The Fox Hunt and its sequel, Master of Hounds, takes Downton Abbey in a much darker direction than most Downton Abbey fanfiction, but it does it very well. There's a certain degree of disbelief that you must suspend at just how truly evil the villain of the piece is, but it's not so far from reality as to be unbelievable. Fair warning: if you're not willing to deal with gang rape in the context of the mostly light and shallow world of Downton Abbey, don't read this fic.
If you are willing to face this horrifying idea, though, the author treats the topic in an unflinching and intelligent way, logically following through on the psychological, relational, social, and legal after-effects. A Matthew-resurrection story with a difficult—but relatively plausible, given the space of such fics—beginning, and a thoroughly satisfying ending, well worth your time.
FanficRecs A Darker Direction for Downton Abbey
The Fox Hunt and its sequel, Master of Hounds, takes Downton Abbey in a much darker direction than most Downton Abbey fanfiction, but it does it very well. There's a certain degree of disbelief that you must suspend at just how truly evil the villain of the piece is, but it's not so far from reality as to be unbelievable. Fair warning: if you're not willing to deal with gang rape in the context of the mostly light and shallow world of Downton Abbey, don't read this fic.
If you are willing to face this horrifying idea, though, the author treats the topic in an unflinching and intelligent way, logically following through on the psychological, relational, social, and legal after-effects. A Matthew-resurrection story with a difficult—but relatively plausible, given the space of such fics—beginning, and a thoroughly satisfying ending, well worth your time.