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Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries #5
The Intrigue at Highbury: Or, Emma's Match
Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are looking forward to a relaxing stay with dear friends when their carriage is hailed by a damsel-in-distress outside of the village of Highbury. Little do the Darcys realize that gypsies roam these woods, or that both their possessions and the woman are about to vanish into the night.The Darcys seek out the parish magistrate, who is having a difficult evening of his own. Mr. Knightley and his new wife, the former Miss Emma Woodhouse (the heroine of Jane Austen's Emma) are hosting a party to celebrate the marriage of their friends, Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Jane Fairfax. During dinner, Mr. Edgar Churchill, uncle and adoptive father of the groom, falls suddenly ill and dies. The cause of poison. When the Darcys and the Knightleys join forces to investigate the crimes, they discover that the robbery and Edgar Churchill's death may be connected. Together they must work to quickly locate the source of the poison and the murderer's motive--before the killer can strike again. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
19 people are currently reading
1042 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Bebris
19 books236 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
February 12, 2021
In the fifth book of the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries series, Bebris has the Darcys passing through Highbury, where Emma Woodhouse (now Mrs. Knightley) lives along with her husband. They are happily married for a while now. Meanwhile, Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill are newly married. At their wedding party, organised by the Knightleys, Edgar Churchill (Frank's adoptive father) dies under suspicious circumstances. Meanwhile, the Darcys encounter a strange young woman whom they believe robbed them, and they end up seeking help from Mr. Knightley, who is also a magistrate. The two couples become friends and solve the mysteries together.
I loved how well Bebris expanded on the characters of Austen's Emma. She brought the village of Highbury back to life for me, filled with old and new characters. It's rather a pity that it took Bebris a full five books to get going properly. She definitely has the talent but squandered it with boring supernatural stuff in her first few books.
Emma is also one of my favourite Austen heroines, so I enjoyed meeting her again, especially as she gets a LOT of screen time. This was to the detriment of Elizabeth, but I really did not miss the Darcys much because the Highbury characters were far more interesting and I didn't think the Darcys fit well into the book anyway. The book actually dragged a bit during the Darcys' scenes.
The one downside to The Intrigue at Highbury was Loretta Jones, who rather stood out as an oddity in this otherwise extremely Austenesque society. She simply did not blend in and stood out starkly, which rather annoyed me, especially at the end. The actual murder plot was not that good either because it was again far-fetched. I could think of several plausible solutions to the murderer that would have worked better than the author's solution.
But overall, a fun read even if it was not perfect. And let me repeat, Highbury really comes to life. I can recommend for that alone!
I loved how well Bebris expanded on the characters of Austen's Emma. She brought the village of Highbury back to life for me, filled with old and new characters. It's rather a pity that it took Bebris a full five books to get going properly. She definitely has the talent but squandered it with boring supernatural stuff in her first few books.
Emma is also one of my favourite Austen heroines, so I enjoyed meeting her again, especially as she gets a LOT of screen time. This was to the detriment of Elizabeth, but I really did not miss the Darcys much because the Highbury characters were far more interesting and I didn't think the Darcys fit well into the book anyway. The book actually dragged a bit during the Darcys' scenes.
The one downside to The Intrigue at Highbury was Loretta Jones, who rather stood out as an oddity in this otherwise extremely Austenesque society. She simply did not blend in and stood out starkly, which rather annoyed me, especially at the end. The actual murder plot was not that good either because it was again far-fetched. I could think of several plausible solutions to the murderer that would have worked better than the author's solution.
But overall, a fun read even if it was not perfect. And let me repeat, Highbury really comes to life. I can recommend for that alone!
March 6, 2010
After a month of perfect marital bliss, Emma Knightley is itching once again to try her hand match-making. Her latest victim, Miss Bates, is also being targeted by the pretentious and imperious Mrs. Elton, who has some match-making designs of her own. Emma, more mature and circumspect than she previously was, strives to save Miss Bates from the less than desirable and perhaps doltish prospects Mrs. Elton has in mind by introducing Miss Bates to some eligible bachelors during a dinner party she is hosting in honor of Frank and Jane Churchill's recent nuptials. (Frank and Jane are marrying in London, but plan to travel to Highbury before removing to the Churchill estate, Enscombe, located in Yorkshire.)
The dinner party commences splendidly and everyone seems to be having a delightful time except for Frank Churchill's uncle, Edgar Churchill, who has unfortunately imbibed too much wine and is now creating a bit of a ruckus. However, what appears to be a mild case of intoxication ends up being something much more serious and results in the man's death.
On their way to Sussex to visit the newly married Colonel and Anne Fitzwilliam, Darcy and Elizabeth are robbed by some conspiring and sinister highwaymen in the vicinity of Highbury. The Darcys venture to seek assistance from the parish magistrate of Highbury, Mr. Knightley, in hopes that he may be able to apprehend the thieves and recover the precious heirlooms that were stolen from their carriage.
The night of disastrous dinner party is the same night the Darcys appear on Mr. Knightley's doorstep. Poor Mr. Knightley now has two mysteries to solve: a robbery and a murder, as Mr. Perry strongly suspects that Edgar Churchill died from the effects of poison. After learning that the Darcys have had some experience with suspicious deaths, what else can Mr. Knightley do but invite them to stay at Donwell and assist with the investigations...
Gypsies, secret engagements, riddles, inheritances-don't you think Jane Austen's “Emma” is wonderfully primed for intrigue? Carrie Bebris cleverly pens a novel that perfectly captures the charm and humor of “Emma” and infuses it with a riveting and challenging mystery. I immensely enjoyed the camaraderie and easy rapport between the Knightleys and the Darcys and I cannot think of more suitable companion for Emma Knightley than Elizabeth Darcy. The two mysteries were well developed and not at all cliché or predictable. There were many suspects in this investigation and I greatly enjoyed weighing my suspicions and judging their motives for myself.
“The Intrigue at Highbury” is a fantastic addition to Carrie Bebris's already outstanding “Mr. And Mrs. Darcy Mystery Series,” and in my humble opinion, it is her best novel yet! One aspect that I loved about this novel is how prominent the characters from “Emma” were. In Ms. Bebris's other novels where she integrates characters from multiple Austen novels, usually only a few characters are present and they often have very minor parts. However, in “The Intrigue at Highbury” we are deeply immersed with many of the delightful and lovable citizens of Highbury and many of them play a very active part in the mysteries.
True to the style of Jane Austen there are a copious amount of laugh out loud moments in this novel such as: long garrulous rambles by Miss Bates, the health concerns and anxieties Mr. Woodhouse, and narratives that are blended with a very wicked wit. I was very pleased with how clever and Austenesque the writing was in this novel.
To put it simply: I loved “The Intrigue of Highbury!” I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy Austenesque novels and I greatly look forward to rereading this novel many times in the future. I can hardly wait for Carrie Bebris's next installment where Mr. and Mrs. Darcy will encounter the characters from “Persuasion!”
Austenesque Reviews
The dinner party commences splendidly and everyone seems to be having a delightful time except for Frank Churchill's uncle, Edgar Churchill, who has unfortunately imbibed too much wine and is now creating a bit of a ruckus. However, what appears to be a mild case of intoxication ends up being something much more serious and results in the man's death.
