Gaudy Night

Sprightly 1920s' dance music introduces this dramatization of Sayers's classic, in which Harriet Vane and Lord Peter Wimsey finally kiss while solving a mystery at Harriet's Oxford college reunion. In order to fit a long book into a two-hour dramatization, producers chose to intersperse dramatized dialogue and sound effects such as church bells and running feet into a story that is mostly narrated by Harriet Vane. Joanna David reads beautifully, and her warm, cultured voice and wry tone are perfect for the careful, ironical Harriet. Ian Carmichael, who played Lord Peter on BBC Television for years, nicely combines an aristocratic lisp with audible street smarts. A pleasant production, although Sayers lovers will wish it were longer. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine


This delightful "whodunit" unfolds at the all-female Shrewsbury College at Oxford. It features Harriet Vane, a returned alumna and mystery writer and Lord Peter Wimsey, noted detective and sometime boyfriend of Ms. Vane. Since most of the leading characters are female, one might think the publisher would have selected a female reader. However, this audiobook is a magnificent illustration of how a trained male reader can change his voice to achieve excellent character differentiation among a host of females. Carmichael's portrayal of the dons is so vivid that the listener feels transported to the Senior Common Room and other places at Shrewsbury College. J.D.N. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


GAUDY NIGHT is one of Sayers's most famous mysteries, and narrator Ian Carmichael does a splendid job personifying each of its well-drawn characters. The plot offers a lot of activity and even more dialogue, which Carmichael enhances with his gorgeous delivery. When Harriet Vane returns to her alma mater, Oxford, she finds herself in the middle of an escalating campaign of hatred. She calls Lord Peter Wimsey to assist as the attacks become physical, putting everyone in danger. Carmichael beautifully handles the eminently quotable Wimsey, along with a great deal of emotion, a suicidal young student, and the scouts (servants) who are vital to the story. He even treats listeners to a moving duet performed by Peter and Harriet in a lighter moment. A wonderful choice, even for those who are already familiar with the great Dorothy L. Sayers. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine