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Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery #1
Pride, Prejudice, and Peril
Like a modern-day Agatha Christie bestowed with a hefty dollop of Jane Austen.--Laura Childs, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Jane Austen meets reality TV and murder in this quirky cozy mystery--the first in a new series!
Phaedra Brighton is perfectly content with her life of lecturing college students, gossiping with her best friends, and dreaming of Mr. Darcy. As a young, respected (if somewhat peculiar) English professor, her expertise lies in all things Jane Austen--but she knows that the closest she'll ever get to being a real-life Elizabeth Bennet is in her dreams.
When Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy, a new reality TV show, starts filming at her best friend Charlene's estate, Phaedra is intrigued. And when the producer asks her to lend her Austenian knowledge as a consultant on the show, she's over the moon. But on the first day of filming, when Charlene's new husband is found electrocuted and Charlene herself is accused of the crime, Phaedra comes crashing back to reality.
With murder on the syllabus and her best friend in dire straits, there's no Mr. Darcy around to help Phaedra--she'll have to get to the bottom of this mystery herself.
Jane Austen meets reality TV and murder in this quirky cozy mystery--the first in a new series!
Phaedra Brighton is perfectly content with her life of lecturing college students, gossiping with her best friends, and dreaming of Mr. Darcy. As a young, respected (if somewhat peculiar) English professor, her expertise lies in all things Jane Austen--but she knows that the closest she'll ever get to being a real-life Elizabeth Bennet is in her dreams.
When Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy, a new reality TV show, starts filming at her best friend Charlene's estate, Phaedra is intrigued. And when the producer asks her to lend her Austenian knowledge as a consultant on the show, she's over the moon. But on the first day of filming, when Charlene's new husband is found electrocuted and Charlene herself is accused of the crime, Phaedra comes crashing back to reality.
With murder on the syllabus and her best friend in dire straits, there's no Mr. Darcy around to help Phaedra--she'll have to get to the bottom of this mystery herself.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 7, 2021
36 people are currently reading
1205 people want to read
About the author
Katie Oliver
19 books211 followersKatie Oliver loves a cozy mystery... and Jane Austen novels. So she put the two together to create Professor Phaedra Brighton, an intelligent, outspoken Austen scholar who teaches nineteenth century literature at Somerset University, a small liberal arts college located in Laurel Springs, Virginia.
When Phaedra lands in the middle of a puzzling murder mystery, she enlists the help of the members of the Jane Austen Tea Society, her good friends Lucy Liang and Marisol Dubois.
Ms. Oliver resides in South Florida with her husband, her computer, and an ever-growing stack of cozy mysteries waiting to be read.
Please visit Katie’s website, www.katieoliver.com, or follow her on BookBub. https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katie...
When Phaedra lands in the middle of a puzzling murder mystery, she enlists the help of the members of the Jane Austen Tea Society, her good friends Lucy Liang and Marisol Dubois.
Ms. Oliver resides in South Florida with her husband, her computer, and an ever-growing stack of cozy mysteries waiting to be read.
Please visit Katie’s website, www.katieoliver.com, or follow her on BookBub. https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katie...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
September 27, 2021
Can you imagine an incarnated Victorian lady finds herself at present time named as Phaedra Brighton ( her mother inspired of Greek mythology but she’s definitely a British soul trapped in an American woman’s body),a professor specialized on Jane Austen literature, teased by her friends and mother for not being able to find her own Darcy!
Dear Phaedra’s great knowledge about regency era helps her land on a job as a consultant at reality show named “who wants to marry Mr. Darcy?” ( who doesn’t if Colin Firth plays him!!!!)
The show’s concept can be summarized as Bachelor meets Pride and Prejudice: 8 bachelorettes will compete for dreamy bachelor Mr. Darcy in hopes of receiving a marriage proposal by the end of the season including camera off whining, backstabbing, gossiping, betrayals etc.
She already deals with organization of Jane Austen literary festival after school council slashed their budget, welcoming their new mysterious, observant, strikingly intimidating professor Mark who recently transferred from Oxford ( might be a great candidate as Mr. Darcy even though she thinks him as Mr. Rochester)
But now she adds another profession to her highly thick resume : she becomes a murder investigator after she finds a death body during the shooting of the reality show: the guy who murdered is William Collier , CEO of Longbourn Pharmaceuticals who is also her childhood friend Charlene’s husband, owner of the Marling the grandiose and historical location the production team used as their shooting location for the show!
The poor guy was electrocuted which was strange because there was a power shortcut at the place which resulted with a valuable family jewelry’s stealing: the choker.
Who hated enough that pretentious, new multimillionaire to kill him?
There are lots of candidates but he had serious quarrels in front of witnesses at the very same murder day. Dorothy Fortune should have inherited the Marling after her husbands death but her husband thought otherwise and left the place to his nephew William which created a vendetta between she and him.
And of course William’s screaming at his wife Charlene to blame on her for choker’s disappearance in front the filming crew before the minutes of turning into smoking beef ( okay this was even harsh for him but the character was douchebag enough to push your buttons)
Charlene was just a waitress who was taking care of her disabled and diabetic mother but marriage with William dramatically changed her financial situation. She has enough motive to get rid of verbally abusive husband. At least the brooding but also charismatic detective Morelli thinks she may have involved into the murder.
Phaedra finds herself conduct her own investigation to help her own friend, acting like young Miss Marple, connecting the dots with her sharp wits.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery which is great mash up Austen novels meet Agatha Christie mysteries.
Phaedra was likable, quirky, sharp witted, determined character. I don’t say no to read more adventures of her in near future.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Dear Phaedra’s great knowledge about regency era helps her land on a job as a consultant at reality show named “who wants to marry Mr. Darcy?” ( who doesn’t if Colin Firth plays him!!!!)
The show’s concept can be summarized as Bachelor meets Pride and Prejudice: 8 bachelorettes will compete for dreamy bachelor Mr. Darcy in hopes of receiving a marriage proposal by the end of the season including camera off whining, backstabbing, gossiping, betrayals etc.
She already deals with organization of Jane Austen literary festival after school council slashed their budget, welcoming their new mysterious, observant, strikingly intimidating professor Mark who recently transferred from Oxford ( might be a great candidate as Mr. Darcy even though she thinks him as Mr. Rochester)
But now she adds another profession to her highly thick resume : she becomes a murder investigator after she finds a death body during the shooting of the reality show: the guy who murdered is William Collier , CEO of Longbourn Pharmaceuticals who is also her childhood friend Charlene’s husband, owner of the Marling the grandiose and historical location the production team used as their shooting location for the show!
