Thrones, Dominations

Having read all of the Lord Peter Wimsey books, I enjoyed "Thrones, Dominations" just as much as if Mrs. Sayers had written it entirely, herself. While Harriet Vane is more prominent than Lord Peter throughout, it must be remembered that this was true in "Gaudy Night", as well. Mrs. Walsh has done an admirable job of continuing this series using the sketches/outline of Mrs. Sayers which she had available.

Review of Kindle editionPublication date: March 15, 1999Publisher: St. Martin's PaperbacksLanguage: EnglishASIN: B005J52SJ2527 pagesNo less an authority than Ruth Rendell said that it is impossible to tell where Dorothy Sayers ends and Jill Paton Walsh begins. Many other reviewers and critics agree. Others say that this is because the writing is all Jill Paton Walsh, that Sayers wrote only an outline and a little bit of the beginning. Still others say that it is easy to tell the difference between Sayers' writing and that of Walsh because Walsh failed to capture the voice and plotting of Sayers. Looking at the reviews, it is obvious that the nay sayers are in the minority. I can not tell you which POV is correct though I tend to trust Rendell in matters literary. I read all of the Lord Peter Wimsey books many years past and simply cannot recognize all of the nuances of Sayers' style.Whether or not this is a good, almost seamless continuation, of Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries almost doesn't matter. Walsh has written a fine novel. Considerable effort has been devoted to characterization, setting the scenes of time and place, witty repartee and genial humour. The world of upper class England in the 1930's comes alive in these pages. Some mystery fans will not like it because it is about halfway through this 500+ page book before a murder occurs. More troubling is Lord Peter, Lady Harriet and Scotland Yard missing a few obvious and important clues and areas which should have been investigated further. I do not remember encountering such obvious mistakes in Sayers' mysteries. So four stars rather than five.

Dorothy L. Sayers began 'Thrones, Dominations' in the 1930s, only to be distracted by another task: translating Dante Alighieri's 'The Divine Comedy'. When she died in 1957, cantos of the great poem and this novel were left unfinished. Jill Paton Walsh has done both Sayers and the unlikely lovers proud.Like Dante gazing on his Beatrice, Lord Peter fell, at first sight, for Harriet Vane in "Strong Poison", courted her through four books over several years, was accepted in "Gaudy Night", married in "Busman's Honeymoon" and now, in this title, they begin married life in London's Audley Square. Soon enough, murder intrudes: the beautiful wife of a rich acquaintance is found strangled while wearing a collar given her by Harriet to lighten the black they must wear to mourn the death of King George V.While helping his brother-in-law, Chief Inspector Parker, solve the crime; Lord Peter uses his military intelligence skills to foil the folly of the new King, helps his wife navigate the misbehavior his aristocratic relatives and her new status as a woman who does not "have to work", endeavors to be a good husband and ardent lover, and suffers when his manservant and dearest friend, Mervyn Bunter, resigns.While helping Peter solve the crime, Harriet uses her common sense to foil her in-laws' attempts at control, discovers "working for its own sake", endeavors to be a proper wife and happy lover, and finds a way for Bunter to stay with Peter while taking a wife - modern Miss Fanshawe.The crime couple follows the convention of bicker and tease, quarrel and subjugation, standing in contrast to the matrimonial Wimseys. Watching Peter and Harriet successful at mutual respect and friendship mixed with physical attraction makes Bunter long for such a life, which in the end is perfectly solved. Along the way, Sayers/Walsh offers one of best explanations I've read for why a good detective story is rightly popular, puts us in the tensions running up to the WWII, and shows us the power of breaking and keeping traditions when done by people with compassion and humanity. An Author's Note tells us of the birth of Peter and Harriet's sons in the turmoil of war.This novel uses sleuthing to present relationships, society and history in the tight turns of change. I recommend it.

I tried to discern where Sayers left off and Paton took over, and I confess I couldn't. Ms Paton has mastered Sayers voice so completely, her writing is indistinguishable from Ms Sayers.Which leads me to rejoice that Lord Peter lives! He lives in married bliss with Harriet Vane, who is pregnant with his son as the book ends. Harriet continues her writing of detective novels to the delight of her mother-in-law (may she live forever) and the consternation of her sister-in-law (a curse on her and her ilk), and the contentment of her readers.All our favorite characters are here, with some new one to gladden our hearts. Meredith Bunter (Bunter's brother), endeavors to give satisfaction as the butler, and Juliet Mango, as Harriet's maid, also does double duty where Miss Climpson is too old, or too refined to get the younger ones to confide in her.At heart of the book, of course, aside from murder mystery intrusions, is the story of Lord Peter's love for Harriet. A love that is solidly returned. The trials and travails of the past are resolved and all that is left is the working out of the details of their love. Harriet is turning out to appreciate the charm of being spoiled by money and servants and lays to rest what demons persist from being jailed for murder herself.Altogether a most satisfying novel. Oh, yes, there's a murder mystery to follow and a problem to solve if that sort of thing amuses you.

