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The Documents in the Case
Dorothy L. Sayers Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Documents in the Case
"This book, which is told Wilkie-Collins style, with assorted narrators and in the form of letters and statements, is a fabulous work of detective fiction that does not involve Peter Wimsey, Sayers' usual detective. In Documents, the situation in a shared house leads to murder, and a son sets out to find his father's killer. This book also provides a fascinating glimpse of "suburban" life circa 1930. "
Ivy, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of The Documents in the Case
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of story - very upbeat
How difficult to spot villain? - Somewhat obvious
Time/era of story: - 1930's-1950's
Kind of investigator - british mystery (I say!)
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - artist
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - artist
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
City? Yes
City: - London

Style
Person - rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths? - 1
Unusual forms of death - poisoning
Unusual form of death? Yes
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to The Documents in the Case
The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie & Charles Osbourne
Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers
Black Coffee by Agatha Christie
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers


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Dorothy L. Sayers Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Christina Forsyth  

SCHOLARS:
Marianna  Alan J. Bishop  Anthony  David Loftus  


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