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Original poster

Lord Peter Wimsey Novels - pick one for me to read please!

114 replies

HollyGoHeavily · 09/05/2012 11:44

My book group meets pretty soon and this month's choice is to read a Lord Peter Wimsey novel. I have never heard of him not yet had the pleasure so need some pointers. Which of the novels should I read? The first one? Or is there a stand-out one in the middle of the series?

OP posts:
Ouluckyduck · 09/05/2012 12:13

I was in love with him as a teenager, too! Love Gaudy Night!! Was in Oxford the other day and dreamily looking at that bridge!

BellaBearisWideAwake · 09/05/2012 12:13

My iPhone changed wimsey to winery and to sunset! I can't type or proofread

BellaBearisWideAwake · 09/05/2012 12:12

Thanks to this thread I am now going to go and reread all the wimsey/vane stories, I'm so excited!!

HappySeven · 09/05/2012 12:10

I was in love with Peter Wimsey as a teenager. He just seemed so lovely and it all seemed so romantic. Bizarrely, like Seeker, I'm quite excited about you reading them. I'd definitely recommend Strong Poison as a starter.

Might have to dig out my copy and indulge myself..

Original poster
HollyGoHeavily · 09/05/2012 12:06

Will do :)

Now I just need to find some time to actually do some reading.....

OP posts:
BellaBearisWideAwake · 09/05/2012 12:05

Someone described them as intelligent agatha christie but I don't think that does them justice.

Also, they assume you have fluency in French!! Only some paragraphs and I got the gist but I felt a bit stupid. I love Peter winery though!

seeker · 09/05/2012 12:03

I am ridiculously excited that you're reading them for the first time. Please tell me what you make of it!

BellaBearisWideAwake · 09/05/2012 12:03

After gaudy night read Busman's Honeymoon. Top class.

Original poster
HollyGoHeavily · 09/05/2012 12:02

I have a fairly high tolerance for posh people :)

Thanks all, i'll start with Strong Poison

OP posts:
seeker · 09/05/2012 11:57

Oh- Gaudy Night! One of my favourite books of ALL TIME!

But you need to read Strong Poison first.

They are all, except, bizarrely Gaudy Night, really good audio books.

As for whether they are easy to read, it depends a bit on your tolerance for posh people period pieces. Personally, I love them, but I can see that it could easily grate.

Finocchio · 09/05/2012 11:55

Yes they're easy reads. A bit like Agatha Christies but more satisfying. Also rather a lot of John Donne poetry quotes but you can skip those...

Original poster
HollyGoHeavily · 09/05/2012 11:53

Are they fairly easy to read? I'm a bit disorganised this month and only have a few days to read it in...

OP posts:
CharlotteBronteSaurus · 09/05/2012 11:51

yy to Strong Poison as a good starting point

Finocchio · 09/05/2012 11:49

My favourites are the ones with Harriet Vane in. The first of those is Strong Poison, then Have his Carcass, then Gaudy Night (my favourite).

I think Clouds of Witness is an early one that's quite good too.

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