On their way to Sussex to visit the newly married Colonel and Anne Fitzwilliam, Darcy and Elizabeth are robbed by some conspiring and sinister highwaymen in the vicinity of Highbury. The Darcys venture to seek assistance from the parish magistrate of Highbury, Mr. Knightley, in hopes that he may be able to apprehend the thieves and recover the precious heirlooms that were stolen from their carriage.
The night of disastrous dinner party is the same night the Darcys appear on Mr. Knightley's doorstep. Poor Mr. Knightley now has two mysteries to solve: a robbery and a murder, as Mr. Perry strongly suspects that Edgar Churchill died from the effects of poison. After learning that the Darcys have had some experience with suspicious deaths, what else can Mr. Knightley do but invite them to stay at Donwell and assist with the investigations...
Gypsies, secret engagements, riddles, inheritances-don't you think Jane Austen's “Emma” is wonderfully primed for intrigue? Carrie Bebris cleverly pens a novel that perfectly captures the charm and humor of “Emma” and infuses it with a riveting and challenging mystery. I immensely enjoyed the camaraderie and easy rapport between the Knightleys and the Darcys and I cannot think of more suitable companion for Emma Knightley than Elizabeth Darcy. The two mysteries were well developed and not at all cliché or predictable. There were many suspects in this investigation and I greatly enjoyed weighing my suspicions and judging their motives for myself.
“The Intrigue at Highbury” is a fantastic addition to Carrie Bebris's already outstanding “Mr. And Mrs. Darcy Mystery Series,” and in my humble opinion, it is her best novel yet! One aspect that I loved about this novel is how prominent the characters from “Emma” were. In Ms. Bebris's other novels where she integrates characters from multiple Austen novels, usually only a few characters are present and they often have very minor parts. However, in “The Intrigue at Highbury” we are deeply immersed with many of the delightful and lovable citizens of Highbury and many of them play a very active part in the mysteries.
True to the style of Jane Austen there are a copious amount of laugh out loud moments in this novel such as: long garrulous rambles by Miss Bates, the health concerns and anxieties Mr. Woodhouse, and narratives that are blended with a very wicked wit. I was very pleased with how clever and Austenesque the writing was in this novel.
To put it simply: I loved “The Intrigue of Highbury!” I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy Austenesque novels and I greatly look forward to rereading this novel many times in the future. I can hardly wait for Carrie Bebris's next installment where Mr. and Mrs. Darcy will encounter the characters from “Persuasion!”
Austenesque Reviews
December 18, 2016
It's been a few years since I read a book in this series and I was glad that someone from the Austenesque Lovers group picked it out for me to read.
The Intrigue at Highbury is book five in the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries series. I think it would work alright standalone, but I encourage readers to get the series from the beginning. It's been fun encountering Jane Austen's fictional characters with each mystery acting as a sequel of sorts for each of Austen's novels and the Darcy's of Pride & Prejudice fame acting as the connecting thread through them all.
In this latest installment, Darcy and Lizzy are traveling to their cousins, the Colonel and Anne Fitzwilliam for a visit and to deliver the Fitzwilliam family christening gown. Along the way, they are robbed near the village of Highbury. The magistrate of Highbury, Mr. George Knightley, already has a situation on his hands when one of his party guests is murdered. Knightley needs help from an objective source so Darcy agrees to lead the investigation.
Emma Knightley is set on beating the odious Mrs. Elton in making a match for Miss Bates. Unfortunately, the wedding party for Frank and Jane Churchill where she hoped to introduce some eligible bachelors is broken up by the untimely death of Frank's uncle. Emma is put out with her husband because he is treating Frank as a suspect even if he does stand to gain the most from the death.
Elizabeth Darcy is observant and uses her skills to assist her husband and the Knightley's discover the truth. Is is one of the gypsies? Is it the peddlar? Or is the answer much closer to home for the people of Highbury?
It was a delight to return to the village of Highbury a month following the Knightley's nuptials in time for the newlywed Churchills return. The mystery was a cunning one and wove easily with the ongoing story of Austen's Emma. The author paid close attention to the detail of characters, setting, and meshing her story to the original. I chuckled because the characters were true to form and groaned as Emma attempted her matchmaking again and Mr. Woodhouse determined to treat Elizabeth as an invalid.
The blending of the Darcys into the Highbury cast of characters was fun. Loved seeing Darcy and Knightley strike up a friendship and seeing the two very different ladies in Elizabeth and Emma interacting.
There were two separate mysteries in the beginning, but investigation of one led to common ground between them. While I figured it out long before the big reveal, I still appreciated the rest of the story and seeing how it all played out.
All in all, I was well pleased with this latest installment and will not wait so long to progress to the next book in the series. Mystery and Austen lovers will find this book/series a delight.
The Intrigue at Highbury is book five in the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries series. I think it would work alright standalone, but I encourage readers to get the series from the beginning. It's been fun encountering Jane Austen's fictional characters with each mystery acting as a sequel of sorts for each of Austen's novels and the Darcy's of Pride & Prejudice fame acting as the connecting thread through them all.
In this latest installment, Darcy and Lizzy are traveling to their cousins, the Colonel and Anne Fitzwilliam for a visit and to deliver the Fitzwilliam family christening gown. Along the way, they are robbed near the village of Highbury. The magistrate of Highbury, Mr. George Knightley, already has a situation on his hands when one of his party guests is murdered. Knightley needs help from an objective source so Darcy agrees to lead the investigation.
Emma Knightley is set on beating the odious Mrs. Elton in making a match for Miss Bates. Unfortunately, the wedding party for Frank and Jane Churchill where she hoped to introduce some eligible bachelors is broken up by the untimely death of Frank's uncle. Emma is put out with her husband because he is treating Frank as a suspect even if he does stand to gain the most from the death.
Elizabeth Darcy is observant and uses her skills to assist her husband and the Knightley's discover the truth. Is is one of the gypsies? Is it the peddlar? Or is the answer much closer to home for the people of Highbury?
It was a delight to return to the village of Highbury a month following the Knightley's nuptials in time for the newlywed Churchills return. The mystery was a cunning one and wove easily with the ongoing story of Austen's Emma. The author paid close attention to the detail of characters, setting, and meshing her story to the original. I chuckled because the characters were true to form and groaned as Emma attempted her matchmaking again and Mr. Woodhouse determined to treat Elizabeth as an invalid.
The blending of the Darcys into the Highbury cast of characters was fun. Loved seeing Darcy and Knightley strike up a friendship and seeing the two very different ladies in Elizabeth and Emma interacting.
There were two separate mysteries in the beginning, but investigation of one led to common ground between them. While I figured it out long before the big reveal, I still appreciated the rest of the story and seeing how it all played out.
All in all, I was well pleased with this latest installment and will not wait so long to progress to the next book in the series. Mystery and Austen lovers will find this book/series a delight.
