August 1813. In Hertfordshire, Netherfield Park is let to a man of means. In Derbyshire, Ramsgate is two years in the Darcys' past, and life is returning to normal for them.
Then Fitzwilliam Darcy makes the acquaintance of Elizabeth Bennet, as she arrives in Derbyshire in a desperate search for her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. She is trying to avert a family tragedy which, he soon learns, is linked to his own family's past. The risks, however, are far greater than either Darcy or Elizabeth might imagine.
This is a Regency period story which finds Jane Austen's familiar characters and usual suspects in a mostly original plot. It is a tale of love, madness and family betrayal.
“Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed.” Cavett Robert
This unpublished work is 37 chapters [some not very long] and an epilogue. I would rate this as PG->17 due to the context of the story and the crude language regarding several murders [crimes of passion]. Although they are not excessively graphic, it is somewhat descriptive as they are being discussed and investigated. Our author did a good job issuing trigger warnings before the scene.
Things are not right at Longbourn and Lizzy cannot get the help she desires from her father. So, she being Lizzy, heads off to Derbyshire [on the mail coach, unchaperoned, and alone] looking for her aunt and uncle who are touring the lakes. She hopes to intercept them when they stop in Lambton to visit friends.
Darcy, returning home from London with Mrs. Annesley, stops at the same coaching inn where Lizzy is awaiting the last leg of her journey. Darcy’s servants overhear the two post drivers discussing their plans/intentions for the young woman who was left on the coach. The last passengers had disembarked and there were no new riders, thus leaving the young lady traveling alone. Although Darcy trusted his servants, he saw and heard enough to validate their assumptions. He and Mrs. Annesley intervened and Lizzy agreed to travel to Lambton with them.
This was a series of mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, events and scenes that were not to be believed. There was murder, mystery, and scandal. Man… I so did not see some of what happened. La! My nerves… I was shocked and amazed as I waded through the events as they unfolded.
What/who I disliked: Be prepared to dislike Mr. Bennet… no, let me rephrase that… loath, hate, and despise him. I’ve never disliked Mr. Bennet more than in this story. Man, this was brutal. Even Mrs. Bennet’s effusions dimmed compared to his egregious behavior.
Aunt and Uncle Gardiner: Their yielding to Bennet’s influence and believing his lies pushed them into my dislike category. I was so disappointed in them. It took a brick to the head to finally get them to listen, not literally… but nearly. I was so upset.
Jane: dear sweet Jane… sanctimonious, self-sacrificing, self- [insert your choice word], got on my last nerve. Save the family, do as you are told, don’t question, refuse to listen to your conscience. Well, how did that work out for you, princess?
Caroline Bingley: always including herself where she is not invited or wanted. Bet you wished you had stayed where you were you delusional cow. Louisa, can’t you do anything with that sister of yours? How dare you cast shade and blame when you allowed and encouraged the bad behavior of your younger sister. This falls at your doorstep.
Lydia: stupid, stupid girl: Elizabeth gave her the set-down that we have always wanted to see and hear. You go, Lizzy! This little tart was shameless, horrid, and got what she deserved… nothing.
Don’t even get me started on the Duke and his ‘family’… OMG! Every single one of them should burn… no, OK, I’ll be nice. I suppose hanging it too good for them. This family simply imploded on the page. La! I have never read anything like this. OMG! Scandal doesn’t even come close to describing this family.
My only caveat is to carefully watch the descriptions and listen for the clues. Let me repeat that… I SAID ‘watch and listen for those CLUES.’ Keep your eyes on the characters… there is a ‘deliberate-on-purpose’ confusion that is necessary for the story to proceed. Things will start to unravel and you will be glad you paid attention. As the ending started to unfold, I was stunned and then horrified at such a shocking reveal. Those clues I mentioned… they helped me not miss the final reveal. OMG!
Characters that stood out and showed what they were made of: Of course, we have our dear Mr. Darcy and his cousin the Colonel. Mary Bennet was able to shine in this work. I so loved her character. We saw little of Kitty and that was fine… there were a lot of characters to follow as it was. I didn’t even miss her… sorry, Kitty. Besides, I think she would have interfered with Lydia and her plans that were needed to push the story forward. Georgiana was a delight and so thoughtful and helpful with Lizzy. I liked them together. Even Lady Catherine had a part to play and, oh, my heart went out to her. I liked her despite her horrid behavior. Who knew?
