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    Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged
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    Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged
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    Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged
    Ebook312 pages5 hours

    Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged

    By Carrie Bebris

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Mr. & Mrs. Darcy, the joyous newlyweds from Pride and Prejudice, have not even left for their honeymoon when they find themselves embroiled in a mystery involving one of their wedding guests.
    The lovely Caroline Bingley is engaged to marry a rich and charismatic American. Unfortunately, this windswept courtship is marred by many strange events: nocturnal wanderings, spooked horses, carriage accidents, and even an apparent suicide attempt. Soon the whole Bingley family seems the target of a mysterious plot.
    Only the Darcys recognize the danger as the Austen genre of Regency romances mixes with the unearthly gothic threats of Ann Radcliffe and the Brontës. Dark forces are afoot and the Darcys must get to the bottom of the plot before the blushing bride descends into madness or worse.
    In Pride and Prescience, the Darcys take center stage as the Regency era's answer to the Thin Man's Nick and Nora, in search of the truth, universally acknowledged and otherwise.

    At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateFeb 1, 2004
    ISBN9781429917971
    Unavailable
    Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged
    Author

    Carrie Bebris

    Award-winning author Carrie Bebris is best known for her Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery series. Set in Regency England, the novels entangle some of Jane Austen’s most beloved characters in intrigue, with sharp dialogue, romantic interplay, and a dash of gothic atmosphere. Carrie began her career in publishing after previous roles as a newspaper reporter and college English teacher. As an editor for fantasy publisher TSR, Inc., she developed supplements for the Dungeons & Dragons® roleplaying game before striking out on her own as a freelance writer and editor. She wrote two fantasy novels, Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor (2001) and Shadowborn (1998, with William W. Connors), before making her mystery debut in 2004 with Pride and Prescience. The novel made the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association bestseller list and was named one of the five best mysteries of 2004 by Library Journal. The third book in the series, North by Northanger, won the 2007 Daphne du Maurier Award, which honors excellence in romantic suspense, and a Reviewers Choice Award from Romantic Times BookClub magazine for Best Historical Mystery of 2006. In addition to fiction, Carrie pens remodeling articles for Better Homes and Gardens® Special Interest Publications and writes other nonfiction. She has also edited such books as Tea with Jane Austen (by Kim Wilson) and Walking with William Shakespeare (by Anne-Marie Edwards). She is on the faculty of the 2008 Antioch Writers' Workshop and speaks frequently about writing and publishing. Carrie holds a master’s degree in English literature with an emphasis on 19th-century authors and studied Austen on the graduate level with one of today’s most respected Austen scholars. She is a life member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and travels to England to enhance her understanding of Austen’s life and work. Originally from Wisconsin, Carrie now lives in Ohio. When not writing, she likes to travel, watch costume dramas on A&E that send her husband fleeing the house, and indulge in her love of all things British. She is currently working on the next Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mystery.

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    Reviews for Pride and Prescience

