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

Dec 14, 2013 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This delightful mystery is the second featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. When his brother, the Duke of Denver, is accused of murder then it is Lord Peter’s job to clear his name. The Duke is found standing over the body of his sister’s fiancé, who he has recently argued with about claims that the victim, Captain Denis Cathcart, was a card sharp. However, when questioned, he refuses to give a reasonable account of why he was wandering around outside, in the middle of the night. Why is he being so secre ...more

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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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Jan 22, 2016 Damaskcat rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: dls-challenge

This is the second novel featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. This time murder comes unpleasantly close to home when Lord Peter's brother - the Duke of Denver - is accused of the murder of his sister's fiancé. Riddlesdale Lodge is the scene for the death of Captain Cathcart and no one seems to be telling the truth about what they were doing at the time of the man's death. Lord Peter begins to think that his brother will go to the gallows rather than reveal what he was doing at the time.

The investigation ...more

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