#Third Inspector era

[inspectorspacetimerevisited]

Having served in the Royal Navy during World War II,

Bernard Fox took the time to correct actor Peter Hainsworth’s improper military salute, when Hainsworth first portrayed Staff Sgt. Mitchell Munson.

[princessbutler1316]

Jigen: Alexa, play This why we can't have nice things by Taylor Swift

Lupin, who just broke the expensive vase, half the glasses in the house, the car, Zenigata's back and the fridge: Hey!

[pinktie]

I think it's interesting that 1412 is a Gentleman Thief (only aspect of Kid they were somewhat sure of was that he's a man) and Chikage was specifically the Phantom Lady or 'the Woman of 20 faces of the Showa Era' (very specific number but I digress) even though they both disguised as all genders, meanwhile Kaito's just enjoying being a Kid and spreading that child-like sense of wonder despite letting people believe he's around Inspector Nakamori's age (not an old man, children). He keeps his Dad's habits up being a bit more violent with men and not stripping women (I believe he would do the same in a genderbend because Kid's persona needs to have consistency and he grew up with the Head of the Kid Task Force, who was presumably still searching for Kid when he 'disappeared' because very wanted criminal still on the run we must find his hideout before he strikes again!) but he likes a challenge most and will pick his disguise for the heist using a children's choosing game so it will be too random to predict and finds it cuter to dress as a woman but will pick whichever option is more fun and useful for what he wants first and foremost. I love nonbinary Kaito though, Aoko doesn't like being called a tomboy by Kaito but can canonically rock her dad's look and refers to herself in the third person so she can be gender non-conforming as a treat. Let them make the most of their resemblance and just swap genders sometimes (each other's bi awakening because still attractive either way, maybe a little 'Kaito as a girl is cuter' because Aoko is crushing so hard on her female friends and more gender euphoria for Kaito). I want Jii to call Kaito 'ojou-sama' and Hakuba to treat them like a lady occassionally.

I will use this image once more because there's no other way to articulate perfectly how I felt after reading this

[nesiacha]

Archives of the site dialogus

The site was created in 1999 by Sinclair Dumontais and René Pibroch. It disappeared in 2019. It was a public forum that supposedly allowed visitors to communicate with individuals they wouldn't otherwise be able to contact: deceased historical figures or prominent characters from universal fiction (thanks to Wikipedia for this copy-paste).

In reality, it was run by a large of moderators who tried to take on the personas of these characters and respond to questions as accurately as possible while attempting to embody the figure. However, as you will see, there were instances of anachronisms or unreliable answers, whether intentional or not, such as in the message sent to Robespierre regarding the case of Lucile Desmoulins.

The site covered a wide range of characters, from literary figures (like Sherlock Holmes or Inspector Javert, for instance) to real-life personalities, politicians, stars, musicians, or philosophers from various eras and backgrounds. It also featured some horrific figures from totalitarian regimes, but always with a historical purpose and not to glorify them. There were also profiles of victims of totalitarianism.

While reading, I felt that despite their efforts, some moderators struggled to fully immerse themselves in their characters when answering questions, whereas others responded so well that it genuinely felt like the historical figure was speaking (I’m particularly thinking of the one who portrayed Lenin. Even though I don’t like Lenin as a historical figure, the correspondence was quite good).

Unfortunately, this site has been shut down recently, and the responses can only be found in archives.

However, there are three drawbacks regarding the links I'm sending you. The first one is manageable: you won’t immediately have access to the full correspondence. You need to click on the word "captures" next to the profile (specifically beside the words "Internet Archive Wayback Machine"). You’ll be directed to a sort of calendar where you can click on the link for the most recent snapshot.

Another problem is that it's in French.

The third and more significant issue is that some messages have been deleted. For example, the profile of Archduchess Sophie of Austria now only has one response left out of several. This is unfortunate, as it could have provided balance with that of Elisabeth of Austria, and it unjustly reinforces the image of the wicked mother-in-law. But nothing beats a good biography by a serious historian on any character discussed on Dialogus, and the best one I’ve read about Elisabeth of Austria is by Brigitte Hamann.

Don't forget to have the links that are sent to you analyzed before opening them, it is a security measure that is essential and that includes the link on the post. I did not find any viruses concerning me but maybe on you. Here are the two links (some have included additional characters) https://web.archive.org/web/20031026090322/http://www.dialogus2.org/

https://web.archive.org/web/20060615020905/http://www.dialogus2.org/

P.S: For more links to the dialogus go to wikipedia

[apinchofm]

The Marquess of Delafere Investigates Series by @anathemadevice

The Marquess of Delafere has retired from investigating crime, so his ward, Sylvie Boden, answers Inspector John Treville's call for help when the discovery of a third young woman's body means there's a serial killer loose.

Aramis is involved when the third victim is found to be his lover, Adele Bessett, and Porthos Devallon wants to know who killed Flea, the first victim.

Other women lose their lives, and Athos is drawn in despite his best intentions. But how many killers are there, exactly?

