The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club

Dorothy L. Sayers (1893 - 1957)

The author’s fourth Lord Peter Wimsey mystery, set shortly after the Great War, begins with the discovery of old general Fentiman’s body seated in his usual armchair, in the smoking room of the Bellona Club, at 7 pm on November 11th - Armistice Day. The general has bequeathed his modest savings to his two grandsons, Major Robert and Captain George Fentiman.

However, the general's wealthy sister, Lady Dormer, died at 10:37 that very morning, leaving him the bulk of her fortune -- assuming he was still alive. If so, his grandsons come into over a half million pounds. If not, the money goes to her young companion, Ann Dorland.

In this classic Golden Age mystery the suave but eccentric Lord Peter Wimsey, aided by his friend and sidekick, inspector Charles Parker of Scotland Yard, must determine whether old general Fentiman died before or after his sister. With so much money hanging on the question of when the old man died, it is hardly surprising that the investigation quickly raises the possibility of murder.

The first three Lord Peter mysteries are Whose Body?, Clouds of Witness, and Unnatural Death. - Summary by Kirsten Wever

Genre(s): Detective Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Old Mossy-Face Kirsten Wever
00:10:21
Play 02 The Queen is Out Kirsten Wever
00:08:39
Play 03 Hearts Count More Than Diamonds Kirsten Wever
00:35:54
Play 04 Lord Peter Leads a Club Kirsten Wever
00:14:19
Play 05 --And Finds the Club Suit Blocked Kirsten Wever
00:21:54
Play 06 A Card of Re-Entry Kirsten Wever
00:30:03
Play 07 The Curse of Scotland Kirsten Wever
00:35:02
Play 08 Lord Peter Leads Through Strength Kirsten Wever
00:34:36
Play 09 Knave High Kirsten Wever
00:22:37
Play 10 Lord Peter Forces a Card Kirsten Wever
00:19:49
Play 11 Lord Peter Clears Trumps Kirsten Wever
00:21:09
Play 12 Lord Peter Turns a Trick Kirsten Wever
00:19:14
Play 13 Spades are Trumps Kirsten Wever
00:31:22
Play 14 Grand Slam in Spades Kirsten Wever
00:20:21
Play 15 Shuffle the Cards and Deal Again Kirsten Wever
00:23:39
Play 16 Quadrille Kirsten Wever
00:25:47
Play 17 Parker Plays a Hand Kirsten Wever
00:30:44
Play 18 Picture Cards Kirsten Wever
00:48:47
Play 19 Lord Peter Plays Dummy Kirsten Wever
00:28:00
Play 20 Ann Dorland Goes Misère Kirsten Wever
00:27:19
Play 21 Lord Peter Calls a Bluff Kirsten Wever
00:21:44
Play 22 The Cards on the Table Kirsten Wever
00:20:52