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Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries #6
The Deception at Lyme: Or, The Peril of Persuasion
In Jane Austen's Persuasion, the Cobb--Lyme's famous seawall--proved dangerous to a careless young woman. Now it proves deadly.
Following their recent intrigue at Highbury, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy visit the seaside village of Lyme on holiday. Family business also draws them there, to receive the personal effects of Mr. Darcy's late cousin, a naval lieutenant who died in action.
Their retreat turns tragic when they come upon a body lying at the base of the Cobb. The victim is Mrs. Clay, a woman with a scandalous past that left her with child--a child whose existence threatened the inheritance of one of her paramours and the reputation of another. Did she lose her balance and fall from the slippery breakwater, or was she pushed?
Mrs. Clay's death is not the only one that commands the Darcys' attention. When Mr. Darcy discovers, among his cousin's possessions, evidence that the young lieutenant's death might have been murder, he allies with Captain Frederick Wentworth (hero of Jane Austen's Persuasion) to probe details of a battle that took place across the sea . . . but was influenced by a conspiracy much closer to home.
The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion) is the delightful sixth installment in the critically acclaimed and award-winning Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery series by Carrie Bebris.
Following their recent intrigue at Highbury, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy visit the seaside village of Lyme on holiday. Family business also draws them there, to receive the personal effects of Mr. Darcy's late cousin, a naval lieutenant who died in action.
Their retreat turns tragic when they come upon a body lying at the base of the Cobb. The victim is Mrs. Clay, a woman with a scandalous past that left her with child--a child whose existence threatened the inheritance of one of her paramours and the reputation of another. Did she lose her balance and fall from the slippery breakwater, or was she pushed?
Mrs. Clay's death is not the only one that commands the Darcys' attention. When Mr. Darcy discovers, among his cousin's possessions, evidence that the young lieutenant's death might have been murder, he allies with Captain Frederick Wentworth (hero of Jane Austen's Persuasion) to probe details of a battle that took place across the sea . . . but was influenced by a conspiracy much closer to home.
The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion) is the delightful sixth installment in the critically acclaimed and award-winning Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery series by Carrie Bebris.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 16, 2011
38 people are currently reading
919 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Bebris
18 books237 followersCarrie 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.
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
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 that send her husband fleeing the house, and indulge in her love of all things British. She is currently working on her next novel, based on Persuasion.
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.
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
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 that send her husband fleeing the house, and indulge in her love of all things British. She is currently working on her next novel, based on Persuasion.
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March 4, 2021
The Darcys are at Lyme, holidaying at the seaside. On a walk along the harbour (Cobb) at Lyme, they witness a huge explosion of a ship. In order to get out of the way of danger, they hurry along the Cobb and go down the stairs. They find a woman who appears to have fallen. The Darcys take her to the nearby naval couple's home, where she goes into labour. When the baby is delivered, there appear to be several claimants.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant St Clair brings the last effects of Gerald Fitzwilliam, a relative of Darcy who died at sea in battle, to them. They find a gold statuette among this, which immediately leads to a lot of speculation. Gerald's dairy also excited a lot of suspicions. While all this is happening, Georgiana is off romancing.
I did not enjoy the nautical flavour of the book at all. There were too many random characters and they were all engaged in extremely convoluted relationships. The plot itself is convoluted and there were several that I felt were left to go haywire. The characters are so boring that I don't really remember many of them clearly and I only just finished this book! Even Professor Randolph appears on the scene once. It's as if the author could not decide what plot to follow for this book. I kept hoping that he would at least claim the statuette was some sort of voodoo as I was getting heartily bored of the naval people.
Too much time is just devoted to the dead woman's baby, whose purpose I still fail to understand. If the actual story is about smuggling, why is the baby constantly appearing. It was extremely strange to have a baby taking up so much space in an Austen-style book. In reality, he would just be sent away with his nurse while the family takes a breather. Same with Lily-Anne, whom Darcy seems to be constantly carrying on his shoulder in public. Since these children did not add much to the plot, it seems a waste of pages to prattle on about them.
I rather enjoyed Georgiana's romance and perhaps might have even enjoyed the whole story more if told through her eyes. As it stands, I found The Deception at Lyme the weakest of Bebris' series. Perhaps it is only because Persuation is the only one of Austen's works I have not read. But perhaps it's because the book is not well-edited at all.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant St Clair brings the last effects of Gerald Fitzwilliam, a relative of Darcy who died at sea in battle, to them. They find a gold statuette among this, which immediately leads to a lot of speculation. Gerald's dairy also excited a lot of suspicions. While all this is happening, Georgiana is off romancing.
I did not enjoy the nautical flavour of the book at all. There were too many random characters and they were all engaged in extremely convoluted relationships. The plot itself is convoluted and there were several that I felt were left to go haywire. The characters are so boring that I don't really remember many of them clearly and I only just finished this book! Even Professor Randolph appears on the scene once. It's as if the author could not decide what plot to follow for this book. I kept hoping that he would at least claim the statuette was some sort of voodoo as I was getting heartily bored of the naval people.
Too much time is just devoted to the dead woman's baby, whose purpose I still fail to understand. If the actual story is about smuggling, why is the baby constantly appearing. It was extremely strange to have a baby taking up so much space in an Austen-style book. In reality, he would just be sent away with his nurse while the family takes a breather. Same with Lily-Anne, whom Darcy seems to be constantly carrying on his shoulder in public. Since these children did not add much to the plot, it seems a waste of pages to prattle on about them.
I rather enjoyed Georgiana's romance and perhaps might have even enjoyed the whole story more if told through her eyes. As it stands, I found The Deception at Lyme the weakest of Bebris' series. Perhaps it is only because Persuation is the only one of Austen's works I have not read. But perhaps it's because the book is not well-edited at all.
December 4, 2017
I've truly enjoyed each of the Darcy's adventures into crime solving as, along the way, they encounter Austen's characters from each of her novels. However, this was the one I was waiting for with baited breath. Persuasion is my favorite of Austen's works so I couldn't wait to see what happened when Bebris combined a mystery with a sequel in The Deception at Lyme.
This is book six in a series that works best in order as it follows the Darcy's adventures, but can also standalone just fine as it only references earlier stories in a vague way.
In The Deception at Lyme, the Darcy's are on a sea holiday and encounter a variety of individuals including a woman who ends up dead shortly after the story begins. Her murder is followed by the Darcy's soft footing an investigation into her death, but also into the potential murder of Darcy's Fitzwilliam cousin whom they thought lost in battle.
There are several tantalizing plot threads swirling around that it takes awhile for the story to set up and get moving. Of course, I didn't mind because I wanted to reunite with familiar characters as well as meet a few new faces. And I loved all the description and scenes set in Lyme and in reference to the British Royal Navy.
The mysteries are entertaining and kept my interest even though I figured out the culprits early enough. For me, it became more of thing to see how the Darcys and Wentworths would gather the evidence needed. Oh, and I was happily distracted by a little romance for Georgiana.
All in all, I was delightfully engaged in this latest of the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mysteries. For those who want a cozy mystery combined with an Austen sequel then take a gander at this series.
This is book six in a series that works best in order as it follows the Darcy's adventures, but can also standalone just fine as it only references earlier stories in a vague way.
In The Deception at Lyme, the Darcy's are on a sea holiday and encounter a variety of individuals including a woman who ends up dead shortly after the story begins. Her murder is followed by the Darcy's soft footing an investigation into her death, but also into the potential murder of Darcy's Fitzwilliam cousin whom they thought lost in battle.
There are several tantalizing plot threads swirling around that it takes awhile for the story to set up and get moving. Of course, I didn't mind because I wanted to reunite with familiar characters as well as meet a few new faces. And I loved all the description and scenes set in Lyme and in reference to the British Royal Navy.
The mysteries are entertaining and kept my interest even though I figured out the culprits early enough. For me, it became more of thing to see how the Darcys and Wentworths would gather the evidence needed. Oh, and I was happily distracted by a little romance for Georgiana.
All in all, I was delightfully engaged in this latest of the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mysteries. For those who want a cozy mystery combined with an Austen sequel then take a gander at this series.