T, 51.4k words!

A Musketeers-Victorian era murder mystery with a slow burn romance, depressed aristocrats, tired policemen and a plucky young woman who would really like her employer to just marry the damn girl!

Also, there is a sequel. Even if you have never watched or read The Musketeers, you can read this fic!

[roammania2023]

I took the train from the airport to Bucharest North. The journey only cost 88p. The train was a modern and electric. The line to the airport opened in December 2020. Ignoring the fact that the toilets were overflowing…it was a nice ride. The was stopped by the ticket inspector halfway through the journey. He spoke to me in Romanian and I looked vacant. I presented my ticket but he didn’t seem happy. The lady next to me explained that I had a ticket which needed to be scanned and the inspector wasn’t used to using the technology. She also said that he was playing with me…he said that it’s sunny outside and a nice day so relax and be patient. Eventually the ticket was scanned. The lady sat next to me had flown back to Romania from New York with her husband. She had to change in London and she made her connection, unfortunately her luggage didn’t.

I arrived in Bucharest Nord. The station felt like something from another era, and I was, but it did have a certain charm to it. Mindful of my belongings admist the chaos, I eventually found my way to the Metro.

The ticket cost 88p and the train arrived promptly. The Metro network in Bucharest was built from the late 70s onwards and it was functional. I alighted one stop too early which wasn’t helped by the lack of signage. Not wanting to pay for another ticket I walked to my hotel. I walked through a park where the scallywaps bypassed the afternoon and made my was down the grand boulevard towards my hotel.

I passed the parliamentary palace and grand fountains, which were turned off. Cost of living crisis you know! Eventually I approached the outskirts of the Old Town. Traffic sped through multi lane roads, whilst teens flocked to the McDonald’s. Grand walls which once hung portraits of communist leaders now worship Western celebrities advertising the latest product. Communism abolished religion, but it has now been replaced by consumerism. Isn’t it a sin to worship false idols?

After a brief food stop, I walked the sunny streets to my hotel, checked in and fell asleep. I think that I may be suffering from Jet Lag, after all Romania is 2 hours ahead of the UK, lol.

As sun set, I freshen up and took a stroll the the Old Town. Mindful that two thirds of it was destroyed somewhere between WW2, the 1977 earthquake and the construction of the parliamentary palace, I wasn’t expecting too much, but I was impressed. It’s safe, vibrant and fun. Possibly spoilt but stag parties, but it is possible to escape the decadence. First impressions, I like Bucharest.

[beesandwasps]

Doctor Thorndyke suspects you’re trans but doesn’t tell anybody, no matter how relevant it may be, because he doesn’t have proof. Then when you begin HRT he proves it by analyzing the dust from the bottle your pills came in, which he collects from your bedside table, and warns you that you have the dosage wrong. And then he complains about how it’s unnatural to be trans because he’s written by a conservative author from the early 20th century who makes a point of mocking any invention or trend which dates from later than about 1850.

Rumpole of the Bailey discovers you are trans in a hilarious accident in which your clothing is torn off by somebody who, by sheer coincidence, would give anything not to be involved. In some way he uses this information to blackmail a judge into declaring a client not guilty — without, however, revealing your secret to any third parties.

Madame Storey realizes you’re trans because you make a gender-based faux pas while purchasing clothing in the most exclusive and expensive shop in New York. She then has you tailed for two weeks, but makes up for it by introducing you to her high-class friends, who give you fashion tips and take you to Paris for the summer.

Inspector Alleyn makes a complicated set of deductions that only work if you’re trans, and scolds you for not admitting it in the first place because it made him waste a bunch of time that he’d rather spend with his wife.

Albert Campion discovers you’re trans while actually trying to find out something else about you. It turns out he is friends with a vast network of extremely flamboyant elderly drag queens and kings from the Victorian era, to whom he introduces you. Lugg complains that he has to put up with all this again.

Captain Vimes is told you’re trans 3 times in 5 minutes, first by Angua (who can tell by how you smell), then by the Watch’s Igor (who has arcane sources of knowledge about which it is better not to inquire), and then by Carrot, who just walked up and asked you and was so ingenuous that you said yes. Vimes shrugs his shoulders because it’s not any of his business and life is hard enough already.

The Continental Op finds out you’re trans by breaking into your hotel room and looking through all your stuff while you’re out. This doesn’t really lead anywhere, he just does that automatically.

Lord Peter Wimsey finds out you’re trans and talks about gender roles wittily and sympathetically for 50 pages in a way which was doubtlessly enlightened in 1940 but is just a trifle wearisome now.

sherlock holmes deduces you are trans before you've figured it out yourself and refers to you with those pronouns and then when you look confused is like "ah...had you not arrived at that conclusion yet?" and wafts away in his dressing gown to smoke seventeen pipes, leaving you in a gender crisis

[dhruvanand07]

M

M (1931)

Fritz Lang’s M is a landmark of early cinema, a masterpiece that bridges the silent and sound eras while delivering an unforgettable psychological thriller. A chilling exploration of crime, justice, and human morality, M remains as powerful and relevant today as it was over nine decades ago.

