
The detective stories of well-known British writer Dorothy Leigh Sayers mostly feature the amateur investigator Lord Peter Wimsey; she also translated the Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri. This renowned author and Christian humanist studied classical and modern languages. Her best known mysteries, a series of short novels, set between World War I and World War II, feature an English aristocrat and amateur sleuth. She is also known for her plays and essays. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy...
When Harriet Vane attends her Oxford reunion, known as the Gaudy, the prim academic setting is haunted by a rash of bizarre pranks: scrawled obscenities, burnt effigies, and poison-pen letters, including one that says, "Ask your boyfriend with the title if he likes arsenic in his soup." Some of the notes threaten murder; all are perfectly ghastly; yet in spite of their scurrilous nature, all are perfectly worded. And Harriet finds herself ensnared in a nightmare of romance and terror, with only the tiniest shreds of clues to challenge her powers of detection, and those of her paramour, Lord Peter Wimsey.
The stark naked body was lying in the tub. Not unusual for a proper bath, but highly irregular for murder -- especially with a pair of gold pince-nez deliberately perched before the sightless eyes. What's more, the face appeared to have been shaved after death. The police assumed that the victim was a prominent financier, but Lord Peter Wimsey, who dabbled in mystery detection as a hobby, knew better. In this, his first murder case, Lord Peter untangles the ghastly mystery of the corpse in the bath.
Mystery novelist Harriet Vane knew all about poisons, and when her former lover died in the manner prescribed in one of her books, a jury of her peers had a hangman's noose in mind. But Lord Peter Wimsey was determined to find her innocent.
The wealthy Agatha Dawson is dead--a trifle sooner than expected--but there are no apparent signs of foul play. Lord Peter Wimsey, however, senses that something is amiss and refuses to let the case rest--even without any clues or leads. Suddenly, he is faced with another murder: Agatha's maid. Can super-sleuth Wimsey find the murderer and solve the case before he becomes the killer's next victim?The intricate trail of horror and senseless murder leads from a beautiful Hampshire village to a fashionable London flat and a deliberate test of amour.
Lord Peter Wimsey goes undercover at an ad agency to find out who pitched a copywriter down a flight of stairs—“Delightful reading” (The New York Times).The iron staircase at Pym’s Publicity is a deathtrap, and no one in the advertising agency is surprised when Victor Dean tumbles down it, cracking his skull along the way. Dean’s replacement arrives just a few days later—a green copywriter named Death Bredon. Though he displays a surprising talent for the business of selling margarine, alarm clocks, and nerve tonics, Bredon is not really there to write copy. In fact, he is really Lord Peter Wimsey, and he has come to Pym’s in search of the man who pushed Dean. As he tries to navigate the cutthroat world of London advertising, Lord Peter uncovers a mystery that touches on catapults, cocaine, and cricket. But how does one uncover a murderer in a business where it pays to have no soul? Murder Must Advertise is the 10th book in the Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries, but you may enjoy the series by reading the books in any order.
Τα γεγονότα : Το πτώμα του λοχαγού Κάθκαρτ ανακαλύπτεται ξημερώματα, μπροστά στο θερμοκήπιο του Ριβερνστέιλ Λοτζ. Ο Δούκας του Ντένβερ, που έχει νοικιάσει το Ριβερνστέιλ Λοτζ για τη σεζόν του κυνηγιού, κατηγορείται για τη δολοφονία του. Η Λαίδη Μαίρη Γουίμζι, αδερφή του Δούκα και αρραβωνιαστικιά του λοχαγού, είναι η πρώτη που βλέπει τον αδερφό της πάνω από το πτώμα, και αναφωνεί: «Θεέ μου, Τζέραλντ, τον σκότωσες!» Η υπόθεση δείχνει ξεκάθαρη... ή μήπως όχι; Ο Λόρδος Πίτερ Γουίμζι, αδερφός των δύο, καλείται να ανακαλύψει τον πραγματικό δολοφόνο πριν ο αδερφός του καταδικαστεί σε θάνατο από τη Βουλή των Λόρδων. Δίπλα του σε αυτό τον άνισο αγώνα με τον χρόνο, ο προσωπικός του βοηθός κ. Μπάντερ, ο επιστήθιος φίλος του επιθεωρητής Πάρκερ, το αλάνθαστο ένστικτό του... και μια γάτα από πλατίνα, με σμαράγδια στη θέση των ματιών.