The poor guy was electrocuted which was strange because there was a power shortcut at the place which resulted with a valuable family jewelry’s stealing: the choker.
Who hated enough that pretentious, new multimillionaire to kill him?
There are lots of candidates but he had serious quarrels in front of witnesses at the very same murder day. Dorothy Fortune should have inherited the Marling after her husbands death but her husband thought otherwise and left the place to his nephew William which created a vendetta between she and him.
And of course William’s screaming at his wife Charlene to blame on her for choker’s disappearance in front the filming crew before the minutes of turning into smoking beef ( okay this was even harsh for him but the character was douchebag enough to push your buttons)
Charlene was just a waitress who was taking care of her disabled and diabetic mother but marriage with William dramatically changed her financial situation. She has enough motive to get rid of verbally abusive husband. At least the brooding but also charismatic detective Morelli thinks she may have involved into the murder.
Phaedra finds herself conduct her own investigation to help her own friend, acting like young Miss Marple, connecting the dots with her sharp wits.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery which is great mash up Austen novels meet Agatha Christie mysteries.
Phaedra was likable, quirky, sharp witted, determined character. I don’t say no to read more adventures of her in near future.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
March 5, 2023
3 "meh" stars - Cute at times, but maybe too much so. Not enough Austen and just way, way too much “cozy” in this mystery for my personal tastes…
February 14, 2025
I really need to read Pride and Prejudice.
December 12, 2021
In this cozy mystery, genre tropes are mashed together with a pale facsimile of Pride & Prejudice romantic plot. The whole thing lacks subtlety and nuance, instead sustaining itself with clunky storytelling and generic characters.
Our sleuth, Phaedra, takes herself way too seriously for a lit professor/luddite in regency dress who claims the costume is "immersive" for her students. Bro, they could watch an Austen film adaptation and get more out of it by that logic. Also, she reads more like a Darcy superfan than an academic in terms of tone and motivation. In the story, she is somehow consulting on a regency-themed reality dating show. We rarely see her working (at either job), and I'm still not clear why she was needed. How the hell did she turn this into a paycheck, I ask? Despite attempts to paint her as the Lizzie Bennet of this story, Phaedra was more of a Mary Sue to this reader.
In terms of the mystery, heavy-handed clues are paired with Phaedra's wild assumptions meant to appear as keen observation and deduction. She has no skill set that lends itself to investigation and is only minimally motivated by protecting her friend, a suspect for the murder. Curiosity is her primary impulse. I'm all for not putting unwavering trust in police, but seeing as a rich, white asshole is the deceased, any sidebar inquiry by an inexperienced woman who withholds evidence seems unnecessary (and it's not truly subversive when she swoons over the police detective). She goes about it with perfect, brazen confidence and approximately 0 mL of caution. Basic people skills carry the day for some amateur sleuths, but her generally blundering questioning style left much to be desired, even though she still managed to magically glean secrets from her blunt interrogations.
Our murder victim is a poster child for cartoonish villainy: I don't take much convincing when it comes to the casual evils of a mediocre white man with bags of money, but this one is not only a former scam artist/televangelist but also inherited a role as a pharma CEO who refused to reduce insulin prices. He is blatantly dickish to everyone and emotionally abusive to his wife in plain view of an audience of strangers before he gets dramatically offed during a thunderstorm. Also, I know cozy mystery heroines often find the body to have a reason to be close to the murder investigation... but why would Phaedra walk in on a man she doesn't know in the bath? If you're worried he's not responding through the door in a storm... get his wife maybe?
Finally, some offhand remarks set me off in terms of how to deal with aggressive men. One sexual harasser/blackmailer is deemed ultimately benign because he stops at verbal pestering, as if that isn't bad enough. Another man known for being "handsy" is not only ignored but given repeated access to a woman who asks not to be near him. It's even worse because Phaedra assigns her friend a role working with him. He's a professor and the friend is a grad student, so the power differential would make it even harder for the woman to protect herself. Friend of the year, professor of the year, investigator of the year Phaedra is not.
Our sleuth, Phaedra, takes herself way too seriously for a lit professor/luddite in regency dress who claims the costume is "immersive" for her students. Bro, they could watch an Austen film adaptation and get more out of it by that logic. Also, she reads more like a Darcy superfan than an academic in terms of tone and motivation. In the story, she is somehow consulting on a regency-themed reality dating show. We rarely see her working (at either job), and I'm still not clear why she was needed. How the hell did she turn this into a paycheck, I ask? Despite attempts to paint her as the Lizzie Bennet of this story, Phaedra was more of a Mary Sue to this reader.
In terms of the mystery, heavy-handed clues are paired with Phaedra's wild assumptions meant to appear as keen observation and deduction. She has no skill set that lends itself to investigation and is only minimally motivated by protecting her friend, a suspect for the murder. Curiosity is her primary impulse. I'm all for not putting unwavering trust in police, but seeing as a rich, white asshole is the deceased, any sidebar inquiry by an inexperienced woman who withholds evidence seems unnecessary (and it's not truly subversive when she swoons over the police detective). She goes about it with perfect, brazen confidence and approximately 0 mL of caution. Basic people skills carry the day for some amateur sleuths, but her generally blundering questioning style left much to be desired, even though she still managed to magically glean secrets from her blunt interrogations.
Our murder victim is a poster child for cartoonish villainy: I don't take much convincing when it comes to the casual evils of a mediocre white man with bags of money, but this one is not only a former scam artist/televangelist but also inherited a role as a pharma CEO who refused to reduce insulin prices. He is blatantly dickish to everyone and emotionally abusive to his wife in plain view of an audience of strangers before he gets dramatically offed during a thunderstorm. Also, I know cozy mystery heroines often find the body to have a reason to be close to the murder investigation... but why would Phaedra walk in on a man she doesn't know in the bath? If you're worried he's not responding through the door in a storm... get his wife maybe?
Finally, some offhand remarks set me off in terms of how to deal with aggressive men. One sexual harasser/blackmailer is deemed ultimately benign because he stops at verbal pestering, as if that isn't bad enough. Another man known for being "handsy" is not only ignored but given repeated access to a woman who asks not to be near him. It's even worse because Phaedra assigns her friend a role working with him. He's a professor and the friend is a grad student, so the power differential would make it even harder for the woman to protect herself. Friend of the year, professor of the year, investigator of the year Phaedra is not.
January 8, 2022
Years ago, I’d read this author’s work and loved it. When I saw she had a new title, I couldn’t grab it fast enough. This book was everything I expected … and more.
