The Documents in the Case

This is a one off for Dorothy Sayers, the only one I can think of, actually, that doesn't feature Lord Peter Wimsey. It was well-written, with believable character voices, thorough research, and a smart plot. It wasn't much of a mystery though, at least not in the who-done-it sense. Really it's more of a how-done-it.

It's structured through a series of documents—letters and statements collected by the son of the man murdered. This style has been revitalized recently with books like The Appeal, though Sayers does it better.

My only critiques are that there were fewer mystery elements and more scientific ramblings, not really my area of interest but telling of the time it was written, and still relevant today.

I also felt that some of the characters were not portrayed as fully rounded people, particularly the women. Ms. Milsom is written of as an insane, sex-deprived neurotic and Mrs. Harrison is written off as a selfish, stupid romantic. I didn't feel like these were really fair portrayals. Mr. Harrison was a royal jerk to both of them, and his son (whose perspective reigns supreme in this novel) speaks as if he were the nicest most selfless man you could ever meet. Meanwhile, Mr. Muntings ramblings were judgmental and egotistical. I just wish that there were more balance.