Plot and Narrative

Set in 1930s Germany, M follows the hunt for a child murderer whose crimes terrorize a city. The film begins with an ominous and haunting scene: children playing a game while singing a chilling rhyme about the murderer. Soon after, the disappearance of a young girl, Elsie, sparks a citywide manhunt.

What makes M so compelling is its dual narrative focus. While the police employ traditional methods to track the killer, the criminal underworld, frustrated by increased police scrutiny disrupting their operations, takes matters into their own hands. This unusual alignment of forces creates a gripping tension that underscores the film’s exploration of justice and morality.

Performances

Peter Lorre delivers a career-defining performance as Hans Beckert, the murderer. His portrayal is both terrifying and deeply human, evoking a mix of horror and pity. Lorre’s performance in the film’s climactic trial scene—where he pleads for understanding and reveals the torment of his compulsions—is a masterclass in acting, conveying raw emotion with unnerving intensity.

The supporting cast is equally strong, with Gustaf Gründgens as the calculating leader of the criminal syndicate and Otto Wernicke as the diligent yet overburdened Inspector Lohmann. The ensemble cast brings authenticity to the world Lang creates, reflecting the fears and frustrations of a society on edge.

Cinematic Style

Lang’s direction is visionary, utilizing innovative techniques that influenced generations of filmmakers. His use of sound is particularly groundbreaking. In an era when sound film was still in its infancy, Lang employs it sparingly and purposefully. The murderer’s whistling of “In the Hall of the Mountain King” becomes an auditory leitmotif, heightening suspense and signaling Beckert’s presence.

The cinematography by Fritz Arno Wagner is equally remarkable, with stark shadows and atmospheric lighting that evoke German Expressionism. The film’s use of urban landscapes, from crowded streets to ominous alleyways, captures the anxiety of a city under siege. Lang’s meticulous framing and visual storytelling create a sense of unease that permeates every scene.

Themes

At its heart, M is a meditation on the nature of justice and the thin line between order and chaos. It raises profound questions about the responsibility of society in dealing with crime and whether morality can exist outside the bounds of the law. The trial scene, where criminals debate whether they have the right to judge Beckert, is particularly thought-provoking, challenging the audience to grapple with the complexities of guilt, punishment, and humanity.

Legacy

M is often regarded as one of the first true psychological thrillers and a precursor to film noir. Its influence can be seen in countless films, from The Third Man to Se7en. Beyond its technical and narrative achievements, M is a poignant reflection of its time, capturing the social anxieties of Weimar Germany while offering insights that transcend its historical context.

Final Thoughts

Fritz Lang’s M is a cinematic masterpiece that combines artistic innovation with a gripping, morally complex narrative. Anchored by Peter Lorre’s unforgettable performance and Lang’s visionary direction, it remains a timeless exploration of the human psyche and the challenges of justice.

Rating: ★★★★

[denimbex1986]

'Ripley is a riveting, joyous ride through its eight episodes; its only real fault being that the storyline has more gaps to it than the front row of a French can-can.

Hold on! Can I say that in the 21st Century #metoo era? Probably not so let’s start that again. Ripley is a riveting, joyous ride through its eight episodes; its only real fault being that the storyline has more gaps to it than Terry-Thomas’s top row of teeth.

The big question now is: do I spoil this series for those still to watch it by running through those many gaps? Bugger it! Everyone knows that basic plot from the 1999 flick The Talented Mr Ripley.

So here’s the first “what the!” moment. Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn) catches Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) in his bedroom, dressed in his clothes and practicing his voice.

Any mere mortal would have sent this strangely weird freeloading houseguest packing but Dickie just says: “Forget it. Let’s move on” or words to that effect. Dickie soon after proves he is a mere mortal, deserving everything that comes his way, including a boat oar.

We should all know, without another spoiler alert, that Tom takes up impersonatiing Dickie full-time and this subterfuge by this New York grifter is probably the biggest “what the!” of the whole premise of this series.

So this is where we introduce two-thirds of the way through the series Italy’s answer to France’s Inspector Clouseau, one Inspector Inspector Pietro Ravini (Maurizio Lombardi) who never gets to catch the murderous thief because he never catches on until virtually episode eight’s final scene that – WHAT THE! – Ripley was impersonating Greenleaf all along, the sneaky bastard.

Clouseau, sorry, Ravini, never ever picked up the vibe when Dickie’s girl friend Marge Sherwood (Dakota Fanning) kept insisting that the only person she’d seen in Dickie’s apartment is Tom and that Dickie is missing! WHAT THE! indeed! And, luckily for Steven Zaillian who wanted to write and film a full eight-episode series, no photograph of Richard Greenleaf was ever published once he was feared murdered!

And if only the good inspector at any stage in his investigations had happened to look at, maybe, other images of Dickie and Tom (passports maybe? Who knows?) this would have only been a six–part series.