    3.5/5

    224 ratings24 reviews

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    • 1/5
      It started off pretty good but the supernatural aspect really was off putting and the ending was just disappointing. I have nothing against magic in novels but I can't reconcile it to the world of P & P.
    • 4/5
      Synopsis: After the wedding, Elizabeth and Darcy are thrown into a mystery when strange happenings; such as a wheel breaking off a carriage and a suspicious fire, as the couple visit Bingley and Jane for Christmas. My Rating:4/5This is book 1 in a series and I have mixed feelings about continuing on. This story introduces a supernatural element that I wasn't prepared for and which took me by complete surprise though I did ultimately decide I liked. I read reviews on the series and apparently the supernatural element to this series is inconsistent. Early books play on it but later books don't. As I wasn't prepared for the supernatural element I felt slightly cheated by the author initially though that is probably unfair. I was expecting a cozy mystery. The author did introduce the possibility of supernatural causes early on, but I was expecting those to be overturned for the mundane by the end of the novel and the supernatural elements to be nothing but a red herring. I probably was suspecting this due to the mundane cover of the book that indicated to me only that this book was a mystery. Despite the unexpected addition of the supernatural influence, I liked the irony of the end of this mystery. I could feel the nod to Jane Austen and I could imagine her writing a similar ending to a story because of the jabs she takes at Victorian society and ideas. Darcy and Elizabeth were well done. This book was a treat to read and their back and forth was delicious. The essence of the characters felt true to character. In fact, I enjoyed all the characters and thought them interesting and well done. They were engaging and fun to be around.I liked the mystery and after I got past my shock at the supernatural element of the story I could appreciate what the book did. As a mystery reader I had a good time even though the book wasn't what I expected going in. If you enjoy Darcy and Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice, are a mystery fan, and don't mind a bit of supernatural in your story, I recommend picking this up. It was an entertaining read, and despite the surprises I did enjoy it.
    • 4/5
      A fun book Austen fans who are looking for stories beyond the end of the work. Starting with the double wedding of the Darcys and Bingleys, this mystery kept me engaged the whole way, seeking out the solution alongside Elizabeth and her new husband. This work does challenge to reader, and Mr. Darcy, to consider that there may be more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in their philosophy.
    • 2/5
      The newly-wed Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are caught up in the mystery of Caroline Bingley’s increasingly odd behavior. The writing is in keeping with the time but not overly stiff, and the author clearly has a good feel for the personalities of Austen’s characters. The one problem is the inclusion of mystical silliness, which will hopefully be excised from the rest of this promising series.
    • 4/5
      I had put off reading these for ages, because I normally don't like a new author taking a beloved set of characters from the classics and 'extending' their stories. But this was recently recommended to me by a GR friend who felt that the author did a credible job with the characters. I must say, I agree. I love the original Pride and Prejudice, and was relieved to find that Ms. Bebris did a fantastic job of respecting Ms. Austen and the characters themselves.

      The mystery itself was clever. I don't often vacillate between suspects, but reading this, I at once knew who the culprit was, only to change my mind several times in the course of just a few chapters. In the end, ultimately, the villain is not a shocker, but I have to say, I just wasn't sure until the denouement. There was also a paranormal element to all of it that I hadn't expected and enjoyed quite a bit.

      A fabulous read I'm happy to say I discovered when there are a whole raft of additional books in the series just waiting to be bought and read - I look forward to being happily entertained by one of my favorite all-time fictional couples for quite a while to come.
    • 2/5
      Since first reading Pride and Prejudice many years ago, I've always had a vague hankering to read a good continuation. But the operative word here is good--I've skimmed many a sequel in a Barnes & Noble, only to be horrified by awful writing and ridiculous characterization.

      Anyway, I enjoyed the first chapter of this one when I read it online, so I decided to commit to the whole book. Unfortunately, the first chapter was by far the best.

      Overall, the writing was tolerable (but not handsome enough to tempt me). There were a bunch of words and phrases that didn't seem true to the period, like when Elizabeth tells Darcy, "You must admit, it's a really shiny stick." ...A really shiny stick? Are we in Regency England, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

      Some of the characterization was questionable also--Caroline Bingley is a major character in this book, and she was unrecognizable. But the worst, the worst, the absolute worst thing was the plot. Everything just seemed so implausible. The resolution of the mystery was a joke. Hello! You can't explain the crazy things that have been happening by asserting that voodoo magic is real and that's caused everything.

