Strong Poison

By Dorothy L. Sayers

Lord Peter Wimsey is an expert at solving crimes, but how will he do with a deep and sudden case of love?
 
When Harriet Vane, a famous mystery novelist, is accused of murdering her former lover, Lord Peter Wimsey sets out to prove her innocence. But as the evidence of her guilt grow, his growing love for Harriet may prove to cloud his judgement.
 
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• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Aug 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9780771060427

Dorothy L. Sayers

Simon Winchester is the acclaimed author of many books, including The Professor and the Madman, The Men Who United the States, The Map That Changed the World, The Man Who Loved China, A Crack in the Edge of the World, and Krakatoa, all of which were New York Times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. In 2006, Winchester was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen. He resides in western Massachusetts.

Reviews for Strong Poison

[quondame · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was strange for me to feel Lord Peter really was behaving stupidly this read. I first read these as a teenager and no one seemed more sophisticated and clever than LP. Then in my 30s the classism grated. This read, the precipitous declaration of intent and its persistence seemed off. Of course it is still a very clever, rather fun read, but I don't think it is the best of the Lord Peter books.

[tomdonaghey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

STRONG POISON (1930) by Dorthy L. Sayers. A very strong book in the series, STRONG POISON shows why Lord Peter was and is such a fan favorite. Herein a young woman is accused of poisoning her former lover. The case looks hopeless of course but Lord Peter Wimsey must step in and prove she had nothing to do with the crime. After all, after one glance Lord Peter knows that Harriet Vane is the woman he will marry. It just wouldn’t do to have her face the gallows before he can get her to agree to the proposition.This is a witty, light-hearted book, the dialog brilliant and frothy, the charm of both Wimsey and Vane sparkles whenever the two are on the same page, and while the mystery is not a deep one, remember, it is just a sideline to the real show of the romance that blossoms.This is the sixth book in the series and, to do justice to them all, you should read them in order. What ever you do, do not skip ahead of this one or I promise you will be disappointed in yourself.

[casualfriday_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the book that introduces Harriet Vane as Peter Wimsey's love interest. Vane is a mystery novelist, not conventionally pretty but very smart, who at the start of the book is on trial for the murder of her ex-lover by poison, exactly as described in one of her novels. Wimsey improbably falls in love with her just watching her in the courtroom and proposes marriage almost immediately, despite Vane's scandalous behavior of having lived with her lover before marriage.The case against Vane appears air-tight, yet Wimsey is determined to free her, and he enlists the help of Miss Clemson, a courage and savvy spinster and part of Wimsey's "cattery," a sort of secretarial pool that serves as his amateur detective agency. It's all fun stuff, with tea and bake shops and mediums and rich old ladies with hidden wills. I enjoyed it immensely, although I figured out the murder method easily, and you will, too.

[teckelvik · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the book where Peter meets Harriet. As a mystery, it's more of a "how did he do it?" than "who did it?" because there is only one possible suspect. But getting there is lots of fun. Sayers is a talented writer, and there are scenes that are laugh out loud funny, as well as nerve-wrackingly tense. The characters are wonderful. Peter Wimsey is always a delight, and Miss Murcheson, Bunter, and his other assistants are well-drawn and real. Harriet herself is wonderful. She is prickly, angry, and not at all soft-spoken. She is not in the least interested in Peter, and says so. Fun all around.

[melissalenhardt · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There was really only one suspect, one person it could possibly be, and those kinds of mysteries are a total bore. Probably shouldn't give it three stars, but I liked Harriet Vane. She's worth one star, but I'm not sure I liked her enough to read another Wimsey novel. This is the second one I've tried, and at least I finished this one.

[kaitanya64 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This Lord Peter Wimsey mystery narrates the beginning of Lord Peter's relationship with Harriet Vane when Peter falls in love with Harriet as she is on trial for her lover's murder. Like all the rest of Sayers that I have read so far, it is not only a well-constructed and amusing mystery, but raises some deeper thought questions, in this case, whether a romantic relationship can grow in a healthy way under the circumstances of Peter having saved Harriet's life and the ongoing social stigma of her having lived with her lover in an era when that is unacceptable. A great read.

[thesmellofbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A favourite Wimsey.

[t_k_elliott · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Strong Poison is the fifth of Dorothy L. Sayers' full-length murder-mystery novels featuring aristocratic amateur detective Lord Peter Wimsey. This is the novel in which he meets the love of his life, Harriet Vane, under adverse circumstances - she is being tried for the murder of her lover.

