Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat embarassing
Review: Walsh uses a heavy hand to plaster over her lack of any real sense of the characters with irrelevant historical detail and misused motifs from the Wimsey canon. If you are a Wimsey fanatic, you won't be able to keep yourself from reading it, but be forewarned; you will find none of the graceful erudition, effortlessly reproduced vernacular, or delightful wordplay you found in Dorothy Sayer's completed works.
Rating: 
Summary: Seamless Sayers
Review: Years ago I realized my disappointment when I completed the mystery works of Dorothy Sayers. Luckily, Sayers' strengths were always observation and characterization. This allows you to re-read her works whenever you need a Sayers fix. I was concerned when I began _Thrones, Dominations_ that Jill Paton Walsh's prose would be obvious and disappointing, but I never noticed any change in style, tone or ability. One thing I noticed about the novel (which, by the way is not a Lord Peter novel) is that it has a lot of feminist observations which weren't voiced so clearly in Sayers' earlier novels. Thrones, Dominations was truly a pleasure to read. No Sayers fan should miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Jill Walsh continues the Lord Peter and Harriet Vane story
Review: Being well acquainted with the Dorothy Sayers' mysteries, I was pleased to read this new Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane mystery, "Thrones and Dominations". This book takes up their story where "Busman's Honeymoon" has left off. It is 1936; Lord Peter and his wife Harriet have been married three months and are enjoying a brief stay in Paris. They make the acquaintance of Laurence and Rosamund Harwell, a wealthy couple who pursue the glamorous life at great cost. Laurence invests in theatre productions and Rosamund is spoiled, beautiful and bored. They seem a contrast to the Wimseys who are mature, focused, and energetic. Back in London, Peter and Harriet take up residence in the family house at Audley Square and begin life among the wealthy Londoners. The encounters between the Wimseys and the Harwells are polite but sprinkled with misunderstandings and contrasts. They are not destined to develop a deep friendship as someone murders Rosamund in a lonely, Hampton house. Questions arise as to who the murderer may be: a lover, a jealous husband or a roving maniac. Soon Lord Peter is investigating the murder with the assistance of his brother-in-law, Chief Inspector Charles Parker. A portion of this story deals with Bunter's serious interest in a lady photographer, Harriet's struggles at writing a detective novel and the portraits of Harriet and of Rosamund by Gaston Chapparelle. I enjoyed this mystery novel and thought Jill Paton Walsh did a credible job of capturing the essence of Peter and Harriet's relationship in marriage and created a good mystery. I heartily recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Whose Book?
Review: From reading the previous reviews, I understand that Ms. Sayers wrote the first 100 pages of this mystery. Really? It didn't seem to be in her style of writing. Too many details of the "real" world were incorporated into the story line; whereas, in Ms. Sayers' previous novels, we weren't constantly being sidetracked from the mystery at hand. I enjoyed the story, but kept feeling like it wasn't coming from Ms. Sayers' own "quill." This novel was written very lightly and loosely compared to Ms. Sayers' other novels. Too many extraneous subplots were included. I appreciated knowing what happens to the family, but felt a sense of finality too. I guess no one plans to write further stories about Lord Peter. The door was firmly shut at the end of the book. Of course, don't forget the short story about Lord Peter's first son being born - The Haunted Policeman. And, wasn't there another short story with both sons included? So, we, Lord Peter Wimsey fans, are not totally bereft of tales of the Wimsey family after Lord Peter and Harriet Vane married.
Rating:
Summary: A must for die-hard fans
Review: Good to read how Peter and Harriet enjoy their marriage. Cannot comment on how good Ms Walsh's writing is but we can tell Ms Sayers did not write the whole book. It lack Ms Sayers' style of writing and the book feel a bit too 'modernize' to be written by Ms Sayer.
Rating:
Summary: I would have sworn that Dorothy Sayers wrote the whole thing
Review: When I finished Busman's Honeymoon, I was dissapointed that there were no new Lord Peter mysteries left to relish. When I noticed Thrones, Dominations in the library, I was sceptical. I doubted that another author could give the Wimseys the authentic Sayers touch. But I couldn't have been more delighted. Walsh brings all of the Wimsey humor to the book, and lovingly brings out the psychological aspect of Peter and Harriet that Dorothy Sayers began in both Gaudy Night and Busman's Honeymoon. She also continues to bring Donne quotations into Lord Peter's lovemaking, which delighted me in Busman's Honeymoon. Not only is the book psychologically realistic, but I couldn't tell where Dorothy left off and Jill began. As a hard-core purist and a devoted Sayers fan, I can offer no better commendation.
Rating:
Summary: decent story but poor imitation of Sayers
Review: Walsh's vioce, or, rather, an absense of Sayers', is painfully obvious in the later parts of this book. Although the story is decent, Walsh possesses neither Sayers' mastery of the English language nor her ability to create subtle, intellectual exercises. By itself the book is decent, albeit not overly memorable, but as an attempt at another Wimsey novel it is sorely lacking.
Rating: 
Summary: Walsh completes Sayers' last novel in a workmanlike fashion
Review: Some of the preceeding reviewers appear to be unaware that Sayers actually DID write the first 100 pages or so of this last installment of the Wimsey/Vane saga. Any writer who undertakes to finish the work of a famous & much beloved writer takes on a perilous & thankless job. Reader expectations are unrealistically high & one is bound to be disappointed in some measure. Walsh has done a workmanlike job, & completed the book in good form, although I will freely admit that my unfamiliarity with Walsh's work was probably a blessing. Thrones, Dominations enlarges on the traditional vs. equal partnership marriage issues raised in Gaudy Night. Perhaps this is why Sayers wrote only 100 pages or so, and quit. She had already said all she had to say on the subject, and said it so well. Even so, TD is a good read, if not a great one, and die-hard fans will feel compelled to read it. On a personal note, long before TD was finally published, I visited Wheaton College Library, owner of the original manuscript of TD, & asked to read it. In those days, special permission was required, & I never followed up. While it was fun to finally read Sayers' detective novel swan song, I do recommend it for die-hard fans only. Of course, there are a lot of us around (judging from Amazon's sales ranking).
Rating:
Summary: Like a wonderful encounter with long-lost friends
Review: After thoroughly enjoying the Mary Russell books by Laurie R. King, I was hopeful of an excellent Wimsey/Vane book. This book was a seamless continuation of one of the best (as well as enlightened for its day) partnerships in modern detective fiction. The manners, humor and nuiances were all there. If we're lucky, there will be more!
Rating:
Summary: Great atmosphere, thin story
Review: I started reading this book feeling unsure that I would enjoy it. I love all of Dorothy Sayers' work and didn't know how successfully Jill Paton Walsh had been able to capture her unique writing style. To my pleasant surprise, I found that Walsh really had captured Sayers' voice. The book was full of the witty one-liners that are packed with so much meaning, that are sprinkled throughout the Lord Peter Wimsey books. The atmosphere of London circa 1935 is very well portrayed and I felt that a real effort was made at character development, particularly that of Harriet Wimsey, who is shown as being less prickly and more self-confident as she adapts to married life. That is a very welcome change from "Gaudy Night" where, although you sympathize with her, you can also become very irritated at her oversensitivity. My only criticism was that the actual mystery is a lot thinner than Sayers' usual works, which are densely and intricately plotted with many fascinating sidebars. Still, I would highly recommend the book to fans of Sayers, simply because of the great atmosphere and the chance to see one of the most fascinating fictional detectives ever, in action. How I wish Sayers had written more mysteries!
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