Harriet Vane's Oxford reunion is shadowed by a rash of bizarre pranks and malicious mischief that include beautifully worded death threats, burnt effigies and vicious poison-pen letters, and Harriet finds herself and Lord Peter Wimsey challenged by an elusive set of clues.

This has long been my favorite novel, and I read it once a year. All of the Peter Wimsey mysteries are delightful, with an impressive eye to detail, and the stories that feature Harriet Vane (#8 on) are especially good. These are from the "Golden Age" of mystery, the first Peter Wimsey novel was published in 1923. Gaudy Night is a mystery, but it is so much more: a discussion of women's roles, academia vs. domesticity, as well as an intelligent romance. It also provides a fascinating glimpse into Oxford of the 1930s. I recommend the whole series, but if I had to pick just one, this would be it! 

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