      So the hunt continues for a Pride and Prejudice sequel I can stomach. I don't want to have to write this for myself!
    • 3/5
      The first Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery. I’m still a little dubious about the mix of Austen characters and Gothic supernatural happenings (and I agree with the folks who said, “wait! one thing in the Epilog wasn’t possible under English law at that time!”), but it was a fun read. I’ll certainly check out further ones from the library, but I’m not currently planning to buy any of these.
    • 4/5
      Although I admit Bebris is no Jane Austen, I must confess I relished this book, often smiling while reading, and went on to read and enjoy the rest in the series published to date. The book is first of a series where Mr and Mrs Darcy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice are sleuths, often with an element of the supernatural and romance. I have a couple of friends who are Jane Austen fans I pointed this series to who didn't care for them as much as I did. One said she didn't find them anything special and another didn't finish that first book. That friend though said something that gave me insight into why I do enjoy these so much. She said at least Bebris doesn't try to imitate Austen's style--that those who do always fail. I've tried and disliked Stephenie Barron's Jane Austen mysteries. There the conceit is these are written by Austen, and Barron takes a stab at reproducing Jane Austen's prose style and never convinces me. She just doesn't have the wit and insight to carry it off. Bebris, in trying instead to just capture the personality of the Austen characters and sound of their dialogue, succeeds much better, I think. Much better in that than the one Austen pastiche I'd tried before this, Linda Berdoll's Mr Darcy Takes a Wife where I found the characters unrecognizable. And there's the charm for me in the books by Bebris--that they're good enough to make me feel like I'm visiting old friends.This particular book centers on a mystery surrounding Caroline Bingley, who has married a charming American, Frederick Parrish, soon after the Darcys marry. After her wedding Caroline seems to be becoming unhinged and dangerous accidents dog the Bingleys. There's an element of the supernatural in the events reminiscent of the gothic novels Austen parodied in Northanger Abbey I feel mixed about, with a psychic Elizabeth acting as Mulder to a skeptic Scully Darcy. It's well-done though--just know going in you're dealing with the paranormal taken seriously, which after all is more than hinted at in the title.Although I'm hardly a scholar of the period, the book feels to me like it gets it right, with lots of details that suggest Bebris did her homework. Even if you changed the names involved, this would work well as a historical mystery with a deft twist and resolution.
    • 4/5
      Entertaining mystery story based around the characters from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, with Elizabeth and Darcy being of course the main protagonists. This story, the first in a series of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mysteries, blends Jane Austen's characters with a story of intrigue and a dash of supernatural mystery. I really enjoyed the book; it wasn't deep and philosophical, but it was an entertaining mystery with a surprising twist. As a Jane Austen fan, I think this was one of the better "sequels" that I've read that creates new stories around her characters. The characters acted in believable ways, and the story kept me interested at all turns. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
    • 4/5
      I have a perverse streak when it comes to all things Austen: if the self-elected experts promote one adaptation over another lesser version, my order of preference is usually the reverse. Similarly, I couldn't resist Carrie Bebris' unusual twist on the ten-a-penny 'Pride and Prejudice' spin-offs, simply because I've read so many snotty reviews!For my part, I loved this quirky mystery and have already ordered the next two books in the series. Bebris doesn't try to imitate Austen, which is where so many published sequels have failed to impress me (mentioning no names, Linda Berdoll), but she is true to the spirit of Lizzie and Darcy, who retain their own personalities even during their honeymoon. In fact, the continued independence of both Mr and Mrs Darcy is what most appealed to me, because the sparks that fly between Lizzie's wit and Darcy's arrogance in Austen's novel fuel the best dialogue and the most memorable scenes. Nor was I disappointed - Bebris' characters are witty, playful and true to the originals.'Pride and Prescience' is not a reworking of 'Pride and Prejudice', but instead a sort of mash-up of Austen, Hammett's Nick and Nora Charles and a dash of Mrs Radcliffe's gothic romances. Bizarrely, it works! The very day of the Darcy-Bingley double wedding (a gratuitous detail borrowed more from the miniseries than Austen, I think), Caroline Bingley upstages both couples by announcing her own impending nuptials to a mysterious American gentleman. (A mere plot device, which is not overly incongruous.) Hoping that marrying off Bingley's sister will free them from her company once and for all, Lizzie suffers Caroline's ego in silence, but as soon as Miss Bingley becomes Mrs Parrish, all