Lord Peter is convinced that Harriet is innocent, but unfortunately he is the only person (other than Harriet herself) to think so; indeed, the evidence is overwhelming. But Lord Peter is determined to prove Harriet innocent, and to woo her at the same time.

Both of this objectives turn out to be rather difficult; the real murderer is diabolically clever, and Harriet herself has been hurt by her appalling lover (a young man whom I consider to be very much better off dead) and by her ordeal. Lord Peter's proposal falls sadly flat: it's only one of many she's had since she was arrested, since notoriety is attractive to some. Her opinion of men, therefore, would require deep-shaft mining equipment to be lower, and her opinion of herself is hardly better.

I've read this book many times; it's one of my favourites in the series. Not only is Sayers' plotting beautifully, devilishly, clever, but she is an excellent writer of character. Lord Peter comes across as rather dramatic and affected, but as you get to know him, you realise it's mostly a pose to hide his real feelings from the world. After all, if the world is going to laugh at him, he is damn well going to be in control of what they laugh at, and when.

Harriet, on the other hand, is a clever, middle-class young woman who got involved with a young man who tricked her into becoming his lover - in a society where sex before marriage was still shocking - by declaring that he, an avant garde novelist, didn't believe in marriage. Now she's agreed, and damned herself into the eyes of society thereby, he is ready to reward her sacrifice with marriage. She sees right through his hypocrisy and dumps him, thus beginning the chain of events that ends with her in the dock.

The pair of them are real, complex people. They've both been hurt in the past; they're both ferociously intelligent (Sayers herself was one of the first female Oxford graduates, and she does the reader the courtesy of assuming they are just as intelligent as she and her characters are) and they're both proud, although of different things. They are clearly drawn to each other, but Harriet can't bring herself to trust anyone, certainly not someone to whom she owes a debt of gratitude. Right from the beginning, though, you know that they are meant for each other - it's a union of minds, not a union of bodies. It's a refreshing change from so many of today's novels where lust takes the place of love, and authors write characters who are physically attracted to each other but seem to pay no attention to each other's personalities.

Anyone, moreover, who expects that Harriet will fall into Peter's arms at the end of the book is doomed to disappointment: why would she? She has her life back, given to her by Peter, but does that mean that he now has the right to dictate how she will spend it? No, it does not, and Harriet is determined to make sure he - and everyone else - knows that. Poor Peter is going to have to do a lot more digging, and Harriet is going to have to forgive him for being the person to get her out of a humiliating hole - and forgive herself for being fool enough to fall in love with an unworthy man, which got her into the hole in the first place - before she can regain the emotional strength and equilibrium to make a new start.

Harriet and Peter are real; they are hurt, and they occasionally hurt each other, either intentionally or accidentally. They each want what the relationship promises, but they are also afraid of it. Their relationship begins badly on both sides, and it takes a long time for them to repair the damage. And we get to see it happen, not in one book, because it's too complex a process for that - such problems are not so easy to solve. It takes several books, but the wait is worth it.

The Lord Peter Wimsey books are classics of detective fiction; it was first published in 1930 and is still in print. How many of today's novels will still be in print in seventy years' time? But unlike many classics, Lord Peter has stood the test of time. Yes, in some ways he is dated - the way he speaks, the way he dresses, his whole world, is gone. But his humanity, the relationships he has with his beloved (eccentric) mother the Dowager Duchess, his huntin', shootin' and fishin' older brother the Duke of Denver and the appalling Helen, the Duchess; his valet - not only manservant but also right-hand-man and, in a way, trusted friend - these are still very relevant.

The Lord Peter Wimsey books are some of my favourites; I've read all of them over and over. If you like a well-written story with excellent characterisation and some fiendish plotting, then you will enjoy these books too.

[bhabeck-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers is the fifth featuring Lord Peter Wimsey, a nobleman and an amateur detective.The story takes place in 1930 London. Mystery author Harriet Vane is on trial for the murder of her lover, Philip Boyes. The trial ends with a hung jury and is scheduled to be heard again in a month. Following the trial, Lord Peter visits Harriet in prison and declares his belief in her innocence and promises to catch the real murderer. He also announces his intention to marry her - which she rejects. Lord Peter enlists his friends and associates in his endeavor - DI Charles Parker, Hon. Freddy Arbuthnot and a highly entertaining "spy", Miss Murchison.To be honest, it took me a bit to get into the book. The original crime is presented by the judge at the trial summarizing the case before sending the jury out for deliberation. In both book and audio format, this setup was slow and ponderous. However, once Wimsey starts investigating the crime, the pace picks up and the story becomes more interesting. There is a seance scene with Miss Murchison which is laugh-out-loud in parts. The crime is, of course, solved.Rating: 4 stars.