Probably the greatest WHAT THE! moment is when Ravini travels to Venice to interview Ripley who is playing himself for this particular encounter just to keep his end in.

Tom, a student of Caravaggio’s clever use of light – or indeed lack of it – darkens his pad up and sets two chairs well apart to trick the bumbling Ravini with a bit of a goatie to hide the fact he looks exactly like Dickie the more you think about it! They even shake hands at the end and Ravini still doesn’t twig. WHAT THE! Was it really that dark?

And don’t get me started on how Tom managed to clean up another murder scene that made his apartment and a spiral stair case look like an abattoir killing floor, especially on a night he had to make two urgent trips well out of town!

What a load of shit, the more I think about it. But what marvellous, fun, shit. Great photography, great acting and so many close ups of paintings, statues, seascapes and stairwells that you never, ever, have to visit Italy if you haven’t already been.'

[docrotten]

TROG (1970) – Episode 211 – Decades Of Horror 1970s

“I’d like you to tell the public that this whole abomination is hurting business. It’s ruining my plans for a housing project. Nobody wants to buy land with an ugly demon running loose.” Ah, but a good-looking demon is another story. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr along with guest host Dirk Rogers – as they scrutinize the legendary, … or infamous, Trog (1970)!

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 211 – Trog (1970)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

Decades of Horror 1970s is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of the podcast and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

A sympathetic anthropologist uses drugs and surgery to try to communicate with a primitive troglodyte who is found living in a local cave.

  Directed by: Freddie Francis

Writing Credits: Aben Kandel (screenplay); Peter Bryan & John Gilling (original story)

Produced by: Herman Cohen

Casting By: Maude Spector

Trog Designed by: Charles E. Parker (as Charles Parker)

Selected Cast:

Joan Crawford as Dr. Brockton

Michael Gough as Sam Murdock

Bernard Kay as Inspector Greenham

Kim Braden as Anne Brockton

David Griffin as Malcolm Travers

John Hamill as Cliff

Thorley Walters as Magistrate

Jack May as Dr. Selbourne

Geoffrey Case as Bill

Robert Hutton as Dr. Richard Warren

Simon Lack as Colonel Vickers

David Warbeck as Alan Davis

Chloe Franks as Little Girl

Maurice Good as Reporter

Joe Cornelius as Trog

Special guest-host Dirk Rogers joins the Grue Crew for this episode, picking the much-mentioned, often disparaged Trog (1970) which stars Joan Crawford (in her final film role) and Michael Gough. While the makeup/”mask” of Trog looks fantastic, the rest of the costume fails to live up to the title’s promise, generating more chuckles than gasps. The film is often cheesy and full of plot holes with ample amounts of questionable science; yet, somehow, Trog manages to be entertaining and fast-paced, wasting no time getting to the creature and the conflict between scientist Crawford and the corrupt town asshole Gough. Shenanigans ensue. The Grue-Crew share their thoughts on the film, the cast, and the effects of this early Seventies creature feature.

At the time of this writing, Trog is available to stream from Dailymotion and various PPV sources. The film is available on physical media in Blu-ray format from Shout! Factory.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next episode, chosen by guest host Jerry Chandler, will be The Ghost Galleon (1974, El buque maldito), the third film in Amando de Ossorio’s Blind Dead quartet of films. Mr. Chandler loves him some Blind Dead! Rest assured he will explain it all.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com. 

Check out this episode!

[byneddiedingo]

Yvonne Buckingham in Sapphire (Basil Dearden, 1959)

Cast: Nigel Patrick, Michael Craig, Paul Massie, Bernard Miles, Yvonne Mitchell, Olga Lindo, Earl Cameron, Gordon Heath, Jocelyn Britton, Harry Baird, Orlando Martins, Rupert Davies, Freda Bamford, Robert Adams, Yvonne Buckingham. Screenplay: Janet Green, Lukas Heller. Cinematography: Harry Waxman. Art direction: Carmen Dillon. Film editing: John D. Guthridge. Music: Philip Green. 

The police procedural/whodunit faces several problems inherent to the genre when it comes to not giving away the ending: One is that the "who" is never the one the police suspect. Another is that it's also never the one you first suspect. And a third is that if either the victim or the prime suspect (or both) belongs to a socially marginalized community -- racial, religious, sexual, etc. -- then the perpetrator is not going to be a member of that community. So when a Black woman who is passing for white is found dead on Hampstead Heath, the first suspect is her fiancé, a white man. Still, as the evidence mounts, there are more and more reasons to suspect him until suspicion arises and evidence is found that the murderer was a Black man. Is Basil Dearden's procedural Sapphire going to be an exception to the rules of the genre? Dearden's film has not aged well. Its portrait of British racism is outdated, and even the jazzy musical underscoring by Philip Green is of another era. At one point, the score even resorts to a "dun-dun-DUNN" sting when a somewhat minor revelation occurs. In short, it's a lot like an old-fashioned one-hour TV procedural. The chief inspector, played by Nigel Patrick, is one of those British cops who keep their cool at any turn, while his assistant (Michael Craig) is a hothead who jumps to conclusions that are invariably wrong. There are moments of real energy in the film, especially when the cops are invading the turf of London's Black community, though the movie's point of view is as secure in middle-class respectability as the victim's father (Earl Cameron), a physician dressed in tweeds.   