hell breaks loose. Forced to attend the wedding in London, Lizzie and Darcy must then follow the Bingley clan back to Netherfield, and both begin to despair of ever settling together at Pemberley. But something is obviously wrong with Caroline, and accidents seem to plague the rest of the Bingleys, too - but is there a rational explanation, as Darcy insists, or a more supernatural turn of events? Lizzie has a strange feeling.Bebris' first 'Mr and Mrs Darcy' mystery is not on Austen's level, though any anachronisms (Wellington boots before the Duke's own footwear started the trend) and Americanisms (including my literary bete noir, 'I guess') are few and far between. Her style is eminently readable, however, and the entertaining story is not bogged down in period detail. Not quite Austen, perhaps, but better than Georgette Heyer! Lizzie and Darcy are intimate without being crude, romantic but not saccharine, and work together as equal partners. He is just as impressive as ever, supporting Bingley and dealing with all kinds of trouble, and she is adventurous, forthright and outspoken, just as Elizabeth Darcy should be.Don't expect a smutty sequel or an angst-ridden revision of 'Pride and Prejudice', but instead enjoy a quirky Regency mystery with two quick-witted and perfectly matched detectives. Oh, and plenty of teasing banter!
    • 4/5
      Enjoyable mystery, but a bit too heavy on the mysticism for my taste. Bebris produced a plausible Elizabeth Bennett (for which I commend her, it's always a risk to take on someone else's characters, let alone Jane Austens!) and the relationship described between her and Darcy was believable and good. Overall a worthy effort.
    • 1/5
      I really hated this one. So much, in fact, that I never read another book by Ms. Bebris. The story was a mess and just silly. I made the mistake of wasting money on it, but gave it to Goodwill as soon as possible afterwards.
    • 4/5
      This novel was a quick read. Were I without distractions, I most likely could have finished it in a day. However, those pesky students keep writing essays I assign, so I must pay them some attention.Bebris has created a spot-on imitation of Jane. Caroline Bingley becomes engaged, and she seeks Elizabeth’s advice in planning her wedding. Elizabeth, somewhat miffed that Caroline’s wedding follows so closely upon her own, responds, “With your own taste to guide you, I am sure your celebration could derive no further benefit from my opinions” (19). Classic Austen with the drop of acid she so ably inserted in her prose.Only occasionally has a modern anachronism pop into the story. The physical relationships are also quite more detailed than Austen. The reader glimpses a private scene between Elizabeth and Darcy. One night, “Darcy rolled over and spooned against her” (123). Several of these tidbits made me smile.Bebris also slips in quotes from several of Austen’s novels. My favorite comes from Sense and Sensibility. In Bebris, Mr. Gardiner (also a character in Pride and Prejudice) discusses the library of Pemberley, Darcy’s elegant home. “But the library of a great house can never have too many books” (29). What a wonderful sentiment! The Augustan view of Americans and the colonies also provides a good bit of humor.I won’t give away any plot details, but I will say I found the path to the end disappointing. Elizabeth and several of the characters embrace some rather silly hocus-pocus to explain the mysterious goings on a Netherfield. Woven into this nonsense is a perfectly logical and reasonable explanation of greed and human nature.The novel mostly has the feel of a lost work by Austen herself, but I doubt I will delve any further into the series. Apparently this is the first of three -- so far. Lovers of Austen will enjoy this story. Four Stars.--Jim, 4/2/10
    • 4/5
      I've never really been one for Austen continuations. I read P+P+Zombies because I felt I must. And it's more of an alternate reality than continuation. I read Pamela Aidan's Mr. Darcy, Gentleman Trilogy because they were recommended to me and they are beautifully written and, again, they're of a parallel nature. I've been very stubborn about Austen continuations and Austen fanfiction. I've always been a purist when it comes to my Janeite membership.But somehow or other I was led to read Carrie Bebris' Darcy mysteries. I believe the suggestion came through librarything.com. I figure a database that has all of the books I've read and what I think of them must have some good suggestions. Turns out, they were right. Unfortunately, I'm only 3 books-in. Ms. Bebris has created a fictional--though logical and realistic and very very appropriate--"ending" to Pride and Prejudice in the form of a series in which Mr. and Mrs. Darcy begin their new lives and (like many couples) experience bump after bump in their new road of life together. But their bumps, in Ms. Bebris' world, are extremely-well-researched mysteries in which the author has managed to pull the Darcys on a fine thread through all of Austen's novels.The first of these is Pride and Prescience in which the couple is married, only to immediately have Caroline Bingley announce her immediate engagement and impending marriage to an American we have never heard of. And instead of a happy honeymoon, we get a dangerous and murderous mystery that ends up being much more interesting