September 19, 2017
Trovandoci qui in compagnia di Miss Woodhouse (come si ostina a chiamarla il padre), non possono mancare sciarade e enigmi. Un peccato che, nonostante la storia sia ben articolata, s’intuiscano subito le vere origini di Mr Deal, un peccato anche per il finale, un po’ debole e scontato, ma finalmente le indagini si svolgono sorseggiando una tazza di tè o mangiando una salutare farinata, senza le rocambolesche avventure dei precedenti capitoli.
P.S. Se persino Miss Bates riesce a sposarsi… beh vuol proprio dire che c’è speranza per tutte!
P.S. Se persino Miss Bates riesce a sposarsi… beh vuol proprio dire che c’è speranza per tutte!
March 14, 2010
It is a truth universally acknowledged that in Carrie Bebris’ clever Jane Austen inspired mysteries, whenever Mr. and Mrs. Darcy embark on a carriage journey across England they are sure to end up investigating murder in a country village inhabited by some one or other of Jane Austen’s characters from one of her novels. This truth has become so well fixed in minds of her fans that we consider this devise our rightful property and any deviations would be insupportable. Happily, her fifth book in the series ,i>The Intrigue at Highbury Or, Emma’s Match does not disappoint opening with the Darcy’s traveling to Sussex to visit recently married cousins Colonel and Anne Fitzwilliam. In Surrey along the London Road their carriage is hailed by a young woman in distress just outside the village of Highbury. What starts out as an act of kindness by the Darcy’s quickly turns into a clever con by highwaymen who assault their coachmen and relieve the Darcy’s of their possessions.
Determined to report the crime and recovery their family heirlooms the Darcy’s seek out the parish magistrate Mr. George Knightley who is having problems of his own. He and his new bride, the former Miss Emma Woodhouse, are entertaining a large party at Donwell Abbey in honor of friends Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill’s recent London wedding. Among the out-of-town guests are Col. and Mrs. Campbell, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Peter Dixon and Mr. Edgar Churchill, the bridegroom’s adoptive father. Many of the Highbury set are in attendance including Miss Bates, a woman of a certain age and no fortune whom Emma has taken it upon herself to rescue from Mrs. Augusta Elton’s misguided matchmaking by introducing her to several illegible bachelors. The party is a great success until Frank’s father Mr. Churchill has a bit too much to drink, promptly becomes ill and unexpectedly dies. There is nothing like a corpse at a party to quickly quell the merriment of a celebration. Emma’s grand event has become the most infamous dinner party in Highbury history, and for all the wrong reasons. Moreover, Mr. Perry the apothecary suspects murder by poisoning and Mr. Knightley agrees.
Arriving at Donwell Abbey on the night of the ill fated party, the Darcy’s relay the criminal events of the evening to Mr. Knightley who now has two crimes to solve. It is not long before they both see connections between the highway robbery and the murder and join forces to solve both crimes. High on their list on possible suspects in Mr. Churchill’s death is his son Frank. Even though he is to inherit the Churchill fortune, other blood relatives could supersede him and dark family secrets are looming. On the other front, itinerant gypsies could be responsible for the robbery and are quickly connected to newly arrived peddler Hiram Deal who seems to have an abundant supply of merchandise and ample stock of gypsie elixirs potent enough to have killed Mr. Churchill. Throw in charades, riddles, secret anagrams, plot twists, red herrings, and many memorable characters old and new and you have one fast paced, witty whodunit that is sure to keep you guessing until the last page.
Readers of Jane Austen’s novel Emma will recognize similarities in the underlying plot to our modern murder mysteries. Filled with charades, riddles, word games, secret engagements and the speculation surrounding Jane Fairfax’s gift pianoforte, of all of Austen’s novels, Emma lends itself seamlessly to a continuation with a full mystery plot. Carrie Bebris’ skill at mining the original narrative for interesting coincidences to supplement her new story is amazing. In fear of spoilers I will not divulge my discoveries, but slyly allude to the fact that Mr. Knightley never liked Frank Churchill and was always suspect of his motives while others in the Highbury community could see no fault. That has not changed! Neither has the Austenesque wit as I found myself laughing at Mr. Woodhouse’s continued anxiety over other’s health and safety, Miss Bates’ endless chatter and the Mrs. Elton vs. Mrs. Knightley showdown over who would secure a beau for Miss Bates first absolutely hysterical. Unlike the other novels in the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery Series, the Darcy’s take an equal role in sleuthing with the Knightley’s and both the men and ladies as pairs doubled the pace of the investigation. As always, Bebris’ historical research and inclusion of medical matters, poisons and gypsie culture in the Regency-era was quite impressive. If she is fibbing, she is a credit to her profession!
Bebris has surpassed herself offering her finest novel in the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery Series yet. The Intrigue at Highbury will captivate Austen and mystery fans with its briskly paced continuation of Austen’s Emma infused with enough sharp wit, clever underpinnings, devious relations and fearsome gypsie attacks for the most diehard fans. However, I will withhold my highest praise and strongest prejudice for the next novel in the series when the Darcy’s travel to the seaside and meet the characters from Persuasion. Yay! Men in blue. La
Laure Ann, Austenprose
Determined to report the crime and recovery their family heirlooms the Darcy’s seek out the parish magistrate Mr. George Knightley who is having problems of his own. He and his new bride, the former Miss Emma Woodhouse, are entertaining a large party at Donwell Abbey in honor of friends Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill’s recent London wedding. Among the out-of-town guests are Col. and Mrs. Campbell, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Peter Dixon and Mr. Edgar Churchill, the bridegroom’s adoptive father. Many of the Highbury set are in attendance including Miss Bates, a woman of a certain age and no fortune whom Emma has taken it upon herself to rescue from Mrs. Augusta Elton’s misguided matchmaking by introducing her to several illegible bachelors. The party is a great success until Frank’s father Mr. Churchill has a bit too much to drink, promptly becomes ill and unexpectedly dies. There is nothing like a corpse at a party to quickly quell the merriment of a celebration. Emma’s grand event has become the most infamous dinner party in Highbury history, and for all the wrong reasons. Moreover, Mr. Perry the apothecary suspects murder by poisoning and Mr. Knightley agrees.
Arriving at Donwell Abbey on the night of the ill fated party, the Darcy’s relay the criminal events of the evening to Mr. Knightley who now has two crimes to solve. It is not long before they both see connections between the highway robbery and the murder and join forces to solve both crimes. High on their list on possible suspects in Mr. Churchill’s death is his son Frank. Even though he is to inherit the Churchill fortune, other blood relatives could supersede him and dark family secrets are looming. On the other front, itinerant gypsies could be responsible for the robbery and are quickly connected to newly arrived peddler Hiram Deal who seems to have an abundant supply of merchandise and ample stock of gypsie elixirs potent enough to have killed Mr. Churchill. Throw in charades, riddles, secret anagrams, plot twists, red herrings, and many memorable characters old and new and you have one fast paced, witty whodunit that is sure to keep you guessing until the last page.
