Clouds of Witness (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries)
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'She brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit.' (P. D. James )
'D. L. Sayers is one of the best detective story writers.' (E. C. Bentley, Daily Telegraph )
'I admire her novels . . . she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail' (Ruth Rendell )
'D. L. Sayers is one of the best detective story writers.' (E. C. Bentley, Daily Telegraph )
'I admire her novels . . . she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail' (Ruth Rendell )
P. D. James
‘She brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit.'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Best of Dorothy Sayers' Early Work,
By
This review is from: Clouds of Witness: A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery (Paperback)
In some respects Dorothy Sayers is a problematic author, and early in her career she struggled with what can only be called a tendency toward incessant clutter: a wordy style, an often awkwardly expressed fascination with the mechanics of timetables, and constant reference to erudite academia that frequently verged on the downright obscure. But with CLOUDS OF WITNESS she found a very neat balance--and the result is not only the first clear sounding of Sayers' literary voice, it is also simply the best of her early works.In this particular story, death unexpectedly arrives in the very bosom of the Wimsey family: the Duke has taken a rural manor for the hunting season, and when his sister's fiance is found shot to death in the small hours of the morning he is himself accused. Curiously, he declines to offer any sort of alibi--but fortunately there is a sleuth in the family: Lord Peter Wimsey, who arrives post-haste to sort the matter out. While the novel's conclusion may frustrate many readers, this is a fast, fun read with engaging characters and an emerging and very sophisticated literary style--the style on which Sayers would ultimately establish such later and landmark works as MURDER MUST ADVERTISE, GAUDY NIGHT, and BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON. Established fans will likely enjoy it more than first-timers, but if you've not yet encountered Sayers don't let that stop you: it's an elegant work. Recommended.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cloudy Witness,
By E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Clouds of Witness: A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery (Paperback)
The worst nightmare for a detective is having a solid case... against a member of your own family. Dorothy Sayers imagined such a story for Lord Peter Wimsey in her second mystery novel, "Clouds of Witness," a solid, twisting whodunnit full of lies, affairs and deception
Peter is on vacation when he finds out that his brother, The Duke of Denver (informally "Gerald"), is on trial for murder -- he had a blowup with his sister Mary's fiancee, Denis Cathcart, upon learning that Cathcart was a former cardsharper. The next morning, Cathcart was found shot through the heart by Gerald's gun, with Gerald bending over the body. The Duke stubbornly refuses to explain why he was out in the rain at three in the morning. Peter is determined to solve the case, and quickly finds plenty of clues and odd little details, including the fact that Mary keeps lying -- and changing her lies. There are too many clues, and not enough logical motives. Now to save his brother, Peter must unravel plenty of lies and red herrings, and discover who wanted to do away with Denis Cathcart -- and why. "Clouds of Witness" is an excellent whodunnit, with lots of quirky characters and a very twisty murder mystery -- in fact, it's not even clear whether it's even a murder. And Sayers seemed to be more at ease in this mystery, since it unfolds in a more gradual manner, as if she were more sure of herself than in "Whose Body." If there's a flaw, it's that her writing can be slightly uneven -- we get lots of descriptions of Mary, but I still have no idea what Bunter looks like. But Sayers can craft a spectacular plot, with lots of red herrings and odd twists, especially since most of the people involved are telling lies, usually about romantic affairs. The general feeling is unusually taut even for a mystery, since Peter is trying to help his stuffy brother. But Sayers also sprinkles in some comedic moments to lessen the tension, such as when Peter dines with a flaky, chic socialist who thinks it's thrilling when the police raid them. The dialogue is also enjoyably quirky, especially when Peter is doing the talking ("I should be crucified upside down for anemia of the brain!"). The cast is made up of all sorts -- weaselly socialists, flaky socialites, the stuffy Gerald and his equally stiff wife, and the rambling yet clever Dowager. And Peter is the center of all this, a detective who acts like Bertie Wooster and thinks like Hercule Poirot -- he has loads of brains and reasoning ability, but you'd never guess it by how he acts. "Clouds of Witness" is a clever, twisty murder mystery with a likably eccentric hero, and one of Dorothy Sayers' best mystery novels. Definitely a good, solid read with a colourful cast.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth savouring,
By
This review is from: Clouds of Witness: A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery (Paperback)
I used to read the Lord Peter Wimsey novels when I was a boy. Now, thirty plus years later I've come back to one I was unfamiliar with.
The other reviewers provide a useful synopsis of the book, so I won't bother with a repeat exercise. Suffice it to say that this one is a delight. The dialogues are quirky and at times a little melodramatic, the story unfolds in a reassuringly unformulaic manner, and Wimsey maneuvers his way through his investigation with typical eccentricity. And throughout, Sayers' observations about society are full of wit - her descriptions of the procedures within the House of Lords are just a joy. A few of the characters could do with a little more fleshing out - Bunter is 'there', but not a particularly defined presence. One is never quite sure of the character of Wimsey's brother - but then he is off-stage for a great part of the narrative. It's hardly a fast-paced storyline, but then it seems to be written for those of us who like to chew over our literature slowly, and relish the ingredients. A throwback to an age when language, thought and character were prized, reminding us of how much we have lost from our culture.
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