Book cover of The Documents in the Case

Book description

An epistolary crime novel from Dorothy L Sayers, creator of the classic Lord Peter Wimsey series - a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie's Poirot and Margery Allingham's Campion Mysteries, and introduced by author and journalist Libby Purves.

The bed was broken and tilted grotesquely sideways. Harrison was sprawled over…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Documents in the Case as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Dorothy L. Sayers was one of the founding crime writers of the Detection Club, and this book of hers was written in the classic era of detective fiction, when such works followed the Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction, devised by Ronald Knox, a fellow author.

These various constraints allowed the reader a fair chance of solving the puzzle inside a murder mystery. For instance a supernatural solution is not allowed and the criminal should be one of the several characters mentioned reasonably early on in the novel. This permutation of the classic puzzle is disseminated in various documents presented to…

From Hugh's list on puzzling murder mysteries.

If you love The Documents in the Case...

Book cover of Death and a Crocodile

Death and a Crocodile by Lisa E. Betz,

In ancient Rome, sensible women don’t investigate murders, but Livia Aemilia’s father is dead, and her innocent brother has been accused of the crime. What’s a girl to do? Find the criminal herself, obviously.

Livia and her spunky maidservant pound the ancient Roman pavements in search of the killer, with…

Want books like The Documents in the Case?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 92 books like The Documents in the Case.

Browse books like The Documents in the Case

Book cover of Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
Book cover of The Hound of the Baskervilles
Book cover of The Lighthouse

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,340

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like The Documents in the Case, you might also like...

Book cover of Danger Lies Within

Danger Lies Within by K.M. Krenik,

Readers describe Krenik's writing style as “fast-paced, engaging, making complex plotlines easy to follow.”

Set in a dystopian world where dragons exist, this series offers readers layers of mysteries to unfold. Romance flares between a viscount and the nanny of his five-year-old twins. But not everyone is as they seem,…

Book cover of Death of an Englishman

Death of an Englishman by Anna Beer,

A quest for a valuable manuscript turns into a hunt for its author’s killer. Meet Oxford’s Eve Brook, literary detective, as she tackles her first mystery.

David Morrow, Oxford don and controversial media pundit, is found dead in his college rooms. Eve Brook is recruited to complete his latest book,…

5 book lists we think you will like!