# Lord Peter Wimsey — Strong Poison character guide > Lord Peter Wimsey in Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Wimsey, Peter, old Wimsey, Lord Peter, dear Lord Peter, the notorious Lord Peter Wimsey, VII Lord Peter Wimsey **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A titled amateur sleuth with a taste for the unorthodox, he risks his reputation to prove that the woman he admires did not poison her lover. ## Who they are Lord Peter Wimsey moves easily through drawing rooms and vicarages alike, his languid wit masking a relentless investigative mind. What begins as a professional puzzle becomes deeply personal once he meets Harriet Vane in the dock and decides she is innocent. His willingness to impersonate a friend of the accused, charm reluctant witnesses, and pursue uncomfortable truths drives the novel's central inquiry. ## Relationships ### [Harriet Vane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/harriet_vane) _romantic_ Harriet and Peter share a deep, evolving romantic bond as he works to prove her innocence and win her trust. ### [Mr. Norman Urquhart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/mr_norman_urquhart) _rivalry_ Peter suspects Urquhart of murder and engages in a tense intellectual battle to expose his guilt. ### [Chief Inspector Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/chief_inspector_parker) _friendship_ Parker and Peter are close friends and professional allies, collaborating on the investigation with mutual respect. ### [Philip Boyes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/philip_boyes) _rivalry_ Peter investigates Boyes' murder and views him as a rival for Harriet's past affections. ### [Bunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/bunter) _professional_ Bunter is Peter's loyal and resourceful valet, assisting him with both domestic tasks and detective work. ### [Mrs. Wrayburn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/mrs_wrayburn) _social_ Peter interacts with Mrs. Wrayburn as a friendly acquaintance while gathering information about Harriet. ### [Miss Marjorie Phelps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/miss_marjorie_phelps) _friendship_ Marjorie is a friend and former flame of Peter, who helps him with the investigation. ### [Freddy Arbuthnot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/freddy_arbuthnot) _friendship_ Freddy is Peter's cheerful and somewhat scatterbrained friend, often providing comic relief and assistance. ### [Mr. Bill Rumm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/mr_bill_rumm) _professional_ Bill Rumm is a witness and associate of Boyes, interviewed by Peter for clues about the murder. ### [Sir Impey Biggs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/sir_impey_biggs) _professional_ Sir Impey Biggs is a prominent barrister hired by Peter to defend Harriet in court. ### [Mr. Norman Urquhart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/mr_norman_urquhart) _rivalry_ Peter suspects Urquhart of murder and engages in a tense intellectual battle to expose his guilt. ### [Philip Boyes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/philip_boyes) _rivalry_ Peter investigates Boyes' murder and views him as a rival for Harriet's past affections. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/i) Present in court, appearing gloomy, and muttering during the judge's summation. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/ii) Present in court, murmuring a comment about the judge's fairness. ### [The Hung Jury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/iii) Celebrates the hung jury, expresses certainty of Harriet's innocence, and plans to prove it. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/iv) Leads the council of war, recounts jury deliberations, and arranges to visit Harriet Vane in prison. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/v) Visits Miss Climpson's bureau and Scotland Yard; passionately argues for reinvestigation of the Vane case, suggesting Boyes may have committed suicide. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/vi) Visits the Rev. Arthur Boyes to investigate Philip Boyes' death, then calls on the publisher Mr. Cole and Harriet's agent Mr. Challoner. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/vii) Visits Harriet in prison, discusses a murder plot, investigates Urquhart's absence, and arranges for a spy in Urquhart's office. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/viii) Interviews Ryland Vaughan, tasks Bunter with infiltrating Urquhart's household, and discusses the case with Sylvia Marriott and Eiluned Price. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/x) Interviews Mrs. Bulfinch with Parker, visits Urquhart's office, and argues with Mr. Crofts about the defense strategy. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xi) Examines the will, discusses suicide theory, visits Harriet in prison, and receives Miss Murchison's note. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xii) Endures intrusive questions about the Vane case at the Christmas tea table; later speaks privately with Lady Mary about her engagement to Parker. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xiii) Hosts Miss Murchison at his flat; explains his suspicion that Urquhart forged a will draft; arranges the lock-picking lesson and outlines the mission. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xv) Struggles with frustration and self-pity over Harriet's case; enlists Miss Climpson to investigate Mrs. Wrayburn; confronts Parker about his feelings for Lady Mary. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xvi) Suffers through a week of enforced inactivity, irritated by the happiness of Parker and Lady Mary. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xix) Reads Miss Climpson's letter, declares he knows the criminal and motive, but admits he does not yet know how the crime was done. ### [The Arsenic Test](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xx) Leads the discussion of evidence, oversees the arsenic test, and stays up all night studying to solve the murder method. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xxi) Proposes to Harriet and later meets with a manicurist to enlist her help in a secret scheme. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xxii) Confronts Urquhart with the arsenic immunity theory and orchestrates his arrest. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xxiii) Defends his sister Mary's wish to marry Parker, reveals his own intention to marry Harriet, and leaves immediately after the verdict. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/lord_peter_wimsey - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters