“Mystery novelist Harriet Vane knew all about poisons, and when her former lover died in the manner prescribed in one of her books, a jury of her peers had a hangman’s noose in mind. But Lord Peter Wimsey was determined to find her innocent”. – Goodreads

I am rating Strong Poison (1930) by Dorothy Sayers 3.5 stars. I couldn’t get to 4 stars because the book just never clicked for me.

Why didn’t it click? I think the problem for me was Lord Peter Wimsey who is tasked with solving the murder of Harriet Vane’s former lover Philip Boyes.

Lord Wimsey comes from a wealthy family but he is no snob. Quite the contrary. Wimsey is a gentleman who treats everyone with respect regardless of their class. He likes women and is drawn to Harriet Vane because she is smart. He envisions them having great conversations as they go through their lives together. In fact Lord Wimsey is so smitten with Harriet that at their first meeting he is declaring his love. I like romances that are a little more slow burn than this.

Lord Wimsey though he comes from a privileged background has faced tragedy in his life. He served in World War I and suffered shell shock and suffers from PTSD. You don’t see any of this though in Strong Poison. Instead I was getting more of a playboy Bertie Wooster vibe from Lord Peter Wimsey. I wanted more depth which must be there considering what W8msey has gone through in his life.

That said, years ago I read Gaudy Night (1935) by Dorothy Sayers. Gaudy Night set in a 1930’s women’s college in the UK was excellent, a classic golden age mystery and a 5 star read.