This is a brilliant P&P mystery. It's like P&P meets Kiss the Girls with a little Flowers in the Attic. Set in a slightly alternate universe we begin with Fitzwilliam Darcy rescuing an unaccompanied Lizzy Bennet from some dastardly coach drivers and escorting her to Lambton where she hopes to meet up with her aunt and uncle. You see something dreadful has happened and she is begging for her aunt and uncle's help. And it does involve George Wickham but it is so not what you'd think or expect. Once the Gardiners arrive Lizzy's pleas fall upon deaf ears, it will turn out that the Gardiners have been set against her by one of the most evil characters in this story, Mr. Bennet. Since the Gardiners refuse to cut their visit short Lizzy ends up staying with her new friends the Darcys at Pemberley while they go further north. Soon Lizzy meets the Bingleys & Hursts along with Col. Fitzwilliam. Meanwhile her sisters are off to a nearby estate with Mr. Wickham. There intrepid Mary discovers clues to mystery that she will learn lead to MURDER! Eventually almost all the Bennet daughters, both Bingleys, Darcy and Fitzwilliam will end up at this estate and someone won't survive. The solution is a twist worthy of M. Night Shyamalan (circa. 2000). The ending is simply frantic and we really don't get to any definite HEA. The story continues in The Suitors
This is more a murder mystery than a love story(-ies) but there is more than one pairing going on.
Darcy meets Elizabeth as she searches for her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner who are vacationing in Derbyshire. She is desperate for help as Jane has accepted the proposal of a man who pays more attention to young ladies other then Jane...and who, frankly, gives Elizabeth creepy feelings when she is around him and as she observes his behavior. Mr. Bennet has had a change in behavior and E. finds herself set in opposition to her father's support of the engagement.
Mary is drawn into the mystery and in a show of extreme bravery does some delving into following up on a clue after she overhears and oversees an interaction between Jane's fiancé and a servant.
We also have a family whose history is not to be admired due to the oldest son's being illegitimate after the father impregnated his mother but traveled to the West Indies without knowledge of that...and in marrying the lady cannot make that first son his heir, although acknowledged as a son and given other wealth.
This is a story which kept me turning pages and there is a sequel, The Suitors.
In this Pride & Prejudive variation Jane is engaged to a wealthy Wickham. But Elizabeth is concerned and travels to Derbyshire to meet the Gardiners who are on holiday there and enlist their help. Near Lambton she is meet and helped by Darcy. But what plots are a foot. A fun read with some new characters. Another re-read of this story with a mystery plot, which is so much more interesting than a straight romance story, and with pairings I like. Another re-read. NB There is mature content.
Oh my goodness was that an intense story. This is not your average variation. This one involves a villianous murderer or two and several brave Bennet women. Let's not forget the ever chivalrous Darcy and his trusty side-kick, Colonel Fitzwilliam. But it's not over yet. I'm off to read the sequel!
What was this story? There were arcs IN the arcs. I'm serious.
This is maybe the second or third JAFF I've read from Lucrezia and what always impresses me is how she can come up with this disturbingly complexes convoluted plans. Romance, as usual, takes a more "background" approach in light of more pressing matters (like the murder/evil plot unfolding in front of our eyes).
It is important to note that this story doesn't follow normal P&P time table – when we start, Lizzy is not underaged, Mary is almost 21 and Lydia is already 17, as is Georgiana. So, we have older, maybe wiser (?) Bennet sisters, foolish and selfish parents, a Knight in expensive clothes and a gentle smile (Mr. Darcy) and, of course, the men we all love to hate, Mr. Wickham – along with some very interesting new characters.
Our story starts with Lizzy fleeing Longbourn after her Uncle and Aunt Gardiner (presently in the middle of their travel to the lakes) in order to try and save her dear sister Jane from a most unwanted marriage to a new wealthy Gentleman that was leasing Netherfield. A certain Mr. Wickham. She was resting on one of the coach stops when our dear Mr. Darcy overhears the coachmen talking about her (in a most questionable way if you know what I mean). Seeing that she would finish her journey alone and that they were both going to the same place, Lambton, Mr. Darcy offers to take her in her carriage.
Of course, they didn't know each other, and her accepting took some effort, but at the end all turned out well. Until they arrived at Lambton and she found – eventually – her relatives. It is here that the story start to spread its wings, while Lizzy try to explain to Darcy why she didn't like her sister's suitor and Darcy realizes that the man is no other than his infamous "childhood friend".
Lucrezia brings seemingly random murders and pieces of secondary characters and make they intersect to start drawing a complex thread that will not only bring ODC together, but also show's all the strength and character Miss Mary is capable off – for the eternal happiness of a certain Colonel.
We have half the plot develop on Pemberley, though memories and new discoveries, and the second part on Marysworth, the country house of a certain Marquess Edmund Carrington (and some other questionable family members).
