Clouds of Witness

A man, the would be brother-in-law of Lord Peter is killed. The chief accused is his brother while the chief witness is their sister. No doubt that drama starts from the very first page that continues with a steady pace till the closing chapters. An incredible finale is in store in this essentially courtroom case. As evidence piles up it seems that mystery is not one but many. Some witness goes missing while some clouds the judgement. It remains to be seen how the sleuth uncovers the truth assisted by Bunter along with Inspector Parker who acts as the faithful satellite while remaining mostly unbiased as his post demands. Support also comes from Peter's mother, the wise Dowager Duchess whose abilities display the trait that her son uses in his sleuthing. With an introduction by the fictitious uncle of Lord Peter this Sayers saga of crime and passion is light yet satisfying.

Whose Body?

A damn good detective story it was, maybe a very old one but a golden one no doubt! Dorothy Sayer’s 1^st novel of the Lord Peter Wimsey series had all the ingredients of a suspenseful mystery with the nobility taking interest in sleuthing, for a change. When a naked corpse with a pince-nez turns up in a humble architect’s bath it naturally arouses a curiosity. Add with it the curious disappearance of a famous financier just before an all important meeting on the next day. The motive being untraceable as was the corpse and all evidence carefully erased and those left leading haywire, Lord Peter tackles one of the shrewdest criminal brains with the help of Inspector Parker and Mervyn Brunnet, a butler and a photographer. The minute research of the criminal mind has been reflected in the works which adds a truly realistic touch to the narrative. A little stretched midway in the plot it revives the pace as Wimsey sees light in the mist of mystery. The narrative completes with a clearly composed explanation detailing every aspect of the crime that never feels boring. The only slight disappointment is the offender being unmasked at an early stage of the final chapters but it seems to be the right place as the way the novel has been developed.