August 10, 2016
I purchased this book in 2011, and for some reason I have never gotten around to reading it. I don't know why this happens, and sometimes, when I finally read the book I have put off, I discover I really was missing something. I loved this book. I will only make one complaint which will be at the end of the review, and think it might make this book actually a 4 1/2 star, but I will leave it at 5 for the official rating.
Carrie Bebris has written a series of books with Elizabeth and Darcy as sleuths. The Deception at Lyme is number 6 in the series. Throughout the stories, our dear couple find themselves somewhere in the midst of a murder mystery. (In this book Elizabeth comments "one of these days I would like to journey from Pemberley without encountering a single corpse). They are uniquely suited, with their intelligence, objectivity, and financial freedom, to investigate the crime. In addition, in each book they are in a local found in another of Jane Austen's books, and meet characters from her other books. In this story, you can see the subtitle is The Peril of Persuasion, so it makes complete sense for them to be traveling in Lyme and meeting the Elliots, the Wentworths, etal.
During their visit in Lyme, Darcy, Elizabeth, their daugher Lily-Anne, and Georgiana, along with friends, discover a woman who has fallen from the high wall of the Cobb, the sea wall at Lyme. Tragically the woman dies, but goes into labor prior to her death and delivers a live son. In seeking the identify of the woman and the father's child, they meet Sir Walter Elliot and Miss Elliot who are also staying in Lyme. The night before Mrs. Clay's death and the birth of her son, Sir Walter married her, making the boy Sir Walter's heir. Mr. Elliot, the prior heir, however, claims the boy as his son. All of this becomes tangled as Lily-Anne's behavior and a few words of the dying woman cause Elizabeth to question whether the fall was an accident or if the woman was pushed. Add to this the sea chest of Darcy's deceased cousin, Gerard Fitzwilliam, strange behavior on the part of a navy Lieutenant, and subtle hints of smuggling, and the story is filled with intrigue and mystery.
As I mentioned at the top of my review, there is one complaint I have with the story: just too many people are incidentally connected to the mystery and the back story. It just became a little too coincidental that everyone the Darcy's met eventually had some part to play in the story. The plotting was clever, and the involvement of the characters was well done, but it just felt a tiny bit contrived. Couldn't they have just met some people in Lyme that did not have an interest in the mystery?
However, having gotten that off my chest, I can say that I really loved The Deception at Lyme. Carrie Bebris has Darcy and Elizabeth down and so many of the little incidents or conversations caught me laughing right out loud. And, if you have read Persuasion, you know the Elliot family has quite a few odd ducks and Sir Walter Elliot is amazingly vain and full of his own consequence and that of his connections. Status is everything! And, this makes him so funny.
Darcy's dry humor is also present, and, of course, bounces off Elizabeth's wit very effectively. But, the author can simply put things in such a way that tickles my funny bone. In one inconsequential scene where the Darcys are getting to know the Wentworths (Frederick and Anne), Elizabeth and Anne are having a very lovely time, as young mothers do, talking about everything to do with their babies. After a couple of just heartfelt paragraphs describing this conversation, the author then states very baldly "Darcy was bored nearly to the limit of endurance." This had me totally on the floor. And, this happened many, many times throughout the book.
Of course, this is a murder mystery and not all fun and games, so there are many tense and sensitive moments as well. Pride and Prejudice both are expressed and we see a very interesting turn of events by the end of the book. I thought I saw this coming somewhere along the line, so there must have been some subtle foreshadowing by the author. The story comes to a very satisfying conclusion, although with a few surprises and disappointments for a couple of characters. But, hey, this is Darcy and Elizabeth - there will be a HEA!
Now I have to go back and see what others I have missed in this series. This one was just too delicious and I need more to feed my appetite. Very highly recommended!
Carrie Bebris has written a series of books with Elizabeth and Darcy as sleuths. The Deception at Lyme is number 6 in the series. Throughout the stories, our dear couple find themselves somewhere in the midst of a murder mystery. (In this book Elizabeth comments "one of these days I would like to journey from Pemberley without encountering a single corpse). They are uniquely suited, with their intelligence, objectivity, and financial freedom, to investigate the crime. In addition, in each book they are in a local found in another of Jane Austen's books, and meet characters from her other books. In this story, you can see the subtitle is The Peril of Persuasion, so it makes complete sense for them to be traveling in Lyme and meeting the Elliots, the Wentworths, etal.
During their visit in Lyme, Darcy, Elizabeth, their daugher Lily-Anne, and Georgiana, along with friends, discover a woman who has fallen from the high wall of the Cobb, the sea wall at Lyme. Tragically the woman dies, but goes into labor prior to her death and delivers a live son. In seeking the identify of the woman and the father's child, they meet Sir Walter Elliot and Miss Elliot who are also staying in Lyme. The night before Mrs. Clay's death and the birth of her son, Sir Walter married her, making the boy Sir Walter's heir. Mr. Elliot, the prior heir, however, claims the boy as his son. All of this becomes tangled as Lily-Anne's behavior and a few words of the dying woman cause Elizabeth to question whether the fall was an accident or if the woman was pushed. Add to this the sea chest of Darcy's deceased cousin, Gerard Fitzwilliam, strange behavior on the part of a navy Lieutenant, and subtle hints of smuggling, and the story is filled with intrigue and mystery.
As I mentioned at the top of my review, there is one complaint I have with the story: just too many people are incidentally connected to the mystery and the back story. It just became a little too coincidental that everyone the Darcy's met eventually had some part to play in the story. The plotting was clever, and the involvement of the characters was well done, but it just felt a tiny bit contrived. Couldn't they have just met some people in Lyme that did not have an interest in the mystery?
However, having gotten that off my chest, I can say that I really loved The Deception at Lyme. Carrie Bebris has Darcy and Elizabeth down and so many of the little incidents or conversations caught me laughing right out loud. And, if you have read Persuasion, you know the Elliot family has quite a few odd ducks and Sir Walter Elliot is amazingly vain and full of his own consequence and that of his connections. Status is everything! And, this makes him so funny.
Darcy's dry humor is also present, and, of course, bounces off Elizabeth's wit very effectively. But, the author can simply put things in such a way that tickles my funny bone. In one inconsequential scene where the Darcys are getting to know the Wentworths (Frederick and Anne), Elizabeth and Anne are having a very lovely time, as young mothers do, talking about everything to do with their babies. After a couple of just heartfelt paragraphs describing this conversation, the author then states very baldly "Darcy was bored nearly to the limit of endurance." This had me totally on the floor. And, this happened many, many times throughout the book.
Of course, this is a murder mystery and not all fun and games, so there are many tense and sensitive moments as well. Pride and Prejudice both are expressed and we see a very interesting turn of events by the end of the book. I thought I saw this coming somewhere along the line, so there must have been some subtle foreshadowing by the author. The story comes to a very satisfying conclusion, although with a few surprises and disappointments for a couple of characters. But, hey, this is Darcy and Elizabeth - there will be a HEA!
Now I have to go back and see what others I have missed in this series. This one was just too delicious and I need more to feed my appetite. Very highly recommended!
October 27, 2019
Loved it. I am way behind the times in getting to this author. So glad I did.
December 12, 2014
The Deception at Lyme: Or, the Peril of Persuasion is the sixth installment in Carrie Bebris’s critically acclaimed Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery series. This magnificent and long-running series is a collection of sequels to Pride and Prejudice, that place our dear Mr. and Mrs. and many situations of mystery, murder, and mayhem. After the first of the book in the series, Pride and Prescience, Carrie Bebris begins to combine characters from different Jane Austen novels. It is such enormous fun to see the Darcys encounter the happily married Brandons, Knighleys, and Wentworths and solve mysteries together with them! For prospective readers who have not read this series, it might help to know these books do not need to be read in order. Also, while the first two deal with a good amount of supernatural elements and powers, none exist in this installment.
