I listened to three in a row, Whose Body?, Clouds of Witness, and Unnatural Death, all narrated by Richard Meadows, who deserves his own round of applause. He did an incredible job with the voices. Lord Peter has a slightly flippant upper-class drawl, Parker is the model of a stedy policeman, Bunter has a slow deferential manner. His narration brings the characters alive and makes you forget you’re listening to a single person.
Whose Body?
The first book introduces Lord Peter Wimsey, upper-class amateur sleuth. A naked body turns up in a bath wearing only a pince-nez, and Peter can’t resist investigating. The plot is intricate and I was hooked immediately to the series.
Clouds of Witness
This one really stepped things up. Peter’s brother, the Duke of Denver, is accused of murder after a man is found shot outside their family lodge. The trial scenes are gripping, and Peter is able to demonstrate his more serious side occasionally.
Unnatural Death
This one was probably my favourite of the three. It’s darker and a little more unsettling. An old lady dies under seemingly natural circumstances, but Peter isn't convinced. What follows is a twisty investigation involving inheritance and deception. It also introduces a new character, a Mrs Climpson who is devout but nosy and is such a fascinating example of people from that time in history.
That said, Sayers does rely on some conveniently timed coincidences like Mrs. Climpson just happening to pick the exact apartment she needs at the end. Very narratively convenient.
In short, I absolutely loved these. Compared to Agatha Christie's novels I feel like they are less about solving the murder yourself and more about watching the reasoning unfold.
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