Review by Booklist Review
Bebris' charming mystery employs the beloved characters from Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice in a bit of sleuthing. The novel opens with a double wedding--that of Elizabeth Bennett to Fitzwilliam Darcy and Jane Bennett to Charles Bingley. It's the happiest day of Elizabeth's life, but she's a tad put out that her former rival, Caroline Bingley, has chosen this day to announce her engagement to a wealthy American landowner named Frederick Parrish. Rather than returning to Pemberley as they would like to do, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam stay on in London until the wedding. But events conspire to keep them there longer when Caroline begins acting strangely: they discover her walking in a dangerous neighborhood, and days later she almost dies from wounds that appear to be self-inflicted. Everyone close to Caroline is baffled, and the mystery deepens when the father of a former rival for Parrish's hand is found murdered. Fans of Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen books will want to check out Bebris' series debut. --Kristine Huntley Copyright 2003 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In her well-crafted mystery debut, fantasy author Bebris (Pool of Radiance, etc.) picks up the action where Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice left off-on the wedding day of Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy, who marry in a double ceremony with Elizabeth's older sister Jane and Charles Bingley. The Bennett brides are soon upstaged by Bingley's sister, Caroline, who announces her engagement to a Louisiana planter. Caroline's imminent nuptials mean the Darcys must remain in London, where an evening party leads to a meeting with an archeology professor who specializes in the indigenous culture of North America. Newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Darcy later travel to Netherfield, as does the professor, who brings along some "curiosities" he's collected that he credits with unusual powers. A series of improbable events ensues, leaving one murdered house guest and two sedated hosts. Can the American artifacts hold the key to the bizarre occurrences? When an unexpected blizzard cuts the house off from the rest of the neighborhood, it's up to Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to unmask the killer and restore everyone's peace of mind. Despite an anachronism or two (e.g., summoning a constable rather than the local magistrate), the author provides convincing portraits of life in London and at Netherfield. With a touch of sorcery and lots of red herrings, Bebris works her own brand of Austen magic, whetting the reader's appetite for a sequel. (Feb. 10) Forecast: Taking a lighter approach than Stephanie Barron's sleuthing Jane Austen series (Jane and the Ghosts of Netley, etc.), this one should appeal as much to Regency readers as to Austenites. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Historical mystery fans probably know Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen series. Here, Bebris, a longtime member of the Jane Austen Society, remakes an Austen heroine into a sleuth. The newly married Elizabeth Bennett Darcy becomes involved in the misfortunes of her former rival, haughty Caroline Bingley. Caroline marries a rich American and then apparently falls prey to incipient madness. The Darcys grow increasingly concerned when Elizabeth's brother-in-law, Charles Bingley, is the victim of a carriage accident. Tales of a cursed land, a vengeful ex-partner, and an archaeologist interested in "magical" artifacts complicate events. Mannered prose, Regency backdrops, moody country houses, and delightful characterization place this new series high on the to-buy list. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Will Jane Austen's happily newlywed Mr. Darcy ever install his bride as Pemberley's new mistress? Not until the couple solve a disturbing mystery surrounding a wedding guest. Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy are married in a double ceremony including Elizabeth's sister Jane and Charles Bingley, Darcy's best friend. All goes well except for Jane's new sister-in-law, the insufferable Caroline, who grabs the spotlight to announce her engagement to Frederick Parrish, a wealthy, charming American. The Darcys, lingering in London to attend the hastily arranged Parrish wedding, prolong their stay when something goes very wrong with Caroline. While wandering unaccountably through a dangerous part of the city, they rescue her, but soon thereafter she's found with her wrists slashed. Why would such a selfish, shallow woman kill herself before she had a chance to parade her new husband and wealth? Darcy discovers that Parrish had been almost engaged to Juliet Kendall, daughter of moneyed, unscrupulous Lawrence Kendall, once a partner of Charles Bingley's late father and now a bitter adversary of the Bingley family. But Elizabeth intuits more sinister influences tied to Parrish's best man, Professor Julian Randolph, who specializes in occult studies. Brittle comic dialogue vies with lurid Gothic sensation: a debut that, for all its polish, shows why the world hasn't been waiting for a collaboration between Jane Austen and Mrs. Radcliffe. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
