Clouds of Witness

"Clouds of Witness" is a mystery novel featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. The story begins with the murder of the Duke of Denver, who is found dead at a shooting party. Wimsey's brother, Gerald, is accused of the crime. As Wimsey investigates, he navigates family secrets, class tensions, and the complexities of love and loyalty. The narrative explores themes of justice and morality, culminating in a dramatic courtroom scene where Wimsey must uncover the truth to save his brother.

By Dorothy L Sayers · First published 1916 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime · 19 chapters · 106,558 words

First lines

The inimitable stories of Tong-king never have any real ending, and this one, being in his most elevated style, has even less end than most of them. But the whole narrative is permeated with the odour of joss-sticks and honourable high-mindedness, and the two characters are both of noble birth. The Wallet of Kai-Lung

O, who hath done this deed? Othello

What this Textopian page supports

Clouds of Witness is listed on Textopian as a novel by Dorothy L Sayers, dated 1916 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Dorothy L Sayers
• Date: 1916 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime, Literary Fiction, Thriller
• Length: 106,558 words
• Structure: 19 chapters, 2,422 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L Sayers
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering Clouds of Witness?
• How does this novel by Dorothy L Sayers fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Sleuth Of St Jamess Square by Melville Davisson Post
• Trents Last Case by E. C. Bentley
• The Starvel Hollow Tragedy by Freeman Wills Crofts
• The Sea Mystery by Freeman Wills Crofts
• The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie
• The Vindictive Story Of The Footsteps That Ran by Dorothy L. Sayers

Genres

• Mystery — The plot revolves around a murder investigation, central to the narrative.
• Detective Fiction — Features a detective, Lord Peter Wimsey, solving the crime.
• Crime — Involves criminal acts and the exploration of motives behind them.
• Literary Fiction — Contains rich character development and thematic depth.

Tags

Mystery · Detective Fiction · Whodunit · Class Novel · English Countryside · Family Drama · Social Satire · Humor · Wit · Intellectual Puzzle · Plot Twist · Red Herring

Contents

• Of his Malice Aforethought
• The Green-Eyed Cat
• Mudstains and Bloodstains
• And his Daughter Much-Afraid
• The Rue St. Honoré and the Rue De La Paix
• Mary Quite Contrary
• The Club and the Bullet
• Mr. Parker Takes Notes
• Goyles
• Nothing Abides at the Noon
• Meribah
• The Alibi
• Manon
• The Edge of the Axe Towards Him
• Bar Falling
• The Second String
• The Eloquent Dead
• The Speech for the Defense
• Who Goes Home?

More by Dorothy L Sayers

• The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1928)
• The Abominable History of the Man with Copper Fingers (1937)
• The Entertaining Episode of the Article in Question (1934)
• The Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meleager's Will (1939)
• The Fantastic Horror of the Cat in the Bag (1936)
• The Unprincipled Affair of the Practical Joker (1939)
• The Undignified Melodrama of the Bone of Contention (1937)
• The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps that Ran (1923)
• All works by Dorothy L Sayers