No one I know would do these things to Peter. Even apart from my deep distaste for Harriet cribbing from Peter for her books, there's another darn good reason this was a bad idea to hang a book on. It could have been done in such a way as to create suspense and propel the plot onward and upward. This was not that. Instead … 'He's in the Radcliffe Infirmary' — here Charles paused for dramatic effect — 'suffering from arsenic poisoning. God knows I did. The day when my deduction skills are better than Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey's is … is the day I'm reading a really bad Wimsey pastiche, is what it is.
There is a disappearance in the book, which seems to offer hope of a little fresh life in the plot, separate from all of the recycled canon. But it kind of goes nowhere. As a novel, this was not terrible. If the main characters' names had been Lord Robert and his wife Jenny, then I might have enjoyed it — it might be fun as an homage. But the way I rate a book is not on what it might be or how it stacks up to other books in the universe — it's how well it does what it is supposed to do.
A really good urban fantasy can earn five stars and sit on the same shelf as Shakespeare, or a really good classic mystery like a Lord Peter , because it excels at what it set out to do. This purports to be a Lord Peter Wimsey novel. As such, it's very bad indeed. I was irritated — possibly because I was of a mind to be irritated by everything in this book — by the fact that JPW brought her characters not DLS's to the Eagle and Child, but did not give us a Tolkien cameo.
On further thought, however, this is a good thing. Oh — too late: No more — that's it — I'm done.
The Late Scholar
This has been one of those books where rating I gave it initially has been chipped away; I figure if the taste in my mouth that lingers after this much time is this nasty, it's relevant. I will henceforth make an effort to quash my masochistic streak: I feel better already. View all 13 comments. Having stopped, and started, the series many times, I have finally now completed all of the Wimsey books and enjoyed being in the company of the characters created by Dorothy L Sayers.
Some of the books I loved, others I liked, but I have not disliked any of them and that is the same for these continuing the series b Having read the last so far in the novels featuring Peter and Harriet Wimsey now the Duke and Duchess of Denver , by Jill Paton Walsh, I feel I have come to the end of a journey. Some of the books I loved, others I liked, but I have not disliked any of them and that is the same for these continuing the series by Walsh. These include appointing fellows, a new Warden and also acting as a referee of last resort if there is irreconcilable conflict among the fellows.
The problems began when the college was offered the chance to acquire land — as the College is in financial difficulties, they need to raise money. This led to the suggestion that they sell an invaluable manuscript, which is costly to insure and keep. This has led to a deep rift in the College and so Peter and Harriet set off to Oxford, accompanied by Bunter, to try to heal wounds and solve the dispute.
This is easier said than done, as the divisions in the College are deep. More worryingly, there have been disturbing incidents since the disagreement erupted — including Dr Dancy being locked in a bell chamber and a Senior Fellow who claims he had an intruder in his room… Will those trying to influence the decision resort to murder? I felt that the essential characters were there, if changed by time and events.
I liked the academic setting and the colourful crimes, which will lead to lovers of the previous novels looking for clues. I hope there will be another in the series as I have enjoyed them all and would be happy to read a new mystery featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. Poor old Dorothy L Sayers. Even worse - a boring bourgeois pedant. Sic transit gloria mundi. This is Jill Paton Walsh's fourth expedition into the world of Sayers' characters Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, in in some respects the first flying completely solo, as it were.
In Thrones, Dominations she completed an unfinished book. A Presumption of Death incorporated ideas Sayers had already set out. The Attenbury Emeralds described a case mentioned by Sayers but never set down, and introduced some a major catastrophe in the Wimsey family for which there is a spoiler below, so stop no This is Jill Paton Walsh's fourth expedition into the world of Sayers' characters Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, in in some respects the first flying completely solo, as it were.
The Attenbury Emeralds described a case mentioned by Sayers but never set down, and introduced some a major catastrophe in the Wimsey family for which there is a spoiler below, so stop now if you haven't read that book and are likely to. And I think your view of this book is going to depend on whether you want a decent detective story, with the added spice of seeing Peter and Harriet again, or whether you simply want more Sayers.
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To those in the second group, it just isn't going to happen. Approaching this book with unreasonably high expectations will just set it up to fail, and you should just give it a miss. If, though, you do want a decent, light ish , Oxford college based story, in which Peter and Harriet sparkle and exchange literary quotations, we see their boys more grown up, and a slightly less formal relationship with Bunter, then this is the book for you.
It's true enough to what Sayers left us that the characters do convince, and one can have a bit of geekish fun spotting how the series of murders follow the methods described in Harriet's books which were based on Peter's cases, so, in other words, they follow Sayers' books. There are also some in-jokes - some of Sayers' "methods" don't actually work out so we meet a frustrated would-be murderer with a string of failures behind them.
