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Hurst Takes Charge: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
***Tigger There is a reference to suicide, but no graphic descriptions and it is not a central theme. Please One of my early books, ‘Cinder-Liza’ will be included for free at the end of the new one. *** This is the 12th book in the ‘Take Charge’ series. ***
From Canon we all know the character of Hurst to be an indolent man who is only interested in food, drink, gambling on cards, and some sports like hunting and billiards.
In this tale, suggested by one of my readers, Anne Z from Germany, we see a very different Harold Hurst. His father is a civil servant, not a landed gentleman when we begin, but that all changes because the mundane job is just a cover for the work the senior Hurst performs directly for the crown.
A great service is rendered to the royal family which results in Ignatius Hurst being gifted with an estate in Yorkshire and a house in London. At that point the older Hurst decides his son is old enough to be told the truth of what his father actually does. After being sworn to secrecy, Harold is told all. He decides he wants to join his father in service to the King, which he may do, but only after completing his education at university and a two year training programme.
At Eton he meets and becomes a good friend of Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hilldale. He also becomes friendly with Richard Fitzwilliam who is 2 years younger. He is acquainted with William Darcy, but not as close to him as he is to the Fitzwilliam brothers.
Rather than this tale beginning with the Bennets, it follows the Hursts, mainly Harold, and we meet the other characters through his eyes. He begins to exert his influence subtly at first, and then in more overt ways as the book goes on.
At some point, Harold meets the Bingleys. Through his eyes we see what kind of people the Bingleys, Fitzwilliams, Darcys, Gardiners, and Bennets are. Bingley does lease Netherfield Park, and Harold Hurst is there with them. As you can imagine, dear reader, much taking charge is needed in Hertfordshire.
From Canon we all know the character of Hurst to be an indolent man who is only interested in food, drink, gambling on cards, and some sports like hunting and billiards.
In this tale, suggested by one of my readers, Anne Z from Germany, we see a very different Harold Hurst. His father is a civil servant, not a landed gentleman when we begin, but that all changes because the mundane job is just a cover for the work the senior Hurst performs directly for the crown.
A great service is rendered to the royal family which results in Ignatius Hurst being gifted with an estate in Yorkshire and a house in London. At that point the older Hurst decides his son is old enough to be told the truth of what his father actually does. After being sworn to secrecy, Harold is told all. He decides he wants to join his father in service to the King, which he may do, but only after completing his education at university and a two year training programme.
At Eton he meets and becomes a good friend of Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hilldale. He also becomes friendly with Richard Fitzwilliam who is 2 years younger. He is acquainted with William Darcy, but not as close to him as he is to the Fitzwilliam brothers.
Rather than this tale beginning with the Bennets, it follows the Hursts, mainly Harold, and we meet the other characters through his eyes. He begins to exert his influence subtly at first, and then in more overt ways as the book goes on.
At some point, Harold meets the Bingleys. Through his eyes we see what kind of people the Bingleys, Fitzwilliams, Darcys, Gardiners, and Bennets are. Bingley does lease Netherfield Park, and Harold Hurst is there with them. As you can imagine, dear reader, much taking charge is needed in Hertfordshire.
- GenresFiction
756 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2026
About the author
Shana Granderson
70 books69 followersI have three children and after a disastrous first marriage I found my soul mate who I thought that was lost to me over 25 years ago. I recently married the love of my life. I live with my soul mate in Australasia and have three pets, two cats, Darcy and Bingley and a golden lab, Honey.
Like many high school students, Pride and Prejudice was assigned to me in an English literature class. It was not my favourite book, but I read it as I had to. I forgot about the book until in my 30’s when I saw and fell in love with the 1995 Pride and Prejudice version made for TV in England, and purchased a copy of the DVD that is now much played.
The tipping point was the 2005 big screen adaption of P&P. Not long after seeing it I found and read the complete works of Jane Austen on Amazon, starting with Pride and Prejudice. The latter book is by far my favourite. After I read it three of four times over, I wistfully said to myself: ‘it is a great pity that Miss Austen never wrote a sequel to her seminal novel.' One day I was searching Kindle books and for the fun of it I entered “Pride and Prejudice Sequel’ into the search not expecting any results.
The rest is history. I discovered the JAFF community and books. I became a veracious reader of JAFF books and once I had devoured all of the sequels and continuations that I could find, I read my first variation. I had been resisting variations wrongly thinking that I would not enjoy them as much as the sequels. Boy, was I ever wrong! Today I am the proud owner of well over 1,000 JAFF novels that I have purchased on Amazon. 'A Change of Fortunes' is my first book that I wrote. There are a number of others on the way.