After spending some time in Highbury, the Darcys travel to Lyme for a brief holiday with Georgiana and their daughter, Lily-Anne. As we might remember from Jane Austen’s novel, the Cobb can be a very dangerous place, especially on a windy day with a storm coming in…or especially if someone wanted to do somebody harm and make it look like an accident. Darcy and Elizabeth are magnets for murder mysteries, so of course they are the ones to find Mrs. Clay lying unconscious at the base of the Cobb. Their discovery leads to them meeting the Harvilles, Wentworths, and Elliots, and becoming quite embroiled in their affairs…
While in Lyme, the Darcys meet Lieutenant St. Clair who delivers the personal effects of Gerard Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy’s cousin who died in action serving in the Navy. The chest contains a diary, whose contents lead Darcy to suspect that his cousin’s death might have been intentional…
– Is Mrs. Clay’s baby the next Elliot heir?
– Did Mr. Elliot have something to do with Mrs. Clay’s fall?
– Was Gerard Fitzwilliam murdered?
Hats off to you, Ms. Bebris! The Deception at Lyme is another well-constructed, balanced, informative, and engrossing mystery! There is so much happening in these novels – the integration of characters from different novels, the continuation of previous established story-lines, the introduction of new characters, the inclusion relevant historical content, some adventure, danger, and romance, and at least two mysteries that may or may not be connected! I applaud Ms. Bebris for effectively and skillfully bringing all these components together and creating a multifaceted, compelling, and thoroughly entertaining story.
As always with any Carrie Bebris mystery, my favorite part of the novel is witnessing these reverently depicted characters interact with each other – I loved witnessing how impressed Sir Walter was with Darcy’s illustrious connections (and how unimpressed both the Darcys were with him!) It was lovely to see Anne and Elizabeth form a quick bond over their mutual compassion for others and concern for Mrs. Clay’s baby. And…be still my heart…seeing Darcy and Wentworth together…in action – solving mysteries, going after the murder…We definitely need more of that! :) *sigh*
Another aspect I enjoyed in this novel was seeing Georgiana have a little romance. I thoroughly enjoyed her story-line and seeing how far she has come since her near elopement with Wickham. I loved seeing her depicted as a stronger and more independent young lady. In addition, I found the conclusion of her story-line (actually all the story-lines) to be immensely satisfying. I really couldn’t ask for anything more fitting or pleasing.
When I read a novel by Carrie Bebris I cannot help but admire and appreciate the amount of work and research put into its formation. Not only are the mysteries unpredictable and well-constructed, they are supported by a richly detailed and researched backdrop. Having read all six books of this series so far, you can definitely say I’m a fan of her work. I’m elated to discover that a new novel by Carrie Bebris is in the works - The Suspicion at Sanditon (Or, The Disappearance of Lady Denham) How awesome that she is including Sanditon?!? *Squeeeee*
After spending some time in Highbury, the Darcys travel to Lyme for a brief holiday with Georgiana and their daughter, Lily-Anne. As we might remember from Jane Austen’s novel, the Cobb can be a very dangerous place, especially on a windy day with a storm coming in…or especially if someone wanted to do somebody harm and make it look like an accident. Darcy and Elizabeth are magnets for murder mysteries, so of course they are the ones to find Mrs. Clay lying unconscious at the base of the Cobb. Their discovery leads to them meeting the Harvilles, Wentworths, and Elliots, and becoming quite embroiled in their affairs…
While in Lyme, the Darcys meet Lieutenant St. Clair who delivers the personal effects of Gerard Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy’s cousin who died in action serving in the Navy. The chest contains a diary, whose contents lead Darcy to suspect that his cousin’s death might have been intentional…
– Is Mrs. Clay’s baby the next Elliot heir?
– Did Mr. Elliot have something to do with Mrs. Clay’s fall?
– Was Gerard Fitzwilliam murdered?
Hats off to you, Ms. Bebris! The Deception at Lyme is another well-constructed, balanced, informative, and engrossing mystery! There is so much happening in these novels – the integration of characters from different novels, the continuation of previous established story-lines, the introduction of new characters, the inclusion relevant historical content, some adventure, danger, and romance, and at least two mysteries that may or may not be connected! I applaud Ms. Bebris for effectively and skillfully bringing all these components together and creating a multifaceted, compelling, and thoroughly entertaining story.
As always with any Carrie Bebris mystery, my favorite part of the novel is witnessing these reverently depicted characters interact with each other – I loved witnessing how impressed Sir Walter was with Darcy’s illustrious connections (and how unimpressed both the Darcys were with him!) It was lovely to see Anne and Elizabeth form a quick bond over their mutual compassion for others and concern for Mrs. Clay’s baby. And…be still my heart…seeing Darcy and Wentworth together…in action – solving mysteries, going after the murder…We definitely need more of that! :) *sigh*
Another aspect I enjoyed in this novel was seeing Georgiana have a little romance. I thoroughly enjoyed her story-line and seeing how far she has come since her near elopement with Wickham. I loved seeing her depicted as a stronger and more independent young lady. In addition, I found the conclusion of her story-line (actually all the story-lines) to be immensely satisfying. I really couldn’t ask for anything more fitting or pleasing.
When I read a novel by Carrie Bebris I cannot help but admire and appreciate the amount of work and research put into its formation. Not only are the mysteries unpredictable and well-constructed, they are supported by a richly detailed and researched backdrop. Having read all six books of this series so far, you can definitely say I’m a fan of her work. I’m elated to discover that a new novel by Carrie Bebris is in the works - The Suspicion at Sanditon (Or, The Disappearance of Lady Denham) How awesome that she is including Sanditon?!? *Squeeeee*
February 16, 2022
CROSSOVER PAZZESCHI
Recensione di gruppo per questi sei straordinari romanzi della serie "Le indagini di Mr. e Mrs. Darcy" (il settimo non è stato tradotto in Italia), perfetti per chiunque voglia reimmergersi nel mondo di "Orgoglio e pregiudizio" - e non solo. Oltre a seguire gli ipotetici sviluppi delle vite dei personaggi anche minori del capolavoro della Austen (Kitty, Georgiana, Anne de Bourgh), i vari volumi consentono infatti di rinnovare la memoria anche degli altri libri da lei scritti. Tutto ciò grazie a dei crossover pazzeschi in cui Elizabeth e Darcy stringono amicizia, prendono il tè - e indagano - assieme ad Emma e Mr. Knightley, Anne Elliot e Frederick Wentworth, Elinor Dashwood ed Edward Ferrars.
A livello stilistico, queste storie traggono grande forza dalla frequenza delle parti dialogate, nonché di battute sagaci che ricordano moltissimo la celebre ironia austeniana. I casi da risolvere, poi, si fanno di romanzo in romanzo sempre più intricati: per quanto io sia riuscita in un modo o nell'altro ad individuare ogni volta il colpevole, devo ammettere che la Bebris è dotata di un grande talento nel depistare il lettore attraverso false piste e sospettati. Sarà questo, dunque, il mio metro di giudizio per i vari volumi della saga.
Al primo posto, il mio preferito, ovvero "L'enigma di Mansfield Park", il cui mistero fa davvero lambiccare il cervello alla ricerca della sua possibile soluzione. Ritengo sia anche l'episodio più dinamico, e dalla conclusione più appagante ().
A seguire, "Sospetto e sentimento", che l'elemento soprannaturale dota di un'atmosfera particolarmente fosca e per questo motivo estremamente attraente (per quanto decisamente meno imprevedibile de "L'enigma a Mansfield Park").
Ancora, "Le ombre di Pemberley" e "Intrigo a Highbury", i quali costituiscono la prova più evidente di una tecnica narrativa che si fa sempre più raffinata, muovendosi all'interno di un più largo gruppo di personaggi che fungano da specchietti per le allodole rispetto ad un ben più macchinoso epilogo. Non impossibili da indovinare, queste soluzioni lasciano comunque molto soddisfatti.
Meno riusciti, a mio avviso, "Inganno e persuasione" e "Orgoglio e preveggenza" - 3,5 stelline ciascuno, che arrotondo rispettivamente per eccesso e per difetto. Il primo dei due, infatti, mi è parso inutilmente complicato, ma in fondo in fondo ho trovato lo scioglimento alquanto sorprendente. Il secondo pecca al contrario di una trama eccessivamente semplificata, e un altrettanto banale criminale.
Ciò avrebbe dovuto scoraggiarmi dal proseguire nella lettura del resto della serie, no? Meno male che non è stato così!
