Eleven Things that Weren’t Written by Dorothy L. Sayers, VI

[nineveh_uk]

'Ware spoilers!

Five Red Herrings

Page 21.

Wimsey’s air of idleness had left him. He searched the ground around the easel and stool carefully, crawling over the heather, and wincing as fragments of gorse worked their way through his socks. He sat up, and stared at Dalziel.

‘We’re looking for a murderer, Sergeant. Somebody’s pocketed the flake white.’

Comments

[tudorpot.livejournal.com]

I borrowed an audio 'play' version of FRH and sadly, they fool that adapted it - wrote almost exactly this. Spoiled the book- remind me to never borrow abridged/adapted audio books. slaps self

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! I do wonder how they dealt with it in the TV adaptation. (Do listen to the abridged audio books read by Edward Petherbridge, though - he does an excellent Harriet.)

[berkeleyfarm.livejournal.com]

Well, it still doesn't say who did pocket it, but yeah. Definitely fewer red herrings that way!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

It is much harder to be mysterious about something when you've shown the workings.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I must admitt I groaned in frustration
Me too. I do not read the books for the puzzles (I was terribly proud that I guessed whodunnit in GN, the first one I read, and then I eralized that it was atypical).

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure you can spoil Five Red Herrings, because there's nothing to spoil--I've never managed to get all the way through it. They start talking train time-tables and my eyes glaze over. I always figured that this was the book Harriet and Peter were talking about in Gaudy Night--emotionless puzzle books.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

It does seem to be the one at whic people go Aargh stop! Except when it is fangirled by people who really like the emotionless puzzle books (though I do like the little maid getting taken to the pictures by Bunter - I bet she dines out on it for months).

[antisoppist.livejournal.com]

I once tried reading one of those 1930s timetable-based mysteries, I think it was Freeman Willis Crofts, and by comparison Five Red Herrings is a masterpiece of characterisation. I just wish the herrings had more variety in the letters their names begin with as I can never remember which one is which.

By the way, GN was also the first one I read and I was so dazed by the gloriousness of Harriet that when the murderer was revealed, I hadn't a clue who she was.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I just wish the herrings had more variety in the letters their names begin with as I can never remember which one is which

I share your problem. If they were called Graham, Watson, Adams, Silver, and McNaughton it would be a hell of a lot easier to read the book.

I was also dazed by the gloriousness of Harriet to the extent that I didn't mind a 59 minute wait on the platform at Peterborough station. I think I noticed something about the murderer very early on, and then more or less kept up.

[azdak.livejournal.com]

Oooh, that's EVIL!

I love it :-)

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I have always liked being fictionally evil. (There are a couple of evil ones to come)

[fallingtowers.livejournal.com]

Heh!

Short, but very succinct. And a crossover to boot!

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Where's the crossover?

*feels dense*

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I think (because at the time, I thought "Hey, this could be a crossover!") rivrea probably refers to the Dalziel and Pascoe books by Reginald Hill (and televised). But in fact the sergeant is called Dalziel by DLS.

[fallingtowers.livejournal.com]

*facepalm*

I had completely forgotten about that detail and thought you were indeed aiming for a crossover with Reginald Hill's mystery novels.

*is dense*

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I don't think the names of very minor characters in one of the less-read books are required for anyone not on Mastermind (I only know because I looked it up).

[owl]

Heh, I like it!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[marginaliana]

Ha!

[tree_and_leaf]

Heh. That's the obvious one, of course - but no less funny for all that.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

It's the one that did not require re-reading (though I am now feeling inclined to give it a go).

[tree_and_leaf]

I rather like "Five Red Herrings", even though I'm not an overly enthusiastic fan of the puzzle type of story. At least, I have read FRH several times, which I would not do with John Dickson Carr, even though I enjoy the Gideon Fell stories on the first trip through....