When Professor Phaedra Brighton, a Jane Austen scholar, is hired as a consultant on the set of the reality show, Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy?, (filming at her best friend Charlene’s estate), she can’t believe her good luck. The first day of filming turns out to be an adventure … but far from the one envisioned. Charlene’s husband is murdered and Charlene is the prime suspect. Phaedra, tenacious and determined, sets out to defend her friend and find the murderer herself.
The book is intriguing. Beautifully and intelligently written, it is witty, filled with charm and curiosities, and offers the reader one surprise and fascinating tidbit after another. The action moves at a steady pace, and I was happily riveted until the last page.
Aside from all of the above, I especially liked Phaedra’s character. As an English professor with a specialty in Jane Austen, she dresses the part to give her lectures. Yet, as a modern-day woman, I found her to be quite relatable. Katie Oliver has done an excellent job in merging the character’s two worlds to delight us with an exceptional heroine. Brava!
When Professor Phaedra Brighton, a Jane Austen scholar, is hired as a consultant on the set of the reality show, Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy?, (filming at her best friend Charlene’s estate), she can’t believe her good luck. The first day of filming turns out to be an adventure … but far from the one envisioned. Charlene’s husband is murdered and Charlene is the prime suspect. Phaedra, tenacious and determined, sets out to defend her friend and find the murderer herself.
The book is intriguing. Beautifully and intelligently written, it is witty, filled with charm and curiosities, and offers the reader one surprise and fascinating tidbit after another. The action moves at a steady pace, and I was happily riveted until the last page.
Aside from all of the above, I especially liked Phaedra’s character. As an English professor with a specialty in Jane Austen, she dresses the part to give her lectures. Yet, as a modern-day woman, I found her to be quite relatable. Katie Oliver has done an excellent job in merging the character’s two worlds to delight us with an exceptional heroine. Brava!
January 12, 2022
the book started ok, maybe and then by each chapter it got worse for me. for me the main characters and all the secondary ones were unlikeable and childish. all the actions and converstations were illogical. and in between there were all these very strange, totally irrelevant descriptions. all in all a very strange and unlikeable book. i would not be continuing with these cozy mystery series!
March 10, 2022
I'd like to say if you're a Janeite who enjoys cozy mysteries then you'd swoon over this book yet ... you might not. It tries to be quite a lot and could've been scaled back in plots. There were heaps of characters to keep track and it was confusing in bits. The main character was too serious and abit over the top for me; I get that she loved the Regency era, etc. but it was really pushed to the limit. There were several sentences that were just too jam-packed with Austen that is was overkill rather than an inspired-book. I liked the touches to Regency time and Pride and Prejudice nods to the story but it felt forced and sadly didn't hit the mark for me to continue wih the series. 2 1/2 stars for me.
Darling cover art.
Darling cover art.
November 24, 2021
Pride, Prejudice and Peril was a cute cozy mystery with lots of references to Jane Austen's novels, which I love. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this story and the regency talk tremendously. I went back and forth with who I thought Phaedra's Mr. Darcy could be, but I was hoping for one over the other. I love the broody protective ones.
I enjoyed a lot about this one, but I also found it hard to follow at times. This was a fun start to a new series.
Thank you to Katie Oliver, Netgalley and Berkley for an early copy.
I enjoyed a lot about this one, but I also found it hard to follow at times. This was a fun start to a new series.
Thank you to Katie Oliver, Netgalley and Berkley for an early copy.
December 31, 2022
Jane Austen scholar and professor Phaedra Brighton has been hired as a history consultant on the new reality show Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy? . She's pleased to lend her expertise on the Regency era even if she believes love is not for her. She had her chance and it didn't work out and now she's done. The job gives her the opportunity to spend more time with her friend Charlene Collier (Lucas) who has recently married and moved to the Marling estate which her husband recently inherited from an uncle. William Collier's inheritance displaced the Fortune women, William's uncle Harold's wife Dorothy and her five daughters. (um yes sound familiar?) Dorothy is furious and her daughters unable to cope with being "poor" (er). During the first day of filming, Dorothy makes a scene, a storm blows in and knocks out power and a priceless antique necklace is stolen right off a contestant's neck. After an argument between William and Charlene over the necklace, William goes upstairs to the crumbling east wing to bathe in the claw foot tub. When Charlene goes to check on him and get candles, she returns without her husband. While Charlene is busy dealing with a newcomer, Phae offers to check on William. She never suspects she'll soon find herself in the center of a murder mystery just like the Agatha Christie novel she's recently started reading! Phae discovers William Collier dead in the bathtub with a pink hairdryer plugged in and floating in the water. Detective Matteo Morelli suspects foul play and when the coroner declares death by insulin injection, Morelli becomes suspicious of Charlene, whose invalid mother lives in the mansion and is insulin dependant. Phae knows her best friend would never murder anyone, not even if he was horrible and made her life a living hell. Not even for the money. With Morelli dead set on pinning the crime on Charlene, Phae sets out to find out what really happened and clear her friend's name.
This is an engaging enough mystery although it didn't keep me up all night. I had my suspicions about who I thought did it and I knew who did NOT because I already read the second book. Also, because it's never ever who the police think it is, thus the need for the amateur sleuth to get involved. Cozy wise, I REALLY wanted to love this series but I just find the Jane Austen allusions too much and they make me roll my eyes. The emerging love triangle didn't do anything for me either.
I wish I could like Phae and be her BFF. She needs someone who understands her Jane Austen obsession and lack of interest in love. However, I find her incredibly annoying, rude, self-centered and obtuse. She's super nosy when she doesn't need to be and nearly gets herself killed for it. Phae is also obsessed with her cat, Wickham, and interprets his thoughts. She thinks he's nice when everyone else hates her cat. I'm not a cat person and Wickham is a haughty cat and not at all lovable. He does have one important scene which I liked. I prefer my animal companions cute and funny. Phae IS a loyal friend, however, and though her friendship with Charlene got off to a slow start, she stands by her friend no matter what.
Professor Mark Seldon is Phae's Mr. Darcy. However, the author wrote Mark completely different from Mr. Darcy. Mark is a nice guy. Who shares their life story with someone they just meet? He doesn't owe Phae anything. He claims Jane Austen is overrated and is a Shakespeare scholar. OK well I happen to enjoy both authors as many people do. Phae needs to lighten up. He critiques her manner of dress and seems to have a dry wit she doesn't understand or appreciate. Yes he ghosts her festival but he has a good excuse. She jumps to conclusions and is a total *itch around him. Elizabeth challenges Darcy to be a better person, Mark IS a good person! Matt Morelli is a sincere and dedicated cop. He's not the average arrogant or bumbling fool of the usual cozy mystery variety. He wants to see justice done and is building a case against Carlene. It's not his job to prove her innocence. It doesn't look good for her from his perspective. He seems to find Phae annoying but appreciates her looking out for her friend and her intelligence in figuring things out. He just doesn't want her to get hurt or to jeapordize his case. I quite like him.
