Strong Poison

Book Introduction: Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers

"A life hangs in the balance, a heart is at stake, and only the ultimate amateur sleuth can find the truth in the dregs of a glass."

In Strong Poison, the fifth installment of the celebrated Lord Peter Wimsey series, Dorothy L. Sayers delivers not just a brilliant "locked-room" style mystery, but a turning point in detective fiction. This is the novel that introduces the unforgettable Harriet Vane, a woman whose life depends on Wimsey’s wit and devotion.

The Crime:

Harriet Vane, a popular mystery novelist, stands accused of murdering her former lover, Philip Boyes, with a lethal dose of arsenic. The evidence is damning: she has been seen purchasing the poison, and she had every motive to see him dead. As the jury struggles to reach a verdict, the clock ticks toward an inevitable execution.

The Detective:

Enter Lord Peter Wimsey, the aristocratic sleuth with a penchant for rare books and high-stakes puzzles. Convinced of Harriet’s innocence—and instantly, hopelessly smitten with her sharp intellect—Wimsey embarks on a frantic race against time. To save her, he must infiltrate the victim’s inner circle and solve a "poisoning" that defies medical logic.

Why Read Strong Poison?

The Ultimate Romance: Witness the legendary first meeting between Lord Peter and Harriet Vane, a partnership that redefined the genre.

In this, the sixth Lord Peter Wimsey novel, Dorothy L. Sayers offers a humorous look at the English aristocracy, proponents of free love, the writing and publishing of crime novels, and a fake seance. Sayers based the murder victim on her own ex-lover, lending an autobiographical note to the story. First published in 1930, the novel has been adapted for television and radio multiple times.

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Lydbog: 23. april 2026