Readers of Jane Austen’s novel Emma will recognize similarities in the underlying plot to our modern murder mysteries. Filled with charades, riddles, word games, secret engagements and the speculation surrounding Jane Fairfax’s gift pianoforte, of all of Austen’s novels, Emma lends itself seamlessly to a continuation with a full mystery plot. Carrie Bebris’ skill at mining the original narrative for interesting coincidences to supplement her new story is amazing. In fear of spoilers I will not divulge my discoveries, but slyly allude to the fact that Mr. Knightley never liked Frank Churchill and was always suspect of his motives while others in the Highbury community could see no fault. That has not changed! Neither has the Austenesque wit as I found myself laughing at Mr. Woodhouse’s continued anxiety over other’s health and safety, Miss Bates’ endless chatter and the Mrs. Elton vs. Mrs. Knightley showdown over who would secure a beau for Miss Bates first absolutely hysterical. Unlike the other novels in the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery Series, the Darcy’s take an equal role in sleuthing with the Knightley’s and both the men and ladies as pairs doubled the pace of the investigation. As always, Bebris’ historical research and inclusion of medical matters, poisons and gypsie culture in the Regency-era was quite impressive. If she is fibbing, she is a credit to her profession!
Bebris has surpassed herself offering her finest novel in the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery Series yet. The Intrigue at Highbury will captivate Austen and mystery fans with its briskly paced continuation of Austen’s Emma infused with enough sharp wit, clever underpinnings, devious relations and fearsome gypsie attacks for the most diehard fans. However, I will withhold my highest praise and strongest prejudice for the next novel in the series when the Darcy’s travel to the seaside and meet the characters from Persuasion. Yay! Men in blue. La
Laure Ann, Austenprose
February 28, 2014
Another intrigue from Jane Austen-esque mystery writer Carrie Bebris. This one, set in the Surrey village of Highbury, Mr and Mrs Darcy are set upon by robbers and find themselves yet again immersed in a murder mystery with all of Jane Austen's canon characters from our beloved Emma. The Darcy's and The Knightley's join forces to solve the case. I enjoyed the comradery between Mr Darcy and Mr Knightley... However, I thought maybe Emma overshadowed Elizabeth Darcy --because Elizabeth really wasnt given much to say for much of the novel. At least not until the end. And I thought it was a bit reaching that Darcy's carriage managed a 15 mile trek to and from TWICE in the same day -- with no mention of a change of horses. And I did not think the language of the gypsy people or common folk differed enough from the Quality set... But besides those small hiccups, all in all, an enjoyable read. Light-hearted banter and amusing tale of intrigue. As always love the realtionship between the Darcy's. And thought the new characters introduced to the story added lots of color and flavor. Quite the page turner that kept me guessing til the very end!
Was especially delighted!! by the Epilogue when Bebris hints of Mr Darcy being "persuaded" to attend Elizabeth and his sister, Georgianna to the seaside in the Spring... If you've read the others in the series, this is a must. And if you haven't started the series yet, what's keeping you??
Was especially delighted!! by the Epilogue when Bebris hints of Mr Darcy being "persuaded" to attend Elizabeth and his sister, Georgianna to the seaside in the Spring... If you've read the others in the series, this is a must. And if you haven't started the series yet, what's keeping you??
January 20, 2012
Oh my goodness. I really enjoyed this one, and I think because I could see and hear all of the characters straight from the 2009 "Emma" (which I adore!). I liked that Emma and Mr. Knightley played much more substantial roles in this book than other Austen characters have in previous books. I was a bit thrown by the switching between the 2 couples' work, but I liked that it made more people working together and the Darcys not always happening to be in the convenient places all the time which helped them solve the mysteries. Again I had my guesses, though I had no clue who my guesses referred to and was very surprised by the truth. I was quite pleased with the ending.
Bebris still amazes me with how well she keeps faithful to Austen's characters and works them all in. I'm also amazed with the variety of mysteries she has created, and that her writing talent keeps me interested, guessing, sometimes right, and still surprised. I do hope that the next book is not the last in the series. I'm loving this too much!
Bebris still amazes me with how well she keeps faithful to Austen's characters and works them all in. I'm also amazed with the variety of mysteries she has created, and that her writing talent keeps me interested, guessing, sometimes right, and still surprised. I do hope that the next book is not the last in the series. I'm loving this too much!
September 23, 2015
Gearing up for the new release by Carrie Bebris, I decided to revisit one of my favorite books in the Darcy & Elizabeth mystery series.
First reading 6/14/2012
Second reading 6/18/2015
First reading 6/14/2012
Second reading 6/18/2015
September 17, 2021
This fifth in the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries series was yet another fun read. This time, the Darcys find themselves robbed outside of Highbury, the village near Hartfield, home of Emma Knightley (neé Woodhouse) of matchmaking fame. As I expected, the Knightleys and the Darcys hit it off famously as they set out to solve the murder of Edgar Churchill, the adopted father and uncle of Frank Churchill, newly wed to Jane Fairfax. The plot also involves the decoding of several word games sent to either Emma or Mr. Knightley and includes peddlers, Roma, and all sorts of interesting and fun people.
August 18, 2020
3.5 rounded to 4. There were times i had problems struggling reading. Maybe it has to do with what's going on in the world. Been awhile since ive read this series.
March 2, 2010
The Intrigue at Highbury by Carrie Bebris
As you start reading, it seems you are back where you had to stop. They are all there, just like you left them at the end of Jane Austen’s novel: Emma, now Mrs Knightley, and her fascinating loving husband, Mr Woodhouse, The Westons and The Eltons, Miss Bates and her mother, Harriet Smith now Mrs Martin, Jane Fairfax now Mrs Churchill with Frank , her husband. Pleasantly indeed” for the readers, though not in the best circumstances, their lives cross with Mr and Mrs Darcy’s and with that of handsome Mr Deal - who for the first time will make Miss Bates feel toungue-tied!
Plot summary
Mr and Mrs Darcy are looking forward to a relaxing stay with dear friends when their carriage is hailed by a damsel in distress on a dark road outside of the village of Highbury. Little do the Darcys realize that gypsies roam these woods, or that both their possessions and the woman are about to vanish into the night.
The Darcys seek out the parish magistrate, who is having a difficult evening of his own. Mr Knightley and his new wife, the former Miss Emma Woodhouse, are hosting a party to celebrate the marriage of their friends, Mr Frank Churchill and Miss Jane Fairfax. During dinner, Mr Edgar Churchill, uncle and adoptive father of the groom, suddenly falls ill and dies. The cause of death : poison.
When the Darcys and the Knightleys join forces to investigate the crimes, they discover that the robbery and Edgar Churchill’s death may be connected…
My review
What I most appreciated, apart from this book being a real page-turner, is Bebris’s hold on Austen’s witty style. Just a couple of examples:
1. “Emma would listen to Mrs Weston’s counsel, then act as she generally did: precisely as Emma wished” (p.31)
2. “(Mrs Elton) You must be very happy in your new establishment.
Harriet began to reply, but Mrs Elton’s interest in her happiness did not extend so far as wanting to hear any assurance of it. Before Harriet had uttered two words, Mrs Elton brought the discussion back to her favourite subject – herself” (p. 121)
It is a brilliant mystery- story- including sharades, riddles and word games - in which eventually Emma finds a friend who is her intellectually equal, where our heroine proves her smart mind and her “talent at matchmaking” again. In this delightful series – this is the 5th issue - the Darcys take center stage in searching for truth between teatimes amid the social whirl of Jane Austen’s England.
