Whose Body?

A baffling murder, a missing financier, and the sharp mind of Lord Peter Wimsey.

A naked corpse wearing nothing but a pair of pince-nez is discovered in a London bathtub, setting off one of the most unusual murder investigations in classic detective fiction. The dead man’s identity is a mystery, and the circumstances become even more perplexing when a prominent financier, Sir Reuben Levy, disappears from his home under suspicious circumstances. Enter Lord Peter Wimsey, an aristocratic amateur detective with a keen intellect, a taste for clever conversation, and an instinct for spotting what others overlook. As Wimsey works alongside the police, he must untangle a web of clues, false assumptions, and hidden motives to discover who the victim was and how the two cases might be connected.

• The first Lord Peter Wimsey mystery: First published in 1923, Whose Body? introduces the detective who would become one of the most distinctive figures in the Golden Age of detective fiction.
• An ingenious central mystery: A bizarrely staged corpse and a missing public figure launch an investigation full of unexpected turns.
• A memorable detective: Wimsey combines aristocratic eccentricity, intellectual rigor, humor, and an unexpectedly sensitive understanding of human nature.
• Classic British detective fiction: The novel offers a satisfying puzzle built around clues, deduction, misdirection, and the careful examination of evidence.
• Social observation and satire: Sayers brings wit and insight to the manners, class assumptions, and institutions of early twentieth-century British society.
• The beginning of a celebrated series: The book establishes the voice, character, and investigative style that would develop across the Lord Peter Wimsey novels.

Available in multiple formats:

Paperback — Elegant print edition presenting the complete, unabridged text, and ships in 3–5 business days.

Hardcover — Elegant print edition presenting the complete, unabridged text, and ships in 5–7 business days.

EPUB — DRM-free, compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers. Instant download after purchase.

Audiobook — Professionally narrated, complete, and unabridged. Available on Audible, Spotify, Apple Books.

With its audacious opening, intricate plotting, and delightfully unconventional detective, Whose Body? is both an entertaining mystery and the beginning of a landmark literary series. Dorothy L. Sayers invites readers to match their wits against Lord Peter Wimsey while enjoying the humor, atmosphere, and intellectual satisfaction that have kept classic detective fiction alive for generations.

About the Author

Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957) was an English novelist, essayist, and playwright best known for her Lord Peter Wimsey detective stories. Educated at Somerville College, Oxford, she was among the first women to receive an Oxford degree. Her fiction helped shape the Golden Age of detective literature through its intricate puzzles, psychological insight, and social wit. Beyond crime writing, Sayers was a respected translator of Dante’s Divine Comedy and a prolific writer on theology, literature, and Christian thought.