It doesn't sound like it should work - a Modern spy AU of Downton Abbey - but it does. The canon characters are very recognizable in this fic despite having been removed from the (arguably) formulaic roles of a fairly typical (but lovely) Costume Drama. This is neither someone's original story with the names of canon characters pasted on for interest nor a run-of-the-mill Stations Of The CanonAlternate Universe Fic. It's a creative and clever fic that continuously draws in the elements of canon that make it a great story. From a troper's point of view, it's interesting because it swaps classic Period Piece tropes for classics of Tuxedo And MartiniSpy Fiction and plays these tropes off each other. From a fan perspective, it's a good, fun read.
FanficRecs Creative and clever
It doesn't sound like it should work - a Modern spy AU of Downton Abbey - but it does. The canon characters are very recognizable in this fic despite having been removed from the (arguably) formulaic roles of a fairly typical (but lovely) Costume Drama. This is neither someone's original story with the names of canon characters pasted on for interest nor a run-of-the-mill Stations Of The Canon Alternate Universe Fic. It's a creative and clever fic that continuously draws in the elements of canon that make it a great story. From a troper's point of view, it's interesting because it swaps classic Period Piece tropes for classics of Tuxedo And Martini Spy Fiction and plays these tropes off each other. From a fan perspective, it's a good, fun read.