(closing) As you can imagine, The Intrigue at Highbury is a real feast for Janeites. If you haven’t read the other Mr & Mrs Darcy Mysteries by Carrie Bebris, you may well start from this latest publication and, then, go back to discover the other ones: Pride and Prescience, Suspence and Sensibility , North of Northanger, The Matters at Mansfield.
As for me, I can’t wait for Bebris’s next Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery inspired to my favourite among favourites: Persuasion!
As you start reading, it seems you are back where you had to stop. They are all there, just like you left them at the end of Jane Austen’s novel: Emma, now Mrs Knightley, and her fascinating loving husband, Mr Woodhouse, The Westons and The Eltons, Miss Bates and her mother, Harriet Smith now Mrs Martin, Jane Fairfax now Mrs Churchill with Frank , her husband. Pleasantly indeed” for the readers, though not in the best circumstances, their lives cross with Mr and Mrs Darcy’s and with that of handsome Mr Deal - who for the first time will make Miss Bates feel toungue-tied!
Plot summary
Mr and Mrs Darcy are looking forward to a relaxing stay with dear friends when their carriage is hailed by a damsel in distress on a dark road outside of the village of Highbury. Little do the Darcys realize that gypsies roam these woods, or that both their possessions and the woman are about to vanish into the night.
The Darcys seek out the parish magistrate, who is having a difficult evening of his own. Mr Knightley and his new wife, the former Miss Emma Woodhouse, are hosting a party to celebrate the marriage of their friends, Mr Frank Churchill and Miss Jane Fairfax. During dinner, Mr Edgar Churchill, uncle and adoptive father of the groom, suddenly falls ill and dies. The cause of death : poison.
When the Darcys and the Knightleys join forces to investigate the crimes, they discover that the robbery and Edgar Churchill’s death may be connected…
My review
What I most appreciated, apart from this book being a real page-turner, is Bebris’s hold on Austen’s witty style. Just a couple of examples:
1. “Emma would listen to Mrs Weston’s counsel, then act as she generally did: precisely as Emma wished” (p.31)
2. “(Mrs Elton) You must be very happy in your new establishment.
Harriet began to reply, but Mrs Elton’s interest in her happiness did not extend so far as wanting to hear any assurance of it. Before Harriet had uttered two words, Mrs Elton brought the discussion back to her favourite subject – herself” (p. 121)
It is a brilliant mystery- story- including sharades, riddles and word games - in which eventually Emma finds a friend who is her intellectually equal, where our heroine proves her smart mind and her “talent at matchmaking” again. In this delightful series – this is the 5th issue - the Darcys take center stage in searching for truth between teatimes amid the social whirl of Jane Austen’s England.
(closing) As you can imagine, The Intrigue at Highbury is a real feast for Janeites. If you haven’t read the other Mr & Mrs Darcy Mysteries by Carrie Bebris, you may well start from this latest publication and, then, go back to discover the other ones: Pride and Prescience, Suspence and Sensibility , North of Northanger, The Matters at Mansfield.
As for me, I can’t wait for Bebris’s next Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery inspired to my favourite among favourites: Persuasion!
March 21, 2012
Aw, man. I just can't help myself.
Yes: these books are fluffy. Yes: I only picked them up because I'm a bit of a 19th-century novel obsessive. Yes: these are sort of light-weight brain candy. Yes: the first book in this series is so awful that I actually threw it out when I was done reading it ... I am very glad I didn't read the first book until I read a couple of the others. I really am. YES: these books are embarrassingly underwritten and pandering to a particular type of reader.
I don't care. They're MY fluffy, pandering, light-weight brain candy. They're cute. Plus, and this is a big plus, the mysteries in this series are usually appropriately yet not unbelievably convoluted enough so as not to be obvious, and the author seems to have stayed true to her source material. I greatly appreciate that. It gets right up my nose when a modern author tries to write a sequal to a Jane Austen novel or write a book in the Bronte book-world and injects a lot of really irritating modern language and motivations into it.
Anyhoo: this one is, as seen in the title, set at Highbury right after Emma and Knightly's wedding. A series of murders occurs right as Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are forced to stop in the village due to being robbed on the road. Mystery solving ensues.
They really are nice books. If they remind me of anything, it's the Nick and Nora Charles stuff.
Recommended, despite all the self-depreciating and mild-embarrassment in the review above. If you like mysteries solved by urbane, witty, upper-class citizens, then this is for you.
Wow. That's really specific, isn't it.
Yes: these books are fluffy. Yes: I only picked them up because I'm a bit of a 19th-century novel obsessive. Yes: these are sort of light-weight brain candy. Yes: the first book in this series is so awful that I actually threw it out when I was done reading it ... I am very glad I didn't read the first book until I read a couple of the others. I really am. YES: these books are embarrassingly underwritten and pandering to a particular type of reader.
I don't care. They're MY fluffy, pandering, light-weight brain candy. They're cute. Plus, and this is a big plus, the mysteries in this series are usually appropriately yet not unbelievably convoluted enough so as not to be obvious, and the author seems to have stayed true to her source material. I greatly appreciate that. It gets right up my nose when a modern author tries to write a sequal to a Jane Austen novel or write a book in the Bronte book-world and injects a lot of really irritating modern language and motivations into it.
Anyhoo: this one is, as seen in the title, set at Highbury right after Emma and Knightly's wedding. A series of murders occurs right as Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are forced to stop in the village due to being robbed on the road. Mystery solving ensues.
They really are nice books. If they remind me of anything, it's the Nick and Nora Charles stuff.
Recommended, despite all the self-depreciating and mild-embarrassment in the review above. If you like mysteries solved by urbane, witty, upper-class citizens, then this is for you.
Wow. That's really specific, isn't it.
February 10, 2013
I actually think of this as a 3.5 star read, but I'm giving it 4 stars here because I'm not sure it's the books, or the author's fault.
This book's plot centers around Highbury and the characters from Jane Austen's Emma, one of the few remaining Austen books I haven't yet read. I think this hindered me with this story, as I had a terrible time keeping the characters and which estates they belonged to, straight in my mind while reading. More than once I had to go back to previous chapters to remind myself "who was this person??". This was more pronounced due to the author's choice of opening the book from the perspective of Emma, before the Darcy's arrive on scene.
Once I finally got most of the characters straight in my mind, I really enjoyed the mystery - it was delightfully convoluted with more than a few likely suspects. Unfortunately the murderer stuck out a bit like a sore thumb for me, but it in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the unfolding mystery and clues. I really enjoyed the incorporation of word puzzles too, as I felt like I could "play along" more actively in solving the clues.
An enjoyable series and The Intrigue at Highbury isn't the worst or the best book of the bunch, but one I'd probably read again - after I read Emma.
This book's plot centers around Highbury and the characters from Jane Austen's Emma, one of the few remaining Austen books I haven't yet read. I think this hindered me with this story, as I had a terrible time keeping the characters and which estates they belonged to, straight in my mind while reading. More than once I had to go back to previous chapters to remind myself "who was this person??". This was more pronounced due to the author's choice of opening the book from the perspective of Emma, before the Darcy's arrive on scene.
