Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Have His Carcase
Book Review: Good until the ending ruined it
Summary: 2 Stars
I was quite enjoying this lengthy book - both the mystery itself and the Vane/Wimsey interactions - right up to the last page or so when the abrupt, vague, disappointing, and out of character ending left me completely flat. It's almost as if the author got tired after 448 pages and just wanted to finish the story ASAP. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I'll leave it at that except to reassure that the mystery itself is solved; it's the *resolution* that's lacking.
I've been reading the Lord Peter Wimsey stories in chronological order (and would rate nearly all of them so far as 4+ Stars). That's a good thing, because if this book had been my first Wimsey book, I'm not sure I would have read any further.
Book Review: Great book, but read Strong Poison first
Summary: 5 Stars
All of Dorothy Sayers' mysteries are worth reading. She has a command of English and a story-telling ability that makes her, in my opinion, one of the two greatest mystery writers of the twentieth century. Most of Ms. Sayers' mysteries feature Lord Peter, second son of the Duke of Denver. He is one of the most delightful characters in English literature and well worth meeting in any of Ms. Sayers books. Most of the Lord Peter mysteries stand alone and can be read without worrying about sequence. However four of the mysteries involve Harriet Vane, and for maximum enjoyment, those four mysteries should be read in order. Strong Poison describes the first meeting between Harriet and Lord Peter. Have His Carcase explores the relationship between the two of them as they investigate the death of a man whose body Harriet discovers while hiking along a deserted beach. The interaction between the two of them can best be understood and appreciated if Strong Poison is read first. Have His Carcase may be the least enjoyable of the four romance-mysteries involving Harriet, but this book leads to the final two books in the series, and those two books are the finest romance-mysteries ever written.Book Review: One meets the most...interesting people on holiday
Summary: 4 Stars
Harriet Vane, well-known mystery writer, has decided to take a walking holiday along the English coast. She would like a bit of solitude to work on her latest novel and to recover from the unpleasantness of being tried for the murder of her former lover (STRONG POISON). She would also like to put some distance between her and Lord Peter Wimsey who had uncovered the true culprit and saved her from prison. Since this is a mystery novel by Sayers Harriet's plans quickly changed.
She stopped for lunch and a short nap on the beach and woke to discover a dead body nearby. In this pre-cell phone age (1930's) reporting the crime to the police became a lengthy affair. Once the police became involved the press and Lord Peter were not far behing putting a decisive end to Harriet's quiet holiday. Soon Harriet and Peter found themselves embroiled in the world of resort life - middle-aged widows, professional dance partners, fishermen, farmers, 'kept' women and long-lost royalty. In the end of course the two triumph, solving the baffling crime.
Lord Peter's infatuation with Harriet begun in STRONG POISON, has a chance to grow during this novel and is beginning to be returned by Harriet. The interactions between the two are well written and a treat for the Peter/Harriet romance fans without detracting from the mystery. As always with Sayers' work the secondary characters are well written and engaging, the plot intricately plotted and clever. Unfortunately Sayers goes into excrutiating detail at times, particularly concerning a rather complicated cipher - skim or skip that chapter.
All in all this is an excellent story, a definite must read for Lord Peter fans, particularly those into the Peter and Harriet romance but this is not the place to begin start with one of the earliest Lord Peter stories or STRONG POISON to begin the Peter/Harriet romance.
Book Review: Tedium in time
Summary: 2 Stars
A puzzling murder where the time of death is crucial. Unfortunately most of the novel is wasted effort. If you don't mind being led down a garden path and then having a cream pie thrown in your face, you'll love this. I hated it.Book Review: Well written but convoluted
Summary: 3 Stars
The story was a very interesting crimesolver type of novel. Parts of the solution were glossed over quickly leaving confusion and other parts were explained ad nauseum. The ideas and plot were good. The end came too quickly without a good summation/ conclusion to the story. It sort of left you hanging.