The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Nine Tailors
Book Review: Tough to get past the atmosphere
Summary: 3 Stars
A very good mystery novel but not, in my opinion, one of Dorothy Sayers' best works. She herself admits that the mathematical complexities of church bell ringing is a very British phenomeon. For other audiences, the setting of the story can be almost intrusive and very difficult to deal with.Book Review: Vintage Paperback
Summary: 4 Stars
Book condition was as stated in the discription. To read many older novels, one often has to buy older paperback copies. The public libraries do not replace copies of authors such as D.Sayers. I am not certain if they are even available. The vendor did not send a shipping notice, but the book arrived within a week. No harm - no foul.Book Review: Well crafted and complex
Summary: 4 Stars
Although I am utterly clueless on the subject of change-ringing, I like art based on a "borrowed" artistic form and thoroughly enjoyed the patterns Sayers employed in designing this novel. Craft...art...design...no simple mystery story, this. The most telling proof of the artistic framework of this book is the manner in which the sleuth himself is enmeshed in the plot...but I can't give that away now, can I? So you'll just have to read it and appreciate it for yourself.Book Review: Well-Written, But Not Very Mysterious
Summary: 4 Stars
The Nine Tailors is a well-written story; unfortunately the crafting of the mystery has not held up over the years. Many of Sayers' plot devices have become routine, if not clichéd, so it's little wonder modern readers leap to conclusions ahead of Lord Peter Wimsey.The plot revolves around a rural community in England and certain misdeeds past and present. Central to the community is its church, and it is here that Lord Peter spends most of his time, either in the Rectory, the cemetery, or the church building itself.
The story is told through the metaphor of "change ringing." If you know nothing of this English tradition it is possible to soldier through - the text does provide some clues - but it's rough going. A website with some particularly helpful information is www.nagcr.org/pamphlet.html. An online Java application that enables you to ring your own bells is www.cs.ubc.ca/spider/kvdoel/bells/bells.html. Googling for "change ringing" will provide additional examples, but these two cover many of the points Sayers includes in the novel.
While the mystery is not the most challenging (outside of a cryptogram, which is almost as unsolvable as the code in Have His Carcase), this is still an extremely good novel. Sayers' small church characters are written spot on, and her inclusion of church and governmental politics feels authentic. Other Lord Peter novels have held up better over time; that this one hasn't serves as a testimony to the effect Dorothy Sayers has had on the mystery writers that came after her. I enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it with the minor caveats listed above.
Book Review: great book
Summary: 5 Stars
I literally ordered it and got it so quickly! I also love the author and her books.