description Unnatural Death Overview
Unnatural Death is a 1927 detective novel by Dorothy L. Sayers featuring the aristocratic amateur investigator Lord Peter Wimsey. After hearing about an elderly woman's seemingly natural death shortly before she could change her will, Wimsey and Inspector Charles Parker investigate whether a murder occurred without leaving an obvious physical trace. The novel also introduces Miss Climpson, whose social access and talent for discreet inquiry become important to the case.
insights Ranking position
Unnatural Death ranks #132 of 183 in the Detective Novel ranking, behind A Caribbean Mystery, ahead of Pietr the Latvian.
help Unnatural Death FAQ
What mystery does Lord Peter Wimsey investigate in Unnatural Death?
Wimsey hears of an elderly cancer patient who died sooner than her doctor expected, leaving no obvious evidence of murder. The timing matters because a coming change in inheritance law could have redirected her estate.
Who is Miss Climpson in Unnatural Death?
Miss Alexandra Katherine Climpson is one of Wimsey's most capable investigators, using social observation and apparently harmless conversation to gather information. This 1927 novel introduces her before she becomes a recurring figure in the series.
Why is the inheritance law important to the plot?
The victim's death occurs shortly before the property rules affecting her estate are due to change. Dorothy L. Sayers turns that legal timing into the murderer's motive and a key part of Wimsey's reasoning.
Where does Unnatural Death fall in the Lord Peter Wimsey series?
It is an early Wimsey novel, published after Whose Body? and Clouds of Witness. Readers also encounter Inspector Charles Parker, Wimsey's police ally and brother-in-law-to-be.
explore Explore More
Similar to Unnatural Death
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
