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In 1803, Elizabeth and Darcy have embarked on a peaceful life together at Pemberley with their sons, Fitzwilliam and Charles. Elizabeth’s beloved sister Jane and her husband, Charles Bingley, live nearby, and preparations are well under way for their annual ball named for Darcy’s mother, Lady Anne.
Then, on the eve of the ball, a brutal on Darcy’s property is committed by a brother by marriage with whom Darcy is known to be at enmity with. The entire family and all those tied to the estate are plunged into a murder mystery that threatens not only the peace of the estate but also the carefully constructed story Darcy has constructed to protect his family’s name.
Right about the time this book was published I discovered that my grandmother creates sequels to Austen’s classic in her head just like I do. It was fun to dream up our own version of Darcy and Elizabeth’s life together when we were together over Thanksgiving break. She was so excited to read this book particularly because like the rest of my family she loves mysteries/crime thrillers. I think she was more excited to read this one than I was, and I think she liked it more than I did.
I was surprised at how spunky Elizabeth took a backseat in this tale. It’s all Darcy, all the time. And even Darcy looses the deep characterization Austen gave him. Actually, nearly as the characters I know and love have become shadows of their former selves. Those looking for a competent Pride and Prejduice sequel may be disappointed. Yet, at the same time, those looking for a compelling mystery novel will also be disappointed. It’s not all bad as the book did keep me largely engaged throughout a long flight cross country. It’s just not the best out there.
Others’ Thoughts:
Book Mentioned:
- James, P.D. Death Comes to Pemberley. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. eBook. 291 pgs. ISBN: 9780307959850. Source: Purchased.
Although I do not normally review books I am unable to finish, this is one of those books were I feel like I have to say something.
Subtitled “A Tale of Uncharted Love on the Open Seas” and billing itself as a retelling of Austen’s original, Louise’s novel places Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy on the ship Pemberley’s Promise as it sails to the New World. Elizabeth is on her way to join her beloved Aunt and Uncle Gardiner while Darcy is off to fetch his sister Georgiana after she traveled to America in order to overcome Wickham’s treachery. Although the two had previously met, they did so without exchanging names and therefore did not immediately recognize each other when they meet again on Pemberley’s Promise.
One hundred pages in to Louise’s retelling Darcy proposes to Elizabeth a marriage of convenience. Elizabeth has given up her bed to a mother with sick children and, therefore, has taken to sleeping on the floor. What at first was a kind gesture meant to last a night or two becomes a major inconvenience after the mother also falls ill. Darcy, the secret owner of the ship, has a large compartment with an extra bed. Impropriety, however, prevents Elizabeth from utilize the empty bed without being married to Darcy so marriage he proposes.
At which point I set this book aside. I just could not suspend disbelief and believe that Darcy would propose marriage in order to provide Elizabeth with a bed. Just could not do it.
This is one of those books that, unfortunately, seems to be set on capitalizing on Austen’s current popularity. I’m not one to shy away from retellings, but this one is incompatible with the original on even the basic level of characters. Had the names been different, I would not have been trying to draw connections between the Darcy and Elizbeth of the original with this new Darcy and this new Elizabeth. In fact, I probably would have continued reading had the names been different. Louise sets the bar too high for her retelling by trying to in fact make it a retelling.
(Note: Louise’s novel was originally published as Pemberley’s Promise in 2007.)
Others’ Thoughts:
Book Mentioned:
- Louise, Kara. Darcy’s Voyage: A Tale of Uncharted Love on the Open Seas. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Landmark, 2010. Print. 503 pgs. ISBN: 9781402241024. Source: PaperBackSwap.
Advent with Austen:
Hosted by Alex of The Sleepless Reader, Nymeth of things mean a lot, Iris of Iris on Books, Teadevotee, and Yvann of Reading, fuelled by Tea, Advent with Austen is meant to celebrate the 200 years since Jane Austen published her first novel, Sense and Sensability. The celebration runs during Advent, November 27 to December 24, 2011. To participate during this time, participants must read or watch Austen-related items: books by her, about her or modern re-imaginings and films.
Despite the poor representation of Darcy on the cover of my copy, Jeffers attempt to tell Ftizwilliam Darcy’s Story produced one of the more plausible adaptions of this beloved character’s point of view.The title comes for Jeffers’ decision to focus on Darcy’s three passions — Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Pemberley — and the challenges trying to mesh all three pose on his person.
The novel begins at the start of Austen’s novel and continues on for a few months after the Darcys’ marriage. I have to applaud Jeffers for not succumbing to the notion that Darcy’s flaws dissipate over the night. Not only does the reader see him struggle before and after his first proposal but we are also privy to his struggles after Darcy’s marriage to his beloved Elizabeth.