Recensione di gruppo per questi sei straordinari romanzi della serie "Le indagini di Mr. e Mrs. Darcy" (il settimo non è stato tradotto in Italia), perfetti per chiunque voglia reimmergersi nel mondo di "Orgoglio e pregiudizio" - e non solo. Oltre a seguire gli ipotetici sviluppi delle vite dei personaggi anche minori del capolavoro della Austen (Kitty, Georgiana, Anne de Bourgh), i vari volumi consentono infatti di rinnovare la memoria anche degli altri libri da lei scritti. Tutto ciò grazie a dei crossover pazzeschi in cui Elizabeth e Darcy stringono amicizia, prendono il tè - e indagano - assieme ad Emma e Mr. Knightley, Anne Elliot e Frederick Wentworth, Elinor Dashwood ed Edward Ferrars.
A livello stilistico, queste storie traggono grande forza dalla frequenza delle parti dialogate, nonché di battute sagaci che ricordano moltissimo la celebre ironia austeniana. I casi da risolvere, poi, si fanno di romanzo in romanzo sempre più intricati: per quanto io sia riuscita in un modo o nell'altro ad individuare ogni volta il colpevole, devo ammettere che la Bebris è dotata di un grande talento nel depistare il lettore attraverso false piste e sospettati. Sarà questo, dunque, il mio metro di giudizio per i vari volumi della saga.
Al primo posto, il mio preferito, ovvero "L'enigma di Mansfield Park", il cui mistero fa davvero lambiccare il cervello alla ricerca della sua possibile soluzione. Ritengo sia anche l'episodio più dinamico, e dalla conclusione più appagante ().
A seguire, "Sospetto e sentimento", che l'elemento soprannaturale dota di un'atmosfera particolarmente fosca e per questo motivo estremamente attraente (per quanto decisamente meno imprevedibile de "L'enigma a Mansfield Park").
Ancora, "Le ombre di Pemberley" e "Intrigo a Highbury", i quali costituiscono la prova più evidente di una tecnica narrativa che si fa sempre più raffinata, muovendosi all'interno di un più largo gruppo di personaggi che fungano da specchietti per le allodole rispetto ad un ben più macchinoso epilogo. Non impossibili da indovinare, queste soluzioni lasciano comunque molto soddisfatti.
Meno riusciti, a mio avviso, "Inganno e persuasione" e "Orgoglio e preveggenza" - 3,5 stelline ciascuno, che arrotondo rispettivamente per eccesso e per difetto. Il primo dei due, infatti, mi è parso inutilmente complicato, ma in fondo in fondo ho trovato lo scioglimento alquanto sorprendente. Il secondo pecca al contrario di una trama eccessivamente semplificata, e un altrettanto banale criminale.
Ciò avrebbe dovuto scoraggiarmi dal proseguire nella lettura del resto della serie, no? Meno male che non è stato così!
February 23, 2025
What a delight to pick up a Darcy mystery and find all my favorite (and also infamous) characters embroiled in a complex story of deceit, eavesdropping, naval ships, babies, and old and new friends. What fun!
March 18, 2012
In Jane Austen’s Persuasion, the famed seawall of Lyme is perilous to the heedless, callow Miss Louisa Musgrove. But in award winning author Carrie Bebris’ The Deception at Lyme (or, The Peril of Persuasion) the Cobb is lethal. In this sixth installment of the critically acclaimed Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mystery series, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy, their toddler Lily Anne, as well as Miss Georgianna Darcy, retreat to this seaside village, following their intrigue at Highbury. While in Lyme, Mr. Darcy is also to collect the sea chest of his newly commissioned cousin of the Royal Navy, Gerald Fitzwilliam, who was killed in action aboard the Magna Carta three years prior. However, after the Darcy’s come upon the pregnant body of a Mrs. Clay lying at the base of the Cobb, their holiday turns topsy-turvy and once again the Darcy’s find themselves in the middle of peril and mystery. After a horrific delivery, the Darcy’s must discover which of dead mother’s amours is the father of this newborn son-- a baby, they soon learn whose very being endangers the legacy of one and the character of the other. Was Mrs. Clay’s fall simply an unfortunate accident, or was she murdered? And why?
Added to this machination, Mr. Darcy uncovers evidence among his cousin’s personal effects, indicating he might also have been murdered. Fortunately, Darcy is aided by none other than the champion of Austen’s Persuasion, Captain Wentworth to discover the truth of this young lieutenant’s death. Several unforgettable characters from Persuasion (Mrs. Smith, Sir Walter Elliott, Mr. Elliott, the Harville’s and Mrs. Frederick Wentworth nee Miss Anne Elliott) not only make appearances but Bebris has artfully carved out larger roles for some. True to form, the Darcy’s are ever attentive to detail in piecing together the facts and possible witnesses, “As the nurse handed Mrs. Smith her cane, Elizabeth realized herself might have seen Mrs. Smith once before. There had been a woman on a bench on the Lower Cobb the morning of Lady Elliott’s accident. Elizabeth’s party had been on the upper wall, looking down on from an angle, so the woman’s bonnet had prevented a clear view of her face, and even had it not, Elizabeth had no reason at the time to closely observe her. But the woman had possessed a cane.”p. 106.
Not only do we find the Darcy’s in company with Persuasion’s familiar faces but also Bebris artfully introduces a handsome young man (or two) to the plot, of which Miss Georgianna later finds she is not all together immune to their charms. “Darcy glanced from the sailor to Georgianna, and saw his sister through the stranger’s eyes – the eye’s of a man. A man who was not her brother, not her protector, but a warm blooded buck who could not help but respond to the sight of a beautiful woman. Worse—a man turned onshore after months at sea entirely deprived of woman’s company.” p.23 Oh, poor Darcy.
Carrie Bebris strikes all the right tones. Her believable dialogue and relationships in and amongst Austen’s most memorable characters delivers another succinct, clever conspiracy to this award winning series. Her deft understanding of Regency mores and thorough research of the local history and oddities of Lyme Regis, as well as Her Majesty’s Royal Navy make it all the more perfect. Carrie Bebris once again has a hit on her hands—which will keep you guessing whodunit until the very end. I for one think The Deception at Lyme her best work yet!
Added to this machination, Mr. Darcy uncovers evidence among his cousin’s personal effects, indicating he might also have been murdered. Fortunately, Darcy is aided by none other than the champion of Austen’s Persuasion, Captain Wentworth to discover the truth of this young lieutenant’s death. Several unforgettable characters from Persuasion (Mrs. Smith, Sir Walter Elliott, Mr. Elliott, the Harville’s and Mrs. Frederick Wentworth nee Miss Anne Elliott) not only make appearances but Bebris has artfully carved out larger roles for some. True to form, the Darcy’s are ever attentive to detail in piecing together the facts and possible witnesses, “As the nurse handed Mrs. Smith her cane, Elizabeth realized herself might have seen Mrs. Smith once before. There had been a woman on a bench on the Lower Cobb the morning of Lady Elliott’s accident. Elizabeth’s party had been on the upper wall, looking down on from an angle, so the woman’s bonnet had prevented a clear view of her face, and even had it not, Elizabeth had no reason at the time to closely observe her. But the woman had possessed a cane.”p. 106.
Not only do we find the Darcy’s in company with Persuasion’s familiar faces but also Bebris artfully introduces a handsome young man (or two) to the plot, of which Miss Georgianna later finds she is not all together immune to their charms. “Darcy glanced from the sailor to Georgianna, and saw his sister through the stranger’s eyes – the eye’s of a man. A man who was not her brother, not her protector, but a warm blooded buck who could not help but respond to the sight of a beautiful woman. Worse—a man turned onshore after months at sea entirely deprived of woman’s company.” p.23 Oh, poor Darcy.
Carrie Bebris strikes all the right tones. Her believable dialogue and relationships in and amongst Austen’s most memorable characters delivers another succinct, clever conspiracy to this award winning series. Her deft understanding of Regency mores and thorough research of the local history and oddities of Lyme Regis, as well as Her Majesty’s Royal Navy make it all the more perfect. Carrie Bebris once again has a hit on her hands—which will keep you guessing whodunit until the very end. I for one think The Deception at Lyme her best work yet!