Phae doesn't understand or approve of Charlene's decision to marry William Collier. They barely knew each other and the relationship is kind of icky because she was a waitress at the local diner and he was a patron who kept pursuing her. Then there's a backstory that reveals he's Mr. Elliot and not Mr. Collins. William wanted to make amends for his past and marry Charlene. She's tired of caring for her ill mother, barely able to make ends meet. William's proposal seemed like a godsend. But at what price? Williams sounds like a nasty piece of work and I think he's up to something shady with the necklace and that's why he overreacted to Charlene allowing a contestant to wear it. Charlene seems nice but naive. She had a tough life growing up and has her reasons for marrying up but I think it's weird. She's a loving, caring daughter to her mother, Violet. Violet is elderly, ill and diabetic. She uses a wheelchair to get around and has tremors so a nurse must inject her with insulin. Sometimes Charlene does it. Charlene worries a lot about her mother and her mother worries about her. It was no secret Violet hated her new son-in-law for making her daughter's life miserable. Would she put her own life in jeopardy in order to save her daughter?
Tinsley, the bachelorette, seems nice and intelligent but lacks common sense when it comes to dating and falling in love. She is proud to wear Charlene's antique necklace and sounds upset when it's stolen but did she plot it with someone? How can a necklace be stolen right off her neck without her knowing? That's weird. William's butler, Finch, seems very loyal to Marling. He worked for William's uncle, Harold Fortune, for many years and continued to stay on after Harold's death. Finch keeps popping up menacingly and wherever he's least expected or wanted. I don't trust him. Bertie, the owner of the local diner, is catering the reality show. She seems grumpy and unhappy yet she needs the job. The building where her diner is located is under new ownership and for sale. Bertie can't afford to buy it right now. She's always chasing Phae out of the kitchen, being rude to everyone and generally is not a nice person. Nick Ross, the show's Mr. Darcy bachelor, is a good Mr. Darcy. He's aloof and doesn't mingle very well. He keeps people guessing about which bachelorette he'll choose. Yet, he actually is a bit less of a douchebag than I suspected.
The Fortune family are not the Dashwoods, although there are similarities. Dorothy is furious about being turned out of their home and losing their fortune. Her daughter Patsy, is a spoiled rich girl, social media influencer. Patsy is unable to cope with losing her lifestyle and being forced to get a job. Even though Dorothy declared death was too good for William Collier, I wonder if she or one of the girls killed him. They weren't SEEN in the mansion at the time but they lived there for years so they must know all the secret passageways. Plus the power went out so if that happens frequently, then they must know how to get around without power.
Karolina, the show's producer, is tough. She wants what she wants when she wants it, the show must go on and all that. I don't get the impression she's sensitive or thoughtful at all. She asks Phae to do something extra that isn't in her job description per se and adds to Phae's already heavy ordinary workload. Her brother Charles works with Phae's sister Hannah at the British Embassy in DC. Charles is a modern Charles Bingley, a nice guy who can't say no - the complete opposite of his sister. Hannah is a bit nervous and not very brave or bold about asking what she wants. She rudely arrives at her sister's house without warning. She is not Jane Bennet! I don't care for Phae's friends in the Jane Austen Tea Society. What is the Tea Society anyway? It sounds like a book club- with only three people. Lucy is modern, pragmatic, practical and unromantic. She isn't into Jane Austen. I'm not sure why Lucy and Phae are friends. Marisol shouldn't be friends with her employer. She's a grad student and T.A. with Phae and it's totally unethical for Phae to drag the girl into a muder solving book club!
Phae's parents are complete opposites. Her father, a former criminal lawyer, is smart, bookish and practical. Phae's mother, Nan, is a total drama queen and her main goal in life is to marry off her two daughters. She doesn't seem to support their career ambitions or anything else. She hears "announcement" and her mind jumps to "engagement." Mrs. Bennet has nothing on Nan Brighton!
I'm uncertain whether I will read the third book in the series when it eventually arrives. After two books, I think I'm tired of Phaedra but maybe putting some distance between us will help our friendship grow.
This is an engaging enough mystery although it didn't keep me up all night. I had my suspicions about who I thought did it and I knew who did NOT because I already read the second book. Also, because it's never ever who the police think it is, thus the need for the amateur sleuth to get involved. Cozy wise, I REALLY wanted to love this series but I just find the Jane Austen allusions too much and they make me roll my eyes. The emerging love triangle didn't do anything for me either.
I wish I could like Phae and be her BFF. She needs someone who understands her Jane Austen obsession and lack of interest in love. However, I find her incredibly annoying, rude, self-centered and obtuse. She's super nosy when she doesn't need to be and nearly gets herself killed for it. Phae is also obsessed with her cat, Wickham, and interprets his thoughts. She thinks he's nice when everyone else hates her cat. I'm not a cat person and Wickham is a haughty cat and not at all lovable. He does have one important scene which I liked. I prefer my animal companions cute and funny. Phae IS a loyal friend, however, and though her friendship with Charlene got off to a slow start, she stands by her friend no matter what.
Professor Mark Seldon is Phae's Mr. Darcy. However, the author wrote Mark completely different from Mr. Darcy. Mark is a nice guy. Who shares their life story with someone they just meet? He doesn't owe Phae anything. He claims Jane Austen is overrated and is a Shakespeare scholar. OK well I happen to enjoy both authors as many people do. Phae needs to lighten up. He critiques her manner of dress and seems to have a dry wit she doesn't understand or appreciate. Yes he ghosts her festival but he has a good excuse. She jumps to conclusions and is a total *itch around him. Elizabeth challenges Darcy to be a better person, Mark IS a good person! Matt Morelli is a sincere and dedicated cop. He's not the average arrogant or bumbling fool of the usual cozy mystery variety. He wants to see justice done and is building a case against Carlene. It's not his job to prove her innocence. It doesn't look good for her from his perspective. He seems to find Phae annoying but appreciates her looking out for her friend and her intelligence in figuring things out. He just doesn't want her to get hurt or to jeapordize his case. I quite like him.
