The Lord's Day (Harry Jones)

I started reading Michael Dobbs when the TV series "The House Of Cards" appeared. I decided I wanted to read the book and not see the series on TV. It was a wise move as I really enjoyed the book and Mr. Dobbs' style of writing. I am now trying to read all his books and would recommend them.

SPECTACULAR!!! Really the most spell-binding of the Harry Jones Series! Lord Dobbs insight into the workings of Westminster brings an extraordinary facet of realism like no other author could! His character study of the Royals is gives the reader an exceptional glimpse that is not provided by any other media format! Truly stunning!!! HIGHLY RECOMNMEND THIS ONE....AND ALL THE 6 books of the Harry Jones Series!!!

The story is just about the most unbelievable and least credible imaginable. The characters are mostly one dimensional with few attempts to given them any semblance of a real life. Nonetheless, the story is captivating and for once deserves the label "un-put-downable". Read it if you want a good yarn that keeps you entertained for the duration but do not expect more than that. It certainly provided enough entertainment for me to buy the next two books as well.

Exciting plot including the queen gives a picture of English politics.

Great brisk read. Highly recommend.

Super read!

With the demise of Boys Own Magazine some years ago I thought this sort of intellectual insult had long gone!

Michael Dobbs portrays the ultimate terrorist hostage drama which unfolds during the State opening of Parliament. The Queen and leading British politicians are held prisoner. Dobbs displays his knowledge of Westminster and its political animals - the retired politicians elevated to the House of Lords who become unlikely heroes and the maverick MP (who is, conveniently, a former member of the SAS) are very convincing. I was less convinced by the US ambassador and the hysterical female president. A good book to read on the plane.

I really enjoyed this book. Written from a very British perspective. Very well written, the story rattles along at a fairly speedy pace. It does sag a little right in the middle, but quickly picks up the pace after that, leading to a very exciting ending. Loved the detailed description of the "take-down" by the SAS and Police. I didn't see the twist at the end coming until a few pages before the big reveal.The descriptive text about the House of Lords was fascinating, including the use of so-called "old fashioned" words, for example the word "closet" for the small room behind the Throne for the sole use of The Queen. (Water-closet = WC for those who complain this was "too American").The relationship between the two female leaders, the US President and the British Home Secretary, was really well written. Both of them acting all tough, but both basically failing in that respect. Contrary to others, I found the interaction between the Queen and Prince Charles fascinating - just what I was expecting really. I do think the author should have included Prince William in the story though. I also find it very hard to believe that there were obviously no Secret Service Agents in the Lords with the President's son! The British Army Officer tasked with dealing with the US Delta team sent by the US President to "help", i.e. take-over" was brilliant, very "British" in his attitude, but also making it abundantly clear that the Yanks definitely weren't going any further. Lots of skulduggary going on all over the place by both the British and Americans ensured that everything (but maybe not everyone) comes up smelling of roses.Which brings me to Harry - what a guy! An intelligent, brave, gutsy, handsome (of course), never-give-up kind of guy. A Very British Hero. Definitely see someone like Daniel Craig playing him if this book ever gets to the big screen.I must finish with a mention for Archie and Celia - the very definition of what it means to be older upper-class British with a devotion to their Queen, proving that heroism is not the sole preserve of the young and fit.

Dear Michael,That was a jolly good story, intertwining large-scale political ideas and personal histories. I particularly enjoyed the un-p.c. statements that living politicans would hardly dare to say. I could have lived without the soul-searching between the Queen and Charles and, while praying during the siege was mentioned, it was the U.S. President doing it, not the Supreme Governor of the C of E. (odd?)Praise for the correct use of the conditional tense (if ...were) which is extremely rare, English vocabulary, spellings and references - mention of Danegeld, quotes from Shakespear tucked into the conversations, phrases like `to do a Maggie', reference to Russians and soccer, dressing gown/ being brassed off/ clobber (as in `clothes')/ gaol/ doughnuts (not donuts!) and ... feet and miles.However ... the book was not English all the way through.Why the scattering of American vocabulary? Just a scattering. If American readers can cope with the above-mentioned English references, surely they can cope with a whole book written in English. I could live very happily without closet, fall guy, airplane, get lucky, on the line, tranportation and john in a book that celebrates Englishness. Would a parallel novel about the U.S. Senate contain U.K. English vocabulary?`Headed' as in `where it was headed' is extremely popular but neither past continuous or simple past and simply wrong. And ...`He raised his flag, yet no-one seemed to keen to salute.' is not what Brits do at a COBRA crisis meeting.Can we have all future books written in English please? Thank you. Regards, Rita.

Michael Dobbs is a master of the political thriller and this is a very welcome addition to the genre. The violence and ensuing havoc of attacks by extremist Muslim groups has been explored many times by different writers but this takes as it's scenario the House of Lords at the Opening of Parliament by the Queen and the Prince of Wales. The drama never lets up and the pages turn and turn. The interplay between a captive Prime Minister, a President of the USA and, by chance, a Home Secretary standing in for the PM. is always fascinating and complicated by the captive presence in the chamber of the sons of the President and the Prime Minister. The outcome is handled with skill and the final twist will have fooled most readers. An interesting inclusion, which of course the author would have purposely explored, is the interplay between women in power, the President voted in by the people, and the mother of a captive son, and a Home Secretary, thrust into a position of decision making and smelling power to the exclusion of those in danger. I will leave it to the many readers to decide whether they were really up to the mark. The added fascination is the imagined interplay between a wonderfullu resolute Queen and a misunderstood but ultimately brave and caring Prince of Wales.

The first time I've read a Michael Dobbs novel. It will not be the last. It disturbed my sleep – towards the end I couldn't put it down, much to the delight of my nocturnal furry friends who thought it was play time.Sensitively written, the dialogue between the Queen and her son gave much food for thought.as we head towards another general election complete with self-promoting politicians promising us the world, his "Home Secretary" character provides a very good insight into the working of the politician's mind.

The pace is dramatic in the extreme. This is definitely not a book you can put down. And it is not wholly incredible. I remember when I worked in the House of Commons (at the same time as Michael Dobbs) that its security seemed woefully lacking (though it is now the opposite and probably contributes to politicians' being much too cut off from the voters).One desperately wants to know what is going to happen next, and something does happen on every page. There is, it has to be said, a wholly unbelievable twist at the end, but twists at the end usually have to be unbelievable, otherwise the readers spot them coming (I only spotted this one about three or four pages before it was sprung on us).My only criticism would be of the conversations between the Queen and the Prince of Wales. They give the impression of having been written by the worst sort of tabloid journalist, with the most ludicrous of fevered imaginations. And, towards the end, there is a scene involving the Queen and the crown which is simply barmy (it would never happen). But we can forgive those failings because the story is so gloriously gripping.Charles