April 7, 2012
I was so excited when Ms. Bebris announced that she was finally writing her Persuasion novel (having written mysteries to tie in with Miss Austen's five other published works already). Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, accidental detectives, were finally going to meet the Wentworths. At Lyme (I love Lyme).
The Deception at Lyme had all the things I loved about the previous books in the series - fun characters, complicated mystery, a bit of danger, a bit of humor and, especially in this case, romance. One thing it didn't have was any hint of the supernatural, but the very human mystery more than made up for the lack of magical influence.
I love how well the author incorporated the characters from Persuasion into the mystery. Mrs.Clay, Mr. Elliot and Sir Walter Elliot are all perfectly portrayed in all their less-than-likable glory, tangled in ambition and deceit. Captain Wentworth and Mr. Darcy get along famously, as I have always suspected that they would. My two favorite Austenesque heroes working together at last (sigh). The new characters were wonderful as well, especially the two gentlemen who take an interest in Georgiana (much to Darcy's chagrin). The charming Sir Lawrence and the enigmatic and possibly villainous Lieutenant St. Clair. Watching Darcy's discomfort was highly entertaining.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries that you can curl up with on a rainy afternoon, and, of course, to anyone who loves Jane Austen's marvelous characters.
The Deception at Lyme had all the things I loved about the previous books in the series - fun characters, complicated mystery, a bit of danger, a bit of humor and, especially in this case, romance. One thing it didn't have was any hint of the supernatural, but the very human mystery more than made up for the lack of magical influence.
I love how well the author incorporated the characters from Persuasion into the mystery. Mrs.Clay, Mr. Elliot and Sir Walter Elliot are all perfectly portrayed in all their less-than-likable glory, tangled in ambition and deceit. Captain Wentworth and Mr. Darcy get along famously, as I have always suspected that they would. My two favorite Austenesque heroes working together at last (sigh). The new characters were wonderful as well, especially the two gentlemen who take an interest in Georgiana (much to Darcy's chagrin). The charming Sir Lawrence and the enigmatic and possibly villainous Lieutenant St. Clair. Watching Darcy's discomfort was highly entertaining.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries that you can curl up with on a rainy afternoon, and, of course, to anyone who loves Jane Austen's marvelous characters.
July 20, 2016
Another great one in the series. Not as entertaining and wonderful to me as #5, but still great. In this we meet "the last" of the Austen's major novels' characters. And as "Persuasion" is my favorite work by Austen, I was glad to see these people--wonderful and despicable in their own ways. What a plot and intrigue Bebris had left to work with from the original novel!
My suspicions from the beginning were completely correct, though the background to how they came to be was still a mystery to me. I was quite intrigued to see how it would all play out. And shocked by the culprit of the initial mystery. A little disappointed that I didn't get to see more of the love story involved, though I was happy that there were at least a few scenes instead of none at all. And the very end revealed what I had been hoping for in the last couple of books.
Yay for Bebris working on #7!!!! This is a series I will heartily recommend to Austen and Regency lovers, and hope people will keep showing interest so that Bebris will keep writing more. I love her mysteries, I like her writing, I love how she writes Austen's characters, and I love being in the Regency time period with all of them.
More of a 3.5.
My suspicions from the beginning were completely correct, though the background to how they came to be was still a mystery to me. I was quite intrigued to see how it would all play out. And shocked by the culprit of the initial mystery. A little disappointed that I didn't get to see more of the love story involved, though I was happy that there were at least a few scenes instead of none at all. And the very end revealed what I had been hoping for in the last couple of books.
Yay for Bebris working on #7!!!! This is a series I will heartily recommend to Austen and Regency lovers, and hope people will keep showing interest so that Bebris will keep writing more. I love her mysteries, I like her writing, I love how she writes Austen's characters, and I love being in the Regency time period with all of them.
More of a 3.5.
February 6, 2013
I’ve read a few books based on Pride and Prejudice but they were mainly romances and this was my first mystery. I think Lizzy and Darcy are well suited as detectives! They both use their social connections and wits to ferret out the miscreants and bring them to justice. The fun for me in this book was the mash-up of characters. Lizzy and Darcy travel to Lyme with their daughter and Georgianna, where a portion of the story Persuasion takes place. There, they meet and befriend Capt. Wentworth and his new wife Anne. They also meet Mr. Elliot, Sir Walter, Capt. Harville, and Admiral Croft. The mystery involves all of these characters in addition to some new ones introduced to us. I found it a fast read with short chapters and a plot that moves along at a good pace. Fluff but with a bit of substance, which for me is always a great combo since I rarely read anything too serious, it hurts my brain.
May 24, 2014
I've enjoyed this entire series, though I think I preferred this one over the others. But in all of this series, Ms. Bebris manages to capture the style of my favorite author, without descending into bodice-ripper excesses as have many other pretenders to Miss Austen's succession. The storyline in this book was less paranormal and more normal, which I quite liked. And --as always-- it was interesting to see how Ms. Bebris furthered the adventures of the side characters from the original Austen novels. I could almost feel sorry for Mrs. Clay. Almost.
October 16, 2013
A Lyme Regis con Mr e Mrs Darcy
Immaginate che un giorno Elizabeth Bennet incontri Sir Walter Elliot, più vanesio e stupido che mai, Mary Musgrove, con tutte le sue egoistiche paturnie, e Mrs Clay… in punto di morte?
Facciamo marcia indietro: siamo a Lyme Regis, dove Lizzy e Darcy hanno portato Georgiana e la loro figlioletta Lily-Anne in vacanza a respirare l’aria salmastra, ma non solo. Darcy ha infatti l’incarico di ritirare il baule con gli ultimi effetti del cugino Gerard Fitzwilliam — il fratello minore del Colonnello Fitzwilliam —, morto durante uno scontro in una battaglia navale al largo dalle coste delle Indie Occidentali. Durante una passeggiata sul Cobb, i Darcy si imbattono in una donna, in avanzato stato di gravidanza, che giace senza sensi. Sembra che la storia di Louisa Musgrove si ripeta: infatti, per meglio soccorrere la donna — che scoprono essere una certa Mrs Clay —, i Darcy la conducono nell’abitazione più prossima al Cobb, che altro non è che il cottage in riva al mare in cui già fu condotta Louisa: la casa del Capitano Harville e di sua moglie. Ma come mai Mrs Clay è caduta? È forse stata spinta? E da chi? E di chi sarà il figlio che porta in grembo? Di Mr Elliot, con cui fino a poco prima è stata vista parlare, o di Sir Walter Elliot, che ha sposato proprio il giorno prima? Subito dopo il parto la donna spira, lasciando molti misteri irrisolti e il piccolo conteso fra i vari rami della famiglia Elliot, che ritroviamo in forze a Lyme Regis a popolare le pagine di questo libro, da cui traspaiono sferzate di ironia ad ogni rigo.
Come se questo mistero non bastasse, ad esso si aggiunge un misterioso contrabbando di oggetti artistici provenienti dalle Indie Occidentali, di cui Gerard Fitzwilliam parla nel suo diario e che sembra essere la vera causa della sua morte. Vediamo comparire i personaggi di Persuasione — alcuni solamente menzionati, come i defunti Mr Smith e Mr Clay — e nuovi interessanti caratteri, come il tenente di vascello Andrew St. Clair e Lord Laurence Ashford, fratello di Miss Ashford, giovane amica di Georgiana. Mr Elliot sembra essere coinvolto in entrambe le vicende. Ci sarà un nesso fra il contrabbando e la caduta di Mrs Clay… pardon, Lady Elliot? Oltre ai personaggi di Persuasione e a quelli di Orgoglio e pregiudizio, vediamo ricomparire un altro personaggio scaturito dalla penna di Carrie Bebris: il Professor Randolph del British Museum, già conosciuto in Orgoglio e preveggenza e ritrovato in Sospetto e sentimento, che è a Lyme Regis ospite delle sorelle Philpot, le cacciatrici di fossili sulle spiagge di Lyme Regis che — con Mary Anning — sono protagoniste di Strane Creature di Tracy Chevalier e personaggi storici.
