Customer Reviews

Gaudy Night (Mystery Masters)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Lord Peter Wimsey is the urbane, civilized, gourmand, bon vivant sleuth created by Dorothy L. Sayers in the 30s. Yet the Gaudy is not totally about him. It is more Harriet Vane's book. Peter comes in later and as they say saves the day.
What a stupendous achievement! Twice the length of most detective stories of its day, this book boasts of no murder and keeps the interest in the book unflagging till the end. How did Ms. Sayers manage it? Simply by her wonderful writing skill, her command of the English language (next to none-puts Christie to shame)and her characters. Long before the women's lib movement, this spunky character braved public opinion, police scrutiny and nearly the hangman's noose, without losing her inflappable belief in herself. True, it reflected the author's own life but a character that Gloria Steinem would have revered.
Oxford, Shrewsbury College, Sayers' own alma mater, come to life like no one city and institution in the entire history of mystery fiction. Yes, Harriet is the heroine but Oxford is the crown prince. That is what distinguishes this book. It is more realized as a novel not just a detective story. Sadly, though the quality of writing remains the same, the next and last Wimsey novel with Harriet: Busman's Honeymoon, is overwritten and meandering. But that shows that Ms. Sayers was human, too.
The narration is typically British which adds to the enjoyment of this wonderful book.

"Gaudy Night" is one of my two favorite Sayers books. "Nine Tailors" is the other. So I don't need any reviews to know it's a great story and well written. And I wanted it unabridged. I wasn't crazy about having to buy the CD version by Ian Carmichael because I don't really care for his voice, but that was the only thing available. I'm enjoying it anyway. What I didn't like was that the final track of 4 of the discs would not load onto my iPod. I'm not enough of a technician to understand why, and am talking to the manufacturer about it.

Dorothy L. Sayers' GAUDY NIGHT benefits from Ian Carmichael's pointed production: his BBC background lending accent and tension to the story of an Oxford reunion which involves mystery writer Harriet in a case of ghostly murder. Tension evolves quickly as murder turns to mayhem in this thriller.

It seems slow at first (compared with modern mysteries that seem start with a theft, murder or other violent action), but the use of the English language was so refreshing from today's norm that I continue to listen...and very glad that I did. Today's readers will probable find the character traits and social situations unrealistic -- no one argues so politely or maintains the same level of social manners in modern settings. If written by a more recent author it would probable be a psychological thriller with a romantic interest between the two main characters. As it is, the story line is lighter, the mystery is engaging and kept me guessing (all the clues are not provided until the end), yes there is a romantic interest between the two characters. I gave it 4 stars to be conservative but I'll revisit this story again, so it has my personal 5 star - it has my long term keeper rating.

Gaudy Night is Sayers at her academic best. The more you read it, the more you get from it. The characters are delightful, and there is romance as well as detection. All this is brought to life by the expert narration of Ian Carmicheal. A treasure!

Ian Carmichael is one of the first Lord Peter Wimsey's. There are a series of films with him as Wimsey such as "Five Red Herrings". He is a natural to be reading this recorded edition.

My first encounter with Dorothy L. Sayers was the Mobile Mystery Theater series showing on PBS. Unfortunately, I did not realize that my video player was also a recorder until the "Gaudy Night" was on Mystery Theater. In that sense, I was lucky to copy the complete three hour "Gaudy Night." I now own the DVD that came out in 2002.

Naturally, the TV media cannot fill in all the details that you would pick up from reading the book, so I read the book. This added more depth and characters to the story. Dorothy not only fleshes her characters out but her side trips into philosophy and psychology make the story that much more interesting. Just when you ask what is the relevance to this conversation it is wrapped up in the final solution.

It is too bad they do not make the unabridged recording of this book anymore, as the reader is Ian Carmichael the first TV Lord Peter Wimsey.
This is the third of a fourth book series. Enough background information is given however to make this a stand-alone story.

The notorious Harriet Vane is invited to a class reunion. She is looking forward to a quiet time with a better part of her history. Once there, she starts getting notes that carry negative connotations. The notes are pasted together from cut out newspaper words. Soon others are receiving the notes. The School authorities request Harriet to help get quietly to the bottom of this. Circumstances eventually force her once more to go to Lord Peter Wimsey for help. I am over simplifying the plot but it is better to discover it for your self. This is a five star book.

Dorothy L. Sayers Mysteries (The Lord Peter Wimsey-Harriet Vane Collection - Strong Poison / Have His Carcass / Gaudy Night)

Ian Carmichael has a rich theatrical voice that I enjoy quite a bit. I love his portrayals as Wimsey in film, even though they are hopelessly munged up by writers and producers, and this is perfect.. Sayer's own voice brought to us by Carmichael's wit and quick tongue. I wish it was in print so I didn't have to scrape to get them.. one person is selling it for almost $500!!!

The third of Dorothy Sayer's Harriet Vane/Lord Peter Wimsey novels, Gaudy Night takes Harriet back to her Oxford college in the 1930's to help the female dons discover the identity of a potential murderer who is plaguing them with poison pen letters and vandalism. Peter Wimsey soon enters the plot of this fine novel that is part mystery, part love story, full of high drama and wry humor, and that also offers insight into the social issues of the day. At the heart of the novel is Oxford University itself with its ancient colleges, swaying towers and, not least, its tradition of intellectual integrity. This unabridged audio edition is brilliantly read by Ian Carmichael who has frequently played the part of Wimsey on radio and TV. Highly recommended!

If you have enjoyed other Peter Winsey mysteries, you will be disappointed. The "crime" is a poison pen writer at (Harriet's alma mater, as if she is not competent to investigate anything more serious)

Manners and language of another age form an intrusive barrier to following the germ of plot through many vagaries - a most unsatisfying foray, yet testament to the waning influence of the English upper class system, despite the author's clear snobbery regarding lower class persons and tiresome pontificating about the 'role of women' . Having enjoyed other Sayers works, this one is a big null set.