[inspectorspacetimerevisited]

Although the Sergeant wasn’t introduced until the Third Inspector era,

viewers quickly learnt that he/she and the Inspector share a long history, some of which wasn’t so pleasant. Especially at the Infinity Knight Academy.

[frawbert]

9/9 of the zenigata collection featuring one endearing pose across the span of the series ♡

[shinsengumi-archives]

Facts about Shinsengumi members

Some of the more famous, or rather well-known anecdotes include:

Kondo Isami

He was able to put his whole fist into his mouth.

He once sent a letter to his wife, Tsune, in Edo, saying, “I am troubled by the prevalence of shudo (love between men) in our unit.”

Hijikata Toshizo

His hobby was haiku, and he wrote haiku in a book called “Hogyoku Haiku Collection” (豊玉発句集)

He was very popular with women, and would send love letters from women to his family home to boast about it.

When Hijikata Toshizo was serving his apprenticeship at Matsuzakaya in Ueno, he was fired from his job after he got a woman pregnant (according to various theories). 

A descendant of Toshizo's brother told an anecdote that when he sent a package from Kyoto to his relatives, the contents included numerous love letters from maiko and other women, and a letter from Toshizo stating that he was "so popular and irresistible", which made his relatives laugh.

Sannan Keisuke

It is said that he had high self-esteem and was angry when he went to the August 18th political uprising, because Kondo and Hijikata were dressed in armor but Sannan was not given armor (wikipedia).

Okita Souji

Kondo was beheaded and died while he recuperating from tuberculosis, but he did not know about it until the end of his life, and even until his death, he would say things like “I wonder how Kondo-sensei is doing”

Miura Keinosuke, son of Sakuma Shozan, a samurai of the Matsudai domain, was teased by a certain Shinsengumi member. Later, when Hijikata and Okita were playing Go, Miura slashed the one who was making fun of him from behind. Okita was furious at Miura’s cowardice for  attacking from behind, yelling "Bloody idiot", grabbed Miura by the collar and dragged him around with his head pressed against the tatami mat until Miura's nose was scraped bright red. (from wikipedia).

Nagakura Shinpachi

In his later years, when he took his grandson to a movie theater in Otaru to see a movie, he got entangled with a thug, so he glared at the thug, threatened him and chased him away. The story must be true, because his grandson told it in an interview later in life.

Todo Heisuke

There is a theory that he is an illegitimate son of the Todo clan, the feudal lord of Tsu, Ise. In fact, the sword he carried was not cheap enough to be owned by an ordinary samurai, so it is possible that this theory is true.

Harada Sanosuke

When he was a servant of the Matsuyama clan, he was told that he was a "lowlife who did not know how to commit seppuku" when he got into a fight with his superior, which caused him to lose his temper and show that he really did commit seppuku. The wound was shallow and not fatal, but it left a scar, and it is said that whenever something happened to him, he would show off the scar. Incidentally, Harada's family crest is also based on this wound, with a single line scar inside of a circle.

Yamazaki Susumu

He had studied medicine from Matsumoto Ryojun, who was a medical examiner for the Shinsengumi in Kyoto.

Saito Hajime

In the early Taisho era (1912-1926), a child was practicing swordsmanship when an old man walked by. The old man suddenly pulled out his sword and threw a small wooden board into the air, and he stabbed a hole through the center of the board with his sword. The child later heard that the old man was the captain of the third squad, Saito Hajime.

Saito Hajime, after serving as a police inspector in the Metropolitan Police Bureau, worked as a guard at the museum attached to Tokyo Higher Normal School (now Tsukuba University) and later as a general affairs officer at Tokyo Women's Higher Normal School (now Ochanomizu Women's University).

It’s said that when he passed away, drew his last breath sitting up in a kneeling position. 

[rockislandadultreads]

Fiction Set in the Victorian Era: Book Recs

The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden by Kate Saunders

In the spring of 1853, private detective Laetitia Rodd receives a delicate request from a retired actor, whose days on the stage were ended by a theater fire ten years before. His great friend, and the man he rescued from the fire, Thomas Transome, has decided to leave his wife, who now needs assistance in securing a worthy settlement. Though Mrs. Rodd is reluctant to get involved with the scandalous world of the theater, she cannot turn away the woman in need. She agrees to take the case.

But what starts out as a simple matter of negotiation becomes complicated when a body is discovered in the burnt husk of the old theater. Soon Mrs. Rodd finds herself embroiled in family politics, rivalries that put the Capulets and Montagues to shame, and betrayals on a Shakespearean scale. Mrs. Rodd will need all her investigatory powers, not to mention her famous discretion, to solve the case before tragedy strikes once more.