Once I finally got most of the characters straight in my mind, I really enjoyed the mystery - it was delightfully convoluted with more than a few likely suspects. Unfortunately the murderer stuck out a bit like a sore thumb for me, but it in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the unfolding mystery and clues. I really enjoyed the incorporation of word puzzles too, as I felt like I could "play along" more actively in solving the clues.
An enjoyable series and The Intrigue at Highbury isn't the worst or the best book of the bunch, but one I'd probably read again - after I read Emma.
December 18, 2014
Bebris once more provides us a fun look at the world of Austen taking her most beloved duo into the world of Mystery and Intrigue. It is forced though to provide reasons for the Darcy's to meet the main characters of other novels, in this case Emma.
Adding to the small intrigue we had with Frank Churchill's secret engagement to Jane Fairfax, we expand on the duplicity that was evident in the canon to create a mystery of murder and suspicions. This is well done should you be able to leave any love you have for particular characters at the door.
Here Mrs. Elton is even more condescending than she was in the original work as the woman's need to force herself above her station, (she is wife to the hired hand, not a lady whose husband owns a great and large estate)
If you put aside this, and the introduction of characters non-canonical who are introduced solely to link our protagonists to the editions tie-ins, then you can settle down for a good bit of fun that should last you a few hours. Each of these Mr & Mrs Darcy tales are that, a good bit of fun, but you have to put aside your perception of the canon and give into Ms. Debris' view. Do that and they are worthwhile indeed.
Adding to the small intrigue we had with Frank Churchill's secret engagement to Jane Fairfax, we expand on the duplicity that was evident in the canon to create a mystery of murder and suspicions. This is well done should you be able to leave any love you have for particular characters at the door.
Here Mrs. Elton is even more condescending than she was in the original work as the woman's need to force herself above her station, (she is wife to the hired hand, not a lady whose husband owns a great and large estate)
If you put aside this, and the introduction of characters non-canonical who are introduced solely to link our protagonists to the editions tie-ins, then you can settle down for a good bit of fun that should last you a few hours. Each of these Mr & Mrs Darcy tales are that, a good bit of fun, but you have to put aside your perception of the canon and give into Ms. Debris' view. Do that and they are worthwhile indeed.
April 16, 2012
Matchmaking Miss Bates
Molto carino questo nuovo caso dei coniugi Darcy, che stavolta giocano un doppio misto con i Knightley, ed in particolar modo con Emma ed i suoi enigmi.
Per fortuna i personaggi di Jane Austen non vengono snaturati: quando leggo questi romanzi preferisco che i colpevoli e le vittime siano fra i personaggi inventati dalla Bebris, non fra quelli austeniani, anche quando si tratta di Caroline Bingley, Henry Crawford o Fanny Dashwood...
Insomma, che non venga alterato il futuro che la Austen aveva stabilito per loro. E in questo caso non sono rimasta spiazzata dalla Bebris.
Tranne che per Miss Bates: a quanto pare a tutte le autrici di spin-off che se la ritrovano fra i piedi, viene in mente di rivalutarla/accasarla. Forse sperano che un marito metta fine al continuo cicaleccio!...
E il libro termina con un appuntamento:
Elizabeth e Georgiana decidono di portare la piccola Lily-Anne al mare, ma Darcy non ne vuole sapere. Però... "Forse potrei essere persuaso" afferma. Prossima tappa a Lyme Regis con i Wentworth?
Molto carino questo nuovo caso dei coniugi Darcy, che stavolta giocano un doppio misto con i Knightley, ed in particolar modo con Emma ed i suoi enigmi.
Per fortuna i personaggi di Jane Austen non vengono snaturati: quando leggo questi romanzi preferisco che i colpevoli e le vittime siano fra i personaggi inventati dalla Bebris, non fra quelli austeniani, anche quando si tratta di Caroline Bingley, Henry Crawford o Fanny Dashwood...
Insomma, che non venga alterato il futuro che la Austen aveva stabilito per loro. E in questo caso non sono rimasta spiazzata dalla Bebris.
Tranne che per Miss Bates: a quanto pare a tutte le autrici di spin-off che se la ritrovano fra i piedi, viene in mente di rivalutarla/accasarla. Forse sperano che un marito metta fine al continuo cicaleccio!...
E il libro termina con un appuntamento:
Elizabeth e Georgiana decidono di portare la piccola Lily-Anne al mare, ma Darcy non ne vuole sapere. Però... "Forse potrei essere persuaso" afferma. Prossima tappa a Lyme Regis con i Wentworth?
July 12, 2012
The Intrigue at Highbury is easily my favorite book of this series. It is also (not coincidentally) the one most well integrated with the Jane Austen novel referenced in the title. Not only do we meet all the beloved citizens of Highbury, we continue the story of Emma where it left off, with a new mystery connected to minor events of that novel. We even get large sections told from Emma and Knightley's point of view, rather than seeing everything through Elizabeth and Darcy's eyes.
The story begins when the Darcy's are robbed outside the tiny town of Highbury. Meanwhile, that town is bustling with intrigue. Mrs. Elton plans to marry Miss Bates to a mentally challenged farmer in order to keep her from becoming a charity case. Emma determines to find a superior match among the gentlemen invited to celebrated Jane Fairfax's marriage to Frank Churchill. An engaging peddler arrives in town, to everyone's delight, with plenty of wares and a few gypsy potions. And then old Mr Churchill dies in the middle of a dinner party at Donwell Abbey.
The story begins when the Darcy's are robbed outside the tiny town of Highbury. Meanwhile, that town is bustling with intrigue. Mrs. Elton plans to marry Miss Bates to a mentally challenged farmer in order to keep her from becoming a charity case. Emma determines to find a superior match among the gentlemen invited to celebrated Jane Fairfax's marriage to Frank Churchill. An engaging peddler arrives in town, to everyone's delight, with plenty of wares and a few gypsy potions. And then old Mr Churchill dies in the middle of a dinner party at Donwell Abbey.
February 26, 2014
Actually 3.5 stars
So I started in the middle of this series. I started with Mansfield, which is actually book 4, and this is the second book I read of Bebris' mystery series, which is actually book 5.
I must say I liked this one much more than I liked the Mansfield book.
There were things I didn't like: I felt in trying to keep true to Jane Austen's characters, Brebris made Emma sound a bit more whiney than she probably would have been in these circumstances. It made her seem a bit unintelligent. I am also not a fan of how little romance and passion there seems to be between Darcy and Elizabeth. This seems to carry through all of her books. It may be a bit more realistic with the way she portrayed their relationship as man and wife, but it still felt a bit passionless.
Things I did like: I was very intrigued by the story itself. Darcy and Knightley make a pretty awesome team. I was switching between the different people I thought were guilty constantly, so that was interesting.
Overall - I will re-read this book in the future!
So I started in the middle of this series. I started with Mansfield, which is actually book 4, and this is the second book I read of Bebris' mystery series, which is actually book 5.
I must say I liked this one much more than I liked the Mansfield book.