Phae doesn't understand or approve of Charlene's decision to marry William Collier. They barely knew each other and the relationship is kind of icky because she was a waitress at the local diner and he was a patron who kept pursuing her. Then there's a backstory that reveals he's Mr. Elliot and not Mr. Collins. William wanted to make amends for his past and marry Charlene. She's tired of caring for her ill mother, barely able to make ends meet. William's proposal seemed like a godsend. But at what price? Williams sounds like a nasty piece of work and I think he's up to something shady with the necklace and that's why he overreacted to Charlene allowing a contestant to wear it. Charlene seems nice but naive. She had a tough life growing up and has her reasons for marrying up but I think it's weird. She's a loving, caring daughter to her mother, Violet. Violet is elderly, ill and diabetic. She uses a wheelchair to get around and has tremors so a nurse must inject her with insulin. Sometimes Charlene does it. Charlene worries a lot about her mother and her mother worries about her. It was no secret Violet hated her new son-in-law for making her daughter's life miserable. Would she put her own life in jeopardy in order to save her daughter?
Tinsley, the bachelorette, seems nice and intelligent but lacks common sense when it comes to dating and falling in love. She is proud to wear Charlene's antique necklace and sounds upset when it's stolen but did she plot it with someone? How can a necklace be stolen right off her neck without her knowing? That's weird. William's butler, Finch, seems very loyal to Marling. He worked for William's uncle, Harold Fortune, for many years and continued to stay on after Harold's death. Finch keeps popping up menacingly and wherever he's least expected or wanted. I don't trust him. Bertie, the owner of the local diner, is catering the reality show. She seems grumpy and unhappy yet she needs the job. The building where her diner is located is under new ownership and for sale. Bertie can't afford to buy it right now. She's always chasing Phae out of the kitchen, being rude to everyone and generally is not a nice person. Nick Ross, the show's Mr. Darcy bachelor, is a good Mr. Darcy. He's aloof and doesn't mingle very well. He keeps people guessing about which bachelorette he'll choose. Yet, he actually is a bit less of a douchebag than I suspected.
The Fortune family are not the Dashwoods, although there are similarities. Dorothy is furious about being turned out of their home and losing their fortune. Her daughter Patsy, is a spoiled rich girl, social media influencer. Patsy is unable to cope with losing her lifestyle and being forced to get a job. Even though Dorothy declared death was too good for William Collier, I wonder if she or one of the girls killed him. They weren't SEEN in the mansion at the time but they lived there for years so they must know all the secret passageways. Plus the power went out so if that happens frequently, then they must know how to get around without power.
Karolina, the show's producer, is tough. She wants what she wants when she wants it, the show must go on and all that. I don't get the impression she's sensitive or thoughtful at all. She asks Phae to do something extra that isn't in her job description per se and adds to Phae's already heavy ordinary workload. Her brother Charles works with Phae's sister Hannah at the British Embassy in DC. Charles is a modern Charles Bingley, a nice guy who can't say no - the complete opposite of his sister. Hannah is a bit nervous and not very brave or bold about asking what she wants. She rudely arrives at her sister's house without warning. She is not Jane Bennet! I don't care for Phae's friends in the Jane Austen Tea Society. What is the Tea Society anyway? It sounds like a book club- with only three people. Lucy is modern, pragmatic, practical and unromantic. She isn't into Jane Austen. I'm not sure why Lucy and Phae are friends. Marisol shouldn't be friends with her employer. She's a grad student and T.A. with Phae and it's totally unethical for Phae to drag the girl into a muder solving book club!
Phae's parents are complete opposites. Her father, a former criminal lawyer, is smart, bookish and practical. Phae's mother, Nan, is a total drama queen and her main goal in life is to marry off her two daughters. She doesn't seem to support their career ambitions or anything else. She hears "announcement" and her mind jumps to "engagement." Mrs. Bennet has nothing on Nan Brighton!
I'm uncertain whether I will read the third book in the series when it eventually arrives. After two books, I think I'm tired of Phaedra but maybe putting some distance between us will help our friendship grow.
January 6, 2023
I’m not sure how many ways I can dislike Phaedra! If the writer was going for quirky then it was a definite miss. Phaedra came across as arrogant, prissy, rude, know it all, who thought she was an expert sleuth all because she was a professor in English Lit and an expert in Jane Austen. She hid evidence from the police, ok, TAMPERED with evidence because she thought she knew better than experienced police detectives. Even when begged to turn over evidence, she wouldn’t do so!!!
Phaedra quite honestly did nothing but through tantrums and make wild assumptions throughout the entire book. She expected to be kept updated on a police investigation, stomped her feet and yelled at the detective for not cooperating with HER, made unfounded assumptions about her new colleague that solidified her character was not one of a reasonable, logical, intelligent person as the author wants us to believe, rather as a thoughtless, self entered, impulsive, person who acts before she thinks (by the way she’s 34 and waiting for the perfect Darcy),
The mystery itself is actually okay,
Phaedra quite honestly did nothing but through tantrums and make wild assumptions throughout the entire book. She expected to be kept updated on a police investigation, stomped her feet and yelled at the detective for not cooperating with HER, made unfounded assumptions about her new colleague that solidified her character was not one of a reasonable, logical, intelligent person as the author wants us to believe, rather as a thoughtless, self entered, impulsive, person who acts before she thinks (by the way she’s 34 and waiting for the perfect Darcy),
The mystery itself is actually okay,
July 11, 2025
Meh
CW: murder, stalking, violence
CW: murder, stalking, violence
October 2, 2021
Pride, Prejudice, and Peril is the debut book in author Katie Oliver's Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery series. It is clear from this book, and other romance novels written by this author, that she is a fan of Jane Austen. The main character, Phaedra Brighton, is a well-respected college English professor whose expertise is Jane Austen. This is apparent in the way she dresses for her lectures and her criteria for a significant other. When Phaedra is asked to serve as a consultant on a new reality dating series, Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy, things go wrong when her close friend's new husband is murdered and the police set their sites on the friend as the prime suspect. I really wanted to like Phaedra and for the most part, there is nothing overly objectionable about her character. Most of the time I just felt ambivalent about her. Her sleuthing skills are not strong and her questions to potential suspects are brusque and lacked finesse. I did feel there were some parts to the story where Phaedra is a bit judgemental and out of touch based upon her upbringing.
The book was an easy read and I liked the mystery. The pace felt a little slow at times but not so much that it detracted from the book. The author does provide the reader with a number of other viable suspects to consider as they comb through the clues. I was surprised by the killer's identity and this person was not on my radar. The motive made sense once it was revealed.