La Bebris ci fa ripetutamente riflettere riguardo ai patrimoni artistici e al loro ‘trasferimento’ ad opera delle popolazioni conquistatrici. Cosicché vi è una discussione relativa alle sculture del Partenone, trasferite in Inghilterra da parte di Lord Elgin — discussione tuttora attuale, dato che il governo greco continua a reclamare le statue conservate a tutt’oggi nel British Museum — e ai manufatti in oro delle civiltà precolombiane che i conquistadores spagnoli fusero, trasformandoli in lingotti.
«Purtroppo innumerevoli reliquie dell’impero spagnolo sono andate perdute a causa dell’avidità. I conquistadores volevano oro, non arte, e hanno fuso antichi tesori senza curarsi del loro significato culturale o scientifico. Quanta storia è andata distrutta, per essere ridotta a valore meramente materiale… Di conseguenza il poco che è rimasto è ancora più prezioso. I collezionisti pagano somme considerevoli per i manufatti precolombiani, e non sempre se li procurano legalmente.»
Carrie Bebris si rivela, come sempre, una scrittrice accuratissima. I suoi romanzi sono frutto di uno studio doppio: quello storico vero e proprio e quello relativo alla vita e alle opere di Jane Austen, utilizzando i personaggi della scrittrice inglese e facendoli interagire con quelli nuovi di zecca, nati dalla sua fantasia ma assolutamente credibili storicamente, per creare un intreccio verosimile in cui anche i delitti sono plausibili. In questo romanzo in particolare c’è uno studio approfondito, sia tecnico che storico, sulla Marina militare Britannica del XVIII e XIX secolo che ci fa percepire tutta la potenza di quello che era l’Impero Navale Britannico.
Non manca inoltre il pizzico di romanticismo con cui la Bebris omaggia Jane Austen e i suoi personaggi, per dare un tocco sentimentale alla storia, rendendola più gradevole. In ciascuno dei suoi romanzi, infatti, un personaggio femminile secondario trova il suo partner. In Orgoglio e preveggenza fu Caroline Bingley, in Sospetto e sensibilità Kitty Bennet e poi è stata la volta di Anne de Bourgh in L’enigma di Mansfield e di Miss Bates in Intrigo a Highbury. Non vi svelo a chi toccherà questa volta.
Lo stile di Carrie Bebris si richiama fedelmente a quello di Jane Austen: nonostante la diversissima natura dei romanzi, si può cogliere quasi in ogni pagina una velata ironia ed Elizabeth, nonostante la sua nuova ‘carriera’ di investigatrice è sempre l’arguta e mordace Lizzy a cui siamo affezionati, tanto da trovarci spesso a sorridere per le velate allusioni che incontriamo, atte a prendere di mira i vari personaggi, anche quelli più improbabili come, ad esempio, la piccola Lily-Anne.
Scesa dal grembo della madre Lily-Anne prese dalla toletta le bambole di pezza, dono della zia Jane, sorella di Elizabeth. Il loro aspetto dimostrava quanto fossero amate. In privato, Elizabeth e la bambinaia le chiamavano Betsy Rapata e Maggie Mutilata. Un tempo Betsy aveva avuto una rossa chioma di lana, ormai quasi interamente scomparsa perché Lily amava portarla in giro tenendola appunto per i capelli. Maggie aveva conservato la capigliatura appunto grazie a un cappellino cucito, di colore intonato con l'abitino, anche se la bimba aveva deciso che mordere le sue gambine imbottite era il suo rimedio preferito per le gengive dolenti. Così, dopo sei dentini, la bambola somigliava moltissimo alla vittima di un incidente stradale.
E ora? I sei romanzi canonici di Jane Austen sono stati tutti ‘rivisitati con delitto’ (o delitti). Cosa avrà in serbo per noi Mrs Bebris? Quale sarà la prossima indagine dei coniugi Darcy? È tutto top-secret, ma non credo che i nostri due amatissimi investigatori riusciranno a tenersi lontani dallo smascherare nuovi crimini. Noi li attendiamo con ansia!
Potete leggere la recensione completa QUI
Immaginate che un giorno Elizabeth Bennet incontri Sir Walter Elliot, più vanesio e stupido che mai, Mary Musgrove, con tutte le sue egoistiche paturnie, e Mrs Clay… in punto di morte?
Facciamo marcia indietro: siamo a Lyme Regis, dove Lizzy e Darcy hanno portato Georgiana e la loro figlioletta Lily-Anne in vacanza a respirare l’aria salmastra, ma non solo. Darcy ha infatti l’incarico di ritirare il baule con gli ultimi effetti del cugino Gerard Fitzwilliam — il fratello minore del Colonnello Fitzwilliam —, morto durante uno scontro in una battaglia navale al largo dalle coste delle Indie Occidentali. Durante una passeggiata sul Cobb, i Darcy si imbattono in una donna, in avanzato stato di gravidanza, che giace senza sensi. Sembra che la storia di Louisa Musgrove si ripeta: infatti, per meglio soccorrere la donna — che scoprono essere una certa Mrs Clay —, i Darcy la conducono nell’abitazione più prossima al Cobb, che altro non è che il cottage in riva al mare in cui già fu condotta Louisa: la casa del Capitano Harville e di sua moglie. Ma come mai Mrs Clay è caduta? È forse stata spinta? E da chi? E di chi sarà il figlio che porta in grembo? Di Mr Elliot, con cui fino a poco prima è stata vista parlare, o di Sir Walter Elliot, che ha sposato proprio il giorno prima? Subito dopo il parto la donna spira, lasciando molti misteri irrisolti e il piccolo conteso fra i vari rami della famiglia Elliot, che ritroviamo in forze a Lyme Regis a popolare le pagine di questo libro, da cui traspaiono sferzate di ironia ad ogni rigo.
Come se questo mistero non bastasse, ad esso si aggiunge un misterioso contrabbando di oggetti artistici provenienti dalle Indie Occidentali, di cui Gerard Fitzwilliam parla nel suo diario e che sembra essere la vera causa della sua morte. Vediamo comparire i personaggi di Persuasione — alcuni solamente menzionati, come i defunti Mr Smith e Mr Clay — e nuovi interessanti caratteri, come il tenente di vascello Andrew St. Clair e Lord Laurence Ashford, fratello di Miss Ashford, giovane amica di Georgiana. Mr Elliot sembra essere coinvolto in entrambe le vicende. Ci sarà un nesso fra il contrabbando e la caduta di Mrs Clay… pardon, Lady Elliot? Oltre ai personaggi di Persuasione e a quelli di Orgoglio e pregiudizio, vediamo ricomparire un altro personaggio scaturito dalla penna di Carrie Bebris: il Professor Randolph del British Museum, già conosciuto in Orgoglio e preveggenza e ritrovato in Sospetto e sentimento, che è a Lyme Regis ospite delle sorelle Philpot, le cacciatrici di fossili sulle spiagge di Lyme Regis che — con Mary Anning — sono protagoniste di Strane Creature di Tracy Chevalier e personaggi storici.
La Bebris ci fa ripetutamente riflettere riguardo ai patrimoni artistici e al loro ‘trasferimento’ ad opera delle popolazioni conquistatrici. Cosicché vi è una discussione relativa alle sculture del Partenone, trasferite in Inghilterra da parte di Lord Elgin — discussione tuttora attuale, dato che il governo greco continua a reclamare le statue conservate a tutt’oggi nel British Museum — e ai manufatti in oro delle civiltà precolombiane che i conquistadores spagnoli fusero, trasformandoli in lingotti.
«Purtroppo innumerevoli reliquie dell’impero spagnolo sono andate perdute a causa dell’avidità. I conquistadores volevano oro, non arte, e hanno fuso antichi tesori senza curarsi del loro significato culturale o scientifico. Quanta storia è andata distrutta, per essere ridotta a valore meramente materiale… Di conseguenza il poco che è rimasto è ancora più prezioso. I collezionisti pagano somme considerevoli per i manufatti precolombiani, e non sempre se li procurano legalmente.»