than the smut and fluff that so many other adapters have dragged Austen's characters through. And while the mysticism at the root of the events is a little lackluster, it's enough to make you want to read the next one. The second novel is Suspense and Sensibility which takes an even deeper turn into the darker realms. Now Ms. Bebris is on a roll.She has literally steamrolled us into Sense and Sensibility but about 15 years later AND has expanded the original story's origins. In this story, the magic is darker and more volatile. This story is much more dangerous and as a result is much more interesting, especially because it expands the character of Kitty Bennett. While the first novel resisted expanding Caroline's character by subduing her through the magic, this one is more willing to take steps beyond the inspiring work and gives Kitty a chance to breathe.The third novel is North by Northanger in which our Darcys (now only months away from the birth of their first child) are tied into the story of Northanger Abbey. This one was interesting because there was no man-made magic. Most of the mysticism relies on religious faith and on the trust we place in love. It has its share of mystique, but this one was more predictable to me. I don't know if Ms. Bebris intended the dramatic irony, but I knew right away who the culprit moving things in the bedroom was. Not only that, but I was waiting and waiting and waiting to see who else would be in the novel besides Mr. Henry Tilney (we learn almost immediately that "Frederick" is not actually Frederick so I won't mask that from you). I thought surely that the imposters played as "Frederick" and "Dorothy" must have been in the Northanger story. I scoured my brain and, for the woman I could only come up with one answer. Hence, it was no surprise when Henry recognized her and her companion towards the end of the book. I wanted to love this book and, for all my love of old letters and gardening, I put up a good fight. But it was just a bit too predictable for my tastes. I will say, though, that making the mystery a bit more spiritual and more ABOUT Elizabeth's connection to that spirit did win me over.Ms. Bebris has finished 2 other novels of the series - The Matter at Mansfield and The Intrigue at Highbury; the former is already out, though I don't have it yet, and the latter is due out in March. I only want for her to get around to adapting Persuasion to her scheme. And I only hope it doesn't involve Sir Walter--though his family ledger would make an interesting starting point. Hmm. Think it over, Ms. Bebris.
    • 4/5
      This is one of the better cozies I have come across so far in my cozy mystery reading experience. It feels like you're reading one of those old English gothic novels. It has a good mixture of supernatural mystery to satisfy those in need of a creepy but not so creepy experience, and there's a good plot and regular mystery behind it, making you try to guess who is behind all of these strange coincidences. I liked it how they brought in most of the characters from Pride and Prejudice it was nice to see them once again, and to have Elizabeth and Darcy solving the mystery together can't get any better than that. They both have the wit, and the sharp mindedness that brings them even closer together. Of course they have their disagreements as well, which is nice to see, as their arguing takes you back to the days when they didn't get along at all in the beginning of Pride and Prejudice. I'm happy to see not much drastic change has happened to most of the characters in the book. The scandal behind Mr Hurst seems believable and makes sense considering his vices. Naturally, it was nice to see Caroline hasn't changed, until later in the book but there's a reason for it as you will see if you pick up this novel. There are a few twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing as to who might have been behind the entire plot, although I did figure it out eventually before it was said. That might have become a disappointment as I would have liked to have been surprised, but the action at the end (there's a fighting sequence!) made up for it and proved to be exciting to read. I thought it was a good book, I was so interested in it, it didn't take me that long to read, and the ending was satisfying despite it being a little obvious who was behind the plot. I thought the little addition of supernatural "forces" at work was a neat little addition. It was subtle and not too overpowering to make it seem ridiculous. It worked seamlessly with the plot and made it more exciting.I will definitely be pursuing other books in this series, and I am hoping the second book after this will be just as good as the first one. Overall, a great read, perfect for those that love Darcy and Lizzy, but are in the mood for a cozy mystery as well. Give it a try! it was an exceptional read.
    • 2/5
      I started this with high hopes. but unfortunately did not enjoy it. The first chapters are enjoyable, who hasn't speculated on what the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy would have been like.But this is not a domestic novel, per se and the mystery is what really lets it down. The story was, for me, too unlikely and the resolution unsatisfactory.
    • 5/5
