Minako's Full Review: Dorothy L. Sayers - Clouds of Witness: A Lord Pete...
In this second Lord Peter Wimsey novel, his lordship finds his family name in jeopardy as his brother is accused of murder. The Duke of Denver and a few friends and family are eagerly awaiting the new hunting season at Riddlesdale Lodge. In a strange accidential twist of events, Lady Mary Wimsey's fiance, Captain Denis Cathcart is found dead in the conservatory by the Duke himself. With a whole house full of suspects, a diamond cat, and an ill-tempered neighbor just over the moors, can Lord Peter solve this classic whodunnit in time to save his brother?
The growth in Sayers' writing from Whose Body? to Clouds of Witness is remarkable. While Body was a pretty straightforward, dead-man-in-a-bath novel, Clouds is a fantastic puzzle filled with perfectly timed events, secret pasts, and unprecedented turns. Sayers had succeeded in creating a feisty, eccentric, impossible-not-to-love character for the first book, but to breathe life into Lord Peter Wimsey as something more than the usual brooding, brilliant private sleuth is a feat probably never to be duplicated in the mystery genre again.
Peter Wimsey was raised in high society in England, yet he hardly acts it. Here's an excerpt from the novel:
"Mornin', dear old things," said the newcomer cheerfully. "How are you all? Hullo, Helen! Colonel, you owe me half a crown since last September year. Mornin', Mrs. Marchbanks. Mornin', Mrs. P. Well, Mr. Murbles, how d'you like this bili-beastly weather? Don't trouble to get up, Freddy; I'd simply hate to inconvenience you. Parker, old man, what a damned reliable old bird you are! Always on the spot, like that patent ointment thing. I say have you all finished? I meant to get up earlier, but I was snorin' so Bunter hadn't the heart to wake me.."
Just from the way he speaks to others you can feel the energy radiating off him. And for a 33 year old man, it's a lot of energy. I imagine close acquaintances with Lord Peter would be of mixed emotions: exasperated by his impatient personality and amazed by the true intelligence in his crime solving. Therefore this dynamic character keeps the reader attentive novel after novel to see what happens next.
Clouds of Witness is a well executed mystery story that'll have you guessing 'til the last page. A vibrant cast of characters maintain excitement throughout the events.. and some rather lengthy monologue. Although it's not nail-biting suspense or gripping drama, this novel will please Wimsey fans and the wanna-be amateur detective.
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