I would love to see the author make some tweaks to Phaedra's personality to make her a bit more likable. There is also a potential for two love interests for Phaedra and for me that is a turn-off if the love triangle goes on too long. I think the series has potential with some tweaks and additional thought given to the characters and pacing.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy of this book provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through a NetGalley widget. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are in no way impacted by the manner in which I received this book.
The book was an easy read and I liked the mystery. The pace felt a little slow at times but not so much that it detracted from the book. The author does provide the reader with a number of other viable suspects to consider as they comb through the clues. I was surprised by the killer's identity and this person was not on my radar. The motive made sense once it was revealed.
I would love to see the author make some tweaks to Phaedra's personality to make her a bit more likable. There is also a potential for two love interests for Phaedra and for me that is a turn-off if the love triangle goes on too long. I think the series has potential with some tweaks and additional thought given to the characters and pacing.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy of this book provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through a NetGalley widget. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are in no way impacted by the manner in which I received this book.
September 12, 2021
Phaedra works as an English professor at the local college, lecturing her students about Jane Austen, while wearing garb from the time period. But a reality show is filming in town called Who Wants to Marry Me. Darcy and she's been hired to consult. But when her best friend's new husband is murdered (they own the estate where the reality show is being filmed), Phaedra has to solve the mystery before her friend is charged with murder. The first in the new Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery series, Austenites will see plenty of similarities to their favorite author's stories.
I find it hard to believe that a Jane Austen expert would t at least note the multitude of P&P similarities to her own life. Her best friend's name is Charlene Lucas. She marries a man named Collier. The company is named Longbourne. It goes on and on! Anyway, the writing here, I though was good and it kept me engaged. But the plotting wasn't the best. This whole story was kind of a mess. I found it annoying when Phaedra was talking to her two other friends and she wouldn't let them know about the insulin because she'd overheard it and should t know, but then Charlene subsequently told her about it, so it should have been NBD. There was also another plot point that was dropped early on, but then revealed again later as if it were new information. I have more complaints, but I'm tired of talking about it, so that's it for this one.
Eh. I probably won't read more of these. But I will wear my Society if Obstinate Headstrong Girls shirt today. So, at least that's something.
I find it hard to believe that a Jane Austen expert would t at least note the multitude of P&P similarities to her own life. Her best friend's name is Charlene Lucas. She marries a man named Collier. The company is named Longbourne. It goes on and on! Anyway, the writing here, I though was good and it kept me engaged. But the plotting wasn't the best. This whole story was kind of a mess. I found it annoying when Phaedra was talking to her two other friends and she wouldn't let them know about the insulin because she'd overheard it and should t know, but then Charlene subsequently told her about it, so it should have been NBD. There was also another plot point that was dropped early on, but then revealed again later as if it were new information. I have more complaints, but I'm tired of talking about it, so that's it for this one.
Eh. I probably won't read more of these. But I will wear my Society if Obstinate Headstrong Girls shirt today. So, at least that's something.
July 26, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up
September 17, 2022
¿Cuáles son los puntos imprescindibles de un cozy mystery? ¿Los cumple Pride, Prejudice and Peril? Vamos a verlo:
-La víctima tiene que ser un personaje odioso: en esta ocasión, el muerto es el rico propietario de la mansión dónde se rueda el reality ¿Quién quiere casarse con Mr. Darcy?, un hombre engreído que además trata fatal a su mujer en público.
-No se recrea en la violencia o los aspectos escabroso del crimen: Lo cumple.
-El personaje principal es un detective aficionado, nunca un profesional, y suele tener mascota: Nuestra protagonista es Phaedra Brighton, una profesora universitaria especializada en Jane Austen que da clases vestida como una mujer de la regencia y que tiene un gato. Además, solo se pone a investigar el crimen porque la sospechosa principal es su amiga Charlene, esposa del difunto.
-Descripciones de comida: Phaedra cocina unos cuantos postres para el reality que hacen que te entre hambre.
-La historia se desarrolla en una comunidad pequeña: el pueblecito en el que vive Phaedra es tan adorable que hasta celebran un festival de Jane Austen.
Parece que cumple todos los requisitos, ¿eh? Prácticamente el cozy mystery perfecto, perderte en sus páginas te permite sumergirte en una atmósfera acogedora que además tiene toques austenitas aquí y allá. La historia no es exactamente un retelling de Orgullo y prejuicio, sino que tenemos algunos paralelismos y bastantes referencias tanto a los libros como a la propia Jane.
Es cierto que quizás hay un punto de la trama en el que la historia se enreda un pelín demasiado y quizás me habría gustado que hubiera alguna pista más que apuntara al verdadero culpable, porque hay muchísimas pistas que despistan, aunque bueno, supongo que ese es el objetivo🙈.
En resumen: ¡lo he disfrutado mucho y estoy deseando que salga el segundo!
-La víctima tiene que ser un personaje odioso: en esta ocasión, el muerto es el rico propietario de la mansión dónde se rueda el reality ¿Quién quiere casarse con Mr. Darcy?, un hombre engreído que además trata fatal a su mujer en público.
-No se recrea en la violencia o los aspectos escabroso del crimen: Lo cumple.
-El personaje principal es un detective aficionado, nunca un profesional, y suele tener mascota: Nuestra protagonista es Phaedra Brighton, una profesora universitaria especializada en Jane Austen que da clases vestida como una mujer de la regencia y que tiene un gato. Además, solo se pone a investigar el crimen porque la sospechosa principal es su amiga Charlene, esposa del difunto.
-Descripciones de comida: Phaedra cocina unos cuantos postres para el reality que hacen que te entre hambre.
-La historia se desarrolla en una comunidad pequeña: el pueblecito en el que vive Phaedra es tan adorable que hasta celebran un festival de Jane Austen.
Parece que cumple todos los requisitos, ¿eh? Prácticamente el cozy mystery perfecto, perderte en sus páginas te permite sumergirte en una atmósfera acogedora que además tiene toques austenitas aquí y allá. La historia no es exactamente un retelling de Orgullo y prejuicio, sino que tenemos algunos paralelismos y bastantes referencias tanto a los libros como a la propia Jane.
Es cierto que quizás hay un punto de la trama en el que la historia se enreda un pelín demasiado y quizás me habría gustado que hubiera alguna pista más que apuntara al verdadero culpable, porque hay muchísimas pistas que despistan, aunque bueno, supongo que ese es el objetivo🙈.
En resumen: ¡lo he disfrutado mucho y estoy deseando que salga el segundo!