All of that is fun, less so the rather involved plot and the cast of college characters who I found rather hard to tell apart. But then the same is true of any Morse book and this does resemble a Morse book in some respects, even if it starts more like one of CP Snow's novels with Peter brought in as Visitor to sort out a mess at St Severin's College. So - worth reading, but if you don't like the concept of Paton Walsh continuing Sayers' work, then leave it alone. Feb 24, Jane Jago rated it really liked it. This was going so well, until we get to the end. The ending just didn't work for me at all, it seems a bit vague and wishy washy.
Which is such a shame because I was loving it until then. Don't get me wrong. It's still worth a read. I was just disappointed. Three and a half stars for me It was not quite right for me, somewhat mechanical, but interesting to spend time with the more mature married couple in their roles as Duke and Duchess. The school atmosphere in Oxford is a deadly one and Peter and Harriet do their best to find out who is behind several deaths and attempted poisoning of the Warden.
T Three and a half stars for me The book was too long for the material it covered. I enjoyed the butler's talents more than the main characters. It was especially fun for me to read the description of his solution to help one struggling scholar by photographing a crucial text and going through the development process to produce a page of proof as this was something I had experience with myself in my younger years. I read Presumption of Death in by this author. Jul 29, Ivonne Rovira rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Is it the return to Oxford, evocative of Gaudy Night?
Is it a surer hand with her sophomore effort? Never mind which, readers will enjoy The Late Scholar , which rises to the standard of some of the best mysteries penned by Dorothy L. Unbeknownst to Lord Peter as we must continue calling him, despite his much-resented elevation to Duke of Denver , the dukedom comes with yet another unwanted duty: He has been summoned because the fellows of St. The vellum manuscript was of The Consolations of Philosophy by the saint for whom St.
But Lord Peter thinks that the quarreling dons are the least of St.
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He begins to suspect that there have been murders and attempted murders —disguised as accidents. Recommended as a most excellent come-back. Mar 04, Nancy rated it it was ok Shelves: I don't think there is anything trickier than taking up the artistic mantle of a beloved author. I really loved Thrones, Dominations and The Attenbury Emeralds and expected this book to be equally appealing, but I was disappointed. Lord Peter, Bunter and Harriet were all thereas was the charming Dowager Duchess Peter's mother but the sizzle was I don't think there is anything trickier than taking up the artistic mantle of a beloved author.
Lord Peter, Bunter and Harriet were all thereas was the charming Dowager Duchess Peter's mother but the sizzle was missing. The book returned her characters to Oxford and, not unlike Gaudy Night, it was a dark and dangerous place. Despite Paton Walsh's insertion of many Wimsey witticisms, the characters seemed lifeless and predictable, rather than familiar and engaging.
There is no doubt that the author has adeptly recreated Lord Peter's world as it is edging into modernity, but there was something important missing for me--and that was enjoyment of the story, the environment, and the characters. Best one of these so far. I love the idea of a college Visitor, and of Peter being one.
I also really like the way Peter and Harriet are aging. Aug 04, Rosemary rated it really liked it. Let's be clear from the beginning: Jill Paton Walsh is no Dorothy Sayers. But, with the approval of Sayers' estate, she has done a more than credible job of continuing the partnership of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane. I've found all of her additions to the series delightful and true to the spirit of Sayers' creation.
In this latest installment, it's , and Peter and Harriet are called back to Oxford when Peter discovers that as the Duke of Denver, he's the official "Visitor" for St. Seve Let's be clear from the beginning: Severin's College the "visitor" seems to function sort of like the head trustee. Severin's is locked in an apparently intractable dispute about whether to sell an ancient manuscript that may have been glossed by none other than King Alfred the Great. Of course, there's more behind the conflict than meets the eye, but that isn't discovered until several fellows are killed in one way or another.
What charmed me about the book, though, was Paton Walsh's depiction of Peter and Harriet's relationship. Their sons are almost ready to go to university, so their marriage has matured and mellowed, but there's still a notable spark between the two of them. Paton Walsh does a lovely job of creating dialogue between the two that is entirely in character with Sayers' conception of the two characters. In fact, the murders themselves take Harriet all the way back to the case that first introduced her to Peter: Paton Walsh uses this to demonstrate how far Harriet has come from the hostile, wounded position she was in at the start of her connection with Peter.
But this isn't to say the mystery here isn't important or well constructed: And Harriet even gets a few digs in at her fellow Golden Age writers. Of Agatha Christie, she rightly says, "Mrs. Christie [is] an admirable technician, in many ways, but not perhaps brilliant at conveying subtleties or depths of character. Her work [is] not likely to engage one's sympathy. Jun 14, Carol rated it it was amazing. Severin's, mostly in according to internal evidence within the text of the novel. Peter and Harriett have a very charming relationship and a fondness for each other that is quite charming.