This was a very involving book, even intense at some points. Somethings happen that we are expecting. Others happen in a Avery different way of what we expect. And there are those that will render you completed shocked for a good two seconds.
All in all, this was a Wonderfull story! It did feel repetitive at some points, as there are to many characters and many pieces of different arcs intertwined, but really, it is more a personal observation than a real criticism.
Excellent writing and excellent plot....right up to the ending. The explanation is confusing -- and I'm not certain that it holds water (but I'm not going to re-read this VERY long story to check that). Then it turns out that, unknown to Darcy and Elizabeth and the rest of the HEA folks, there's still a murderer on the loose who's clearly planning to target one of the Bennet sisters. This story is definitely complete rather than being a W.I.P. (the final chapter is an Epilogue with lots of what-happened-to explanations about various characters), but this is a pretty serious loose end to keep dangling. Frankly, I felt it was an unsatisfying mystery, despite how good the story is right up to the final chapters.
This is a fantastic murder-mystery (not that hard to solve) along with D&E romance. I highly recommend. This Jane is very annoying as other reviewers point out. However, I love Mary.
A thrilling mystery in a heart-pounding and nailbiting sort of way. It had romantic as well as funny moments and a very original plot. Loved this unique take on PnP!
Elizabeth were on her way to Lambton, in search of the Gardiner's, with the hope that they would help her save her sister from marrying the wrong man. She got into a bit of trouble on the way but were rescued by a certain distinguished gentleman from Derbyshire. Murders, blackmail and betrayal ensue but inbetween there were hilarious banter and tender moments between ODC. Straying far from the timeline of canon with a unique and creative plot which gave it the unpredictability that I love.
what a sensational book. It starts 2 years after the original P & P timelines. This is important because Georgiana Darcy is more or less come out of Ramsgate fiasco and she plays an important role with her friendship with E
E is on her way to Lambton to meet the gardiners to ask them for help in breaking Jane's engagement with a wealthy and suspicious 'Wickham'. Gasp...Wickham has leased Netherfield and Mr B has more or less pressured Jane to agree to the marriage. Darcy encounters her at a post stop and his drivers alert him that the post drivers are going to harm E as she will be the only passenger for the last part of the journey. D with the help of Mrs annesley intervenes and takes her to Lambton. thus starts D and E's association. they become friends. E relies too heavily on D when the gardiners refuse to hear her concerns and continue their tour
the characters u want to hate
Mr. Bennet - god what self serving, selfish fiend. he is ready to throw away his 'supposed' favorite child when she questions his judgement and threatens to blow open his secret. what a lowlife
the gardiners - they immediately believe whatever lies Mr. B weaves and tell E that she should stop breaking the engagement just because she is 'sweet' on Mr. W. and no she never believes his lies so this is the lie
Jane- sweet Jane, self scarifying, sanctimonious and to be honest willfully blind o her parents mistreatment of her sisters, glaring issues with Wickham's behaviors and generally everything. She cannot stand up for herself and is a silent viewer when her parents mistreat both E and Mary. i absolutely had no sympathy for her. Can u imagine even E gets fed up with her
Caroline B--what a crass social climbing harpy who invites herself to a duke's house because she is bored. and Louisa Hurts encourages her to avoid her complains and then have the guts to blame bingley when things go wrong..another harpy
the characters we loved
Mary - what a brave brave girl. Mary transformation from bookish, neglected child to a wonderful woman takes place in the span of the 2 books. and what a courageous, kind and intelligent girl she has become. Loved loved her
Elizabeth - she is brave, intelligent, witty, loyal and quick on her feet. Her and Darcy's chemistry is sizzling
Darcy- what a rock for the Bennet sisters
Colonel F and Mr Bingley at their best.
Georgiana is sweet, mature and confident. she provides emotional support to E and is instrumental in making sure D and E gets much time together
the new characters of duke and his children...what characters..as Darcy rightly says nest of vipers. There are two many twists and mysteries to solve
Lydia bennet though behaves immaturely but she gets her rewards and a set down from E which i always wanted. that shows in book 2 where she is a pale imitation of the girl we know. and u actually feel for her. so that transformation is also nicely done
Lady catherine - i loved her in both books. she starts off as she usully is but there is a past which has changed her and we see that more in book 2 but the markings are all there
what a wonderful mystery. a highly recommended book
reread from... sometime. a bit of skimming this time This has lots of drama and intrigue with a some bad family members. Some worse than others. And some truly villainous villains. My goodness. This has canon characters plus some OCs, but not the canon plot.