December 11, 2021
Katie Oliver has written a wonderfully fun and charming modern-day mystery -- the first in her Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery series -- PRIDE, PREJUDICE and PERIL. I devoured the whole novel in just a couple of days! It's very well written, lighthearted, and packed with clever character references that Austen fans will find delightful.
The protagonist, Phaedra Brighton, leads this compelling cast, which includes friends, family members, university colleagues, the film crew of "Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy?" (fantastically fun!) and more. I loved the warm and humorous relationship Phaedra shared with her sister Hannah, enjoyed our heroine's interactions with a couple of potential love interests, and was drawn into the intrigue of this cozy murder mystery. Also, I seriously want a cat like Wickham!
Can't wait for the upcoming second book in the series (A MURDEROUS PERSUASION), coming Fall 2022. But for now, readers who love all things Austen and stories featuring amateur sleuths will want to pick up a copy of this cute and witty novel. Enjoy it, along with a cup of hot tea and some blueberry scones!
The protagonist, Phaedra Brighton, leads this compelling cast, which includes friends, family members, university colleagues, the film crew of "Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy?" (fantastically fun!) and more. I loved the warm and humorous relationship Phaedra shared with her sister Hannah, enjoyed our heroine's interactions with a couple of potential love interests, and was drawn into the intrigue of this cozy murder mystery. Also, I seriously want a cat like Wickham!
Can't wait for the upcoming second book in the series (A MURDEROUS PERSUASION), coming Fall 2022. But for now, readers who love all things Austen and stories featuring amateur sleuths will want to pick up a copy of this cute and witty novel. Enjoy it, along with a cup of hot tea and some blueberry scones!
May 20, 2024
A very entertaining cozy with a great high concept, and a very fun heroine!
December 9, 2021
Pride, Prejudice, and Peril by Katie Oliver is the debut of A Jane Austen Tea Society Mysteries. Dr. Phaedra Brighton is a quirky college professor at Somerset University. Phaedra teaches English Literature and is a Jane Austen scholar. She dresses in Regency attire (including reticule, slippers, and parasol) to teach. Phaedra has been hired as a historical consultant for Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy (a cross between The Bachelor and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice). The show is being filmed at Marling where her friend, Charlene and her new husband, Bill Collier now reside. Bill Collier is not a nice man (putting it mildly). During a heavy rainstorm, the cast and crew take refuge in Marling. One of the bachelorette’s is wearing Charlene’s Georgian necklace when the power goes out. The necklace is stolen, and Bill is livid. The storm becomes increasing severe and then a large tree crashes into the manor. While Charlene checks on her ill mum, Phaedra agrees to assess the damage caused by the tree and look in on Bill who had decided to take a bath during the lightening storm. Phaedra finds Bill dead in the bathtub. It is obvious that he did not die of natural causes. Detective Morelli is assigned the case and he is being urged to close it quickly. The evidence quickly piles up against Charlene. Phaedra sets out to find the true culprit. The guilty party is not happy with Phaedra’s meddling and attempts to get her out of the way. Phaedra with help from her Jane Austen Tea Society friends work through the list of suspects. Can Phaedra unravel the clues before the killer strikes again? There are numerous references to Jane Austen novels throughout the story. I can tell the author knows Jane Austen and her works. The story contains good writing, but the pacing is a little slow. I admit that I am not a fan of Phaedra. I like that she loves to read and is a respected scholar. I thought it was clever that she dresses in Regency clothing for her lectures. Her personality, though, is only okay. I found her to be judgmental. Her upbringing is apparent from her attitude and how out of touch she is about certain things. The mystery provides us with several suspects since Bill Collier was not a likeable man (a real toady). There are good clues to help readers solve the crime before the reveal. I found Phaedra’s style of questioning to be lacking. Phaedra can be brusque, and she lacks subtlety. Phaedra’s mother is just like Mrs. Bennett. She is always trying to marry off her daughters. There is interesting Regency trivia in the book. I learned some interesting facts. A few changes to Phaedra would not go amiss. Phaedra likes to act superior to others, makes hasty judgements, and I did not like how she withheld evidence from friends and police (to the detriment of the case). I am hoping the author will allow Phaedra to see some of the negative aspects of her characters and make necessary changes. I am hoping her questioning style will improve with time. Pride, Prejudice, and Peril is a Janeite delight with dead drug executive, a clever canine, a precious pug, a matchmaking mother, a dedicated detective, a framed friend, and a prying professor.
July 14, 2022
I love the premise of this book - a college professor is consulting on a reality dating show called "Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy?". When teaching, Professor Phaedra Brighton dresses in regency costumes to give her students a fully immersive experience when learning about the works of Jane Austen. I was excited because this sounded like it would be a fun book with a lighthearted, somewhat quirky character. Unfortunately, too little time is spent on the dating competition, and Phaedra turned out to be self-centered and someone who takes herself very seriously. One of the other characters tells her, "Everything isn't always about you, you know." I agree and hopefully Phaedra will take this to heart.
The book is well-written and when her friend is suspected of murder, Phaedra is a skilled amateur sleuth. However, she often seems to be helping just to satisfy her curiosity and not for the benefit of her friend, Charlene. It doesn't help that Charlene doesn't come across as a warm person. In addition, Phaedra doesn't hesitate to keep clues to herself and actually withholds evidence during her investigation.
The author seems to be setting up a triangle with Phaedra and two other men that she initially doesn't care for. I don't think I'll be continuing the series to find out, though. My dislike for Phaedra and several of the other characters made it hard for me to enjoy what could have been a really fun cozy.
The book is well-written and when her friend is suspected of murder, Phaedra is a skilled amateur sleuth. However, she often seems to be helping just to satisfy her curiosity and not for the benefit of her friend, Charlene. It doesn't help that Charlene doesn't come across as a warm person. In addition, Phaedra doesn't hesitate to keep clues to herself and actually withholds evidence during her investigation.
The author seems to be setting up a triangle with Phaedra and two other men that she initially doesn't care for. I don't think I'll be continuing the series to find out, though. My dislike for Phaedra and several of the other characters made it hard for me to enjoy what could have been a really fun cozy.
January 21, 2022
In which I realize I prefer my Austenish novels to be contemporary rather than cozy.
November 12, 2023
An entertaining setting and interesting characters in this "amateur detective" novel. It met the brief: a light read, a modern setting, a mystery I didn't figure out, and a few attractive men for good measure 😁.
November 24, 2023
A very enjoyable read! It definitely has the essence of Pride and Prejudice, but it leaves you with the mystery of who is going to be Phaedra's Mr. Darcy...I'm looking forward to finding out!
