Strong Poison: Amazon.ca: Dorothy L. Sayers: Books

Product Description

From AudioFile

Dorothy Sayers's Lord Peter Wimsey ranks among the world's great fictional detectives. In this story he joins forces for the first time with the one true love of his life, Harriet Vane, who is on trial for poisoning her fiancé when Wimsey meets her. Not only does Wimsey believe in her innocence, he falls in love with her at first sight. Cleverly he brings home the case for her. Here his adventure is ably recounted by Ian Carmichael, who portrayed Wimsey skillfully for PBS's "Mystery!" He is no less adroit here, capturing Wimsey down to his pince-nez, and being equally adept at the minor characters, particularly the deep-voiced Harriet. Sayers's fans and others who like a good mystery well told will be charmed by this special audiobook. T.H. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

-- New York Times

"A model detective story . . . fascinating."

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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Miss Sayers administers the dose., Nov 18 2003

By	John Austin "austinjr@bigpond.net.au" (Kangaroo Ground, Australia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Strong Poison (Audio Cassette)

Few would argue with the contention that no better writer has ever tried her hand at writing detective fiction than Dorothy L Sayers. I happen to like good writing, and I don't mind if it features more strongly than the puzzle component in a mystery novel.

"Strong Poison" abounds in wit, charm, characterization, and literary excellence. This is the one that begins with two whole chapters of a judge's summing up. On trial is Harriet Vane, accused of killing her lover by administering arsenic. All believe she is guilty except one jury member, Miss Murchison, who prevents the jury from bringing in a "guilty" verdict, and someone attending the trial, Lord Peter Wimsey, who determines to prove Harriet's innocence and make her his wife.

Dorothy L Sayers then makes little pretence at hiding the identity of the killer. Instead she unfolds a fascinating investigation into how the crime was committed and how Lord Peter and one or two helpers collected the evidence to convict.

Neither as long nor as long-winded as some of Miss Sayers' later detective fiction, this one offers rich and pure pleasure all the way. The additional luxury of hearing it read by Ian Carmichael in audio book form is well worth investigating.

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4.0 out of 5 stars More minor errors (spoiler alert), Feb 19 2002

By	Lucy Fisher (London, n/a Great Britain) - See all my reviews

The arsenic-eating peasants live in Styria, not Syria, and investigating spiritualists go in for psychical, not physical, research.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Ian Carmichael IS Lord Peter Wimsey, Aug 9 2001

By	Toby Wallace (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strong Poison (Audio Cassette)

I should admit my prejudice up front: to me the English actor Ian Carmichael IS Lord Peter Wimsey. I was introduced to Dorothy L. Sayers by "Masterpiece Theatre," which ran at least five dramatizations of her Wimsey novels beginning in the 1970s. While I certainly acknowledge the artistry--both as actor and audiobook reader-- of Edward Petherbridge, who appeared later in the three Harriet Vane-Wimsey stories broadcast by PBS on "Mystery!," I still tend to visualize Lord Peter as Mr. Carmichael when re-reading the books or when listening to audio cassettes. There are other British actors who excel at audiobooks--Martin Jarvis comes to mind--but I like listening to Ian Carmichael whether he is reading Sayers or P.G. Wodehouse. I might even be tempted to listen to him read Miss Sayers' translation of Dante's "Inferno." Well, no, that would be going too far. "Strong Poison" is the first of the Harriet Vane stories. Murder is done in a diabolically clever manner. The aristocratic detective comes to the defense of the accused and falls in love with her, a romance that is continued through three additional novels, four if you count the recently-published fragment "Thrones, Dominations." There is a neat blend of familiar characters from previous books and a number of new and interesting supporting players. Be prepared to go on to "Have His Carcase" and "Gaudy Night" and "Busman's Honeymoon." Did I mention that Ian Carmichael is really good at this sort of thing?

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The beginning of a wonderful series of romance/mysteries
Harriet Vane, an author of mysteries, is on trial for the murder of her former lover. Amateur detective and wealthy nobleman, Lord Peter Whimsey attends the trial and becomes... Read more

Published on Jul 28 2001 by Gray

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read!
I really like Sayers's writing style. She lacks the intensity and tension found in some mystery writers, but she makes up for it with her classic style. Read more

Published on Jul 31 2000 by jrountree

5.0 out of 5 stars Harriet Vane's Debut Enchants
Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey books are diverting detective fiction, set in a 20s and 30s England in which an aristocrat who is much less silly than he sometimes pretends... Read more

Published on Jul 15 2000 by Robert H. Nunnally Jr.

4.0 out of 5 stars NOT POISON
My initial impression was that Sayers gave far too much information on the trial of Harriet Vane. However, the witty characters of Lord Peter Wimsey and Miss Climpson caused me... Read more

Published on Jun 23 2000 by Amanda Houston