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Thrones, Dominations (Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane #1)

Dorothy L. Sayers,

Jill Paton Walsh

Start date: January 9, 2017

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What Members Thought

Jan 06, 2017 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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 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.

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Sep 18, 2019 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, british-mystery, mount-tbr-2019

Of the Wimsey continuation novels by Jill Paton Walsh, Thrones, Dominations is the best. Most likely because it has the largest amount of Sayers in it. Sayers sketched out most of the novel, left plot diagrams, and wrote about six chapters of the novel before abandoning it in 1936. When I first read it, long before blogging, I was incredibly eager to do so--knowing how much Sayers had left to work with and longing for more Lord Peter Wimsey. At that time I rated it a decent outing, but it also m ...more

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Apr 16, 2014 Damaskcat rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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 ar ...more

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Nov 15, 2023 Lynnie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: golden-age-mystery, crime, london, read-in-2023

December 2023 - edited to make this 4 stars. Having read all four books in this series now, this was the best one plus I did enjoy overall reading more about Peter and Harriet.

I'm hovering between 3 and 4 stars for this. I don't know. There were elements that I really enjoyed but also quite a bit that didn't work for me.

It's 1936 and I enjoyed the social history very much - I didn't know that high society had to wear mourning for a King. There was a lot about the meaning of marriage. And then t ...more

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Sep 06, 2019 Zander rated it liked it

While most people will probably read this book because they are fans of Wimsey and be disappointed I found the changes made in Wimsey to make it more enjoyable to read. The Peter and Harriet of these books are not really either soley Sayers or new authors. They are an extension of the married couple of Busman's holiday which Sayers saw as the happily-ever-after and the end of Harriet's story but of course marriage is only the beginning of the three relationships, the couple together and them as While most people will probably read this book because they are fans of Wimsey and be disappointed I found the changes made in Wimsey to make it more enjoyable to read. The Peter and Harriet of these books are not really either soley Sayers or new authors. They are an extension of the married couple of Busman's holiday which Sayers saw as the happily-ever-after and the end of Harriet's story but of course marriage is only the beginning of the three relationships, the couple together and them as individuals now leading that dual existence. So I don't mind the change of in their attitudes especially Peter. If this had actually been finished in 1938 I don't think Peter would be that much changed in his views in proper behaviour of the servant class or of his new wife keeping her professional independence.
It's reported the first six chapters are all Sayers and I have to say they dragged on for me as they often do with actual mysteries written by the greats in the 1930's with all the set up. I felt knocked off the head with how much the other couple loved each other and was not surprised at all by who the murderer was or how it happened. I was more surprised by ignorant of criminal mind they were but then again that was a novel thing even then.
It's pretty clear the plot introduced to by the contemporary writer. There is no way there would have been any plot about Edward and Simpson, the upcoming war nor even the casual reference to the King's death as all of that would not be considered appropriate or publishable at that time.

Any book written in the present about these characters will not be written with the mindset of someone who was actually a contemporary but someone looking back with hindsight even if they are trying to keep the tone and characters.

I quite liked the new characters of Mango and Bunter's wife but it was odd to see Bunter off stage as if the author didn't know how to write him at all. I always understand why Peter was the way he was and how even Sayers knew that he was a dying breed she didn't know just how true that was. Any books now will have that knowledge and there is no way it wouldn't seep it's way into the writing.

The writing was decent although the self referential bits about how things would be in a novel compared to reality and other winks to the reader got annoying.

All in all it's not a bad book just rather forgettable. ...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Bev rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery, british-mystery, historical-mystery

Had to read and own this simply because it had the beloved characters in it. It's a decent outing...but the sad part is knowing how very outstanding it could have been if Sayers had written it and Walsh had never gotten hold of it.

I admire Sayers for taking her writing where she felt it needed to go (non-fiction), but as a mystery lover and a fan of her particular mysteries I wish very much she had completed this one.
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Jan 15, 2017 Jill rated it liked it · review of another edition

Think this was very long winded. The plot was good, which I suppose was down to Sayers, but thought there was a lot of padding (Assuming that was Paton Walsh)

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