Carrie Bebris si rivela, come sempre, una scrittrice accuratissima. I suoi romanzi sono frutto di uno studio doppio: quello storico vero e proprio e quello relativo alla vita e alle opere di Jane Austen, utilizzando i personaggi della scrittrice inglese e facendoli interagire con quelli nuovi di zecca, nati dalla sua fantasia ma assolutamente credibili storicamente, per creare un intreccio verosimile in cui anche i delitti sono plausibili. In questo romanzo in particolare c’è uno studio approfondito, sia tecnico che storico, sulla Marina militare Britannica del XVIII e XIX secolo che ci fa percepire tutta la potenza di quello che era l’Impero Navale Britannico.
Non manca inoltre il pizzico di romanticismo con cui la Bebris omaggia Jane Austen e i suoi personaggi, per dare un tocco sentimentale alla storia, rendendola più gradevole. In ciascuno dei suoi romanzi, infatti, un personaggio femminile secondario trova il suo partner. In Orgoglio e preveggenza fu Caroline Bingley, in Sospetto e sensibilità Kitty Bennet e poi è stata la volta di Anne de Bourgh in L’enigma di Mansfield e di Miss Bates in Intrigo a Highbury. Non vi svelo a chi toccherà questa volta.
Lo stile di Carrie Bebris si richiama fedelmente a quello di Jane Austen: nonostante la diversissima natura dei romanzi, si può cogliere quasi in ogni pagina una velata ironia ed Elizabeth, nonostante la sua nuova ‘carriera’ di investigatrice è sempre l’arguta e mordace Lizzy a cui siamo affezionati, tanto da trovarci spesso a sorridere per le velate allusioni che incontriamo, atte a prendere di mira i vari personaggi, anche quelli più improbabili come, ad esempio, la piccola Lily-Anne.
Scesa dal grembo della madre Lily-Anne prese dalla toletta le bambole di pezza, dono della zia Jane, sorella di Elizabeth. Il loro aspetto dimostrava quanto fossero amate. In privato, Elizabeth e la bambinaia le chiamavano Betsy Rapata e Maggie Mutilata. Un tempo Betsy aveva avuto una rossa chioma di lana, ormai quasi interamente scomparsa perché Lily amava portarla in giro tenendola appunto per i capelli. Maggie aveva conservato la capigliatura appunto grazie a un cappellino cucito, di colore intonato con l'abitino, anche se la bimba aveva deciso che mordere le sue gambine imbottite era il suo rimedio preferito per le gengive dolenti. Così, dopo sei dentini, la bambola somigliava moltissimo alla vittima di un incidente stradale.
E ora? I sei romanzi canonici di Jane Austen sono stati tutti ‘rivisitati con delitto’ (o delitti). Cosa avrà in serbo per noi Mrs Bebris? Quale sarà la prossima indagine dei coniugi Darcy? È tutto top-secret, ma non credo che i nostri due amatissimi investigatori riusciranno a tenersi lontani dallo smascherare nuovi crimini. Noi li attendiamo con ansia!
Potete leggere la recensione completa QUI
July 10, 2021
Being a massive Jane Austen fan, I’m also something of a sucker for spin-offs that do fun things with her characters. Though I have strong opinions on some of the ones that didn’t work as well for me. This is a fun, reasonably fluffy, series in which Mr. and Mrs. Darcy play amateur detectives while encountering all manner of characters from other Austen novels in the context of cozy murders. The writing is competent, though not scintillating (and without a serious attempt to mimic Austen’s own prose). There were a few plot holes one could drive a four-in-hand through and some of the character motivations were shaky, but that’s been an issue throughout the series and yet I keep reading them. This is the sixth in the series, of which there are seven in total, and as the title suggests, brings in the characters from Persuasion, as well as a few other Austen-based side characters.
January 4, 2021
Another wonderful book in The Mr. and Mrs. Darcy series! I really feel the author hit her stride in book 4 and carried it on to books 5 and 6. Books 1-3 are good but 4-6 really draw you in. Once again, since it had been awhile since I last read the series, I couldn’t remember exactly what happened and didn’t want to put the book down. It’s been fun to immerse myself in this creation of Jane Austen’s world and to visit awhile with Darcy and Elizabeth and the other characters. I enjoyed the author’s storyline for Georgiana. I also found myself relistening to Persuasion to better help me understand some intricacies of this story. I look forward to reading Austen’s Sanditon and then reading the most recent book in the series.
September 22, 2021
Yet another fun read in this series. This time, the Darcys, Elizabeth, Darcy, Georgianna, and Lily-Anne, to to Lyme and meet the Wentworths, Elliots and Smiths from Persuasion. Of course, there is at least one murder to solve, and other assorted crimes as well. And this author has a tendency to make dislikable Austen characters even more dislikable, and this time she does it with Sir Walter Elliott, his eldest daughter, and Mr. Elliott, his cousin. You don't have to have read Persuasion to enjoy this one, however.
June 7, 2019
I like these sorts of fan fiction stories. This wasn’t a super clever mystery, but the way the author blends the classic text and characters with this mystery is fun and skilled. It felt like the characters were true to Austen’s formation of them.
September 30, 2011
This is the sixth in the Mr and Mrs Darcy series. Bebris takes the married Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and sets them down before various settings and characters of Jane Austen's other novels, involving them in various mysteries for them to investigate and solve.
And since no Austen novel is second in my affection to Persuasion, you can imagine my anticipation knowing The Deception at Lyme would deal with those characters. It was delightful to meet the Elliots again. Sir Walter Elliot and his eldest daughter are pitch perfect in their pompous snobbery. I enjoyed the company of Anne Elliot, now Mrs Wentworth. Mary, the youngest daughter, is her manipulative, self-pitying passive aggressive self. Mrs Clay and William Elliot are as shady as one could wish. Even such minor characters as the Harvilles and Mrs Smith are very recognizable. And as with the last mystery involving the characters of Emma, The Intrigue at Highbury, the major characters of the book are very central here--more so than in books prior. This feels very much a sequel to Persuasion, with those characters along a path I could easily see them taking.
I like this more than the last Bebris mystery based on Austen however. If there's one thing I thought the last book missed compared with the others, is that there was little at stake for the Darcys compared to the ones before. In the case of this book, however, the Darcys bring Fitzwilliam's sister Georgiana with them to Lyme. There she gets involved with two possible suitors both of whom may have been involved with murder. That of Mrs Clay, found injured at the book's beginning, and the possible murder of the Darcy's cousin Lieutenant Gerard Fitzwilliam aboard HMS Magna Carta some years earlier. I liked how both mysteries were developed and resolved, keeping me guessing to the end.
Bebris can't match Austen in quality, no. (But who does?) But she can write the characters with a convincing voice and apt characterization. Nor does she match, say, a Josephine Tey or Agatha Christie with brilliant plots. What these novels are, for me, are comfort reads. Works I really enjoy immersing myself in, like visiting with old friends. Add to that a good touch with the historical detail and the element of romance, I do find these books a pleasure. So I'm happy there's a hint at the end they'll continue, even though Bebris has now made her rounds through the world of Austen's six novels.
And since no Austen novel is second in my affection to Persuasion, you can imagine my anticipation knowing The Deception at Lyme would deal with those characters. It was delightful to meet the Elliots again. Sir Walter Elliot and his eldest daughter are pitch perfect in their pompous snobbery. I enjoyed the company of Anne Elliot, now Mrs Wentworth. Mary, the youngest daughter, is her manipulative, self-pitying passive aggressive self. Mrs Clay and William Elliot are as shady as one could wish. Even such minor characters as the Harvilles and Mrs Smith are very recognizable. And as with the last mystery involving the characters of Emma, The Intrigue at Highbury, the major characters of the book are very central here--more so than in books prior. This feels very much a sequel to Persuasion, with those characters along a path I could easily see them taking.
I like this more than the last Bebris mystery based on Austen however. If there's one thing I thought the last book missed compared with the others, is that there was little at stake for the Darcys compared to the ones before. In the case of this book, however, the Darcys bring Fitzwilliam's sister Georgiana with them to Lyme. There she gets involved with two possible suitors both of whom may have been involved with murder. That of Mrs Clay, found injured at the book's beginning, and the possible murder of the Darcy's cousin Lieutenant Gerard Fitzwilliam aboard HMS Magna Carta some years earlier. I liked how both mysteries were developed and resolved, keeping me guessing to the end.
