The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps that Ran

Name: The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps that Ran
Author: Dorothy L Sayers

A doctor and his friend, Lord Peter Wimsey, are engaged in a series of experiments involving rats in a small laboratory. Their conversation reveals a light-hearted banter about the doctor's financial struggles and the mundane aspects of life in Bloomsbury. However, their afternoon takes a dark turn when a frantic man, Brotherton, bursts in, claiming his wife has been murdered. The doctor and Wimsey rush upstairs to find the woman dead, stabbed in the heart. The scene is chaotic, with Brotherton in shock and the police quickly summoned. As they investigate, Brotherton describes the attacker as an Italian named Marinetti, who had previously threatened his wife. The police begin to piece together the events, noting the absence of a murder weapon and the peculiar circumstances surrounding the crime. Wimsey, skeptical of the straightforward narrative, begins to question the details. He observes inconsistencies in Brotherton's account and the physical evidence. The investigation reveals that the murder weapon—a skewer—was hidden in the oven, suggesting that the crime was not premeditated but rather a crime of passion. As the police gather evidence, Wimsey deduces that Brotherton's jealousy over his wife's past relationship with Marinetti may have driven him to commit the crime. The narrative unfolds with a blend of forensic detail and psychological insight, culminating in the revelation of the true nature of the crime and the motivations behind it. The work explores themes of jealousy, domestic life, and the complexities of human relationships, all set against the backdrop of a murder mystery that intertwines the mundane with the macabre. The resolution highlights the dangers of assumptions and the importance of thorough investigation in uncovering the truth.

By Dorothy L Sayers · First published 1923 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime · 7,546 words

First lines

Mr. Bunter withdrew his head from beneath the focusing cloth.

"I fancy that will be quite adequate, sir," he said deferentially, "unless there are any further patients, if I may call them so, which you would wish put on record."

What this Textopian page supports

The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps that Ran is listed on Textopian as a novel by Dorothy L Sayers, dated 1923 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Dorothy L Sayers
Date: 1923 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Literary Fiction
Length: 7,546 words
Structure: 1 section, 190 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The plot revolves around a murder investigation, typical of the mystery genre, with clues and suspects.
Detective Fiction — Features a detective character, Lord Peter Wimsey, who solves the crime through observation and deduction.
Crime — The central theme involves a crime (murder) and its investigation.
Thriller — Contains suspenseful elements as the characters navigate the aftermath of a violent crime.