# Lord Peter Wimsey — Unnatural Death character guide > Lord Peter Wimsey in Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Peter, Wimsey, Lord Peter, Lord Peter Wimsey, Peter Wimsey **First appearance:** 0001-i-overheard ## Snapshot A titled amateur sleuth whose foppish chatter masks a razor mind, he takes up the strange death of an old woman nobody else thought worth questioning. ## Who they are Wimsey moves between Mayfair drawing-rooms and shabby Pimlico flats with the same easy curiosity, and he has quietly installed Miss Climpson as a listening post in other people's business. His friend Parker finds this new intimacy unsettling, since Wimsey usually keeps his private arrangements behind a screen of jokes. That blend of flippancy and genuine moral seriousness is what lets him pursue a case the police have already closed. ## Relationships ### [Mrs. Forrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/mrs_forrest) _psychological_ Lord Peter suspects Mrs. Forrest of involvement in the crime and engages in a cat-and-mouse dynamic with her. ### [Sir Andrew Mackenzie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/sir_andrew_mackenzie) _professional_ Sir Andrew is a medical expert consulted by Lord Peter regarding the cause of death. ### [Bunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/bunter) _professional_ Bunter is Lord Peter's loyal valet and occasional assistant in detective work. ### [Nurse Forbes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/nurse_forbes) _social_ Lord Peter interviews Nurse Forbes as a witness to the events surrounding the death. ### [Charles Whittaker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/charles_whittaker) _rivalry_ Lord Peter suspects Charles of foul play and engages in a battle of wits with him. ### [Mrs. Forrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/mrs_forrest) _psychological_ Lord Peter suspects Mrs. Forrest of involvement in the crime and engages in a cat-and-mouse dynamic with her. ### [Sir Andrew Mackenzie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/sir_andrew_mackenzie) _professional_ Sir Andrew is a medical expert consulted by Lord Peter regarding the cause of death. ### [Charles Whittaker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/charles_whittaker) _rivalry_ Lord Peter suspects Charles of foul play and engages in a battle of wits with him. ### [Bunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/bunter) _professional_ Bunter is Lord Peter's loyal valet and occasional assistant in detective work. ### [Nurse Forbes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/nurse_forbes) _social_ Lord Peter interviews Nurse Forbes as a witness to the events surrounding the death. ### [Mrs. Forrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/mrs_forrest) _psychological_ Lord Peter suspects Mrs. Forrest of involvement in the crime and engages in a cat-and-mouse dynamic with her. ### [Nurse Forbes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/nurse_forbes) _social_ Lord Peter interviews Nurse Forbes as a witness to the events surrounding the death. ## In the story ### [Part I: The Medical Problem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/part-i-the-medical-problem) The detective who will likely investigate the medical problem. ### [I: Overheard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/i-overheard) Dining at the Au Bon Bourgeois restaurant, he invites the doctor to share his story, displaying his characteristic curiosity and charm. ### [II: Miching Mallecho](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/ii-miching-mallecho) Hosts the doctor and listens to his story; reveals his identity and expresses interest in investigating the case. ### [III: A Use for Spinsters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/iii-a-use-for-spinsters) Discusses the case with Parker and recruits Miss Climpson for investigation. ### [A Bit Mental](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/iv-a-bit-mental) Interviews Nurse Philliter, seeking her opinion on Agatha Dawson's death and Mary Whittaker's character. ### [VI: Found Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/vi-found-dead) Argues with Parker about the murder, places the advertisement, and investigates Bertha Gotobed's death. ### [VII: Ham and Brandy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/vii-ham-and-brandy) Plays the role of a fussy, nervous relative to pressure Mrs. Forrest; later climbs a drainpipe to retrieve a glass for fingerprints. ### [VIII: Concerning Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/viii-concerning-crime) Discusses the case with Parker, theorizes about a possible murder motive, and expounds on the prevalence of undetected crimes. ### [IX: The Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/ix-the-will) Disguises himself as Mr. Simms-Gaythorpe to interview Nurse Forbes, using a fabricated story about needing a maternity nurse to extract information about Agatha Dawson's final months. ### [Part II: The Legal Problem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/part-ii-the-legal-problem) Engages with the legal aspects of the case, applying his intellect to the problem of inheritance and motive. ### [X: The Will Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/x-the-will-again) Interviews Mrs. Cropper alongside Mr. Murbles; notices her spotting a woman at the station and pursues her. ### [Crossroads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xi-crossroads) Discusses the missing heir theory with Parker, reads Miss Climpson's letter, and decides to drive to Crofton to investigate. ### [A Tale of Two Spinsters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xii-a-tale-of-two-spinsters) Leads the conversation with the Coblings, patiently extracting family history. ### [XIII: Hallelujah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xiii-hallelujah) Visits Rev. Hallelujah Dawson with Parker, investigates the Dawson family genealogy, and notes Mary Whittaker's refusal to continue the allowance. ### [XIV: Sharp Quillets of the Law](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xiv-sharp-quillets-of-the-law) Leads the discussion on the legal motive for murder, theorizing that Mary Whittaker might have hastened Agatha Dawson's death to secure inheritance under the old Act. ### [XV: Temptation of St. Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xv-temptation-of-st-peter) Visits Mrs. Forrest under the alias Mr. Templeton and tests her intentions. ### [XVII: The Country Lawyer's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xvii-the-country-lawyer-s-story) Mentioned as lunching at his club and planning to see the New Zealanders with Freddy Arbuthnot; Parker resents him for stirring up the case. ### [Part III: The Medico-Legal Problem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/part-iii-the-medico-legal-problem) Leads the investigation into the medico-legal aspects of the case, theorizing about air bubble murder. ### [XIX: Gone Away](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xix-gone-away) Debates the case with Parker, reveals the scar evidence from Miss Climpson, and later seeks spiritual counsel from Mr. Tredgold, expressing guilt over his interference leading to further crimes. ### [XX: Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xx-murder) Accompanies Parker to Shelly Head, examines evidence including the cap and the marked magazine. ### [XXI: By What Means?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xxi-by-what-means) Discusses the plot with Parker and Dr. Faulkner, theorizes about Mary Whittaker's schemes, and expresses concern over the arrest of Rev. Hallelujah Dawson. ### [XXII: A Case of Conscience](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xxii-a-case-of-conscience) Mentioned as being at Crow's Beach with Parker; Miss Climpson sends him a letter detailing her plans. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/lord_peter_wimsey - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters