Lord Peter Views the Body - SPOILER thread

[HJ]

Damaskcat wrote: "I've just started reading Strong Poison and LP says he is approaching 40 which would seem to fit...."

Thanks Damaskcat! Funny how we get our own ideas stuck in our heads (or I do, anyway); I always though LPW was mid-30s when he met Harriet.

[Susan]

Characters always seem the same age to me - Poirot will always be dapper and LP always a charming young man!

[Carolien]

I think I enjoyed this book more than any of the others in the series so far. Part of the reason may have been the variety of plot devices on offer. I read it as and when I felt like it and I think limiting my exposure to Wimsey also helped. I enjoy him in fairly small doses.

I've taken a look at the average ratings across the series and the two collections of short stories actually have some of the highest ratings which is interesting.

[Susan]

That's interesting, Carolien. I wonder whether one of the reasons why I struggle with short stories is because it is a less popular style of writing now? Perhaps if I read more, I would like them more? I also enjoyed this book and, possibly, I found them more interesting as I was already familiar with the characters/style.

[Betsy]

If you're a prolific writer with lots of ideas for plots, I would think that short stories would be one way of including all your ideas without having to come up with 100,000 words. I know how hard it is to write 80,000+ words so if you can condense your story into fewer pages and still keep focused on your major point, I would think a short story such as these would be attractive.

[Sandy]

I've started Bellona Club and it occurred to me I hadn't commented on the ending stories of this book. I was very disappointed in the last story: Cave of Ali Baba. I found it more unbelievable than I'm willing to accept, and I'm pretty generous. The combination of these unlikely thieves and LP giving up years of his life to catch them seemed unlikely and silly.
As for the story Man without a Face, I have very mixed feeling about the ending. I have encountered such endings before and decided that I can accept LP's decision in fiction. In real life? Probably not.

[Susan]

I would certainly agree, Sandy, especially about the last story.