Bebris can't match Austen in quality, no. (But who does?) But she can write the characters with a convincing voice and apt characterization. Nor does she match, say, a Josephine Tey or Agatha Christie with brilliant plots. What these novels are, for me, are comfort reads. Works I really enjoy immersing myself in, like visiting with old friends. Add to that a good touch with the historical detail and the element of romance, I do find these books a pleasure. So I'm happy there's a hint at the end they'll continue, even though Bebris has now made her rounds through the world of Austen's six novels.
December 19, 2014
Ms. Bebris completes the published Canon with this tale. It is based upon my favorite of the original six. Persuasion. Here we see shades of Louisa Musgrave and her fall from the Cobb leading to all sorts of Intrigue and murder as we have come to know in the series.
As with previous volumes you must put aside your own interpretation of what the characters that Jane gave us would do, for amongst each set of the originals, Ms Bebris always finds one or more who have had a trait change so much that they can become a part of the scheme, or will end up as the body that spur Darcy and Lizzie onto their investigations.
One also has to put on hold one's belief that Jane developed the caricature for humorous effect to just the right level and no more, because Ms. Bebris continues on until her hyperbole is far beyond the pale for some of these characters. (Really, Sir Walter arrives in Lyme knowing his middle daughter has taken a house there and does not want to tell her that he has arrived?)
But there are instances where her manipulation of this, such as the scheme to acquire guardianship of a certain small creature, works splendidly.
As with the others, the investigation is alright, and perhaps here a little stronger than elsewhere, but it is not the man thing. We look to see what these beloved characters have been up to. Bebris does stretch to make it all work mixing the Darcy's of P&P with all the cast of Persuasion. And then adding in characters Jane never thought of or connexions (sometimes this has been overspelled in this archaic manner as it is one of the words Bebris does spell so) that never occurred to her to sell the story.
Still, as it finishes the six published works you will find that series has grown stronger and one hopes for more, learning that Sandition will next be added as a tract that Mr and Mrs Darcy will look into. (With all the spare single women of Pride and Prejudice becoming married off, it will be interesting to see what Ms. Bebris does with this sub-theme she has had in all the novels as well.)
As with previous volumes you must put aside your own interpretation of what the characters that Jane gave us would do, for amongst each set of the originals, Ms Bebris always finds one or more who have had a trait change so much that they can become a part of the scheme, or will end up as the body that spur Darcy and Lizzie onto their investigations.
One also has to put on hold one's belief that Jane developed the caricature for humorous effect to just the right level and no more, because Ms. Bebris continues on until her hyperbole is far beyond the pale for some of these characters. (Really, Sir Walter arrives in Lyme knowing his middle daughter has taken a house there and does not want to tell her that he has arrived?)
But there are instances where her manipulation of this, such as the scheme to acquire guardianship of a certain small creature, works splendidly.
As with the others, the investigation is alright, and perhaps here a little stronger than elsewhere, but it is not the man thing. We look to see what these beloved characters have been up to. Bebris does stretch to make it all work mixing the Darcy's of P&P with all the cast of Persuasion. And then adding in characters Jane never thought of or connexions (sometimes this has been overspelled in this archaic manner as it is one of the words Bebris does spell so) that never occurred to her to sell the story.
Still, as it finishes the six published works you will find that series has grown stronger and one hopes for more, learning that Sandition will next be added as a tract that Mr and Mrs Darcy will look into. (With all the spare single women of Pride and Prejudice becoming married off, it will be interesting to see what Ms. Bebris does with this sub-theme she has had in all the novels as well.)
September 19, 2017
Ormai Mr e Mrs Darcy sono diventati due personaggi stereotipati, battutine scontate sulla prole e niente più.
Mi auguro che, conclusosi il "giro" dei romanzi della Austen, sia terminata anche l'opera della Bebris.
Visto il successo commerciale prevedo però che ci sia un Ritorno a... o qualcosa di simile escogitato per continuare a mandare in giro la più celebre coppia di Miss Austen che, un po' come Jessica Fletcher o Miss Marple, inizieranno ad aessere accusati di portare iella, come minimo.
Mi auguro che, conclusosi il "giro" dei romanzi della Austen, sia terminata anche l'opera della Bebris.
Visto il successo commerciale prevedo però che ci sia un Ritorno a... o qualcosa di simile escogitato per continuare a mandare in giro la più celebre coppia di Miss Austen che, un po' come Jessica Fletcher o Miss Marple, inizieranno ad aessere accusati di portare iella, come minimo.
December 6, 2011
another definite winner from Carrie Bebris~ time well spent digging into the mysteries and cleverly plotted clues of favourite Jane Austen characters. Carrie is a master of accurate dialogue and realities of the era, making her stories ring true and plausible for this mystery buff!
i enjoy the connections between various JA novels as Carrie brings the Wentworths and Harvilles of Lyme together with Darcy, Elizabeth and Georgiana, then adds in the Crofts, Elliots and Mrs. Clay for an extra measure of mystery... you won't want to put it down any more than I did I'm sure ;)
a great weekend read leaving me with a sense of enjoyable satisfaction ~ Thanks [again] Carrie!
i enjoy the connections between various JA novels as Carrie brings the Wentworths and Harvilles of Lyme together with Darcy, Elizabeth and Georgiana, then adds in the Crofts, Elliots and Mrs. Clay for an extra measure of mystery... you won't want to put it down any more than I did I'm sure ;)
a great weekend read leaving me with a sense of enjoyable satisfaction ~ Thanks [again] Carrie!
January 28, 2024
In this book Mr & Mrs Darcy joined by Georgiana and their daughter Lily (I love that name) are vising Lyme when they find themselves embedded into a scandalous mystery
A woman is found near death on the Cobb in more shocking news she is with child and there are more than one man claiming parentage.
Mr. & Mrs. Darcy first need to determine the crime before they can solve it...
All the players from Persuasion make an appearance
A woman is found near death on the Cobb in more shocking news she is with child and there are more than one man claiming parentage.
Mr. & Mrs. Darcy first need to determine the crime before they can solve it...
All the players from Persuasion make an appearance
March 10, 2014
Interesting, fun to read, well-plotted mystery with the enjoyable surprise of Jane Austen's characters from different novels occupying the same world. I think Bebris has done an admirable job in recreating Austen's worlds while providing a well-written mystery. I very much enjoy the Jane Austen mysteries by Stephanie Barron, and these were similarly enjoyable, if not more so by utilizing a wider cast of scoundrels and heroines than simply Jane herself.
June 10, 2012
I am really loving this book! It is so captivating that I cannot wait to see what else unfolds within the story. I picked it up as I am planning to see the author at a library event. Finally my two favorite characters meet: The incomparable Fitzwilliam Darcy and the magnificent Captain Frederick Wenworth! I'm in heaven!
June 14, 2020
A solid plot, believable characters, agreeable writing, and a nice resolution. Bebris’s Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries are generally entertaining, but this particular story stands a head above the others. To be honest, I don’t like every book in the series, but, as a fan of Austen and cozy English mysteries, I really enjoyed this one.
September 10, 2021
Obviously, not quite as good as an actual Austen novel, but one of the best sequels I've read. I definitely want to go back and read this entire series. I was a bit disappointed in the end for one character, but overall I enjoyed it immensely!
2021:
Now that I’ve read the first 5 books in the series, I can safely say that this is the best so far.
2021:
Now that I’ve read the first 5 books in the series, I can safely say that this is the best so far.
September 1, 2015
This is one of the best Jane Austen character inspired series out there. The fantasy of seeing Mr & Mrs Darcy post-marriage is always fun. Added to that this series has so many good mystery plots. I highly recommend it to fans of Jane Austen & Stephanie Barron.
October 4, 2018
What a treat! While reading I could easily forget that this is not actually written by Jane Austen. I am inspired to re-read Persuasion, as I have read it only once before. Actually, I have already started. I also look forward to reading the rest of Carrie Bebris' books.
September 3, 2013
This wasn't my favorite in this series, but Persuasion isn't my favorite Jane Austen novel. Still enjoyable, just not the quickest read.
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