There were things I didn't like: I felt in trying to keep true to Jane Austen's characters, Brebris made Emma sound a bit more whiney than she probably would have been in these circumstances. It made her seem a bit unintelligent. I am also not a fan of how little romance and passion there seems to be between Darcy and Elizabeth. This seems to carry through all of her books. It may be a bit more realistic with the way she portrayed their relationship as man and wife, but it still felt a bit passionless.
Things I did like: I was very intrigued by the story itself. Darcy and Knightley make a pretty awesome team. I was switching between the different people I thought were guilty constantly, so that was interesting.
Overall - I will re-read this book in the future!
October 14, 2011
Wow! Carrie Bebris really outdoes herself in this "intriguing" Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery! I have always loved the story of "Emma", and having the Darcy's help the Knightley's solve the murder of Frank Churchill's uncle, Edgar, made it even better! I have loved all of Bebris' "Darcy Mysteries" books, but this is my favorite! I am so glad that it finally came out in paperback!
The robbery of the Darcy carriage at the beginning of the book set the tone for eeriness, drama, and intrigue! The involvement of the band of gypsies that was last seen in "Emma" when Harriet Smith as accosted by the gypsy children made a suprerb connection to Austen's classic. Most of the characters in "Emma" were in this book, and for once, Miss Bates had all the attention she needed.
I can't wait to read "Deception at Lyme" next!
The robbery of the Darcy carriage at the beginning of the book set the tone for eeriness, drama, and intrigue! The involvement of the band of gypsies that was last seen in "Emma" when Harriet Smith as accosted by the gypsy children made a suprerb connection to Austen's classic. Most of the characters in "Emma" were in this book, and for once, Miss Bates had all the attention she needed.
I can't wait to read "Deception at Lyme" next!
January 28, 2024
Mr & Mrs Darcy are off to visit newly weds Colonel & Mrs Fitzwilliam (Nee de Bourgh) when they are waylaid in Highbury by gypsies who steal their gifts. They end up at Mr. Knightley's where he and his new wife are entertaining Frank Churchill and his new bride and a murder had just occurred.
Mr & Mrs Darcy will be kept jumping as bodies pile up and everyone is a suspect.
Mr & Mrs Darcy will be kept jumping as bodies pile up and everyone is a suspect.
April 16, 2010
This book was my least favorite of the series. Way too long and drawn out. Emma was not very intelligent in picking up on clues, etc., felt she was presented as a bit of a dolt in comparison to her husband and Mr. and Mrs. Darcy (except for the word puzzles).
September 21, 2012
I loved this book! I think it's my favourite in the series so far. I enjoyed every chapter, and I never felt that the story dragged at any point. I was very interested to see it come to it's conclusion!
January 27, 2025
Another great read in this series. It was fun to have Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse in the same book.
August 27, 2020
I will admit that I struggled with rating this one. I found the beginning a little slow, but I think it's more because it spent so much time with Emma and Highbury to set up the mystery BEFORE the Darcys appear that I got impatient with it. (And though I like Emma, I never liked her as well as Elizabeth.) That being said, once the Darcys and Knightleys were together, I thoroughly enjoyed the story--more than some of the previous in fact. The characters from Jane Austen's Emma take a much larger role in this story than the characters from her previous books. And the Knightleys are partners with the Darcys in this one, which I liked. I enjoy the interplay between such well-known characters from different stories. Bebris did all this while doing a good job of staying true to the personalities that Austen had created. This book could easily be viewed as a sequel to Emma. I also enjoyed the mysteries that Bebris created surrounding the Churchills and the Darcys and how they were (somewhat) tied together.
What bothered me was that the villain seemed fairly obvious to me early on (at least as a suspect if not the definite culprit), but the Darcys and Knightleys barely considered that person. When listing suspects and possible motives, I thought this person was a glaring omission. So I was honestly a little disappointed when the villain was revealed as such and everyone was completely surprised. I think Bebris faltered a little in trying too hard to plant the clues but then hide them. (A villain is often someone mentioned early on and then forgotten and I think Bebris was trying to do that but couldn't.) But overall, I enjoyed the bulk of the story and I liekd it as an addition to the series. I will keep looking for more.
What bothered me was that the villain seemed fairly obvious to me early on (at least as a suspect if not the definite culprit), but the Darcys and Knightleys barely considered that person. When listing suspects and possible motives, I thought this person was a glaring omission. So I was honestly a little disappointed when the villain was revealed as such and everyone was completely surprised. I think Bebris faltered a little in trying too hard to plant the clues but then hide them. (A villain is often someone mentioned early on and then forgotten and I think Bebris was trying to do that but couldn't.) But overall, I enjoyed the bulk of the story and I liekd it as an addition to the series. I will keep looking for more.
February 18, 2021
In this 5th Darcy caper, Lizzie and Darcy are robbed by gypsies near Highbury, on their way to visiting Colonel Fitzwilliam and Anne. Seeking redress they find themselves at Donwell Abbey where they meet with Mr. Knightley the magistrate and his wife, Mrs. Emma Knightley in the midst of hosting a dinner party for the newly weds Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax, at which Frank’s uncle Edgar has died in suspicious circumstances.
Knightley ropes in the Darcys to help investigate the death, while Emma indulges in her favourite pastime - matchmaking. The recipient of her well-intentioned if rather misguided machinations this time is ‘poor Ms. Bates’ as Mr. Wodehouse would say 😃 The intrigues that follow are fascinating and make for a fun read!
I’ve always liked Mr. Knightley and in this book I was very happy to see him and Darcy become friends - it seemed only logical! I also loved Mr. Hiram Deal - a very likeable character, kind and humorous. I liked this book better than the previous two probably because I’m very familiar with Austen’s Emma - having read it several times and watched several adaptations. Jeremy Northampton is my favourite Mr. Knightley and I confess I was imagining him and Colin Firth as the two friends tried their best to get to the bottom of the whole fishy business 😃
As always, Lizzie is more disposed to believe in people, while Darcy struggles to trust people outside his own intimate circle. Yet, in Lizzie’s company and under her influence, I dare say he’s unbending, just a little, even towards gypsies! Bebris gets her dialogue spot on as always, although there’s not as much banter between Darcy and her in this one. As the family heads to Lyme for their next adventure, I’m hoping Bebris will finally pay Georgiana the attention she’s due!
Knightley ropes in the Darcys to help investigate the death, while Emma indulges in her favourite pastime - matchmaking. The recipient of her well-intentioned if rather misguided machinations this time is ‘poor Ms. Bates’ as Mr. Wodehouse would say 😃 The intrigues that follow are fascinating and make for a fun read!
I’ve always liked Mr. Knightley and in this book I was very happy to see him and Darcy become friends - it seemed only logical! I also loved Mr. Hiram Deal - a very likeable character, kind and humorous. I liked this book better than the previous two probably because I’m very familiar with Austen’s Emma - having read it several times and watched several adaptations. Jeremy Northampton is my favourite Mr. Knightley and I confess I was imagining him and Colin Firth as the two friends tried their best to get to the bottom of the whole fishy business 😃
As always, Lizzie is more disposed to believe in people, while Darcy struggles to trust people outside his own intimate circle. Yet, in Lizzie’s company and under her influence, I dare say he’s unbending, just a little, even towards gypsies! Bebris gets her dialogue spot on as always, although there’s not as much banter between Darcy and her in this one. As the family heads to Lyme for their next adventure, I’m hoping Bebris will finally pay Georgiana the attention she’s due!
