A Presumption of Death

By: Jill Paton Walsh, Dorothy L. Sayers

Narrated by: Edward Petherbridge

In A Presumption of Death, Jill Paton Walsh tells how World War II changed the lives of Peter, Harriet and their growing family.

The story opens in 1940. Harriet Vane - now Lady Peter Wimsey - has taken her children to safety in the country. But the war has followed them: glamorous RAF pilots and even more glamorous land-girls scandalise the villagers; the blackout makes the nighttime lanes as sinister as the back alleys of London. Then the village's first air raid practise ends with a very real body on the ground - not a war casualty but a case of plain, old-fashioned murder. And even before the second body is found, Lord Peter Wimsey and his brilliant wife are on their way to finding the killer.

©2002 Jill Paton Walsh and the Trustees of Anthony Fleming, deceased

Critic reviews

She brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit. (P.D. James)

I admire her novels . . . she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail (Ruth Rendell)

She combined literary prose with powerful suspense, and it takes a rare talent to achieve that. A truly great storyteller. (Minette Walters)

Dorothy L Sayers is smiling...

All Lord Peter's friends have been waiting for over 50 years to hear how it developes between Harriet & him - and here we have a storyteller who really is living with Harriet & Peter - and makes us live with them again. Finally! Wonderful reading - a very good continuation of Ian Carmichael's undying performances!

Classy writing

These collaborations are excellent but I might have enjoyed less of Harriet and more of peter and Bunter who are both much more likable and engaging characters. The story sags a little in the middle but gets going again as soon as peter appears on the scene. The depiction of the British ww2 home scene was very interesting.