Helpful Score: 1
I decided to give Sayers a try after I had exhausted PBS's supply of Ngaio Marsh novels. Murder Must Advertise is my first and I must say I haven't been disappointed. It's shocking how up-to-date a novel written in 1933 can seem. The author's observations of the advertising industry (the protagonist's cover occupation) are remarkable and ring just as true today as when this story took place. Imagine, for instance, that even back then an advertising agency was trying to cover up the fact that cigarettes are bad for the lungs! Not to mention that in their spare time, some of the office crew are engaged in party-going that could not be topped by today's Kardashian crowd. This is an entertaining plot but I enjoyed it even more for the author's humorous and insightful observations of The Great British Public. I'm not surprised Sayers' books end up on many Must-Read lists even those that generally eschew detective fiction.
Joy L. (vintagejoy) -
Helpful Score: 1
A great Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery. Wimsey goes undercover in an ad agency to find out who murdered one of the ad men. Interesting look into how the publicity agencies ran in 1930' London. Excellent plot lines and characters.
Cathy S. (whimsey) reviewed Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey, Bk 10) on + 38 more book reviews
Here's another Lord Peter Whimsy murder based around the odd goings on at a publicity firm. Lots of corpses, a bit of cocaine, hints of blackmail and a few wanton women enmeshed in a great mystery.
Robert M. (shotokanchef) reviewed Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey, Bk 10) on + 813 more book reviews
This is her treatise (pan if you will) on that stalwart of trade: advertising. When an account executive falls to his death on a spiral staircase, Lord Peter Wimsey goes undercover and comes up with murderone after another. But, oh lord, a cricket match. well, it will have significance later on. True to detective fiction of the period, Wimsey convinces a drug dealer and his squeeze that he has a twin: a cousin no less. But, as this is England, where relationship boundaries seem non-existent, I suppose it might very well be. Of course, he hoodwinks them hook, line, and sinker. Give me a break! Yet, this is still one of the author's best yarns.
Molly M. (freeverse071681) reviewed Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey, Bk 10) on + 609 more book reviews
When ad man Victor Dean falls down the stairs in the offices of Pym's Publicity, a respectable London advertising agency, it looks like an accident. Then Lord Peter Wimsey is called in, and he soon discovers there's more to copywriting than meets the eye. A bit of cocaine, a hint of blackmail, and some wanton women can be read between the lines. And then there is the brutal succession of murders -- 5 of them -- each one a fixed fee for advertising a deadly secret.
Larry G. (aardvark) reviewed Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey, Bk 10) on + 157 more book reviews
One of the better Peter Wimsey books, which is not meant as small praise.
When advertising executive Victor Dean dies from a fall down the stairs at Pym's Publicity, Lord Peter Wimsey is asked to investigate. It seems that, before he died, Dean had begun a letter to Mr. Pym suggesting some very unethical dealings at the posh London ad agency. Wimsey goes undercover and discovers that Dean was part of the fast crowd at Pym's, a group taken to partying and doing drugs. Wimsey and his brother-in-law, Chief-Inspector Parker, rush to discover who is running London's cocaine trade and how Pym's fits into the picture--all before Wimsey's cover is blown.
Murder Must Advertise is one of Dorothy Sayers' greatest novels. Lord Peter Wimsey shines as a super-sleuth who temporarily sheds his title for a job as an advertising copy-writer. The book gives great insight into the advertising business, and is a fun and exciting read as Lord Peter infiltrates the underworld of drugs, and is pursued by several women. I reread this book about once every year, that's why I had to order another copy. Every home should have one!
Lee Ellen M. (lem1251) reviewed Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey, Bk 10) on + 13 more book reviews
Dorothy Sayers worked in an advertising agency after she graduated from Oxford. She new first hand how they operated and that is one reason why this book is so true to life. One of her best books.
Kerrigan M. (kerriganm) reviewed Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey, Bk 10) on + 20 more book reviews
Lord Peter Wimsey goes undercover and the suspense mounts! Dorothy Sayers has obviously done her research- into the methods of 1930's advertising copywriters, into the arcania of cricket, even into the methods of illicit drug distribution. None of this ever comes off as pedantic, however. These details serve to make a roller coaster ride of a suspenseful, complex story with wonderfully rich characters even more believable.
I am a big fan of Dorothy Sayers, and Murder Must Advertise is a wonderful mystery story set in an advertising agency. The information about working in an advertising agency adds a lot of interest to the story, and as always, her characters are ALIVE. Great read.
Grace M. (gracie-1936) reviewed Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey, Bk 10) on + 9 more book reviews
As always, Dorothy Sayers keeps us guessing as to "Who did it?" This one, with Lord Peter in disguise, is especially good. Haven't quite finished it, but Lord Peter is such a great character - can't wait to finifh and discover "Who did it?"