For readers of the Grantchester Mysteries, The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden is the charming third mystery in Kate Saunder's series about Laetitia Rodd, the indomitable lady detective.

Parting the Veil by Paulette Kennedy

Some houses hold secrets that are meant to be kept forever… When Eliza Sullivan inherits an estate from a recently deceased aunt, she leaves behind a grievous and guilt-ridden past in New Orleans for rural England and a fresh start. Eliza arrives at her new home and finds herself falling for the mysterious lord of Havenwood, Malcolm Winfield. Despite the sinister rumors that surround him, Eliza is drawn to his melancholy charm and his crumbling, once-beautiful mansion. With enough love, she thinks, both man and manor could be repaired. Not long into their marriage, Eliza fears that she should have listened to the locals. There’s something terribly wrong at Havenwood Manor: Forbidden rooms. Ghostly whispers in the shadows. Strangely guarded servants. And Malcolm’s threatening moods, as changeable as night and day. As Eliza delves deeper into Malcolm’s troubling history, the dark secrets she unearths gain a frightening power. Has she married a man or a monster? For Eliza, uncovering the truth will either save her or destroy her.

Down a Dark River by Karen Odden

London, 1878. One April morning, a small boat bearing a young woman’s corpse floats down the murky waters of the Thames. When the victim is identified as Rose Albert, daughter of a prominent judge, the Scotland Yard director gives the case to Michael Corravan, one of the only Senior Inspectors remaining after a corruption scandal the previous autumn left the division in ruins. Reluctantly, Corravan abandons his ongoing case, a search for the missing wife of a shipping magnate, handing it over to his young colleague, Mr. Stiles. An Irish former bare-knuckles boxer and dockworker from London’s seedy East End, Corravan has good street sense and an inspector’s knack for digging up clues. But he’s confounded when, a week later, a second woman is found dead in a rowboat, and then a third. The dead women seem to have no connection whatsoever. Meanwhile, Mr. Stiles makes an alarming discovery: the shipping magnate’s missing wife, Mrs. Beckford, may not have fled her house because she was insane, as her husband claims, and Mr. Beckford may not be the successful man of business that he appears to be. Slowly, it becomes clear that the river murders and the case of Mrs. Beckford may be linked through some terrible act of injustice in the past—for which someone has vowed a brutal vengeance. Now, with the newspapers once again trumpeting the Yard’s failures, Corravan must dredge up the truth—before London devolves into a state of panic and before the killer claims another innocent victim.

Miss Moriarty, I Presume? by Sherry Thomas

A most unexpected client shows up at Charlotte Holmes's doorstep: Moriarty himself. Moriarty fears that tragedy has befallen his daughter and wants Charlotte to find out the truth. Charlotte and Mrs. Watson travel to a remote community of occult practitioners where Moriarty's daughter was last seen, a place full of lies and liars. Meanwhile, Charlotte's sister Livia tries to make sense of a mysterious message from her beau Mr. Marbleton. And Charlotte's longtime friend and ally Lord Ingram at last turns his seductive prowess on Charlotte--or is it the other way around? But the more secrets Charlotte unravels about Miss Moriarty's disappearance, the more she wonders why Moriarty has entrusted this delicate matter to her of all people. Is it merely to test Charlotte's skills as an investigator, or has the man of shadows trapped her in a nest of vipers?

[nientedenada]

Do we know much about the differences between the First and Third Aldmeri Dominions? In general, it seems like it might be fair to describe the latter as more ruthless and Altmer-centered, but I was wondering if there were any other significant disparities. I'm curious how a 4E Altmer might react to the 2E Dominion, and vice versa.

It’s hard to overstate how little we know about the Third Aldmeri Dominion. We have absolutely no information on their governing body or their domestic policies. The Thalmor has a very bad reputation within the human provinces of Tamriel. But there isn’t a lot to go on.  ESO is our best source for Summerset and Altmer culture. We extrapolate wildly from there. In comparing the two Dominions, I’m going to leave aside the big headcanons and theories about what the Third Dominion might be up to. That’s where fans can run wild. I’ll stick to the more certain minor details.

I think the two Dominions’ rhetoric is more similar than not. Ayrenn's a nicer person than the Thalmor we meet in Skyrim but both Dominions publicly take a position of paternal superiority to the rest of Tamriel. Compare 

 We Altmer have long stood by, patiently waiting for Men to exhaust their penchant for warfare and embrace civilized behavior, but we can no longer abet the cycle of bloodshed by abstention." (Aicantar of Shimmerene, First Dominion) 

 to 

 "Talos was a heroic man, but not a god. It pains the Altmer that we must remind our younger cousins of the difference. [..] We only want what is best for Tamriel. Surely, the rebels will accept peace when they realize this." (Elenwen, Third Dominion)

 Comparing their goals: 

I have no hatred for the races of Man, but they are young. Like all children, they are driven by emotion. They lack the wisdom that comes with age. I would sooner place an Altmer infant on the Ruby Throne than surrender Tamriel to their capricious whims [...] Today we make our stand. Today we take back the Ruby Throne, which is ours by ancient right and the blessings of the Divines. (Ayrenn, First Dominion) 

 vs. 

