Murder Must AdvertiseMurder Must Advertise
Score Classic
What it's about
When copywriter Victor Dean falls down the stairs at Pym's Publicity, a respectable London advertising agency, it looks like an accident. Lord Peter Wimsey goes in and uncovers cocaine, blackmail and more.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a classic Golden Age mystery with a satirical eye on the advertising business.
You'll love it if you liked
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
And Then There Were None
The MoonstoneGood to know
It's part of the Lord Peter Wimsey series but stands on its own. It's witty as well as clever.
By the numbers
- Readers71 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller6 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #230 of the 623 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #476 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1498 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Moving
If you like this, read next
The Pillars of the Earth
The Name of the Rose
Perfume
The Woman in White
So Long, See You Tomorrow
Arthur & GeorgeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →Quick answers
Is Murder Must Advertise worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,498 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Murder Must Advertise about?
When copywriter Victor Dean falls down the stairs at Pym's Publicity, a respectable London advertising agency, it looks like an accident. Lord Peter Wimsey goes in and uncovers cocaine, blackmail and more.
How long does it take to read Murder Must Advertise?
About 1 hours (12 pages), or about 2 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Murder Must Advertise?
If you liked it, try The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie or The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.




