      I found this book, entirely by accident, while searching thru either Amazon or Barnes & Noble for Pride and Prejudice fan fic. Those of you who know me are aware that I have a strange obsession (quite possibly a book disorder) with Pride and Prejudice and any fan fic. So I will willingly admit that I can be predisposed to like a Pride and Prejudice fan fic book merely because it continues the story of some amazing characters. (By the same token, I can hold these books to a higher standard due to their Austen connection and will expect more out of them than just coasting by on the Austen name).Pride and Prescience is an amazingly satisfying read on several fronts. First and foremost, if you’re an Austen/Pride and Prejudice fan, you will be delighted not only at seeing your old friends Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy fresh off their wedding but at how honest and true Carrie Bebris is to Jane Austen herself. Unlike some pieces of Austen-themed fan fic (and I call them “themed” because they stray about as far off the Austen path as artistically possible) Elizabeth has retained the wit and sass that Ms. Austen graced her with and Darcy, while seemingly haughty and proud, is still the caring gentleman Ms. Austen made us fall in love with. (Although Colin Firth certainly helped out). Pride and Prescience is not a bodice ripper (no offense to bodice rippers) nor soft porn disguised as a “continuation”. It is the now Mr. and Mrs. Darcy returned for some good old fashioned intrigue!To delight readers even further, Ms. Bebris has chosen to move the once secondary character of Caroline Bingley to the forefront. While in Pride and Prejudice Miss Bingley was a pretentious and well seasoned snob (and one with designs on Mr. Darcy), I did enjoy her presence in the book. Would I want her as a friend or relative? Absolutely not! But she added the same type of diversion to the book that I felt Mrs. Bennet’s comic relief did. And she continues her sense of diversions here, in Pride and Prescience, albeit ones of a very different nature.And this leads me to the second point of why Pride and Prescience works. Elizabeth and Darcy work a mystery much like Nick and Nora Charles of The Thin Man fame. It comes naturally, as does their repartee and charm. You can’t help but like them and enjoy them gracing each page. There is the typical mystery of “whodunit”, as well as mystery of the supernatural and paranormal - - one which this reader found immensely satisfying. The dark overtones of the supernatural give Pride and Prescience a gothic flavor, which keeps very true to Jane Austen (think of Northanger Abbey) as well as the time period in which Ms. Austen wrote her books.So, with all this praise is there anything in Pride and Prescience that doesn’t work? Honestly, no. Not really. The storyline is so fluid, the characters so enticing and portions of the dialogue so sharp, there is very little to find fault with. Perhaps the “real” Elizabeth Bennet Darcy would not so quickly accept the idea of supernatural forces as a possibility for the mystery but within the context of this story, and with Ms. Bebris’ smooth writing, it all comes together and works like a well-oiled machine.Pride and Prescience succeeds, ultimately, because it’s a well-crafted tale, told in a sparkling voice with much-loved characters who some readers have been vested in since Pride and Prejudice. Ms. Bebris doesn’t try anything fancy and she doesn’t give the reader inexplicable situations or diminish the characters in any way. She also doesn’t commit what I consider the cardinal sin of rushing the story or solving the “whodunit” with a character brought in at the end or with very little “face time”.If you haven’t read Pride and Prejudice, do not fear that you won’t delight in or understand Pride and Prescience. It is still a remarkable, fun read, for Austen fans or for mystery fans.So wrap yourself up in a cozy blanket, get a mug of steaming tea or chocolate and settle in for a lovely read. Prepare, though, to want to continue your adventures with Mr. and Mrs. Darcy throughout the series.
    • 4/5
      This was a quick, entertaining read, which I admittedly enjoyed very much. Returning to the lives of the characters in "Pride and Prejudice" was rather fun. However, I did not enjoy the supernatural angle. I prefer mysteries based on fact, not fantasy. That was a disappointment.
    • 4/5
      What a delightful continuation of the lives of the Darcys ..with a mystery adding spice to the story. This is the first of a series of Darcy mysteries that Ms Carrie Bebris has written and the characters whom I loved, loathed and chuckled over in Ms Austen's Pride and Prejudice continue to entertain me in Ms Bebris's book.As the newly wed Darcys make plans to return to Pemberley, sudden unexpected events take place that hinder these plans. Elizabeth and Darcy take good contrasting sides when there is a possibility of the supernatural or magic causing some of the unsettling things happening in the lives of the Bingley family. Much as I detested Caroline Bingley in the original story, I felt a little bit sorry for her in this one, although it would not surprised me to find that she returns to her normal haughty self later.
    • 3/5