Like many high school students, Pride and Prejudice was assigned to me in an English literature class. It was not my favourite book, but I read it as I had to. I forgot about the book until in my 30’s when I saw and fell in love with the 1995 Pride and Prejudice version made for TV in England, and purchased a copy of the DVD that is now much played.
The tipping point was the 2005 big screen adaption of P&P. Not long after seeing it I found and read the complete works of Jane Austen on Amazon, starting with Pride and Prejudice. The latter book is by far my favourite. After I read it three of four times over, I wistfully said to myself: ‘it is a great pity that Miss Austen never wrote a sequel to her seminal novel.' One day I was searching Kindle books and for the fun of it I entered “Pride and Prejudice Sequel’ into the search not expecting any results.
The rest is history. I discovered the JAFF community and books. I became a veracious reader of JAFF books and once I had devoured all of the sequels and continuations that I could find, I read my first variation. I had been resisting variations wrongly thinking that I would not enjoy them as much as the sequels. Boy, was I ever wrong! Today I am the proud owner of well over 1,000 JAFF novels that I have purchased on Amazon. 'A Change of Fortunes' is my first book that I wrote. There are a number of others on the way.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 3, 2026
Interesting
Mr Hurst Senior is involved in secret service to the Crown, and eventually his son joins him. The younger Hurst adopts the persona of a man who drinks too much and dozes off frequently after learning that people will reveal secrets in the company of a man who they think is unconscious. Hurst is very successful at his work, and affects many people with his insights into human nature.
This author is always fun to read, and the cast of characters have become like old friends, since the same accessory characters appear in all of her books. The main pleasure is from the forthrightness of the characters, and the satisfying comeuppances that are visited upon the villains. The villains are almost always cartoonishly bad, and the romances are completely predictable. The book is very well written and well edited. I recommend it.
Mr Hurst Senior is involved in secret service to the Crown, and eventually his son joins him. The younger Hurst adopts the persona of a man who drinks too much and dozes off frequently after learning that people will reveal secrets in the company of a man who they think is unconscious. Hurst is very successful at his work, and affects many people with his insights into human nature.
This author is always fun to read, and the cast of characters have become like old friends, since the same accessory characters appear in all of her books. The main pleasure is from the forthrightness of the characters, and the satisfying comeuppances that are visited upon the villains. The villains are almost always cartoonishly bad, and the romances are completely predictable. The book is very well written and well edited. I recommend it.
March 30, 2026
What if a the man passed out on the couch after overindulging the food and drink is really the English espionage department's best intelligencer against French spies and danger to the Crown. Shana Granderson delivered an entertaining light spy caper along with her most recent delve into one of P&P minor character's Take Charge story.
Hurst Takes Charge delivers a fun surprise when it opens on the clandestine operations of Hurst's father and his work for the Crown protection, his romance, and his raising to the nobility by a grand heroic act. Then, he is the man in charge and his son who has grown up a friend to the Fitzwilliams joins the ranks and takes on a public persona that looks familiar to all who have loved the Austen original story.
Loved the focus on Harry Hurst as he grows up, goes off to school, and falls in love with Louisa Bingley. Ugh, yes, her mother and sister and, gasp yes, even her brother are nothing to be admired. But Lousia is just the woman for Hurst and they do nicely together.
Starting on the side and slowly weaving into the main story are the Bennet girls and then their family as well as the Fitzwilliams and Darcys so that Hurst is kept just as busy matchmaking and keeping his friends out of trouble, straightening out a few men who are doing themselves and their families no good, and thwarting some real villains.
I really loved Hurst as hero and the fun he has using his spy skills to meddle with his friends and family for the good. This is low-angst and cozy comfort at its best.
There was a bonus story, Cinder-Liza which is not part of the series and is a standalone rendering of P&P blended with Cinderella. No magic other than the magic of an entertaining story. It is far from the P&P tale, but I really loved what Shana Granderson did with the P&P characters to make them work in the Cinderella tale. Lizzy's family goes through loss and heartache, but it never felt overly dramatic or sad. There is a bright hope even in the darkness when the evil Mrs. Bingley greedily does her worst and Lizzy's father does the honorable thing and still does what he must to protect his family. After, there is a Robinson Crusoe moment for Jane and Darcy gets to be the charming Duke-prince who sees the gem that is Lizzy even before all the truth comes out.
Again, a charming tale for those who want a Fairytale feel to their P&P variation.
