THE ATTENBURY EMERALDS Lord Peter Wimsey's First Case

Edward Petherbridge is renowned for his portrayals of Lord Peter Wimsey. This story opens in 1951 as Lord Peter—now married to mystery writer Harriet Vane—and his manservant/friend, Bunter, recount the case that launched Lord Peter’s investigative career. In 1921, he retrieved the “king stone,” the pivotal jewel in the collection of the Attenbury emeralds. After the flashback storytelling, the current heir to the Attenbury title appears unexpectedly, wanting Peter’s help to determine the true provenance of the “king stone.” Over the past 30 years, murder, theft, and personal tragedy have befallen those connected to the emerald. Jill Paton Walsh does a terrific job with Dorothy L. Sayers’s posh P.I., and Petherbridge’s intimate style, offering charming throwaway comments, is genteel and subtle. Delightful listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2011]