"Strong Poison" (1930)

[BlackAdder]

This is the first of the Harriet Vane's, and as such I have avoided rereading it for many years (I can't STAND that mawkish love affair), until now. It was a pleasant surprise, since that aspect of the story doesn't take center stage except in the sense that it explains Wimsey's involvement in the case. As a detective story plot, it is well done, although the arsenic business is a tried and true thing that wouldn't fool anybody who has read more than a dozen GAD books. The book is well-written and witty, and there is a lot of amusing diversion involving Lord Peter's 'Irregulars', the ladies of the 'Cattery' secreterial agency he subsidizes to snoop into the affairs of lawyers and businessmen. Bunter does his bit, as does Inspector Parker, who marries Peter's sister. Well done detective story.

This is one of the earlier Sayers's (1930), all of which are fine, if rather dated. It was only in the late 1930s that the books degenerated so badly.

[Patrick Gore]

Originally Posted by BlackAdder

it is well done, although the arsenic business is a tried and true thing that wouldn't fool anybody who has read more than a dozen GAD books.

Robert Barnard notes that "The House of Lurking Death" from Christie's Partners in Crime anticipates the solution. I'm sure it goes back farther than that though. This book is a lot like Unnatural Death, which also is about figuring out how (not who) dunnit, and has Miss Climpson assist with the effort. The solution is I think average, and the business with the Turkish Delight at the climax is kind of a silly thing for Wimsey to stoop to -- though for once Wimsey doesn't play judge & executioner by sending the murderer off to kill himself as in Bellona Club, Advertise, etc. Plus, the three-chapter judicial summation that begins the novel is very undramatic. The worst is the dialogue written for Peter and Harriet -- totally unconvincing and mawkish. But nice use is made of the supporting cast, who BlackAdder calls the "irregulars," esp. Miss Climpson. All in all, while I used to think this one of the 10 best mysteries of the 1930s, I'd now grade it a B effort.

(Blake's Thou Shell of Death handles a detective's romance more winningly, I think.)