Thrones, Dominations - SPOILER thread

[Judy]

This is a spoiler thread for our buddy read of Thrones, Dominations. It is assumed that anyone posting in this thread has finished the book, so important plot points and the ending can be openly discussed. If you haven't finished yet, you might prefer to stick to the general thread.

[Susan]

I know Sayers started this book, before abandoning it, so obviously there was a real familiarity with the style that Walsh could continue with. One of the obvious differences I noticed was the lack of quotes, especially from Peter. However, I liked reading of the way Peter and Harriet were settling into married life and I enjoyed Helen's icy disapproval - which went so far as not inviting Charles and Mary to the dinner she hosted...

[Jill]

I'm a bit disappointed with this book. The murder doesn't happen until half way through, and I suppose having read all the other books, I had got used to the crime cropping up rather more quickly.
I felt the death of the king went on for rather a long time. maybe this will have some bearing in the book later on. I also wondered why there was so much justifying the crime novel in general.
Maybe I will change my mind about these points when I have read further.

[Susan]

Sometimes a book is an 'easy' read for you and sometimes it isn't. I really enjoyed this from the first word, but, especially if you are very familiar with the series (I have only read most of the books once) then the style may seem very different and jar.

[Judy]

The style isn't quite like Sayers - except for occasional passages which I feel must be by her, though I could be wrong! - but I do think it is beautifully written, with a lot of lines to stop and savour.

Loved this description of the Harwells after hearing that the king has died:

"A rich melancholy enfolded them. They felt the grief of a nation lap them in luxurious sheets of sympathetic bereavement. A whole epoch was collapsing about them, while at the core of darkness they lit their small blaze of life and were comforted."

I shouldn't be looking at the spoiler thread yet as I haven't finished!

[Susan]

I thought it flowed really well. Paton Walsh cannot be Sayers, but her characters remain in character. Unlike Poirot (grumble, grumble!).

[Judy]

Did anyone guess the killer in this? I remembered from a previous read - but I do think it's a good plot with a devastating twist in that undelivered letter.

[Susan]

I rarely guess the murderer, but there were lots of hints as to the culprit in this. I did love the twist and how brave it was of Harriet to deliver it!

[Jill]

I suspected the husband early on. That was because his wife had said about how he often went for meals and meetings with young actresses. So although I thought it was probably him, it was for the wrong reasons

[Susan]

I suspected the husband, but more because he did not seem as happy as he first appeared - he mentioned wanting a child once or twice, for example. So, right person, wrong reasons as well.

[Judy]

I was wondering about the significance of the title, which is a quote from Paradise Lost by John Milton.

I just googled the quote and came across an interesting article by Jill Paton Walsh about Thrones, Dominations, speculating on why Sayers abandoned the manuscript.

She thinks it was possibly linked to the abdication crisis. I'm putting this in the spoiler thread because the article gives strong hints about the murderer's identity :

http://www.greenbay.co.uk/books/folio...

[Susan]

Interesting link, Judy. Sayers does mention responsibility quite often in her writing - LP feels responsibility for the wealth he has inherited and he also feels personal responsibility towards the criminals he catches and the consequences they face because of him. So I think that is a central theme of her work in many ways and the abdication crisis highlights that.