      I'd give this book another star entirely save for one thing. It starts off well enough, all the favorites from Pride & Prejudice returned, happy, house party, some sparks of wit. There's a minor industry dedicated to producing sequels, prequels, and sidequals to ol' P&P, yet none has truly emerged as the "definitive" take. Perhaps because so much of Austen's fiction, unlike more robust and exterior authors, is concerned with emotional progress...and her wit was so very finely honed that the victims probably didn't realize what was happening until they noticed the knife in their sides...it will be impossible to really create something that feels Austenish. But all that aside. So you have this mystery, and Darcy and Elizabeth begin investigating. Pip pip, fine, swell. It's a really great idea--the original Nick and Nora Charles, no?. But then Bebris decides it's not just a mystery...it's a MAGICAL mystery. If you wanna do a magical mystery that's fine, certainly. But mystery readers expect certain rules to be followed. You don't make the murderer someone that no one has heard of or met. You don't withhold clues until after the murder is solved. And Jane Austen's intricate, meticulously painted world is probably not the best environment in which to locate magic rings and wizardry. Bebris apparently has continued her Magical Austen theme in the rest of this series, so if you like the idea of a magical mystery tour through her canon, I guess it could've been worse? But the back cover doesn't indicate this is a magical mystery. It's not in the fantasy section. Perhaps the publisher would be better off including some mention of magic or fantasy on the label--elsewise, it reeks a bit of false advertising.
    • 3/5
      I found this book delightful in its portrayal of the newly-married Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy. The author has done a creditable job of maintaining the wit and lightness of Pride and Prejudice. I am delighted that the newly weds' intimacy is indicated by playful banter, not graphic sex scenes. On the other hand, although I have a great love for folklore and I have read several detective series with supernatural themes, I don't think that it fits in well with Jane Austen. I found the American connection in this story a bit implausible. A plot device has to satisfy both the ongoing narrative and the hidden plot(s) that are revealed as the story goes on, particularly in a mystery. If something seems odd, the characters need to comment upon it. For me, the plot first began to fall apart with the unlikely suggestion that the solution to a case of nervous prostration would be to embark on a several month journey from England to the United States during the War of 1812, delaying any expert treatment until she arrives in New Orleans. The Bingleys and Darcys do object, but Elizabeth Darcy seems to have forgotten that Professor Randolph, who puts forth the scheme, has told her only the week before that the war had more or less stranded him in England. One needs to keep in mind that the US was what we would now call a Third World or Developing Nation. Sending someone with serious nervous and physical problems from England to the United States would be about like having a heart attack in Baltimore and going to Zimbabwe for emergency care. Even if one could get perfectly good care in the latter place, it isn't likely to be better than what one could get locally. Why risk the stress and delay of the trip? After this incident, I began to question the entire likelihood of the American fiance. Would an American, even a wealthy one, be warmly received by the Polite World in England, especially when the two countries are at war? Granted, the Bingleys aren't aristocracy, but there seem to be no prejudices against him from anyone. Why has he come to England, anyway? Such a lengthy trip is quite an undertaking surely requiring some significant motive, even if he arrived before hostilities broke out. Would the Bingleys really be so unconcerned at this whirlwind courtship and marriage (less than one month) especially if he recently broke of his courtship of another woman? If his "crying off" is taken to mean that he broke an engagement, this would be a serious offense for a gentleman at this time. I hope this isn't a spoiler, but since mysteries often involve money, maybe not. Then and now, the inheritance of money within a family is governed by laws that override the effect of wills. If any substantial amount of money was involved at that time, the families of the bride and groom set up settlements, prenuptial agreements, stipulating the financial obligation of both during the marriage and in the event of death. Spouses might not inherit from one another, especially if no children were born, although there was usually some legally required or mutually agreed upon support for a widow during her life. A bride's dowry might return to her family if she died without surviving children, even if her husband had control over it during the marriage. If her family didn't give her the money outright, he might only control the income. This would all have to be taken into consideration by The Villain(ness). Part of the action of that seminal mystery, The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins is determined by the terms of a prospective bride's inheritance: her husband would control only the income, not the principle. Like another reviewer, I was somewhat bothered by some of the language, enough to look up "archeologist" in my Oxford English Dictionary. It is not recorded as being in use until 1824, after the period of this book, although "archeology" had been in use for centuries, so it's not an impossible usage. Would have been a nice touch to spell it "archaeologist", though. This could be a charming series if the author works a bit on period detail and plotting. I will certainly read the next volume.
