From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey, #10)

Dorothy L. Sayers

Start date: September 1, 2016

Finish date: September 30, 2016

Discussion: Group Challenges

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Group Challenges

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What Members Thought

Jan 24, 2016 John Frankham rated it it was amazing

Shelves: crime-detective

A re-read/listen only 16 months after last read. Review below still stands. Just brilliant.

"Lord Peter Wimsey employed incognito in a 1930s London advertising agency to investigate a mysterious death. Since the author, Dorothy Sayers, was a copywriter for over a decade, her depiction of office life in all its aspects is true to life, amusing, and cynical, from office boys, typing pool, copywriters, to directors. Add Bright Youngs Things and their vacuity, plus ruthless criminal organisations and ...more

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Dec 18, 2020 Rosario rated it liked it

Very mixed feelings. The details about life in an advertising agency were great, and rang true. But I did not believe a word about the 'dope gang' stuff, and the bored society beauty living the fast life was laughable. Sayers was clearly a bit too far outside her experience there, and it showed. ...more

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Feb 25, 2022 Rosemary rated it liked it · review of another edition

Lord Peter is asked by the owner of Pym's Publicity to join the firm undercover and investigate the death of a copywriter, who either fell down the stairs or was pushed. Was his death something to do with the affluent, cocaine-addicted, set that he had tried to join? Or was it, as the police believe, simply an accident?

I enjoyed the recreation of a 1930s London advertising agency, especially the characters of Miss meteyard and Miss Rossiter. Ian Carmichael was as good as ever as Wimsey, and Alla ...more

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Dec 27, 2016 SewingandCaring rated it it was amazing

Shelves: detectives

Absolutely fantastic. The supporting characters are what makes this, every one of them is different and well rounded. One of the problems I've had with this series is that some of the books are "of it's time", this one could be set today and still be as fresh and relevant. I think if you were to recommend a Wimsey book for people to start off with then this would be the one. ...more

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Jan 04, 2015 Ann rated it really liked it

Lord Peter Wimsey goes "undercover" at a local advertising agency after a young man falls to his death under suspicious circumstances. He is hired under the name of Death Bredon and the book is both funny and a good mystery. When he is spotted after hours, as Lord Peter, he tells co-workers that Death Bredon is his "look alike" brother who is a bounder and a cad. The book is one of my favorite Lord Peter books and I have read it several times over the years. Sometimes, the old favorites deserve ...more

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Oct 20, 2014 Sandy rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-classic, rread-2014

One of the best Wimsey books, with humor and lots of snide comments about advertising (Sayers once worked in advertising). It was fun seeing Wimsey 'earning' his living and he took to it quite well. I did miss his man Bunter; he had only one tiny entry. I have seen the TV version so the story was not new. ...more

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