Hangman’s Holiday ★☆☆☆☆ DNF@55%

~ Bookstooge

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Title: Hangman’s Holiday
Series: Lord Peter Wimsey #9
Author: Dorothy Sayers
Rating: 1 of 5 Stars
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 234 /DNF@120
Words: 63K /DNF@32K



Synopsis:

From Wikipedia:

Lord Peter Wimsey stories:

  • “The Image in the Mirror” – Wimsey must help a man with situs inversus, who believes he is going mad after being haunted by a doppelganger.
  • “The Incredible Elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey” – A man studying Basque culture enlists Wimsey’s help in saving an expatriate American woman whom the villagers believe is bewitched.
  • “The Queen’s Square” – Wimsey attends a fancy dress ball during the Christmas season, where several people dressed as chess pieces become suspected of killing a female blackmailer.
  • “The Necklace of Pearls” – Wimsey tries to avoid scandal when a fun-filled Christmas Eve at Sir Septimus Shale’s house turns into an uncomfortable affair after a priceless pearl necklace goes missing.
  • Montague Egg stories:
    • “The Poisoned Dow ’08” – Mr. Egg arrives at a client’s house to find him dead, and the police in need of evidence about a shipment of bottles Mr. Egg delivered earlier.
    • “Sleuths on the Scent” – Mr. Egg uses his knowledge of various professions to flush out a murderer hiding in a pub.
    • “Murder in the Morning” – Mr. Egg finds himself one of those suspected in the murder of a client, and gives evidence at inquest.
    • “One Too Many” – Mr. Egg’s knowledge of the train ticket system helps the police find an absconding banker and his secretary.
    • “Murder at Pentecost” – While trying to win a bet against an Oxford University student, Mr. Egg discovers the motive and opportunity of a very clever murderer.
    • “Maher-Shalal-Hashbaz” – After helping an impoverished child sell her cat, Mr. Egg discovers the cat has run away from its new home and in tracing it back discovers the brutal murder of more than fifty cats and an elderly man.
  • Other stories:
    • “The Man Who Knew How”- A man becomes obsessed with finding and stopping what he believes is a serial killer.
    • “The Fountain Plays” – A man being blackmailed tries to figure out how to rid himself of his tormentor, but finds himself at the mercy of a second blackmailer.
My Thoughts:

This is the book where Sayers and I part ways. I realized it was her, and her writing style, that grated on me and not necessarily the character of Lord Peter Wimsey. I figured this out because half this blasted book wasn’t EVEN ABOUT Lord Wimsey. I felt cheated and tricked.

When Sayers can be bothered, she can tell a great story. The problem is that she messes up her stories by making it all about the mystery and the process instead of the story itself being the central point. I don’t want to solve the mystery or have every blasted detail etched into my brain. I want a good story. Apparently Mrs Sayers disagrees with me and I’m forced to believe that so do her adherents.

Be that as it may, I’m done. This wasn’t the first LPW book that I wished was finished quicker, but the fact that I simply quit after the second Montague Egg story was enough. Enough is enough is enough.

Rating: 1 out of 5.

27 thoughts on “Hangman’s Holiday ★☆☆☆☆ DNF@55%”

            1. I suspect Stout might not be up your alley.
              I will say that if you like/dislike one book, you’ll like/dislike the whole series. Stout has a definite voice that he hasn’t strayed from in the 10 books I’ve read so far.

              Liked by 1 person

              Reply
  8. Pingback: February ’22 R&R – Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road

  10. I love Sayers but Hangman’s holiday is definitely not the reason. I do see why you would give up on her after that one, although you have skipped my two favourites. if you ever want to try again i’d suggest going directly for either Murder must advertise, which gives a fun inside view of an advertisement bureau, or Gaudy Night which is more about Peter and Harriet than about the mystery.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I read these Wimsey books in order, so I feel like I gave her a real good chance 🙂

      Gaudy Night sounds good. But I am not willing to wade through any more by her. Thanks for trying 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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