Unnatural Death

About “Unnatural Death”

Unnatural Death, published in 1927, is the third novel featuring Lord Peter Wimsey, an aristocratic detective created by Dorothy L. Sayers. The story begins with a conversation in a restaurant where a doctor recounts a case of an elderly woman who died suddenly without an obvious cause. Her great-niece was set to inherit her estate, and the doctor's suspicion led to an autopsy that showed no immediate cause of death. The doctor faced local hostility and was forced to leave his practice. Wimsey investigates and becomes involved in a series of dangerous events. The novel introduces Miss Alexandra Climpson, a middle-aged spinster who assists Wimsey with her gossip-filled reports. The book includes a clearly lesbian character, a rare feature in detective fiction at the time, and a sympathetic portrayal of a black character, though racist language is used by other characters. An adaptation of the book was made for BBC radio in 1975.