and I love Dorothy L Sayers. I can't say it any better than that. And after the struggle I went through with the last book I just don't know that I can do much of an in-depth review on this one. It is interesting how Sayers changed her mystery style in Clouds from that of Whose Body? This story has more action....Lord Peter traipses across the countryside, gets chased by angry dogs, finds himself mired in the bog ("Peter's Pot), shot at by a Socialist, and making an emergency plane trip through stormy whether in his quest to clear his brother. There is still a great deal of delightful dialogue....again featuring the wonderful Dowager Duchess of Denver. I also enjoy this one a lot because we get introduced to Sir Impy Biggs and Mr. Murbles, who manage the case for the defense. Biggs is rather theatrical and a bit ruthless in his quest to defend the Duke. He tells Peter: "I don't care twopence for the truth. I want a case. It doesn't matter to me who killed Cathcart, provided I can prove it wasn't Denver." Reminds me of Arthur Crook in The Innocent Bottle--another lawyer who says he doesn't care who he sets up for the murder, provided he can get his client off.

As I said at the beginning, this was just what I needed to get the taste of Tristram Shandy out of my head. Sayers comes through with a tidy mystery, a comfortable cozy, brilliant British setting, just enough of Lord Peter's piffle and his mother's circuitous dialogue to make me happy. ...more

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Jul 20, 2023 Bev rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audionovel, vintage-mystery, british-mystery, mcpl-book, mystery

'm continuing what looks to be turning into a regular orgy of listening Lord Peter Wimsey audiobooks. If you would like a more complete review of the story itself, please see my previous review (My Reader's Block. ...more

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Oct 12, 2021 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: british-mystery, mystery, vintage-mystery, bought-2019

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Sep 07, 2019 Zander rated it liked it

Clouds of Witness see the start of the growth of Wimsey from floppish dilettante to more aware of the world outside the upper class but it is still very much a aristocratic drawing room mystrey and not a particular favourite of mine. The characters in hindsight are rather cliche and the suspect's motive for withholding his alibi is pushed to absurdity. I did like the exchanges between Parker and Wimsey, Bunter is a the right sort of fellow always behaving like a proper gentleman's man while doin ...more

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May 16, 2011 Abbey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: vintage, myst-set-andor-auth-uk, favorites, myst-fems-project, reviewed, series, myst-pi, myst-cosies, own

#2 Lord Peter Wimsey, although there are glimpses of London and Paris, much of the action (including the murder) takes place at the Wimsey family's hunting place of Riddlesdale Lodge, where a varied assortment of folks have gathered for a long weekend. This is a superb "classic cosy", still wonderful after multiple rereads, and despite Sayers' slight tendency towards purple prose (but has a slam-bang, gloriously over-the-top finale).

Murder hits too close to home when Lord Peter’s stuffy brother ...more

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