Review copy was received from Library. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers Narrator: Mark Meadows
Series: Lord Peter Wimsey #3
Published by Dreamscape Media on January 3, 2023
Genres: Mystery
Length: 8 hours, 47 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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The wealthy Agatha Dawson is dead--a trifle sooner than expected--but there are no apparent signs of foul play. Lord Peter Wimsey, however, senses that something is amiss and refuses to let the case rest--even without any clues or leads. Suddenly, he is faced with another murder: Agatha's maid. Can super-sleuth Wimsey find the murderer and solve the case before he becomes the killer's next victim? The intricate trail of horror and senseless murder leads from a beautiful Hampshire village to a fashionable London flat and a deliberate test of amour.
Returning to the world of Lord Peter Wimsey, this latest case began by a chance conversation at a restaurant when a doctor shares that he thinks a murder was done and the body was even autopsied, but there was absolutely no evidence of foul play. Was there a murder? If so, how was it done so cleanly? Another fun Dorothy Sayers conundrum.
Unnatural Death is a standalone mystery originally written in 1927 and set in that period. Lord Peter, his friend Inspector Parker of Scotland Yard, his valet, Bunter, and a new member of the detecting team, old Miss Climpson are on the hunt for clues that death was done to old Miss Dawson who left all her money to her niece, Mary Whittaker.
I thought it was an interesting enough premise. Lord Peter believes young Dr. Carr when he suspects his patient, who was already dying of cancer, was finished off a tad early, but there was no proof. Peter gets the facts of the case and comes up with ample opportunity, but the means and motive elude him. Mary Whittaker was already living in the home and drawing from the funds and she was to inherit it all so she had no reason to kill the old lady, but there are oddities in her actions and slowly other people and motives are dug up.
Unnatural Death got rolling slowly and picked up speed to an exciting ending. It was a slow grind for the detecting group to inch forward bit by bit with the case, but they got there eventually. I knew who, how, and as soon as a certain fact was brought up, I knew why. I even saw the twist that baffled them for so long, but I simply enjoyed seeing Peter and the others put it all together.
Just in fair warning, there was a scene late in the story when a character’s race was all a couple individuals and the press needed to know to determine guilt. I’m not talking about subtle racial profiling, but overt assumption that people of color are born with a bent toward crime.  The main characters were not the ones to show this attitude, in fact, they had met the man of another race, showing both liking and respect for him, thought he was innocent and planned to prove this so I chose to read on.
Falling in the historical cozy mystery genre, the Lord Peter Wimsey series are light and entertaining with some good puzzlers to tackle.
Narration:
The narrator continues to be Mark Meadows and I love his way of bringing the Lord Peter characters to life, in particular, a vibrant, charming Lord Peter.
Listen to the clip:Â HEREÂ
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I enjoy these stories but I have always read the ebooks.
I read the first one years ago, but came back to the series when I started listening to more library borrow audios. I really like the narrator and hear his voice for Peter and Bunter. I haven’t gotten to the Harriet Vane stories yet so we’ll see how he does with her for me.
I’ve read the Lord Peter books several times since I found them in the seventies. I do have a number of them in my collection. Mostly the ones with Harriet.
I’m looking forward to the ones that have Harriet in them. Hoping to get through a handful of the stories each year. So fun!
This sounds like a solid mystery and an entertaining read.
I’m enjoying visiting these classic mysteries for the first time, Nadene. 🙂
historical cozy mystery? Sign me up!!
LOL, you and me both, Carole!
That sounds like a good murder mystery.
Yeah, it was great. For the longest time, they couldn’t even figure out how it was murder. Very tricky. 🙂
Wow…. an oldie. Even though it’s standalone, it’s still part of a series?
Yes, this was the third book in the series. Definitely an oldie, LOL
Oh I remember the scen you’re talking about. I’m slowly making my way through the Lord Peter Wimsey books but I think I’ll always be more of a Christie fan than a Sayers fan.
Yeah, it jumped out at me. Christie will always be my big fangirl Golden Age fav, but I’ve enjoyed finally getting to the Sayers’ series. I hope to hit the Ngaio Marsh ones at some point, too.