From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Strong Poison (Lord Peter Wimsey, #6)

Dorothy L. Sayers

Start date: June 1, 2016

Finish date: June 30, 2016

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What Members Thought

Apr 22, 2016 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Published in 1930, this is the sixth book to feature Lord Peter Wimsey and the first to feature Harriet Vane. When we are introduced to Harriet, she is a prisoner in the dock; on trial for killing her lover, Philip Boyes. Lord Peter is convinced of her innocence and instantly smitten. However, the case against her looks pretty convincing at first glance. Miss Vane had left Mr Boyes, after an attempt at ‘free love’ had fallen apart. A writer of detective fiction, Harriet had been investigating de ...more

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May 12, 2019 Bev rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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

Reviewed 5/11/19: Dorothy L. Sayers's Strong Poison (1930) is a perennial favorite. I could not possibly tell you how many times I have read her mysteries starring Lord Peter Wimsey and this one in particular. I love it for many reasons and I recount a number of them at the review linked above (and the previous review linked within that one). I have also, as frequent visitors to my blog may have noticed, been on an audio novel bing this spring. This audio novel read by the incomparable Ian Carmi Reviewed 5/11/19: Dorothy L. Sayers's Strong Poison (1930) is a perennial favorite. I could not possibly tell you how many times I have read her mysteries starring Lord Peter Wimsey and this one in particular. I love it for many reasons and I recount a number of them at the review linked above (and the previous review linked within that one). I have also, as frequent visitors to my blog may have noticed, been on an audio novel bing this spring. This audio novel read by the incomparable Ian Carmichael is the latest of the LPW books on CD that I've brought home and this review (like previous audio novel reviews) will focus on the audio version and not the story itself.

This was especially satisfying because my last Sayers audio novel was not read by Ian Carmichael and did not impress me much. Carmichael is quite adept at giving voice to the numerous characters which Sayers uses to tell her tale of Harriet Vane, who stands wrongly accused of the murder of her lover, and the efforts to bring the correct villain to justice. He represents both men and women with equal talent and manages to portray various classes and professions--from servants to the aristocrats and from lawyers to reformed burglars with charming ease. I spent several delightful hours listening to Carmichael tell this much loved story. Full marks for a grand performance.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.

Reviewed 3/29/22: As I mention in my previous review of the audio version of the first of Sayers's books to feature Harriet Vane, this is a perennial favorite. I love listening to Ian Carmichael read the story. I love going back to the beginning of his romance with Harriet and the beginnings of the changes and growth in his character. But most delightful for me this time was following the adventures of the minor characters, Miss Climpson and Miss Murchison. It worth the price of admission to see Blindfold Bill teach Miss Murchison how to pick a the lock of a certain deed box:

"Deed-box, that's nuffin'. That ain't no field for a man's skill. Robbin' the kids' money-box, that's what it is with they trumpery little locks. There ain't a deed-box in this 'ere city wot I couldn't open blindfold in boxing gloves with a stick of boiled macaroni."

"I know Bill; but it isn't you who's got to do it. Can you teach the lady how to work it?"

And, course Miss Climpson (with her CAPITALS and italicized letters to Lord Peter) describing her adventures through the tricks of fake table-turning and ouija board manipulation to find the will of an old lady--the contents of which may just hold the answer to who really murdered Philip Boyes, since we jolly well know that Harriet Vane didn't. Her details on the behind-the-scenes in the jury room are also most exciting.

I hope I never get tired of the Lord Peter Wimsey books. The language is so rich and delightful; it never seems to lose its flavor, no matter how many times I read them or listen to the audio novels. And I always feel like I'm visiting with old friends when I sit down and sink into one of the stories.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. ...more

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Jul 29, 2017 Bev rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: british-mystery, mystery, vintage-mystery, bought-2017

See review on another edition

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May 16, 2016 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore rated it liked it

This was a fairly good read and I enjoyed the characters- Lord Peter and Bunter, of course, but also the ‘Cattery’- especially Miss Murchinson and Miss Climpson. But I came away feeling a little disappointed because I (to my own surprise) managed to guess whodunit (it was fairly obvious) and how it was done (except part of the how), and so there was nothing to really surprise me at the end.

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Sep 13, 2015 Deborah rated it really liked it

Shelves: deb-s-sayers-challenge

While most modern day mystery fans may figure out the mystery, it's a well written fun read. ...more

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Dec 25, 2019 Bev rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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

see review on other copies

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Jan 07, 2014 Julie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: detectives, favorites, reviewed

INTENSE LORD PETER/HARRIET OTP FEELINGS. I love Harriet. And goofy, dashing Lord Peter Wimsey, amateur detective, is seriously an underrated gem. Somebody bring him back on TV pls asap

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