June 4, 2025
Bebris had me worried with this one at first. The early introduction of a group of Romani people as “gypsies” and literally every character being super prejudiced against them made me concerned. She typically isn’t problematic but she did previously use a characters weight as comic relief very unnecessarily so wouldn’t completely put it past her. Glad to say that the Roma plot line ended with at least some characters recognizing that they had the wrong end of the stick. And it is historically accurate that upper class English people would be super prejudiced against them.
Mystery was fun, well plotted, and had interesting clue elements. Bebris has a great understanding of all Austens characters, and can write interactions and dialogue so well.
There was a slight return to the super natural with the implication that the Romani seer knew what she was on about, but mostly off page and way more vague than the earliest books in the series.
I found her handling of a confirmed bachelor interesting. She is clearly implying he is gay, but also acknowledging that this person would do almost anything to hide that fact living in this place and time. So it is never explicitly known to the main characters. But it didn’t feel mean spirited or negative. Not a main character or plot point, so didn’t mind that it was only implied.
Mystery was fun, well plotted, and had interesting clue elements. Bebris has a great understanding of all Austens characters, and can write interactions and dialogue so well.
There was a slight return to the super natural with the implication that the Romani seer knew what she was on about, but mostly off page and way more vague than the earliest books in the series.
I found her handling of a confirmed bachelor interesting. She is clearly implying he is gay, but also acknowledging that this person would do almost anything to hide that fact living in this place and time. So it is never explicitly known to the main characters. But it didn’t feel mean spirited or negative. Not a main character or plot point, so didn’t mind that it was only implied.
August 30, 2019
This entry in the series threw the Darcys into the midst of a murder in Emma Woodhouse's hometown of Highbury, and seemed a better fit with the feel of Emma than previous books in the series. However, unlike earlier mashups, this one included Emma's POV as well as Darcy's and Elizabeth's, with the end result that Elizabeth felt a bit superfluous to the plot. Emma played such an active role that I think it might have worked better to have Darcy investigating with Mr. Knightley and Elizabeth...back home in Pemberley? I don't know; it couldn't be a "Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery" with only one of the Darcys, but Elizabeth wasn't essential to the plot this time.
The murderer/denouement felt a little un-Austen-like; yes, there were gypsies in Emma, but they're pretty much just a brief plot device, so it felt off for them to be so integral to the mystery plot.
The ending chapter clearly sets up the next book to be P&P + Persuasion, so I guess I'm in it till the bitter end.
The murderer/denouement felt a little un-Austen-like; yes, there were gypsies in Emma, but they're pretty much just a brief plot device, so it felt off for them to be so integral to the mystery plot.
The ending chapter clearly sets up the next book to be P&P + Persuasion, so I guess I'm in it till the bitter end.
May 5, 2023
Just outside of Highbury, the Darcys stop to help a young woman in distress. But their servants are knocked out, they are robbed, and the young woman disappears again. They go to Highbury to find the magistrate, Mr. Knightley, who has recently been married to Emma Woodhouse. They are having a party to celebrate the marriage of Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill, when the adoptive father of the groom, Edgar Churchill, dies of poison. There has been another recent death in the Churchill family, leading Mr. Knightley to suspect murder. The Darcys join the Knightleys in investigation when the robbery and the murder appear to be connected. Emma is trying to find a match for Jane's aunt, Miss Bates to provide support for her and her deaf old mother. Unfortunately, Mrs. Elton, the vicar's wife is doing the same, hoping to keep Miss Bates from becoming parish responsibility. Her choice of mate is a half-witted farmer, while Emma, who very much dislikes Mrs. Elton, hopes to make a much better match for Miss Bates. The stories of her efforts and the murder investigation begin to overlap and there is nearly another death. A charming peddler and gypsies add to the confusion, but the two couples eventually figure it out.
June 13, 2022
"On a dark road outside the village of Highbury, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy's carriage is hailed by a damsel in distress, who soon vanishes into the night with their possessions.
"The parish magistrate, Mr. Knightly, and his new wife, the former Miss Emma Woodhouse, are having a difficult evening of their own. While hosting a dinner to celebrate the marriage of their friends Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Jane Fairfax, Mr. Edgar Churchill, uncle and adoptive father of the groom, suddenly falls ill and dies. The cause of death: poison.
"When the Darcys and the Knightleys join forces to investigate the crimes, they discover that the robbery and Edgar Churchill's death may be connected. They must work to quickly identify the source of the poison and the murderer's motive -- before the killer can strike again."
~~back cover
Very nicely done amalgamation of two of Jan Austen's novels: Pride & Prejudice and Emma. The plot is nicely convoluted but not too convoluted, the characters all as they should be, and the malefactor becoming more and more obvious with each chapter. And like Jane Austen's novels, there is decidedly a HEA.
"The parish magistrate, Mr. Knightly, and his new wife, the former Miss Emma Woodhouse, are having a difficult evening of their own. While hosting a dinner to celebrate the marriage of their friends Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Jane Fairfax, Mr. Edgar Churchill, uncle and adoptive father of the groom, suddenly falls ill and dies. The cause of death: poison.
"When the Darcys and the Knightleys join forces to investigate the crimes, they discover that the robbery and Edgar Churchill's death may be connected. They must work to quickly identify the source of the poison and the murderer's motive -- before the killer can strike again."
~~back cover
Very nicely done amalgamation of two of Jan Austen's novels: Pride & Prejudice and Emma. The plot is nicely convoluted but not too convoluted, the characters all as they should be, and the malefactor becoming more and more obvious with each chapter. And like Jane Austen's novels, there is decidedly a HEA.
January 5, 2022
Multiple travel delays leave the Darcys traveling on a dark road with only one carriage when they are stopped by a young woman saying she is injured. While speaking with her, their servants are attacked and precious heirlooms are stolen, then the young woman disappears into the night. Traveling on to the village of Highbury to report the theft to the magistrate, they arrive as people are leaving from a party where there has been an unexpected death.
The magistrate, Mr. Knightley and his wife, Emma, offer the Darcys their hospitality. Before long, it's determined that the man was poisoned and Mr. Knightley does not know if he can be balanced in his view of the suspects. He finds himself asking Mr. Darcey to help.
From a mystery standpoint and from a storytelling standpoint, I really enjoyed this book. I'm not sure the author quite has the voice of Jane Austen, but she is clearly knowledgeable of her books.
The magistrate, Mr. Knightley and his wife, Emma, offer the Darcys their hospitality. Before long, it's determined that the man was poisoned and Mr. Knightley does not know if he can be balanced in his view of the suspects. He finds himself asking Mr. Darcey to help.
From a mystery standpoint and from a storytelling standpoint, I really enjoyed this book. I'm not sure the author quite has the voice of Jane Austen, but she is clearly knowledgeable of her books.
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