Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane investigate a dead body on the beach in this “nearly perfect detective story” by the author of Busman’s Honeymoon (Saturday Review). Harriet Vane has gone on vacation to forget her recent murder trial and, more importantly, to forget the man who cleared her name—the dapper, handsome, and maddening Lord Peter Wimsey. She is alone on a beach when she spies a man … on a beach when she spies a man lying on a rock, surf lapping at his ankles. She tries to wake him, but he doesn’t budge. His throat has been cut, and his blood has drained out onto the sand.
As the tide inches forward, Harriet makes what observations she can and photographs the scene. Finally, she goes for the police, but by the time they return the body has gone. Only one person can help her discover how the poor man died at the beach: Lord Peter, the amateur sleuth who won her freedom and her heart in one fell swoop.
Have His Carcase is the 8th book in the Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries, but you may enjoy the series by reading the books in any order.
This ebook features an illustrated biography of Dorothy L. Sayers including rare images from the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College.
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I’ve had a crush on Peter Whimsey since I was a girl, and really enjoyed rereading this now I’m an old lady. It was just as much fun this time round.
The title comes from a bit in English law that basically says you can’t have a trial without a body: Have his carcass or the coroner can’t sit on it. The story is yet another difficult period for Lord Peter and his Harriet. In detection there’s a corpse, a complicated secret code, and Harriet’s first real involvement in the solving of a murder …
I learned about ‘comet vintages’ when I checked on the shade of red Lord Peter suggests to Harriet in the dress she’s looking to buy: the color of Chateau Margaux 1861 or 1811.
This book was such fun to read, with all the asides and the interplay of Lord Peter’s desires and Harriet’s fears. You see two brilliant minds at work.
While the book was very engaging I must admit to preferring the BBC series of the Peter Whimsey exploits. Some action I was expecting didn’t materialize and some things that did should have been a product of other characters. All in all, though, the writing is wonderful.
Extensive detail and backtracking slows it down, but the solution is not readily apparent and requires careful parsing of a bucket of clues.
Great mystery, but the ending disappointed me. This is the first Peter Wimsey novel that I’ve been disappointed in, so that was kind of a shock. Lol.
The mystery itself was fantastic. The twists and turn kept me guessing until the last possible moment. Even though I did figure out bits and pieces along the way, I COULD NOT figure out who had …
It was a bit slow and repetitive, but I did like the characters and the plot.
I never tire of reading or re-reading Dorothy Sayers mysteries. It’s been a delight during these days of quarantine.
This went on much too long and actually never ended. A very disappointing read.
It’s Dorothy Sayers. Need we say more?
This was my first book by Dorothy Sayers and I was disappointed. It was okay but quite far-fetched, I thought.
Sayers creates a very different kind of locked room mystery, using tide tables and the accidental discovery of a gigolo murdered by the sea shore.
This Lord Peter Wimsey builds on the romantic relationship started in Strong Poison between the society detective and the strong willed Harriet Vane.
A terrific mystery and one I am quite find of.
A great read, even the 2nd time around!
I have a crush on Lord Peter.
Classic mystery with protagonist Lord Peter Wimsey and his beloved. Original in the time it was written. It had some slow parts, compared to others in the series, hence the deduction of a star, but still a much higher quality of mystery than most being written today. Definitely worth a read for Wimsey fans.
All of Sayers’s books are delightful, and this is no exception. Wonderful twists and turns and great lead characters with real depth.
Love Dorothy Sayers, in this one Harriet and Lord Peter seem to move ahead just a tiny bit.
Dorothy Sayers never fails to provide a good read. The characters, the plot and the sheer command of the language make for a very satisfying reading adventure.
Having read most of Sayers’ books I found this one, in contrast, a bit slow and repetitive
Thoroughly enjoyed it. A very satisfying read.