I stumbled over this series when casually glancing through a “what should I read next” utility, which I normally view with something approaching scorn. However, in this discovery I was pleasantly surprised, and suspect I shall be diverted for some time to come. The Mr and Mrs Darcy Mysteries blend two of my favourite genres: Pride and Prejudice fan fiction and mystery. I’m not sure if “fan fiction” is the correct depiction of these works, which imagine the world of a beloved story and its characters beyond the pages of the original, but I think it’s the easiest way to describe them. Here, Darcy and Elizabeth and Bingley and Jane have just been happily wed, and a mystery erupts in the form of Caroline Bingley’s sudden betrothal to the season’s most eligible bachelor. Soon, distressing and eerie things start to happen, and of course it is up to the intrepid Elizabeth Darcy—formerly Bennet—to sort them out. This is a lovely extension of this world, the narrative language lovingly recreates the original without sounding cloying or contrived. A successful beginning! ( )

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are newly married, as is Elizabeth Bennet Darcy’s sister Jane, to her Mr. Bingley. Various logistical problems prevent the Darcys from going to Pemberly after the double wedding, and soon both couples are sequestered at Mr. Bingley’s rented estate, along with a few relatives and hangers-on.

It’s clear to the readers early on that some sort of magic is afoot at the impromptu and reluctant house party; this is frustrating since none of the characters are actually catching on. With elements of The Moonstone and Jane Eyre, the story very slowly unfolds until a murder occurs (very late in the book) and the killer is eventually, of course, unmasked. But who is the magician?

Pride and Prescience has been rated quite highly in Goodreads, and I can see why a die-hard Austen devotee might love the book and the series. The author mentions on her website that she is not trying to imitate Miss Austen’s work; rather, she is trying to respect what has been created while telling her own stories.

While acknowledging this, it seems impossible to write a story using Jane Austen characters while not striving to coninue the tone and style with which those characters were imbued by their creator. Ms. Bebris is successful most of the time, but some anachronistic phrases slip through, and modern viewpoints sneak in there too. I think this is unavoidable; this author has two centuries of perspective to work with, and that’s not easy to hide.

I found the book to be longer than necessary, with lots of speculation about the murder and the events leading up to it. I don’t have patience for that kind of conjecture in mysteries anymore; the identity of the killer was obvious, and the ruminations added nothing but length to the story for me.

Again though, I’m not a huge Austen fan. I’m rating this story at 2.5 stars, but don’t let that stop you from reading it! If you want to spend more time with the Darcys you will enjoy this book. ( )

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy solve a gothic style mystery

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. ( )

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:

4/5

This 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. ( )