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Whose Body?  By  cover art

Whose Body?

By: Dorothy L. Sayers
Narrated by: Nadia May
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Publisher's summary

Sayers' most renowned amateur detective, the engaging and amusing Lord Peter Wimsey, sets out to unravel a puzzling case involving the disappearance of a wealthy financier and the discovery of a nude corpse, wearing a golden pince-nez, in a bathtub. He does succeed in solving things to everyone's ultimate satisfaction, but only after a series of bloodcurdling and hair-raising episodes that will hold the listener spellbound with anticipation.

Dorothy L. Sayers, long considered one of the top mystery authors of our day, has excelled herself in this delightfully macabre tale, a truly rare find for anyone interested in top-flight crime fiction.

©1995 Dorothy L. Sayers (P)1998 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The tale is better written and has a good deal more characterization than one finds in the average detective story." ( New York Times)

What listeners say about Whose Body?

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Not completely unabridged

This is an excellent entry in the Sayers line of work with Lord Peter Wimsey, and the reading works well.
However, part of the text was left out. For one not already familiar with the story, the missing piece may cause a little confusion coming into the conclusion. On the other hand, maybe it wouldn't be noticeable to someone who hasn't reread most of Sayers' novels several times!

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40 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Five stars, and yet. . .

. . . this is perhaps not one of Sayers's most memorable mysteries, but one of the few that is available. I wish that Audible carried more of her titles.

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29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I Admit I Didn't Think This Would Work

A story with a preponderance of male characters being read by a female voice? That's what I wondered about when I took this from our public library years ago on audio cassette. But I was surprised and delighted then and remain surprised and delighted now. May conveys Wimsey, Bunter, Parker, the dowager duchess--everyone--to perfection.

Of all the Wimsey stories, this first in the series stands out as the one with the most comedy. Yes, it's a dark tale chillingly told. But there are fine moments of levity that relieve the gloom; sometimes this early edition of Lord Peter can almost sound as if he were about to drop in at the Drones Club for a quick spot before lunch.

And the story is good. In fact it's superb. But I'm not gong to say any more for fear of spoiling it for you.

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

An Unpleasant Surprise

I've always loved Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Whimsey novels. I particularly looked forward to this purchase since only a few of her works are available as audiobooks. It was a disappointment. Nadia May makes the suave Lord Peter come across as a grating fishwife and a horse's patoot. I don't remember him being so idiotic and silly. She also reads WAY too fast, obliterating every dramatic pause and letting one character's dialogue run into the next. I doubt I'll get through it. I wouldn't recommend it.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Lord Peter Deserves Better

First of all, why a woman narrator? Considering the story, a man would have made more sense. This particular woman was shrill, over-exuberant, and talked way too fast. I tried slowing the narration down, but still couldn't listen to it. I was looking forward to becoming reacquainted with Lord Peter, but ended up hugely disappointed instead.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Whose Reading?

With so many fine British readers available, including Ian Carmichael who has read several of the LPW books as well as portrayed Lord Peter on BBC radio and BBC/PBS TV, why was a woman ever chosen as the reader? Maybe the $2.95 Kindle price deal had something to do with it? Nadia May is a fine reader, but try as she might, she really was out of her depth in a book with predominantly male characters, and try as I might, it was a struggle to continue to listen all the way to the end.

In spite of Lord Peter's affected manner and the at times jarringly dated attitudes reflected in the books, there is a reason why people are still reading Sayers. If you have never read the LPW books and enjoy Christie, Tey or Marsh, or if you last read them years ago, I recommend you read this one in print only and start your audible experience with a male reader, preferably Carmichael.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Strange and Satisfying

Gentlemen of Lord Peter Wimsey's class aren't expected to take up employment, and some view his involvement with crime to be in very poor taste. But he can't help getting wrapped up in a good case of murder, and this one is a doozy: a man is found laying in the bath at an architect's home completely naked, save for the presence of a pince-nez perched on his nose. The architect can't have committed the murder and the body strangely resembles Sir Reuben Levy, a powerful banker who has disappeared overnight. I liked the ongoing construction of the Lord Wimsey character and the many incongruous elements of the story that Sayers weaved in were very entertaining. Definitely a series worth pursuing, which I hope Audible will make available in the unabridged editions sooner than later.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Pretty good mystery, but not the best

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This book was an okay mystery, but I'd heard so much about the author that I expected more. I found it a little dull. I've loved Agatha Christie and thought this might be similar. However, there were some amusing moments in the story.

Would you be willing to try another book from Dorothy L. Sayers? Why or why not?

I'll try another one to see if maybe this was just one I couldn't connect with.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A true post Great War mystery!

It took a bit to get into this novel, but I really enjoyed it once I did.

I was childishly excited to know that I read a book originally published in 1923. It's wild to know all the nuances and sayings were true to form. I can't get enough of how the English added 'what' to the end of it all - delightful!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story

A complex and intriguing plot. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Watch out for those dissection details if you’re eating though. Loved it!

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