Society’s eligible women are in mourning. Lord Peter Wimsey has married at last, having finally succeeded in his ardent pursuit of the lovely mystery novelist Harriet Vane. The two depart for a tranquil honeymoon in a country farmhouse but find, instead of a well-prepared love nest, the place left in a shambles by the previous owner. His sudden appearance, dead from a broken skull in the cellar, only prompts more questions. Why would anyone have wanted to kill old Mr Noakes? What dark secrets had he to hide? The honeymoon is over, as Lord Peter and Harriet Vane start their investigations. Suspicion is rife and everyone seems to have something to hide, from the local constable to the housekeeper. Wimsey and his wife can think of plenty of theories, but it’s not until they discover a vital fact that the identity of the murderer becomes clear.
Set in the remote village of Fenchurch St. Paul, this 1934 mystery involves an unknown body, which has been disfigured and mysteriously buried in the same grave as a local woman, shortly after the New Year. Many years before, a magnificent necklace of emeralds was stolen here, though it was never found. Two men and a local woman were implicated in the theft, and both men served time in prison. Now the unknown body, the fate of the two men involved in the theft of the emeralds, the whereabouts of the necklace, and the involvement of seemingly upright citizens of Fenchurch St. Paul are all under investigation. Lord Peter Wimsey, accompanied by his "man" Bunter, becomes involved in the investigation when their car runs off the road on a snowy New Year's Eve. Lord Peter ultimately agrees to substitute for an indisposed bell-ringer when the rector attempts to set a record of more than 18,000 rings in nine hours as a New Year's Eve celebration. The bells are an integral part of the mystery.
Ninety-year-old General Fentiman was definitely dead, but no one knew exactly when he had died—and the time of death was the determining factor in a half-million-pound inheritance. Lord Peter Wimsey would need every bit of his amazing skills to unravel the mysteries of why the General's lapel was without a red poppy on Armistice Day, how the club's telephone was fixed without a repairman, and, most puzzling of all, why the great man's knee swung freely when the rest of him was stiff with rigor mortis.
The second Dorothy L. Sayers classic to feature mystery writer Harriet Vane, Have His Carcase. Harriet’s discovery of a murdered body on the beach before it is swept out to sea unites her once more with the indomitable Lord Peter Wimsey, as together they attempt to solve a most lethal mystery, and find themselves become much closer than mere sleuthing partners in the process.
In this delightful collection of Wimsey exploits, Dorothy L. Sayers reveals a gruesome, grotesque but absolutely bewitching side rarely shown in Lord Peter's full-length adventures.Lord Peter views the body in 12 tantalizing and bizarre ways in this outstanding collection. He deals with such marvels as the man with copper fingers, Uncle Meleager's missing will, the cat in the bag, the footsteps that ran, the stolen stomach, the man without a face...and with such clues as cyanide, jewels, a roast chicken and a classic crossword puzzle.
During a painting retreat, a killer takes a creative approach to the ancient art of murder...The majestic landscape of the Scottish coast has attracted artists and fishermen for centuries. In the idyllic village of Kirkcudbright, every resident and visitor has two things in common: They either fish or paint (or do both), and they all hate Sandy Campbell. Though a fair painter, he is a rotten human being, and cannot enter a pub without raising the blood pressure of everybody there. No one weeps when he dies. Campbell’s body is found at the bottom of a steep hill, and his easel stands at the top, suggesting that he took a tumble while painting. But something about the death doesn’t sit right with gentleman sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. No one in Kirkcudbright liked Campbell, and six hated him enough to become suspects. Five are innocent, and the other is the perpetrator of one of the most ingenious murders Lord Peter has ever encountered. This edition features an illustrated biography of Dorothy L. Sayers including rare images from the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College.
Amusing and absolutely appalling things happen on the way to the gallows when murder meets Lord Peter Wimsey and the delightful working-class sleuth Montague Egg. This sumptuous feast of criminal doings and undoings includes a vintage double identity and a horrid incident of feline assassination that will tease the minds of cat-lovers everywhere. Not to be missed are "The Incredible Elopement of Peter Wimsey" (with a lovely American woman-turned-zombie) and eight more puzzlers penned in inimitable style by the mistress of murder.Includes:The image in the mirror --The incredible elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey --The queen's square --The necklace of pearls --The poisoned dow '08 --Sleuths on the scent --Murder in the morning --One too many --Murder at Pentecost --Maher-Shalal-Hashbaz --The man who knew how --The fountain plays.
The wife of a wealthy man is found dead, and it is up to Lord Peter Wimsey and his wife, Harriet, to solve the case.
