Welcome to the first day of Advent of Mystery!

I was first introduced to Dorothy Sayers as “kind of like Agatha Christie, but more literary.” My first Sayers read was Gaudy Night, and I feel in love with her writing style and with Lord Peter Wimsey’s understated wit. Reading the series always feels like returning to a post-WWI ivory tower. On the one hand, it can feel strange to rejoice in the elitism and privilege required to make the world function. On the other hand, it’s hard for a bibliophile not to rejoice in the literary references, the book-collecting, the unabashed English-ness of it all.

The Nine Tailors is a perfect encapsulation of these dynamics in one novel. The titular nine tailors are the nine bells in the church of Fenchurch St. Paul. On a cold New Year’s Eve, Lord Peter’s car breaks down near the village, and he ends up helping the local bell-ringers set a new record with a nine-hour peal (15, 840 changes). When, a few months later, the locals dig up an unknown body in a recent grave, they ask Lord Peter to return and figure out what happened.

An ode to the traditions of the English Fens

The Nine Tailors is equal parts mystery story, ode to the Fenlands, and docuementation of English bell-ringing. Sayers grew up in the Fenlands and takes her time to describe them in the first part of the book. Her descriptions of change-ringing also take up significant page space. The entire first part of the book is dedicated to this setting, and Sayers takes her time getting to the mystery.

But what a mystery, when it comes down to it! Sayers crafts a narrative that interleaves change-ringing, a historical emerald theft, a secret hiding place, an escaped convict, and a loud parrot. Wimsey also encounters plenty of interpersonal drama – from an overbearing guardian who disapproves of his niece’s writing ambitions, to accidental bigamy. Background infrastructure projects that ground the story in reality – and contribute to a dramatic climax, as thousands of tons of water sweep over the Fens.

Yet amidst all this drama, Sayers makes room for the little moments. Particularly endearing are the moments of intimacy between Wimsey and Bunter (his valet). Bunter’s loyalty, proclivity, and usefulness make him a nice contrast to the bumbling sidekicks that so often populate the genre.

The Nine Tailors is a moody, vibey mystery, with a solution to match. The solution – the cause of death – has long been a source of controversy, with some fans taking issue with its plausibility. Personally, I’m ok to suspend my disbelief a little, because it enables so many layers of mystery and suspicion. But your mileage may vary on this one.

A great mystery – but not a Christmas one

The Nine Tailors starts on New Years’ Eve and takes place over the course of a year. The first few chapters are dedicated to the events of New Year’s Eve and effectively set up a chilly, wintry scene for maximum coziness. However, most of the detection happens from spring to fall, as Sayers takes readers through a year on the Fens. The story ends near Christmastime, when Lord Peter returns to the Red House at Fenchurch St. Paul to celebrate with his ward Hilary.

You can say the story is “bookended” by winter settings, and Sayers focuses most of her considerable descriptive powers on the first and last segments of the story. I certainly felt glad for my fuzzy blanket and my warm mug of tea as I made my way through the novel. But it would not be fair to describe this as a “Christmas” novel overall.

An English murder mystery for all seasons

In The Nine Tailors, Dorothy Sayers sets up a tricky puzzle for readers, while introducing them to the setting and traditions of her beloved Fenlands. If you already like Golden-Age mystery – the aesthetics, the writing styles, the settings – and are looking for a literary read, this would be a great pick. But if you’re looking for something to really get you in the Christmas spirit, I’d give this a pass for now.

Random reading notes:

• I’ve been reading too much Agatha Christie – the rector’s name is Venables, which instantly made me think of The Pale Horse
• My husband doesn’t really like mysteries, but he loves math – I’m kind of tempted to see what he thinks of change-ringing

I’ll see you tomorrow for another entry in the Advent of Mystery. Until then, stay cozy, and stay curious!