Hurst Takes Charge delivers a fun surprise when it opens on the clandestine operations of Hurst's father and his work for the Crown protection, his romance, and his raising to the nobility by a grand heroic act. Then, he is the man in charge and his son who has grown up a friend to the Fitzwilliams joins the ranks and takes on a public persona that looks familiar to all who have loved the Austen original story.
Loved the focus on Harry Hurst as he grows up, goes off to school, and falls in love with Louisa Bingley. Ugh, yes, her mother and sister and, gasp yes, even her brother are nothing to be admired. But Lousia is just the woman for Hurst and they do nicely together.
Starting on the side and slowly weaving into the main story are the Bennet girls and then their family as well as the Fitzwilliams and Darcys so that Hurst is kept just as busy matchmaking and keeping his friends out of trouble, straightening out a few men who are doing themselves and their families no good, and thwarting some real villains.
I really loved Hurst as hero and the fun he has using his spy skills to meddle with his friends and family for the good. This is low-angst and cozy comfort at its best.
There was a bonus story, Cinder-Liza which is not part of the series and is a standalone rendering of P&P blended with Cinderella. No magic other than the magic of an entertaining story. It is far from the P&P tale, but I really loved what Shana Granderson did with the P&P characters to make them work in the Cinderella tale. Lizzy's family goes through loss and heartache, but it never felt overly dramatic or sad. There is a bright hope even in the darkness when the evil Mrs. Bingley greedily does her worst and Lizzy's father does the honorable thing and still does what he must to protect his family. After, there is a Robinson Crusoe moment for Jane and Darcy gets to be the charming Duke-prince who sees the gem that is Lizzy even before all the truth comes out.
Again, a charming tale for those who want a Fairytale feel to their P&P variation.
April 1, 2026
This is one of the best of Shana Granderson’s ‘Takes Charge’ series. We all are familiar with Mr Hurst from canon ‘Pride and Prejudice.’ He is a drunkard, often seen sleeping off his heavy drinking. He likes drink, sport, cards, rich food and little else, including his wife. Right?
What if instead Hurst followed in his father’s footsteps as an agent of the crown? What if his continual drunken behavior and sleeping it off was an elaborate ruse to overhear things that might be of great importance to his country? What if enacting his ruse also allowed him to overhear things of importance in personal matters as well? What if he is so well connected that he is able to seek boons from the royal family? What if his marriage is a love match and his wife is a partner to him instead of in the pocket of her spoiled sister?
There is the set up for this story in a nutshell. Hurst, in his drunken persona, manages to change lives for the better including the Bennets, Bingleys, Darcys, Fitzwilliams and the Hursts themselves. As Hurst insists near the end of the story: “All I did was offer alternative ways of doing things; I did not go out of my way to take charge of their lives.” Even so, when Hurst takes charge many things change for the better indeed. Also includes the book ‘Cinderliza,’ also by Shana Granderson.
What if instead Hurst followed in his father’s footsteps as an agent of the crown? What if his continual drunken behavior and sleeping it off was an elaborate ruse to overhear things that might be of great importance to his country? What if enacting his ruse also allowed him to overhear things of importance in personal matters as well? What if he is so well connected that he is able to seek boons from the royal family? What if his marriage is a love match and his wife is a partner to him instead of in the pocket of her spoiled sister?
There is the set up for this story in a nutshell. Hurst, in his drunken persona, manages to change lives for the better including the Bennets, Bingleys, Darcys, Fitzwilliams and the Hursts themselves. As Hurst insists near the end of the story: “All I did was offer alternative ways of doing things; I did not go out of my way to take charge of their lives.” Even so, when Hurst takes charge many things change for the better indeed. Also includes the book ‘Cinderliza,’ also by Shana Granderson.
March 24, 2026
3⭐️
A pretty decent read. I like seeing Hurst as a character who is playing at being indolent but is actually a pretty decent and intelligent man. For once the story progressed at a good pace and I expected for the story to focus more on Hurst and his family rather than the Bennets so I was not disappointed there. But the last 20% of the book was just a drag. A lot of the conflicts in the books were solved early and with very few consequences for the MC's. So a conflict of a sort was forced at the end which just lowered my enjoyment a little.
A pretty decent read. I like seeing Hurst as a character who is playing at being indolent but is actually a pretty decent and intelligent man. For once the story progressed at a good pace and I expected for the story to focus more on Hurst and his family rather than the Bennets so I was not disappointed there. But the last 20% of the book was just a drag. A lot of the conflicts in the books were solved early and with very few consequences for the MC's. So a conflict of a sort was forced at the end which just lowered my enjoyment a little.
