Marta's Reviews > The Nine Tailors

The Nine Tailors is Sayers’s most acclaimed mystery. Its stars are the bells of Fenchurch St. Paul, and the complex change-ringing traditions of England, along with the village life, the Rector and the colorful village residents. This is certainly the most intricate mystery story I have read from Sayers so far, with continually changing viewpoints to the events as more and more people and evidence are connected the case. It is also very well written, getting into the characters using their speech patterns and written in vernicular for the farmers. The tone is more serious than other Lord Wimsey stories, as the events described have tragic consequences to several people, and Lord Peter has little opportunity to joke around.

Sayers have studied the bells, and bell sequences and minute details of change ringing abound. At the beginning, there is so much of it that I was thinking, it should better be worth it later - and I must say that it was.

The mystery itself starts with one corpse too many (see what I did there?) found in a grave when it is opened for the burial of a spouse. Who is the body? Hiw did he die? Is he the mysterious stranger who appeared in the village and disappeared around the time of the murder? Is this related to the sensational emerald theft story of 15 years before? There are many questions, and I must say, the most unsuspected murderer that I have ever read about.

I enjoyed this a great deal and I see why it is regarded as a very accomplished mystery - but I cannot give it five stars as I was greatly missing Harriet, Miss Climpson and much of the humor I am accustomed to from Sayers. Even so, it is a very fine mystery, indeed.