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

[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.