I may well not be privy to many details, but their goal is clear--the pacification and purification of all of Tamriel--to bring about a new Merethic Era" (Inspector Colin Vineben, Penitus Oculatus agent with a special focus on the Thalmor, Third Dominion - Keyes Novels)

The propaganda of the Third Dominion would be immediately familar to a citizen of the First. 

Now on to the differences.

1. Elsweyr in the Dominion

The most obvious difference between the two Dominions is the situation of Elsweyr. In the First Dominion, Elsweyr was a full member of the Dominion. In the Third, Elsweyr, divided into the kingdoms of Anequina and Pellitine, is described in the book the Great War as a client state of the Dominion. Ondolemar describes the Dominion as “an alliance between us and our Bosmer cousins.” 

As usual, not much clarification on what this actually means for Elsweyr. There are Khajiit who work for the Dominion in Skyrim. There’s no mention of Khajiit in the Great War, but there are so few Great War sources in general. 

Our only direct look at Elsweyr under the Dominion is the book series: The Crimson Dirks. It’s ascended fan content: a product of the Creation Club program. Bethesda have added it and its associated quests into their “definitive” edition of Skyrim, which makes it canon, but I wonder if future devs will pay it attention. They should because it’s awesome.

In the Crimson Dirks Series, Elsweyr is open to trade with the Empire. A Khajiit in Dune explains the local government to thieves who just robbed the local Clan Mother’s treasury.

"Well, the Clan Mothers are allies of the Dominion. Their eyes are all-seeing, and their punishments are known to all who hear the screams."

In the same chapter, we see that there are Thalmor Justiciars in Dune looking for Talos worship among foreign merchants.

A Thalmor Justiciar, flanked by two guards, had dragged the Nord butcher from his stall, accusing him Talos worship.

The Justiciar tore open the butcher's tunic, but found only an Amulet of Mara. The butcher replied with a toothy grin, asking the Thalmor if she was spoken for. The Justiciar, digusted, tossed the butcher into his stall before returning to her patrol.

If the Crimson Dirks portrayal holds true, there’d probably be a high level of Dominion involvement in everyday Elsweyr affairs. Perhaps that presence is strongest in regions bordering the Empire. The rest is up to speculation.

2. Leadership

We don’t know who runs the Third Dominion but we do know there can’t be an Ayrenn equivalent. There isn’t a publicly well known leader in charge of the Dominion or they’d be mentioned somewhere in all the discussions about the Dominion. Instead, everyone talks about “The Thalmor.” This can mean the  government as a whole (Ondolemar defines it that way), or specifically the Thalmor Council mentioned in the Pocket Guide to the Empire First Edition and some ESO lore. An ESO Loremaster’s Archive also offers a possible reason for the leadership’s low profile

Who are the members of the Thalmor Inner Council and why were they chosen to be a part of it?

Aicantar of Shimmerene says, "The membership of the Inner Council is personally chosen by and serves at the pleasure of Queen Ayrenn. They are said to be all individuals whom Her Majesty trusts implicitly. The exact membership is confidential, but it is no secret that the Inner Council includes King Aeradan Camoran of Valenwood and Lord Gharesh-ri, the Speaker for the Mane."

A longstanding tradition of secrecy about the Thalmor Council’s make-up would fit with what we see in Skyrim. Even if policy wonks and spies know who’s probably part of it, it’s still the Council that’s in the public eye, not a single leader.

Lathenil says in *Rising Threat* that the Thalmor rebels slaughtered the “rightful kings and queens of the Aldmer”. (In the Late Third Era, each city state of Summerset was ruled by a king or queen. In ESO, city rulers were called Kinlord/lady or High Kinlord/lady.) Some people conclude the Fourth Era Dominion does not, therefore, have a monarch. However, from the Thalmor rebels’ POV, the rulers of the Septim-era city states weren’t rightful kings and queens. They could have appointed new rulers to take their place and even appointed a High Queen/King of Alinor as is long tradition. But if such a person exists, they’d be more of a figurehead than Ayrenn, so unimportant on an international level that no one talks about them.

3. Exile

Summerset has a traditional revulsion against the death penalty, preferring to solve inner disputes with exile and social shunning. This was first established in the Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition which says

Exile to the mainland is regarded as equivalent to a death sentence, since there is no purpose in living outside their ideal society.

In ESO, we meet people who have committed murder or undermined Altmer society (also causing deaths), and were exiled to the continent or shunned as apraxic within Summerset. Sometimes Ayrenn’s Summerset uses the death penalty, but it’s clearly not the traditional method for dealing with crime or dissent. There’s a memorable scene with Razum-Dar that I think speaks to this. After he’s killed a Court of Bedlam supporter:

"Sometimes the Eye sees treason and must cut it out before it spreads. This one is sorry you had to witness that."

Couldn't you have arrested Nedoril instead of executing him?

