# The Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meleager’s Will explained — Lord Peter Views the Body

> Chapter companion for Lord Peter Views the Body by Dorothy L. Sayers.

## What happens

Lord Peter Wimsey is recruited by his sister Mary to help Hannah Marryat find the missing will of her eccentric uncle, Meleager Finch, who left a fortune to the Primrose League unless a later will can be discovered. The search leads to a pile of crossword puzzles, which may hold the key to the hidden document.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Identity

Uncle Meleager's hidden will and crossword clues create a puzzle of deception and hidden meaning.

### Wit and Intellect

Lord Peter uses his sharp intellect to decode the crossword puzzles and uncover the will's location.

### Wealth and Greed

The inheritance of £250,000 drives the conflict between Hannah's socialist ideals and her need for money.

## Character check-ins

### Lord Peter Wimsey

Agrees to help Hannah Marryat find her uncle's will, deduces clues from crossword puzzles.

### Lady Mary

Recruits Lord Peter to assist Hannah Marryat and joins in the search for the will.

### Hannah Marryat

The socialist niece seeking her uncle's hidden will to secure funds for her family.

### Bunter

Assists Lord Peter with crossword clues and manages household tasks.

### Uncle Meleager

Deceased eccentric who hid his will and enjoyed crossword puzzles.

## Key lines

> old man left two wills, and, if she can’t find the latest one, they’ll prove the first one. He explained that to her carefully.

The deceased uncle created two wills; if the newer one is not found, the older will be executed.

_Mary explains the urgency of finding the latest will to Lord Peter._

> He wrote a funny sort of letter, which we can’t make head or tail of. Come to the club tonight and she’ll show it to you.

Uncle Meleager left a cryptic letter that no one can decipher, and Mary invites Peter to examine it.

_Mary describes the puzzling letter from Uncle Meleager._

> What happened to Uncle Meleager’s crosswords?

Lord Peter asks about the crossword puzzles Uncle Meleager created.

_Peter suspects the crosswords may contain clues to the will._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lord_peter_views_the_body_se/chapters/the-fascinating-problem-of-uncle-meleager-s-will
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lord_peter_views_the_body_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lord_peter_views_the_body_se/chapters