I am indebted to the Lord Peter Wimsey Facebook page for alerting me to these books and how very good they are. I understand that this was left unfinished by Dorothy L Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh has done an admirable job of completing the novel. It is not without its issues, at first I found the quoting of poetry and other snippets rather overbearing, a bit too much 'look at me, aren't I intellectual?', I don't know whether that was original prose, which Ms Sayers may have culled or came from Ms Patton Walsh.Anyway, set in 1936, Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane have just returned from their honeymoon and are settling into their new house in London. Harriet in particular is trying to find her way, learning how to live with servants, having money, not needing to work, coping with the family expectations that she and Peter will immediately produce a son as the 'spare' to the Duke of Denver's son and heir, and of course coping with her domineering sister-in-law Helen.Peter and Harriet are part of London society, dinner parties, theatre performances etc and are introduced to another young couple Rosamund and Laurence Harwell. Although apparently very much in love, the Harwell's marriage seems dysfunctional and Rosamund very dissatisfied with Laurence. Add in a brilliant but egotistical portrait artist, an up-and-coming young actress, and an infatuated playwright and the scene is set for ... murder (sorry, had a flashback to the tv series Hart to Hart there).Once this hit its stride it was so evocative of what I love about the original Lord Peter Wimsey novels and short stories, the view into a world long gone, the way in which Peter and Harriet tentatively map out their new relationship, Bunter and the Denver family.Just a joy to read a new Lord Peter Wimsey book.

Like or dislike? Hard to say especially when dealing with an author like Dorothy L Sayers. What I find odd is the direct references to contemporary events such as King Georges funeral and King Edward VIIIs possible or probable cavalier attitude towards contemporary politics. I don't recall any Sayers novel......and they were novels not just detective yarns having similar references. That's what makes those stories timeless in a way they don't have timeline markers inserted. Strangely enough I've a copy of the dramatisation of Busman's Honeymoon!To each their own. It's a good story but the markers are why the four stars were given not five. This is a modern book and it shows

It is 1936 and Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane have returned to London to set up home in the house furnished by Wimsey's mother - the Dowager Duchess. Events in the outer world feature in this story as George V dies and Edward VIII starts to show himself as a less than ideal King. Hitler is growing in power and Wimsey is off at a moment's notice to play his part in diplomatic negotiations.Harriet is left behind to battle with her writing and then with her sister in law and her opinions on what are suitable activities for the new Lady Peter Wimsey. Then murder disrupts the Wimsey's social circle and Harriet and Peter are suddenly involved in detection again.I remember reading this book when it first came out with some trepidation. I needn't have worried as it is well written and enjoyable reading. I did forget while I was reading who had written it and I enjoyed it for its own sake. I thought the authors dovetailed the real world events into the main characters' private lives extremely well and I got a real feel for the uncertain times of the 1930s. Even if you don't like sequels involving well known characters I would say this is worth reading.

Last year I, finally, read all of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries and enjoyed them thoroughly. In fact, I missed Wimsey so much that, when a book group I am a member of, suggested reading the novels written with the involvement of Jill Paton Walsh I was tempted. However, I had read the first Sophie Hannah, so-called, Poirot sequel, and been horribly disappointed. Reading friends assured me that these were much better and I am so glad I listened and gave this a try. It is a joy to have Lord (and now Lady) Peter Wimsey back in my life.Dorothy L. Sayers worked on this novel for some months in 1936, but put it aside after the abdication crisis and did not return to it. The notes were found in 1957 and so Jill Paton Walsh did have an idea of the early chapters, which is probably why this feels so seamless. However, I also heard an interview with her, in which she said she tried to write as Sayers would, rather than in her own voice (her own crime novels are very good), and both her sympathy for the characters, and her respect for Wimsey’s loyal readers, shines through here.We meet up with Peter and Harriet in France, where they run into Lord Peter’s uncle, Mr Paul Delgardie, and are introduced to another couple – Lawrence and Rosamund Harwell. Rosamund’s father had been imprisoned for fraud and she had been forced to find work as a mannequin, until rescued by the besotted, and wealthy, Lawrence. The couple were known for their intense love for each other, while it is clear that others are not quite so sure to make of Peter and Harriet’s marriage. Peter’s mother, the delightful Dowager Duchess, is obviously thrilled that her favourite is happy and adores Harriet. Meanwhile, the Duke of Denver is secretly happy and the icy Helen pours disapproval.It is 1936 and war clouds are approaching, while the country is aware of the abdication crisis also looming. As Peter and Harriet settle into life in London, they find they keep bumping into either Lawrence or Rosamund Harwell. Lawrence is heavily involved in the theatre, while his bored, beautiful wife, has her portrait painted by Gaston Chaparelle (who Harriet is also sitting for) and encourages the poet and playwright, Claude Amery, in his attentions. When there is a murder, Lord Peter sets out to investigate.I really enjoyed the mystery element in this novel, as well as the historical context and the continuing relationship between Peter and Harriet. There is a lot about the meaning of marriage, which continues themes in earlier novels; plus Walsh has a little fun inventing characters of her own. I missed the constant quotations and thought that Paton did take some liberties with how the aristocracy treated their servants. However, obviously, this book historically goes further than previous novels and, obviously, Harriet was not used to that kind of lifestyle. Overall, I really enjoyed it and that, as a reader, is what really counts. I look forward to reading on and feel happy I tried out these sequels for myself.

I’ve come late to these books but on the positive side the joy is in front of me. I love Lord Peter and his approach to crime-solving but most of all I love, indeed envy, the relationship he and Harriet Vane have together. So I’m very happy that Jill Paton Walsh picked up the reins from Dorothy L Sayers to give us a few more years following the lives and adventures of two of my favourite fictional characters. I like that these are stand-alone novels but readers of the series can enjoy cross referencing that gives both the series and the couple themselves a narrative arc.