An alternate cover edition can be found here.All 21 of Dorothy Sayers' short stories about Lord Peter Wimsey, eccentric amateur sleuth. Also includes an article about Sayers and a parody of "Gaudy Night". From "Lord Peter Views the Body" (1928)1. The Abominable History of the Man with Copper Fingers2. The Entertaining Episode of the Article in Question3. The Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meleager's Will4. The Fantastic Horror of the Cat in the Bag5. The Unprincipled Affair of the Practical Joker6. The Undignified Melodrama of the Bone of Contention7. The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps That Ran8. The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste9. The Learned Adventure of the Dragon's Head10. The Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach11. The Unsolved Puzzle of the Man with No Face12. The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali BabaFrom "Hangman's Holiday" (1933)1. The Image in the Mirror2. The Incredible Elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey3. The Queen's Square4. The Necklace of PearlsFrom "In the Teeth of the Evidence" (1939)1. In the Teeth of the Evidence2. Absolutely ElsewhereFrom "Striding Folly" (1972)1. Striding Folly2. The Haunted Policeman3. TalboysAlsoCoda: Sayers, Lord Peter and God by Carolyn HeilbrunCodetta: Greedy Night, A Parody by E. C. Bentley
The grotesquely grinning corpse in the Devonshire shack was a man who died horribly -- with a dish of mushrooms at his side. His body contained enough death-dealing muscarine to kill 30 people. Why would an expert on fungi feast on a large quantity of this particularly poisonous species. A clue to the brilliant murderer, who had baffled the best minds in London, was hidden in a series of letters and documents that no one seemed to care about, except the dead man's son.
An irresistible collection of stories starring Lord Peter Wimsey and Montague Egg, from the master of classic mysteriesMost noblemen would prefer to avoid a charred corpse in a garage. But Lord Peter Wimsey has never seen such a body, and cannot resist the opportunity when it comes along. The corpse is burned beyond recognition, but the watch it wears remains pristine—stopped precisely at seven minutes past nine. These are the sorts of clues that great murder cases are built around, and few detectives are more adept at finding them than Wimsey, the famous creation of Dorothy L. Sayers. In this volume, two classic Wimsey stories appear alongside five starring Montague Egg, an eccentric wine salesman whose powers of deduction could give His Lordship a run for his money. A handful of other glittering puzzles round out the volume, serving as testament to Sayers’s enduring status as a star of crime fiction. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Dorothy L. Sayers including rare images from the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College.
Three of Lord Peter Wimsey's most baffling cases demonstrate his unique detction skills at their most spectacular.The engima of a house numbered thirteen in a street of even numbers; an indignant child accused of theft, a dream about a game of chess that uncovers the true story behind a violent death. Each of the stories introduces a different side of the twentieth century's most ingenious detective hero.This book also features a biographical essay by Janet Hitchman, Sayers' first biographer.
This classic, with a new introduction by Madeleine L'Engle, is by turns an entrancing meditation on language; a piercing commentary on the nature of art and why so much of what we read, hear, and see falls short; and a brilliant examination of the fundamental tenets of Christianity. The Mind of the Maker will be relished by those already in love with Dorothy L. Sayers and those who have not yet met her. A mystery writer, a witty and perceptive theologian, culture critic, and playwright, Dorothy Sayers sheds new, unexpected light on a specific set of statements made in the Christian creeds. She examines anew such ideas as the image of God, the Trinity, free will, and evil. In these pages a wholly revitalized understanding of them emerges. The author finds the key in the parallels between the creation of God and the human creative process. She continually refers to each in a way that illuminates both.
In 1947, Dorothy Sayers first delivered this speech at Oxford University. It has since been republished countless times due to its sheer eloquence and unanswered articulation of the 3 "lost tools" in classical education: grammar, logic and rhetoric.
by Dorothy L. Sayers
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
One of the first women to graduate from Oxford, Dorothy Sayers pursued her goals whether or not what she wanted to do was ordinarily understood to be "feminine." Sayers kept in mind that she was first of all a human being and aimed to be true not so much to her gender as to her humanity. The role of both men and women, in her view, was to find the work for which they were suited and to do it. While Sayers did not devote a great deal of time to talking or writing about feminism, she did explicitly address the issue of women's role in society in the two penetrating essays collected here. Though she wrote several decades ago, she still offers in her piquant style a sensible and conciliatory approach to ongoing gender issues.