Wimsey discovers that, as Duke of Denver, he has inherited the position of Visitor of an Oxford college, St Severin's. The college is in financial difficulties, and is in the midst of an acrimonious dispute between the Fellows over whether or not to sell a valuable codex a copy of The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, with glosses which may be by Alfred the Great to finance the purchase of a piece of land which might be worth a lot of money if planning permission can be obtained on it.
The two sides are evenly balanced in numbers, and two of the Fellows appeal to him to resolve the dispute, and before he has even arrived at Oxford, some of the Fellows turn up at his seat at Bredon Hall to try and convince him of the wisdom of either course of action. Peter and Harriet quickly set off for Oxford. But the dispute turns out to be even worse than they had thought, with attempts some successful to murder some of the Fellows.
Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane Series
The Warden has the casting vote, but he is nowhere to be found. And some of the successful and unsuccessful attacks resemble the murder methods in Peter's past cases—methods that Harriet has used in her published novels. A side plot concerns the decision of Bredon, the elder son of Peter and Harriet, not to apply for admission to Oxford University—but instead to study estate management at Reading University.
While far from stupid, Bredon is not as brilliant as his father, and at Oxford unfavourable comparisons would have been inevitable. Harriet realises that Bredon is not only the son of Peter, but also the nephew of Peter's brother Gerald—who was deeply attached to the land and to the cares of its daily management, in a way which Peter never was. Paton Walsh writes with the co-operation and approval of Sayers' estate.
Highly approve with much enjoyment. The Duke of Denver — formerly known to everyone as Lord Peter Wimsey — discovers that one of his inherited duties is as visitor to an Oxford college. Peter and Harriet decide to go to Oxford when Peter hears about the disappearance of the Warden of the college and a series of accidents to the fellows. Both of them soon find themselves in a nest of vipers and are doubtful about who they can trust. Whether or not you like such sequels featuring characters created by other authors is very much a matter of personal preference — I find them entertaining.
Oct 04, Susanna - Censored by GoodReads rated it liked it. Only ghosts of Sayers, but still reasonable fluff. Feb 12, Sarah rated it really liked it. I loved this book so much. Reading it, I was back in the world of Peter Wimsey. Feb 07, Silvio rated it it was amazing. Much better than previous efforts. No embarrassing sex scenes, and no cringing moments between Harriet, her children, and Bunter.
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No grating class issues either. The plot is a bit convoluted, and the last 10 pages were unnecessary. The best moment was an Oxford Fellow grumping about train connections between Cambridge and Oxford by way of Bletchley. We know that since it is the late '50s, that the Bletchley undercover activity which Benedict Cumberbatch rece Much better than previous efforts.
We know that since it is the late '50s, that the Bletchley undercover activity which Benedict Cumberbatch recently enacted as Alan Turing is still classified. Nice one, Jill Paton Walsh! All in all, a creditable advancement of Harriet and Lord Peter through the next few decades!
However, I am a little worried about the next book in the series should there be one, which I expect there will be. As Harriet and Lord Peter are getting older in each book, do we have a doddering couple to look forward to? As it is, Lord Peter's mother seems to be fading fast and she will be missed, for sure. Jill Paton Walsh spared us the intimate detals of Bunter's marriage to his fellow photographer, with only a few quick references to her.
Bunter has kept a remarkably low profile in this book. Harriet gets to put up a defense of her art against the condescending remarks of an Oxford Fellow or too, and Lord Peter having to confront the disinclination of his oldest son to follow in his footsteps to Balliol was interesting, as was Harriet's connection of his preference to that of his late Uncle Gerald. I would say that Jill Paton Walsh has approached the premise of this time period with intelligence, and some amusing clues of her own to identify the decade for the reader. This book is a fabulously well-written piece of fanfiction - and I mean that positively.
She also takes them back to Oxford, and it's lovely to both revisit characters from Gaudy Night and have glimpses of real life Oxonians like C. Lewis described as a 'sound theologian' and J. Tolkien described as This book is a fabulously well-written piece of fanfiction - and I mean that positively. Tolkien described as a 'misogynist professor' - although if it comes to sexism I don't think there was anything to choose between Lewis and Tolkien. Other reviewers have pointed out some mistakes that JPW makes that DLS would never have made; I cringe, for example, whenever a lavish afternoon tea is referred to as a 'High Tea' - they're not the same thing.