Purists would be happy to find that Jeffers does not provide a lot of detail about the periods where Darcy is away from Elizabeth. Other than her epilogue, she sticks quite closely to the narrative provided by Austen. However, I missed this section; I would have liked to seen what Darcy was up to as he was nursing his wounds.
Even so, Jeffers’ retelling is quite good. Her representation of Darcy is one of the closest to that of my own interpretation.
Others’ Thoughts:
Book Mentioned:
- Jeffers, Regina. Darcy’s Passions: Fitzwilliam Darcy’s Story. Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris, 2007. Print. 308 pgs. ISBN: 9781425781286. Source: PaperBackSwap.
Advent with Austen:
Hosted by Alex of The Sleepless Reader, Nymeth of things mean a lot, Iris of Iris on Books, Teadevotee, and Yvann of Reading, fuelled by Tea, Advent with Austen is meant to celebrate the 200 years since Jane Austen published her first novel, Sense and Sensability. The celebration runs during Advent, November 27 to December 24, 2011. To participate during this time, participants must read or watch Austen-related items: books by her, about her or modern re-imaginings and films.
Georgiana, the beloved but shy sister of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, is thrilled with her brother’s marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She’s always wanted a sister, and with her First Season just around the corner, she’s looking forward to having Elizabeth’s guidance and advice. There is also the minor issue of her love for her cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who unfortunately views her only as his “little cousin” in need of protection.
It’s taken me a while to review this book bot because I didn’t enjoy it but because I’ve already read it. Originally self-published as And This Our Life in 2008, the novel was renamed Mr. Darcy’s Little Sister for publication by Sourcebooks. This is a typical with sequels to Austen’s classic and I am usually quite careful to double check before ordering another sequel. Some how this one just slipped by me.
In my review of the self-published version, I said this was a solid debut novel by Pierson. I also said “Georgiana matures in a believable fashion, and her marriage to her cousin, Fitzwilliam, a move I’ve never quite liked, made me change my stance”. I think this part of my assessment still holds true.
One thing I did not like the first time I read this tale was Darcy’s travel to the Continent to track down the Prince Regent’s letters to his secret wife, and I feel like that was a less of a focus in the book this time around. What I don’t know is if this is because the novel benefited from some editing before Sourcebooks published it or not. (I guess it might have benefited from editing simply because I did not realize that I had read the book before.)
Book Mentioned:
- Pierson, C. Allyn. Mr. Darcy’s Little Sister. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Landmark, 2010. Print. 444 pgs. ISBN: 9781402240386. Source: PaperBackSwap.
The title would have you think this sequel to Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is about the Darcy family, the focus of the book is really on the family of Mr. and Mrs. Collins. Twenty-five years after the final chapter in Austen’s classic, the Darcys and Bingleys and Collins now include several young adults and Elizabeth is finding “the romantic attachments of one’s children are a constant distraction”.
Eliza Collin, the youngest daughter of William and Charlotte Collins, is her mother’s pride and joy. Her introduction to the Darcy’s youngest son, Henry, reunites Elizabeth Darcy and her dear friend, Charlotte. But conniving forces in the form of Miss Bingley and Miss Juliet Darcy threaten to ruin any chances the two may have of forming a relationship. Juliet is entwined in her own relationship and considering an elopement without telling her parents of the relationship. Of course, Mr. Darcy must step in and save the day!
I was surprised at how thin this book is when I opened the mailing envelope on Monday. At 156 pages, I think it is the shortest sequel/variation I have read. Having finished the book, it is too short. The story could have benefited for some more details and a longer timeline. The conclusion of the book progress too quickly fr my taste.
But this novel is also the only one dealing with the children of the Darcys, Bingleys, and Collins I have enjoyed it. All of the children seemed like they could be the products of their parents’ union. They aren’t perfect nor are they caricatures of possibilities.
Guests of the ball also include the children of Emma Woodhouse, Anne Elliot, Fanny Price, and Marianne Dashwood so it serves as a sequel to the other novels as well. If you have not read Austen’s other novels, this may not be the sequel to start with.
Bottom line, I liked this book. It’s not my favorite sequel, and I believe I would have liked it more if there had been more text, more details, more information. Newark showed great potential with the tale, and I enjoyed my peek into Darcy and Elizabeth’s future.
(Note: Newark’s book was originally published in 1997 as Consequence.)
Book Mentioned:
- Newark, Elizabeth. The Darcys Give a Ball: A Gentle Joke, Jane Austen Style. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Landmark, 2008. Print. 156 pgs. ISBN: 9781402211317. Source: PaperBackSwap.
