logo

40 pages 1 hour read

Dorothy L. Sayers

The Nine Tailors

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1934

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Dorothy L. Sayers's The Nine Tailors, Lord Peter Wimsey and his valet Bunter are stranded in East Anglia due to a snowstorm and take refuge with Rector Venables. Venables recruits Wimsey to assist with a bell-ringing event, after which a corpse is discovered in a freshly opened grave. Wimsey, along with Superintendent Blundell, investigates, uncovering connections to an old theft and an escaped convict. Sensitive topics include the portrayal of a deathbed scene.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Dorothy L. Sayers' The Nine Tailors is praised for its intricate plot and rich atmosphere, immersing readers in the English village life and bell-ringing culture. Sayers' character development, particularly of Lord Peter Wimsey, receives acclaim. However, some critics find the detailed descriptions and slow pacing challenging. Overall, it's a compelling and thoughtful mystery.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Nine Tailors?

Readers who enjoy intricate mysteries and classic detective fiction, akin to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, will appreciate Dorothy L. Sayers’ The Nine Tailors. Fans of traditional British settings, rich character development, and atmospheric storytelling will find this novel compelling.

Book Details
Pages

416

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New England, England • 1930s

Publication Year

1934

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-18 years

Lexile Level

910L

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.