“Imagine a book almost exclusively featuring Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Collins. Now add in an attempted murder and a witty writing style. In short, the result is perfectly ridiculous in the most delightful way.”
Review by AnnaScott Cross
The third book in the Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery series, which finds the amateur sleuths facing their most daunting challenge preventing the murder of the imperious Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Someone is trying to kill Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Esteemed aunt of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, generous patroness of Mr. William Collins, a woman of rank who rules over the estate of Rosings Park with an unimpeachable sense of propriety—who would dare ? Lady Catherine summons her grand-nephew, Mr. Jonathan Darcy, and his investigative companion, Miss Juliet Tilney, to find out.
After a year apart, Jonathan and Juliet are thrilled to be reunited, even if the circumstances—finding whoever has thus far sabotaged Lady Catherine’s carriage, shot at her, and nearly pushed her down the stairs—are less than ideal. Also less than their respective fathers, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Mr. Henry Tilney, have accompanied the young detectives to Rosings, and the two men do not interact with the same felicity enjoyed by their children.
With attempts against Lady Catherine escalating, and no one among the list of prime suspects seemingly capable of committing all of the attacks, the pressure on Jonathan and Juliet mounts—even as more gentle feelings between the two of them begin to bloom. The race is now on to provoke two one from the attempted murderer before it is too late—and one, perhaps, of love.
Release Date: 6/18/2024
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 335
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own, and I am writing a voluntary review.
Imagine a book almost exclusively featuring Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Collins. Now add in an attempted murder and a witty writing style. In short, the result is perfectly ridiculous in the most delightful way.
I am a stickler when it comes to retellings and maintaining the integrity of the original, yet Claudia Gray continues to astound me. Her ability to embody Jane Austen so thoroughly that I forget that the book I’m reading wasn’t written by Jane is incredible. She perfectly captured the essence of each of the original characters, aging them quite appropriately, and then dropped them into a murder mystery. Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins were particularly well represented, and there are so many lines that I highlighted because they were so perfectly ridiculous as only these two characters could be.
My one complaint is that even though this book was a mystery, the pacing felt much more in line with Austen’s original works. I never really got wrapped up in figuring out who did it, or had a moment where I couldn’t put it down.
Overall, it you want a dose Austen-esque wit and a cozy mystery, this is the perfect book.
Content Ratings:
Action & Gore:
3. Mild action (common injuries with some details)
Romance & Spice:
2. Romance with mild content (holding hands and mild kissing).
Cursing & Vulgarity:
0. None.
Other Trigger/Content Notices:
N/A
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