[mamzel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My first Sir Peter Wimsey story and it won't be my last! Sir Peter is clever and amusing and in this story, works hard to absolve a young woman of a murder charge before she is sentenced to death. The clock is ticking to discover how and why a man is poisoned with arsenic and rescue the fair damsel.

[patiencefortitude · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved this! It made me laugh, and I didn't see the mystery's solution coming.

Also-- I want a butler.

[rubyscarlett-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So funny. A bit of Wodehouse, a bit of Christie, I'd say a bit of Mitford as well if it weren't so completely anachronistic. The mystery was very weak but it's a lovely way to get eccentric characters together and have them do eccentric things. An Eccentric Novel, which is kind of my favourite genre. Terrific female characters. Unforgettable, hilarious scenes. I'm so pleased I found Sayers, what a treat that book was.

[veracite · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

By now you will have surmised that I got a load of Sayers books in 2006 and had at them. True.

This one is the first one with Sayers' authorial insertion character, Harriet Vane, which works out a lot better than you might expect. Sayers is quite realistic about herself, it's Wimsey she puts on a ludicrous pedestal.

Reread in August 2011.

[narshkite · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I know, it is me, I am wrong, this book is the greatest thing ever, but I found it precious and silly and the characters were sort of ridiculous, and not in a good way. I am clearly not the target audience, despite being middle aged and a fan of PBS.

[sbsolter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my second Dorothy Sayers novel (immediately following my first) and I enjoyed it just as much. The question of who committed the murder in this case was relatively straightforward but the trick was in how it was done. The plot was decently complex and the strategies used by Lord Peter Wimsey are amusing and clever. Like with the first one I read, one of the things I enjoyed most was the witty dialogue. I highly recommend her!

[jeremypreacher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good fun as usual. The love story subplot was mildly entertaining, but fairly minor. The primary mystery was interesting and wrapped up nicely - and the Spiritualist/medium interlude was hilarious and brillant.

[kimmr_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have long loved the novels of Dorothy L Sayers, in particular those featuring Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane. I haven't re-read them for a while, though. So discovering them on audiobook has been very exciting. I have just finished listening to the audiobook of Strong Poison, which was wonderful, and will be starting on Have His Carcase soon. I had forgotten how much humour there is in Strong Poison, and it's not just Lord Peter's wit. Ms Climpson's and Ms Murchison's investigations are a hoot!

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A Lord Peter Whimsey mystery. Good minor characters, but too talky for me, plus unrealistic love story. Not really my cup of tea.

[themulhern · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The novel in which Harriet Vane is introduced and Miss Climpson is bowed out. It was a difficult book to write since it, unlike previous books, strayed into the territory of the romance novel. Lord Peter has to be made sexy somehow and is, in unfortunate paragraph, described as imperious. At least no bodices were ripped.Miss Climpson, who was introduced in Unnatural Death, has most of the best dialogue. Unfortunately, while her campaign to discover the will is ingeniously conducted, it is difficult to believe in the extraordinary spiritualist beliefs of the nurse whom she deceives.Norman Urqhart's improbably lengthy description of the career of Cremorna Gardens' various relative over the breakfast table suggests that Sayer's just didn't want to be bothered to write dialogue.Sayers is occasionally quite poetic, as when she describes Lord Peter's realization that he is growing older and less carefree.Her satire of Bohemian London _is_ funny, but so broad that it is not as funny as some of her other efforts.

[jopearson56 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What fun! Fast-paced detective novel, loved the rolls of the women! Especially notable: The Cattery, what a cool place. I enjoyed the women, and I enjoyed Lord Wimsey because HE enjoyed the women. Interesting portrayal of life in Great Britian among the upper class in the early 20th century, too.

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The first in the trilogy of the love of Lord Peter Wimsey. A very good book with an excellent mystery. I adore the debate Miss Climpson has with herself on whether or not to fake Spiritualism to get the evidence she needs in the case. Also watching Wimsey as he falls in love. The resolution of the case is also very satisfactory.

[smiley_13 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Strong Poison is not one of Sayer's best. Ingenious solution to the puzzle but Wimsey is almost Bertie Wooster on crime.

[jbd1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Back to the beginning of the Wimsey-Vane series, and I enjoyed this one as much as Busman's Honeymoon. Good mystery, witty characters ... a real delight.

