Gaudy Night

By: Dorothy L Sayers

Narrated by: Jane McDowell

Harriet Vane has never dared to return to her old Oxford college.
Now, despite her scandalous life, she has been summoned back . . .

At first she thinks her worst fears have been fulfilled, as she encounters
obscene graffiti, poison pen letters and a disgusting effigy when she
arrives at sedate Shrewsbury College for the 'Gaudy' celebrations.

But soon, Harriet realises that she is not the only target of this murderous
malice - and asks Lord Peter Wimsey to help.

'I admire her novels ... she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a
wonderful eye for detail' P. D. James

(P)2015 Hodder & Stoughton©1935 The Trustees of Anthony Fleming

i liked the narrator! (favorite book)

Unlike others here I thought the reader was perfect for a book set in an Oxford college in the 1930s. A more dramatic and emotional reading would have been wildly inappropriate and this gave a wonderful sense of place.
And, it's one of my favorite books ever! but if you're just picking up Sayers for the first time, start with Strong Poison at least and preferably also Have His Carcase.

Love Whimsy and Harriot!

I love all Dorothy Sayers! First class performance! Thank you! Looking forward to more! Cheers!

Gaudy Night

I've adored this novel for 20 years. This reading of it made me dislike Harriet and Peter.

This one drags a little

Got to Chapter Ten and then skipped to the last three chapters. I did go back to listen to the rest of the book and am very glad, because I would have missed some of the best bits.
Dorothy Sayers would spin in her grave at some of the mispronunciations. In particular 'mischievious' which should be spoken as mis-chef-is on both sides of the Atlantic. This one pops up in most Wimsey books and Dorothy L Sayers was a stickler. I have bought them all now but it would be nice if that could be corrected for other listeners.

Spoiled by narrator

The mystery and the progress in the relationship between Wimsey and Harriet Vane make this one of the most important and enjoyable books in the series, and always my favourite.
Unfortunately this narrator was the wrong one with no understanding of the period and the setting, with no differentiation between multiple characters and a reading style of irritable misplaced emphasis.