A pitch-perfect Golden Age mystery; not a pastiche but a gem of a period puzzle that belongs on the shelf beside the Wimsey originals.

A delight. The mystery is intriguing – and, more crucially, Paton Walsh perfectly captures Sayers’s voice.

Jill Paton Walsh, assuming the mantle of Dorothy L. Sayers, convinces on all counts . . . Sayers would not have recognised that it wasn’t her own work.

An absolute treat: civilised, intelligent and spellbinding

A great deal of fun

Sayers’s fans won’t be disappointed, and newcomers are in for a treat

Walsh’s writing meets the standards of excellence set by Sayers, using the mystery novel as a means to demonstrate that traits of endurance, honestly, and loyalty are always appealing. Wit matched with intelligence marks the soul not only of a good sleuth, but also of the very best mysteries. Watched over by the ghost of Dorothy L. Sayers, The Attenbury Emeralds has soul.

Walsh does a seamless job of carrying on original author Dorothy L. Sayers’ sparkling mix of prose and people (and this from a critic who usually hates this sort of thing).

Walsh successfully recreates the tone and personalities of the originals and plausibly depicts the main characters later in life. Fans of literate period mysteries will clamour for more.

We must admit – heretical as it may be – that we quite prefer the continuations to the originals.

Channelling the authority Sayers employed right up to her final book, Walsh shows that she has the full measure of the imperishable Lord Peter and the hyper-intelligent Harriet Vane

A crime puzzle with deeper layers which makes for an entertaining and satisfying read