    • 3/5
      I found this book delightful in its portrayal of the newly-married Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy. The author has done a creditable job of maintaining the wit and lightness of Pride and Prejudice. I am delighted that the newly weds' intimacy is indicated by playful banter, not graphic sex scenes. On the other hand, although I have a great love for folklore and I have read several detective series with supernatural themes, I don't think that it fits in well with Jane Austen. I found the American connection in this story a bit implausible. A plot device has to satisfy both the ongoing narrative and the hidden plot(s) that are revealed as the story goes on, particularly in a mystery. If something seems odd, the characters need to comment upon it. For me, the plot first began to fall apart with the unlikely suggestion that the solution to a case of nervous prostration would be to embark on a several month journey from England to the United States during the War of 1812, delaying any expert treatment until she arrives in New Orleans. The Bingleys and Darcys do object, but Elizabeth Darcy seems to have forgotten that Professor Randolph, who puts forth the scheme, has told her only the week before that the war had more or less stranded him in England. One needs to keep in mind that the US was what we would now call a Third World or Developing Nation. Sending someone with serious nervous and physical problems from England to the United States would be about like having a heart attack in Baltimore and going to Zimbabwe for emergency care. Even if one could get perfectly good care in the latter place, it isn't likely to be better than what one could get locally. Why risk the stress and delay of the trip? After this incident, I began to question the entire likelihood of the American fiance. Would an American, even a wealthy one, be warmly received by the Polite World in England, especially when the two countries are at war? Granted, the Bingleys aren't aristocracy, but there seem to be no prejudices against him from anyone. Why has he come to England, anyway? Such a lengthy trip is quite an undertaking surely requiring some significant motive, even if he arrived before hostilities broke out. Would the Bingleys really be so unconcerned at this whirlwind courtship and marriage (less than one month) especially if he recently broke of his courtship of another woman? If his "crying off" is taken to mean that he broke an engagement, this would be a serious offense for a gentleman at this time. I hope this isn't a spoiler, but since mysteries often involve money, maybe not. Then and now, the inheritance of money within a family is governed by laws that override the effect of wills. If any substantial amount of money was involved at that time, the families of the bride and groom set up settlements, prenuptial agreements, stipulating the financial obligation of both during the marriage and in the event of death. Spouses might not inherit from one another, especially if no children were born, although there was usually some legally required or mutually agreed upon support for a widow during her life. A bride's dowry might return to her family if she died without surviving children, even if her husband had control over it during the marriage. If her family didn't give her the money outright, he might only control the income. This would all have to be taken into consideration by The Villain(ness). Part of the action of that seminal mystery, The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins is determined by the terms of a prospective bride's inheritance: her husband would control only the income, not the principle. Like another reviewer, I was somewhat bothered by some of the language, enough to look up "archeologist" in my Oxford English Dictionary. It is not recorded as being in use until 1824, after the period of this book, although "archeology" had been in use for centuries, so it's not an impossible usage. Would have been a nice touch to spell it "archaeologist", though. This could be a charming series if the author works a bit on period detail and plotting. I will certainly read the next volume.
    • 5/5
      I really do enjoy this series of mysteries. They are fun and frivolous while still retaining Miss Austen's characters in recognizable form. A bit on the gothic side but it's not overdone. This is the first in the series and takes place shortly after the Darcys' marriage.
    • 3/5
      The newly wed Mr and Mrs Darcy are back and are the Regency answer to Nora and Nick of the Thin Man. The mystery embroils Caroline Bingley and her engagement to an American, prior to the wedding all kinds of strange events occur; nocturnal wanderings, carriage accidents and Caroline behaving very strangely. Is Elizabeth right in believing supernatural forces are at work, or is Mr Darcy correct in suspecting more mortal forces. It's a fun mystery, and better than most add ons to Pride and Prejiduce, even if the historical aspects may be a little off kilter.