Death Comes to Pemberley
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3.7 • 1.1K Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A rare meeting of literary genius: P. D. James, long among the most admired mystery writers of our time, draws the characters of Jane Austen’s beloved novel Pride and Prejudice into a tale of murder and emotional mayhem.
“A glorious plum pudding of a whodunit.” —NPR, Fresh Air
It is 1803, six years since Elizabeth and Darcy embarked on their life together at Pemberley, Darcy’s magnificent estate. Their peaceful, orderly world seems almost unassailable. Elizabeth has found her footing as the chatelaine of the great house. They have two fine sons, Fitzwilliam and Charles. Elizabeth’s sister Jane and her husband, Bingley, live nearby; her father visits often; there is optimistic talk about the prospects of marriage for Darcy’s sister Georgiana. And preparations are under way for their much-anticipated annual autumn ball.
Then, on the eve of the ball, the patrician idyll is shattered. A coach careens up the drive carrying Lydia, Elizabeth’s disgraced sister, who with her husband, the very dubious Wickham, has been banned from Pemberley. She stumbles out of the carriage, hysterical, shrieking that Wickham has been murdered. With shocking suddenness, Pemberley is plunged into a frightening mystery.
Inspired by a lifelong passion for Austen, P. D. James masterfully re-creates the world of Pride and Prejudice, electrifying it with the excitement and suspense of a brilliantly crafted crime story, as only she can write it.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Historical mystery buffs and Jane Austen fans alike will welcome this homage to the author of Pride and Prejudice from MWA Grand Master James, best known for her Adam Dalgliesh detective series (The Private Patient, etc.). In the autumn of 1803, six years after the events that closed Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Darcy, the happily married mistress of Pemberley House, is preparing for Lady Anne s annual ball, regarded by the county as the most important social event of the year. Alas, the evening before the ball, Elizabeth s sister Lydia, who married the feckless Wickham, bursts into the house to announce that Captain Denny, a militia officer, has shot her husband dead in the woodland on the estate. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, who purists may note behaves inconsistently with Austen s original, head out in a chaise to investigate. Attentive readers will eagerly seek out clues to the delightfully complex mystery, which involves many hidden motives and dark secrets, not least of them in the august Darcy family. In contrast to Pride and Prejudice, where emotion is typically conveyed through indirect speech, characters are much more open about their feelings, giving a contemporary ring to James s pleasing and agreeable sequel. 300,000 first printing.
Customer Reviews
Death comes to pemberley
Entertaining as a Pride and Prejudice sequel with a who dunnit twist. Not a murder mystery lovers must have. Light, fun read for Austin fans
I wanted to love it, but...
The mystery at the heart of the novel was not particularly gripping. After all, it's hard to find sympathy for Wickham... James' foray into Austen's work felt right, and I enjoyed the references to other Austen novels, but as a mystery? Nah.
Intriguing and satisfying
This is the first I have read of PD James and not the last. Her ability to lay out a story and keep you engaged by its often subtle twists and turns was masterful. If doesn't end until the last page, you are always learning more of the relationships among the characters. Well worth your time.