But the slips are worth putting up with for the sake of the story. And the fact that murderer is imitating methods of murder used by Harriet Vane in her books, in which she drew on Peter Winsey's cases, does allow JPW to have fun at the expense of some of DLS's more fanciful fictional flights. Not as dense or as detailed as DLS's later work, but a lot of fun - and vastly superior to P.
James' similar recent fanfiction Death at Pemberley. Jan 20, Laura rated it did not like it. Honestly, it is difficult to be civil about this piece of work. I will link to an excellent and fairly civil review: Those who love the original Sayers book Honestly, it is difficult to be civil about this piece of work. Those who love the original Sayers books will not find any of the qualities that they love here. The reader can never lose themselves in the text nor forget that it is a pastiche.
I am angry because the basic idea of the setting and plot appealed to me, but I feel like in this work Paton-Walsh betrayed the trust of the readers, the estate, and the characters. View all 4 comments. Mar 24, Pamela rated it it was ok. While the writing here was fine, the characters never came to life for me.
There are several authors currently writing historicals among them Charles Todd in their two historical seres and Laurie R. King in her Sherlock and Russell series to bother with mediocrity. Why not create her own Lord and Lady sleuths? Jun 22, Bungluna rated it liked it Shelves: The couple is back at Oxford University, solving a series of increasingly violent happenings at a College were Peter is the hereditary Visitor, something like an ultimate arbiter.
The progression in the lives of Peter and Harriet et al is interesting and I enjoyed the usual bits of this series: Bunter ever present, the Sr. Dower Duchess still a snob, etc. The author tries her hand at the scholarly banter that Ms. Sayers was so great at but it just doesn't ring true to my ears eyes?
I enjoyed this novel. If it were a mystery onto itself I would have rated it higher, but as a part of the Wimsey cannon, I found it just not quite up to par. Aug 22, Kathy rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: I love the "sequels" to the Sayers novels penned by Jill Paton Walsh. True to the characters and the humour, spot-on in the historical details, this one was a delight. Peter and Harriet are back at Oxford, in happier circumstances than when they met, but still end up investigating a disappearance and two murders.
Post-war conditions, and evolving attitudes, are subtly described, and the romance between the Duke and Duchess hasn't waned.
Their shared sense of humour is delightful and satisfying t I love the "sequels" to the Sayers novels penned by Jill Paton Walsh. Their shared sense of humour is delightful and satisfying to the reader who has followed them from their meeting in Gaudy Night. Oct 28, Sharon rated it it was amazing. Jill Patton Walsh is every bit as good as Dorthy Sayers and perhaps even better in the area of character development. She gives both Peter Wimsey and his wife, Harriet Vane, more depth of character and personality without sacrificing anything in the development of a complex and absorbing mystery featuring the characters of Ms Sayers and Oxford University in all of its charm and academic snobbery.
I don't think this was Paton Walsh's best take on Lord Peter. It relied on the original Sayers books too much I know, a bit hypocritical, as I'm listening to a continuation on Sayers universe; obviously I'm desperately searching for more of what I love. What I mean is that some aspects of the plot were deliberately echoing things from early Lord Peter books, which became a bit frustrating, especially as it equated Harriet Vane with Dorothy L. Sayers which Sayers said she disliked in a way which was occasionally entertainly meta, but mostly annoying. It even occasionally tainted my enjoyment of the original book I love The Nine Tailors , don't poop on it with logic, Jill, I don't need to hear that.
The college is in financial difficulties, and is in the midst of an acrimonious dispute between the Fellows over whether or not to sell a valuable codex a copy of The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius , with glosses which may be by Alfred the Great to finance the purchase of a piece of land which might be worth a lot of money if planning permission can be obtained on it.
The two sides are evenly balanced in numbers, and two of the Fellows appeal to him to resolve the dispute, and before he has even arrived at Oxford, some of the Fellows turn up at his seat at Bredon Hall to try and convince him of the wisdom of either course of action. Peter and Harriet quickly set off for Oxford.
The Late Scholar (Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, book 4) by Jill Paton Walsh
But the dispute turns out to be even worse than they had thought, with attempts some successful to murder some of the Fellows. The Warden has the casting vote , but he is nowhere to be found. And some of the successful and unsuccessful attacks resemble the murder methods in Peter's past cases—methods that Harriet has used in her published novels.
A side plot concerns the decision of Bredon, the elder son of Peter and Harriet, not to apply for admission to Oxford University—but instead to study estate management at Reading University. While far from stupid, Bredon is not as brilliant as his father, and at Oxford unfavourable comparisons would have been inevitable. Harriet realises that Bredon is not only the son of Peter, but also the nephew of Peter's brother Gerald—who was deeply attached to the land and to the cares of its daily management, in a way which Peter never was.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Lord Peter Wimsey stories by Dorothy L.