Rating: 
Summary: Oh, the drama!
Review: Frankly, I am disturbed by the snobbery that has come from Sayer's fanbase with the publication of this book. Reviews plastered all around the internet start off with "I have been reading Lord Peter Wimsey since I was years old," only to go on and thrash the attempts of Walsh to further elaborate on the adventures of our lovely sleuthing couple.
One of the most often lodged complaints is the mystery itself, more specifically, its complication. Yes, Walsh does not create a huge, rolling, convoluted mystery, but not all mysteries are necessarily such. Sayer's earliest works, such as Unnatural Death, are not the most complicated mysteries, nor are they the most superbly written mysteries. Walsh is not solely a mystery writer, and she needs some time to adjust to the new role. While not up to the standards of Gaudy Night, Walsh executes a passable mystery, not anywhere near deserving the lashing feedback it has received.
The characterization of the protagonists comes under fire, as well. Walsh continues with the basics of the characters. That is, Harriet's strong will and intelligence, Peter's touch of the fey, etc. She also does a remarkable job of keeping with Sayer's evolution of the all involved. She shows the difficulties of adjusting to a new way of life, and Harriet's struggles to find inspiration now that the expresss need for her writing was no longer present in a manner quite impressive when dealing with character who are not the products of her own muse. Some claim there is far too much finality in the "wrapping-up" tone of the novel. The couple just works through one aspect of their lives, not as if they have found how to become perfect spouses, and human beings, in general. Though there are minor slip-ups, Mrs. Walsh will most likely adjust more to the characters as she writes more.
Thirdly, the supposedly "modern" topics of conversation within the novel seem to rile up Sayer's enthusiasts. Allow for the definition of "modern": Peter and Harriet allude to sex. Let me point out the fact that they do not bring it up in polite company, nor as a topic of conversation at the dinner table. They make suggestive comments _in the privacy of their rooms_. Despite an apparently common belief among Sayer's fanatics, people during the pre-WWII era did have sex, and talked about it. It was "The Age of Innocence" not the "Age of Prudery".
The general alarm towards the inclusion of "real history" in Walsh's rendition also moved the general Wimsey populous to battlecries. However, such insertions of events make the setting, and time period more lucid and the characters more identifiable. It also adds to the tone of the story, the death of the king and the imminent danger of war add to the dark atmosphere.
To summarize, Dorothy Sayers did what many writers did by putting aside a work while completing others. She had numerous other projects, including her translation of The Divine Comedy, and a large number of plays. In one interview she claimed, "Lord Peter is constantly in my mind" and that she meant to finish her novels regarding Lord and Lady Wimsey. However, her unexpected death prevented any continuation. Had she wished for this story never to be, she would have thrown it away from the get-go. Even if she did not wish for its publication, Dorothy L. Sayer was a good-natured woman, and most likely would have been flattered by Walsh's attempts to honor her with the continuation. All in all, while not living up entirely to the original, Jill Patton Walsh made a valiant, if in no way exact, attempt to live up to DLS's legacy, and she did it well.
Rating: 
Summary: You're better off with Sayers alone
Review: Speaking as a person who began reading Sayers' Wimsey books at the age of nine, I found the contributions of Ms. Walsh to be crudely apparent. It does not seem that she understands the characters very well. Regarded on its own, this is a moderately successful book, hence the two stars, but if you are seeking Lord (and Lady) Peter, it is much more rewarding to read any of Sayers' unaided works.
Rating: 
Summary: DOROTHY L SAYERS COLLECTOR SATISFIED WITH THIS
Review: As a long-time fan and collector of Dorothy L Sayers' works (I have three books annotated by DLS from her personal library as well as works by her), I found this book to be very in keeping with her writing style and almost seamless in the switch to Jill Paton Walsh's work - DLS would probably be astounded at her popularity in the 21st century and thrilled with the ongoing ritual and pagentry that continues in the UK today (I am watching the opening of Parliament by the Queen even as I write this review). I highly recommend this book for those of us who hunger for more from Lord Peter.
Rating:
Summary: It's good to see the Wimseys again
Review: When I finished reading the last page of the last Lord Peter story I was sad because there weren't anymore and since Ms Sayers had died there weren't going to be anymore. I was delighted when I discovered that someone had picked up the story. Is Ms Walsh's writing just the same as Ms Sayers? No, of course not, but she does have a good feel for the subject, I enjoyed THRONES, DOMINATIONS greatly.The story picks up a few months after BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON. Lord Peter and Harriet have returned to their London residence, Harriet is still trying to adjust to her new lifestyle and both are struggling with Peter's family. A murder takes place involving a young couple with which they are acquainted. Peter and Parker solve the crime with the assistance of Harriet and Bunter. The scenes of the Wimseys' domestic life are wonderful, and well written. Harriet finally standing up to her overbearing sister-in-law is fantastic! There are many delightful journal enteries from the Dowager Duchess as well as scenes with many old friends from previous novels. The flaws I found were really more in the editing than the writing. Some passages could have been trimmed a bit, perhaps others even eliminated since fans of Lord Peter and Harriet Vane really don't need to be reminded of the back story. More details about the time period, particularly Edward and Mrs Simpson, the rise of Hitler and the changing of societal rules were added in this work than in the original stories but Ms Sayers was writing for a contemporary audience while Ms Walsh's readers are separated from the era by seventy years.
Rating: 
Summary: I wish I'd never read this
Review: I'm giving this book five stars not because it's any rival to "Crime and Punishment", but because the critical reviews are so completely off base. Paton Walsh's writing style is in many ways an improvement on Sayers, who too often in her later books allowed her characters to natter on ad nauseam in an annoyingly twee, look-how-learned-I-am fashion. In terms of Wimsey-Vane character development and plotting, "Thrones, Dominations" is head and shoulders above "Have His Carcase" and on a par with "Strong Poison", if not "Gaudy Night" which admittedly stands alone. Paton Walsh also skillfully and entertainingly weaves in pre-WW II British and European politics -- e.g. the death of George V, the fascinating dilemmas posed by Edward VIII, etc. -- which Sayers herself referred to only vaguely, most often as a way to get Lord Peter out of the country and delay the solution of the mystery du jour. One suspects Sayers was bored by the events of the day; Paton Walsh is anything but, and the new dimension adds richness and interest. Oh yes -- the mystery itself isn't half bad (LOVE that walk through the London sewers!)
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