Lord Peter Wimsey, a British, aristocratic sleuth of the Golden Age, sits at the trial of Harriet Vane, a young woman accused of killing her ex-boyfriend. Harriet, a detective novelist, and her former paramour, Philip Boyes, lived together as an unmarried couple, provoking negative reactions from their highly mannered community. After they broke up, Boyes began to experience episodes of gastritis, culminating in his death shortly after a final meeting with Harriet. Upon testing, the cause of death was found to be poison, correlating exactly with the subject of Harriet's newest mystery novel. Watching her on the stand, Peter Wimsey instantly connects with Harriet and feels sure of her innocence. With the trial postponed, Wimsey has a chance to collect evidence and prove his suspicions (and maybe win Harriet's affection in the process).

Sayers's writing is lighthearted and fun, with plenty of good-natured banter between the characters. Wimsey is presented as a bit of a playboy, but he is nevertheless incredibly kind to his family members, friends, and coworkers. I was impressed by the quantity of well-developed and engaging women characters, especially given the male-dominated nature of detective fiction at the time. I loved the pacing of the novel; I felt as if I were right there with Wimsey in terms of finding clues and working out the mystery. I really enjoyed Strong Poison and would likely pick up another of Sayers's novels for a light yet puzzling read.