by Dorothy L. Sayers
Rating: 4.2 ⭐
A special edition of the first three classic mysteries featuring British aristocrat and sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. A gentleman needs hobbies. For Lord Peter Wimsey—a Great War veteran with a touch of shell shock—collecting rare books, sampling fine wines, and catching criminals help pass the time. In Whose Body?, a dead man wearing nothing but a pince-nez is found in the bathtub of an architect’s London flat—and Wimsey encounters a bizarre puzzle. Clouds of Witness brings Lord Wimsey to the family’s shooting lodge in Yorkshire. Humans are not meant to be targets, but Wimsey’s sister’s fiancé has been felled by a bullet—and his brother accused of the crime. The investigation will bring him into contact with a socialist agitator, a hot-tempered farmer, and a host of unseemly secrets. In Unnatural Death, everyone expected the ailing and elderly Miss Agatha Dawson to die—just not quite so soon. When the doctor who treated her shares his suspicions with Wimsey, he sets out to discover who rushed the patient to her demise. This exciting volume of renowned author Dorothy L. Sayers’s beloved cozy British mystery series is a perfect introduction for new readers, as well as a familiar friend for longtime fans.
In this popular play-cycle, Sayers makes the Gospels come alive. "Her Jesus can bring tears to your eyes. You will be deeply moved--a powerful experience."--Sheldon Vanauken, A Severe Mercy.
A sure treat for Dorothy L. Sayers's legions of fans, The Complete Stories is the ultimate collectible. This delightfully gruesome collection captures all of Sayers's short stories in one volume. The tantalizing puzzles and baffling cases will provide mystery lovers with a sumptuous feast of criminal doings and all those amusing and appalling things that happen on the way to the gallows.LORD PETER WIMSEY STORIES --The abominable history of the man with copper fingers --The entertaining espisode of the article in question --The fascinating problem of Uncle Meleager's will --The fantastic horror of the cat in the bag --The unprincipled affair of the practical joker --The undignified melodrama of the bone of contention --The vindictive story of the footsteps that ran --The bibulous business of a matter of taste --The learned adventure of the dragon's head --The piscatorial farce of the stolen stomach --The unsolved puzzle of the man with no face --The adventurous exploit of the cave of Ali Baba --The image in the mirror --The incredible elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey --The queen's square --The necklace of pearls --In the teeth of the evidence --Absolutely elsewhere --Striding folly --The haunted policeman --Talboys --MONTAGUE EGG STORIES --The poisoned dow '08 --Sleuths on the scent --Murder in the morning --One too many --Murder at Pentecost --Maher-shalal-hashbaz --A shot at goal --Dirt cheap --Bitter almonds --False weight --The professor's manuscript --OTHER STORIES --The man who knew how --The fountain plays --The milk-bottles --Dilemma --An arrow o'er the house --Scrawns --Nebuchadnezzar --The inspiration of Mr. Budd --Blood sacrifice --Suspicion --The leopard lady --The Cyprian cat
24 mystery stories by Dorothy L. Sayers----------------------------------------------LORD PETER WIMSEY The Image in the Mirror 2. The Incredible Elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey 3. The Queen's Square 4. The Necklace of Pearls MONTAGUE EGG The Poisoned Dow '082. Sleuths on the Scent3. Murder in the Morning4. One Too Many 5. Murder at Pentecost 6. Maher-shalal-hashbaz OTHER The Man Who Knew How 2. The Fountain Plays MORE LORD PETER The Abominable History of the Man with Copper Fingers 2. The Entertaining Episode of the Article in Question 3. The Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meleager's Will 4. The Fantastic Horror of the Cat in the Bag 5. The Unprincipled Affair of the Practical Joker 6. The Undignified Melodrama of the Bone of Contention 7. The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps that Ran 8. The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste 9. The Learned Adventure of the Dragon's Head 10. The Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach 11. The Unsolved Puzzle of the Man with No Face 12. The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba
by Dorothy L. Sayers
Rating: 4.3 ⭐
What must a person believe to be a Christian? In this collection of 16 essays, famed author Dorothy L. Sayers discusses why the church desperately needs to refocus on doctrine, as doctrine impacts all of life. In her dynamic and sharp writings, Dorothy L. Sayers turned the popular perception of Christianity on its head. She argues that the essence of Christianity is in the character of Christ—energetic, dramatic, and utterly alive. This collection of sixteen brilliant essays reveals Sayers, at her best—a powerful view of Christianity as startling and relevant as it was 50 years ago. An outspoken defender of Christian orthodoxy, Dorothy L. Sayers discusses Christian theology with brilliance and wit. A British scholar, author, and staunch Christian, Sayers brings theology vividly to life by showing how the Bible, history, literature, and modern science fit together to make religion not only possible but necessary in our time. Each essay is a concise, perceptive examination of the topic at hand. The Whether you are reading the great works of Western literature, thinking about your place in God's universe, or simply dealing with the thousand-and-one problems of daily living, this powerful book has words of both challenge and comfort for you. "The devil should stand alert, for Sayers is one of his foremost adversaries."
by Dorothy L. Sayers
Rating: 4.3 ⭐
Today you hear it even from many well-meaning Christians: "It doesn't really matter what you believe, so long as you're sincere."But in Creed or Chaos?, author Dorothy Sayers demonstrates that such a "doctrineless Christianity" is not merely impossible; it's dangerous. Indeed, argues Sayers, if Christians don't steep themselves in doctrine, then the Christian Faith -- and the world outside the Faith -- will descend into chaos.Each of us must choose: creed . . . or chaos! This book shows why there's no way you can avoid that choice -- and it helps you to choose wisely.
Choice selections from the Wimsey family’s correspondence during World War II. Intended by Dorothy Sayers primarily as a form of commentary on the war, on topics ranging from British life and government to foreign powers and dreams for the post-war future, it serves as a fascinating appendix to the adventures of Lord Peter Wimsey and his companions.
by Dorothy L. Sayers
Rating: 4.3 ⭐
The British aristocrat and sleuth takes on four more puzzling whodunits in this beloved series from “one of the greatest mystery story writers” (Los Angeles Times). A gentleman needs hobbies. For Lord Peter Wimsey—a Great War veteran with a touch of shell shock—collecting rare books, sampling fine wines, and catching criminals are all most pleasant diversions. In these Golden Age whodunits, “Lord Peter can hardly be spared from the ranks of the great detectives of the printed page” (The New York Times). The Unpleasantness at the Bellona On Armistice Day, a wealthy general dies in his club, surrounded by fellow veterans—while across town his sister also dies suspiciously, throwing a half-million-pound inheritance into turmoil. Now club member Lord Peter Wimsey must fight an uphill battle to solve the case. Strong Lord Peter Wimsey comes to the trial of Harriet Vane for a glimpse at one of the most engaging murder cases London has seen in years. There is little doubt the woman will face the hangman. A mildly popular mystery novelist, she stands accused of poisoning her fiancé, a literary author and well-known advocate of free love. But as Lord Peter watches Harriet in the dock, he begins to doubt her guilt—and to fall in love. The Five Red In the idyllic village of Kirkcudbright on the Scottish coast, every resident and visitor has two things in They either fish or paint (or both), and they all hate Sandy Campbell. So when the painter’s body is found at the bottom of a steep hill, Wimsey suspects someone’s taken a creative approach to the art of murder. Have His Harriet Vane has gone on vacation to forget her recent murder trial and, more importantly, to forget the man who cleared her name—the dapper, handsome, and maddening Lord Peter Wimsey. But when she finds a dead body on the beach, only the gentleman sleuth can help her solve a murder after all the evidence has washed out to sea.
by Dorothy L. Sayers
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
No mystery can stump the British aristocrat and sleuth—in these four novels in the beloved series from “one of the greatest mystery story writers” (Los Angeles Times). A gentleman needs hobbies. For Lord Peter Wimsey—a Great War veteran with a touch of shell shock—collecting rare books, sampling fine wines, and catching criminals are all most pleasant diversions. In these Golden Age whodunits, “Lord Peter can hardly be spared from the ranks of the great detectives of the printed page” (The New York Times). Murder Must Advertise: The iron staircase at Pym’s Publicity is a deathtrap, so no one in the advertising agency is surprised when Victor Dean tumbles down it, cracking his skull. His replacement arrives just a few days later—a green copywriter named Death Bredon. Though he displays a surprising talent for selling margarine, alarm clocks, and nerve tonics, Bredon is not really there to write copy. He is, in fact, Lord Peter Wimsey, come in search of the man who pushed Dean. The Nine Tailors: During their stay in the countryside, Lord Peter and his manservant Bunter encounter hospitality, dinner, and an invitation from the local rector to go bell ringing to welcome the New Year. They also encounter murder, a mutilated corpse, and a decades-old jewel theft for which locals continue to die. In this land where bells toll for the dead, the ancient chimes never seem to stop. Gaudy Night: When mystery novelist and acquitted murder suspect Harriet Vane returns to Oxford for her college reunion, she finds that her troubles are far greater than a damaged reputation. The first poison-pen letter calls her a “dirty murderess,” and those that follow are no kinder. As the threats become more frightening, she calls on Wimsey for help. Among the dons of Oxford lurks a killer, but it will take more than a superior education to outwit the gentleman sleuth and his ladylove. Busman’s Holiday: A murderer kills the mood for newlyweds Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane on their honeymoon, when they discover the house’s caretaker bludgeoned to death in the manor’s basement. In a house full of suspects, the only thing harder than finding the killer will be finding time to be alone.