March 24, 2026
Amazing!!
I was having a rough time waiting for this book to drop, but it really was worth the wait. I absolutely love the many fresh takes on so many characters. I especially loved having Lady Catherine completely defanged so early in the story and the way Wickham and Collins are both dealt with. Of course I always love it when Mrs Bennett is allowed to be something other than a shrill caricature instead of a loving mother and wife.
So many lives are made so much better because one person knows when and how to either speak or act.
Five Eager Stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was having a rough time waiting for this book to drop, but it really was worth the wait. I absolutely love the many fresh takes on so many characters. I especially loved having Lady Catherine completely defanged so early in the story and the way Wickham and Collins are both dealt with. Of course I always love it when Mrs Bennett is allowed to be something other than a shrill caricature instead of a loving mother and wife.
So many lives are made so much better because one person knows when and how to either speak or act.
Five Eager Stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 3, 2026
Overall enjoyable but got quite confused about who everyone was at the end. I also felt a lot of the abilities that people had were underused and not explored enough. I would have liked to have seen more of Hurst and Fitzwilliam’s work and maybe Darcy brought into the fold a bit sooner.
Note: this book came with a free copy of Cinder-Liza which I didn’t read as I didn’t want to read it at this time but wanted to mark off the book I did read.
Note: this book came with a free copy of Cinder-Liza which I didn’t read as I didn’t want to read it at this time but wanted to mark off the book I did read.
April 4, 2026
a good story, okay writing.
The premise is good, the copyediting sound, and the plot is intriguing. I also loved Shana Granderson's clear attention to detail and accurate portrayal of the sayings of the time. However, I found it overall much too long and I didn't care much the style of language used.
The premise is good, the copyediting sound, and the plot is intriguing. I also loved Shana Granderson's clear attention to detail and accurate portrayal of the sayings of the time. However, I found it overall much too long and I didn't care much the style of language used.
May 20, 2026
Hurst Takes Charge and Cindereliza
Amazing stories. Hurst taking charge changed so many lives. Most to the good. Laugh about the secrets he learns while others think him in his cups and sleeping.
Second story is well written as well. Lulu is precious. Reformed Bingley, but bad Mrs Bingley and Caroline. Course LC is not much better. Actually worse as she ...nope no spoilers.
Amazing stories. Hurst taking charge changed so many lives. Most to the good. Laugh about the secrets he learns while others think him in his cups and sleeping.
Second story is well written as well. Lulu is precious. Reformed Bingley, but bad Mrs Bingley and Caroline. Course LC is not much better. Actually worse as she ...nope no spoilers.
March 26, 2026
Another So earful Taking Charge
Hurst becomes the hero which is wonderful. Takes characters I know and love puts them in such situations. All my emotions were engaged. Please keep writing.
Hurst becomes the hero which is wonderful. Takes characters I know and love puts them in such situations. All my emotions were engaged. Please keep writing.
April 16, 2026
Another excellent book by this author
A Really good read Hurst is not the drunken person we think he did he pretends to be drunk so he can listen in on unsuspecting people's conversations as he works for the crown he finds out plots against them and earns himself an earldom.
A Really good read Hurst is not the drunken person we think he did he pretends to be drunk so he can listen in on unsuspecting people's conversations as he works for the crown he finds out plots against them and earns himself an earldom.
April 17, 2026
Great, exciting read!
This is a wonderful P&P variation, even though it concentrates on the Hursts. It is full of suspense, mystery, spies, honor, and the villains we all love to hate, plus a few extra.
Put it in your cart or add it to your KU borrow list ASAP!
This is a wonderful P&P variation, even though it concentrates on the Hursts. It is full of suspense, mystery, spies, honor, and the villains we all love to hate, plus a few extra.
Put it in your cart or add it to your KU borrow list ASAP!
March 30, 2026
At last...
I'm all for happy endings but this book was over flowing with them! Best of all was it was based on Hurst!
I'm all for happy endings but this book was over flowing with them! Best of all was it was based on Hurst!
April 7, 2026
Hurst takes charge 4.5 stars
Cinder-Liza 3 stars
Cinder-Liza 3 stars
May 28, 2026
excellent
I thought Hurst takes charge was very good. So many good variables that don’t usually occur in P&P variations. I really enjoyed it.
I thought Hurst takes charge was very good. So many good variables that don’t usually occur in P&P variations. I really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews