Strong Poison

A Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane Mystery

By: Dorothy L. Sayers

Narrated by: Ian Carmichael

Dashing detective Lord Peter Wimsey is caught up in the murder trial of mystery writer Harriet Vane. Her fiance has died of poisoning exactly as described in one of Harriet's novels, so naturally she is the prime suspect. As Peter looks on, he not only falls in love with the accused but eagerly helps with Harriet's defense when the first trial ends in a hung jury. Will she be convicted and executed for the crime, or can he save her life and win her hand in marriage?Check out other Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries in our store.©1930 Executors of the Estate of Anthony Fleming (P)1989 Chivers Audio Books

Critic reviews

"Dorothy Sayers is 'in a class by herself.'"(Chicago Tribune)

good read

great story. the audio was muffled in parts so was hard to hear, but good for the most part.

Harriet Vane is introduced

I read the final book of the Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series last week, and that inspired me to go back and listen to the audiobook of Strong Poison, the book where Harriet Vane was introduced. Unfortunately, I continue to not really be a fan of Ian Carmichael’s audiobook. They are fine, but not as well narrated and engineered as I think they should be.

There is not much different from this second reading of Strong Poison than my thoughts after the first reading. I was mostly interested in getting the details of the book, so I could read the books between Strong Poison and Busman’s Holiday over the next couple of weeks. I also wish that Harriet was more present in this book. She is basically a damsel in distress here. She is in jail for virtually the entire book. People know her and reference her, but she is not a strong character. She is more present in Have His Carcase, but that is still mostly told from Peter’s perspective. I still have not read a number of the short stories, and I am currently in the middle of Gaudy Night (which is told from Harriet’s perspective). Gaudy Night and Busman’s Holiday prove that this could have been a good series that focuses on the two of them, not just Harriet as a sidekick.

At some point, I will probably read the Jill Paton Walsh series based on this one. Jill Paton Walsh turned a draft of Sayers into Thrones, Dominations and then wrote an additional three books about the married life of the Wimsey’s.

Sayers, Whimsey, and Carmichael - a winning combination

Love all the Lord Peter novels and Ian Carmichael evokes the televised versions of decades ago that were magical.

Fantastic story and narrator!

I absolutely loved this Peter Wimsey story and introduction to Harriet Vane. Ian Carmichael is simply unmatched at narration. Fantastic listen!

fun read

While Ms Sayers' mysteries are not terribly original the atmosphere is truly entertaining. if you listen to abridged versions on BBC you will miss the embellishments conjured in her books.


The first chapter is a slog because you have to listen to a judge recreate the background but once you get past that the story is fun and edge-of-the-seat. Two women characters get to go underground to perilously & creatively investigate the mystery . Bunter works his charms to question housekeeping staff.

Don't miss the seance which George Washington continuously interrupts! It's a hoot.

Did you know that in the thirties they invented "free love"? Look up free love if you're too young to remember the 70's. The characters and the dialogue are wonderfully constructed. Fascinating to have a window into the past and see how Humanity changes so little.