"Blasphemy, treason, murder. How many crimes must one commit to attract the attention of the executioner's blade? Raz decided that a message had to be sent. Enemies of the Queen will not be tolerated."

He clarifies that this is a rare occurence. Raz operates outside the law and moral code of the society and that makes his actions on behalf of the Queen even more powerful.

On the other hand, we see in Rising Threat, Fasendil's dialogue, and the Keyes novels that the Fourth Era Thalmor won't let exiles live. The traditional preference for exile is made clear in Rising Threat, where the government (not yet fully under Thalmor rule) exiles the sage Rynandor the Bold from Summerset because of his clashes with the Thalmor. But the new Thalmor don’t respect exile. They're on the continent tracking down their dissidents, a contrast to the traditional treatment of exiles. Raz might kill a few people to make an example, the Keyes novels confirm that there are large scale operations to wipe out dissenters.

4. Reproduction

This isn't as obvious, but the Fourth Era Thalmor’s approach to reproduction has to be different than the traditional Altmer approach. The sages in Morrowind said of Elven fertility.

Elven cultures and social institutions are stable and persistent; Elven nations are neither economically expansive nor militarily adventurous. Elves are conditionally fertile -- that is, they only conceive when population pressure is low -- so expanding populations do not force them to explore or war with neighbors.

The Third Aldmeri Dominion is absolutely economically expansive and militarily adventurous. A lot of the traditional practices of marriage and childrearing, as seen in ESO's Summerset, would be of no use to the modern Thalmor. They're recovering from a terrible de-population event in the Oblivion Crisis, preparing for a war with high casualties and now preparing for another war. You can't quickly replenish numbers if people are hanging around not getting married, taking forty years to negotiate a contract, delaying or having the minimum number of children. So I think this would be another situation in which the Thalmor are non-traditionalists, who'd have to promote a whole new culture of childbearing.

5. Borders.... maybe?

Ayrenn mandated a shocking new policy of open borders in Summerset. It definitely did not last into the Second Dominion. We have no idea how long Ayrenn’s reign and ideas continued.

The Third Dominion can’t have open borders. Can it? Well . . there are some weird details here. Lathenil tells us in Rising Threat

Then the first of many pogroms descended on Summerset Isle. They slaughtered any who were not "of the blood of the Aldmer". A fine excuse to purge the dissidents, as well - the Thalmor have never been ones to waste such an opportunity.

Doesn’t sound like they were open to foreigners after that. And the Keyes novels and the text, the Great War, speak of the Dominion as a shadowy unknown territory. 

But then, there are actually a bunch of Skyrim-era references to foreigners in the Dominion. I already mentioned the Crimson Dirks’ visit to the Elsweyr client states. But there are a few more

Niruin tells Vipir, a human,

Hey, I still have a contact in Valenwood that may have some work for us. You're welcome to join me.

Imperial vampire Venarus Vulpin:

I really should spend more time around the docks, these Altmer are too thin blooded for my taste. 

A vampire may be charming his way into places most humans couldn’t go, but this confirms there are non-Altmer at the docks in Alinor where Vulpin takes passage to Skyrim.

Another bit from the Crimson Dirks, concerns an Imperial battlemage named Antonius

Antonius is a former battlemage said to possess a highly analytical mind that is matched only by his more prurient inclinations. He is sought after by aristocrats in Firsthold for allegedly poisoning a court wizard named Allenia with skooma, although it's unclear if he did so maliciously or simply introduced her to the substance. After fleeing to Cyrodiil he joined the Crimson Dirks and advised them on the acquisition and smuggling of magical artifacts.

The man was in Firsthold, Summerset, hob-nobbing with aristocrats. What’s that about?

But I think Ayrenn’s policy is still very different from what we’d see with the Third Dominion. Ayrenn wanted Open Borders, where anyone who wished to come to Summerset could. The Third Dominion can allow some foreigners to visit on business without welcoming all-comers. They could also restrict them to certain ports or border regions. That is how Summerset handled foreigners during the Reman Empire, after all. 

6. A Reputation for Cruelty and Aggression

The Third Dominon’s bad rep hardly needs elaboration. The First Dominion, on the other hand, features some idealistic pleasant leaders and officials. So there’s that difference. Ayrenn is a better face for a movement than Lord Naarifin.

Although . . . Let me be the devil’s advocate. We don’t know how long Ayrenn’s Dominion lasted or what its reputation was in the end. Dominion soldiers commit horrible war crimes in ESO, and although we often see them as the responsibility of bad guys working against Ayrenn, the rest of Tamriel sees it as the Dominion’s work. We also don’t know if Ayrenn ever effectively asserts proper control or oversight of the Dominion army. Ayrenn’s Thalmor officials, even when they are supportive of her goals, are often casually bigoted and patronizing towards their Khajiit and Bosmer allies. 

So that’s that. You’ll notice I hardly talked about Valenwood. That’s another *huge* topic and I have a post in the works bringing together everything I’ve written about Valenwood under the Third Dominion.