[crowyhead · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This may be one of my favorite Lord Peter mysteries. Not only is it rather delightful to see Lord Peter made vulnerable by love, the murder itself is fiendishly clever. I was completely stumped as to the method, and when it was finally revealed I shouted in delight and had to run and tell Dave (my partner) all about how it was done. I'm afraid he was probably not as fascinated as I was...I think I read a review somewhere that mentioned that Harriet Vane is something of a Mary Sue, which may be true -- it's hard not to wonder when the object of Lord Peter's affection is an unconventionally attractive, witty writer of mysteries. I've always felt that Sayers had a bit of a crush on Lord Peter, after all. But then, can you blame her? We don't get to know Miss Vane very well in this mystery, because she spends most of the time in jail falsely accused, but I found that Lord Peter's admiration rubbed off on me, and I was personally rather delighted with her blunt refusal of Lord Peter's repeated proposals of marriage.

[seriousgrace · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sayers, Dorothy L. Strong Poison. New York: HarperPaperbacks, 1995.Lord Peter Wimsey is at it again. Only this time in addition to solving the mystery he's looking to fill his personal void. He wants a wife. While his methods are a bit strange (he proposes to a virtual stranger, someone he is trying to prove isn't a murderer) you can't help but love his enthusiasm. Harriet Vane is a mystery writer who just happens to know a thing or two about poison so when her estranged fiancee shows up dead...poisoned...guess who gets the blame? For all appearances this is an open and shut case. She had the motive and the means but Lord Wimsey thinks differently. Her first trial is thrown out due to a deadlocked jury so Wimsey has time to rebuild Harriet's defense...and propose with the promise "I've been told I make love rather nicely" (p 46).

[adonisguilfoyle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Superb mystery with lively characters and witty dialogue, Agatha Christie meets P.G. Wodehouse

[clong_818048 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a fast, fun, literate, entertaining read. The premise is simple: mystery novelist Harriet Vane is on trial for the murder of her ex-significant other, and Peter Wimsey is determined to prove that she didn't do it, and then marry her. Wimsey and his supporting cast are eminently likable, and the mystery is puzzler, with Sayers nicely managing the pace of dropping clues. I can see why Harriet Vane is a popular character, although in this book she is more of an ideal than a real person. And the glimpses of intra-war England are worth the price of admission alone. The biggest weaknesses are the string of coincidences that ultimately allow Peter to solve the crime and unveil the true murderer. The final piece of the "how he did it" puzzle felt a bit trite, but it may well be that is because so many other authors and screenwriters have copied an idea of Sayers' that was quite original back in 1930. And I must admit that I had a hard time buying Peter's "love at first sight" infatuation with Vane. The romance would have been more believable if it had evolved as he had gotten to know her at least a little bit. All in all, though, highly recommended.

[pgchuis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Definitely the best of this series so far. Harriet Vane is on trial for the murder(by poisoning) of her ex-boyfriend. Peter Wimsey falls in love with her, wants to marry her and sets out to prove her innocence. Very well plotted, with a plausible motive and method and a satisfactory villain. Miss Climpson again excellent, stooping to faking spiritualist abilities, but unable to reconcile it with her conscience to hold a seance on a Sunday. Miss Murchison and the whole Cattery organisation are inspired. Finally, the dialogue between Peter and Harriet was excellent for its frankness, humour, equality and the respect with which he treats her conscience, past decisions and her right to determine her future.

[vivienner_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

From the public gallery Lord Peter Wimsey falls in love with Harriet Vane, the accused in a murder trial, and a complete stranger to him. When the jury is not able to come to a decision, a new trial is ordered thus allowing Wimsey one month to come up with the evidence that will prove her innocence - of which he is certain. Lord Peter has a couple of advantages as a sleuth: his great wealth allows him to hire help without limitation; and probably in deference to his aristocratic status, he is granted many liberties. His excuse for questioning the victim's father: "I know Miss Vane. In fact I like her very much, don't you know." This comes after only one brief meeting with her! I love the golden age mysteries especially those with Lord Peter Wimsey, one of my favourite characters. This was a particularly fun story from Sayers.

[quibee · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nicely written Golden Age mystery where Harriet Vane is first introduced into Peter Wimsey's world. It seems quite obvious that she's guilty of having murdered her former lover, but Lord Peter is not convinced and tries to work out what actually did happen. The mystery is peeled back bit by bit with strong input from some interesting minor characters.