December 5, 2021
Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie meets The Bachelor in Pride, Prejudice, and Peril . Perhaps this is a combination that shouldn’t work, but in author Katie Oliver’s hands it does, resulting in an entertaining cozy mystery.
Phaedra Brighton is a professor and Austen expert, perhaps best known for teaching her classes in full Regency wear. She dreams of Mr. Darcy but knows the closest thing to Pride and Prejudice in her real life is her mother pulling a Mrs. Bennet trying to see her daughters wed. When Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy, a Jane Austen-inspired reality dating series, starts filming at the estate belonging to her best friend, Charlene, Phaedra is offered the job as consultant. Then during filming Charlene’s husband is murdered and evidence points to his wife as the most likely suspect. Phaedra is determined to clear her friend of suspicion and find the true killer, but as someone who is more Lizzy Bennet than Miss Marple, she’ll have her work cut out for her.
Phaedra is an entertaining heroine with just enough quirkiness to make her stand out. In the usual cozy mystery way, she takes it upon herself to investigate, frustrating the local detective with her interference and putting herself in danger. I liked the nods to Austen Oliver sprinkled throughout the story and – as an admitted Janeite – these tidbits made me smile. Phaedra has a rather extensive list of suspects to choose from during her investigation – the deceased was anything but beloved. It was entertaining watching her put the puzzle pieces together while trying to juggle everything on her plate. Information is doled out as needed in order to keep things going and while I sometimes found the reveals to be inorganic in their delivery, it didn’t pull me out of the story. Phaedra’s family and friends are all interesting and I look forward to learning more about them. All in all, I really liked Pride, Prejudice, and Peril and I’m looking forward to seeing what Phaedra gets up to next!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie meets The Bachelor in Pride, Prejudice, and Peril . Perhaps this is a combination that shouldn’t work, but in author Katie Oliver’s hands it does, resulting in an entertaining cozy mystery.
Phaedra Brighton is a professor and Austen expert, perhaps best known for teaching her classes in full Regency wear. She dreams of Mr. Darcy but knows the closest thing to Pride and Prejudice in her real life is her mother pulling a Mrs. Bennet trying to see her daughters wed. When Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy, a Jane Austen-inspired reality dating series, starts filming at the estate belonging to her best friend, Charlene, Phaedra is offered the job as consultant. Then during filming Charlene’s husband is murdered and evidence points to his wife as the most likely suspect. Phaedra is determined to clear her friend of suspicion and find the true killer, but as someone who is more Lizzy Bennet than Miss Marple, she’ll have her work cut out for her.
Phaedra is an entertaining heroine with just enough quirkiness to make her stand out. In the usual cozy mystery way, she takes it upon herself to investigate, frustrating the local detective with her interference and putting herself in danger. I liked the nods to Austen Oliver sprinkled throughout the story and – as an admitted Janeite – these tidbits made me smile. Phaedra has a rather extensive list of suspects to choose from during her investigation – the deceased was anything but beloved. It was entertaining watching her put the puzzle pieces together while trying to juggle everything on her plate. Information is doled out as needed in order to keep things going and while I sometimes found the reveals to be inorganic in their delivery, it didn’t pull me out of the story. Phaedra’s family and friends are all interesting and I look forward to learning more about them. All in all, I really liked Pride, Prejudice, and Peril and I’m looking forward to seeing what Phaedra gets up to next!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
March 30, 2022
About a 3.5. It had its moments. It's also a first in series book, which makes a difference. I will admit I had a little trouble with the professor who wears Jane Austen style clothes around town-- I assume that was supposed to be funny but it seemed more eccentric. Also the cover is very Keira Knightly-- though the purse is not good in the illustration. Also our heroine takes an awful lot of unnecessary chances. Where the book shines is with all the literary references, and not just Jane Austen. I did love how the author working Austenian characters into the plots seamlessly (for example, Our Heroine Phaedra's sister is interested in a man named Charles who has a sister Karolina who has a history with Mr. Darcy, er Selden; Phaedra's friend Charlene Lucas who married an usavory (former) minister, that sort of thing). She has a cat named Wickham who is portrayed as aloof and unlikeable (did NOT care for the line "Cats are supposed to be unloveable") but since he did play an important role at one point I'll just hope for better. You know me: it's all about the cat.
I will look forward to the next book.
I will look forward to the next book.
November 21, 2023
♡ 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨 ♡
•lady muck
•jane austen meets the bachelor
•reality tv
•cozy mystery
•wickham
•jane austen literary festival
•good ole fashioned whodunit
“𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬.”
my first cozy mystery and i enjoyed it so much! cozy is such an appropriate word because that’s how i felt while reading it. the writing was so beautiful and descriptive. i was absolutely immersed in this small town mystery!
phaedra was such a delightful heroine. i love how much she loved all things jane austen and the literary references sprinkled throughout the story were so much fun! she was truly determined to clear her best friend’s name and i enjoyed the methodical way she went about it even if she reckless at times. there were a lot of moving pieces to this story but it never got confusing. i most enjoyed phaedra’s “conversations” with wicks. 😂
professor mark selden and detective matteo morelli added another fun little mystery. i’m really eager to see how this potential love triangle plays out. her interactions and banter with both were great, but i’m definitely already leading one way. the mystery itself was one i didn’t see coming. it was multilayered and had me guessing to the very end. bravo to katie oliver for completely stumping me. i’m so excited to see what mystery phaedra solves next!!
romance: flirting
thank you to berkley and austenprose for the gifted copy. my thoughts are my own.
•lady muck
•jane austen meets the bachelor
•reality tv
•cozy mystery
•wickham
•jane austen literary festival
•good ole fashioned whodunit
“𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬.”
my first cozy mystery and i enjoyed it so much! cozy is such an appropriate word because that’s how i felt while reading it. the writing was so beautiful and descriptive. i was absolutely immersed in this small town mystery!
phaedra was such a delightful heroine. i love how much she loved all things jane austen and the literary references sprinkled throughout the story were so much fun! she was truly determined to clear her best friend’s name and i enjoyed the methodical way she went about it even if she reckless at times. there were a lot of moving pieces to this story but it never got confusing. i most enjoyed phaedra’s “conversations” with wicks. 😂
professor mark selden and detective matteo morelli added another fun little mystery. i’m really eager to see how this potential love triangle plays out. her interactions and banter with both were great, but i’m definitely already leading one way. the mystery itself was one i didn’t see coming. it was multilayered and had me guessing to the very end. bravo to katie oliver for completely stumping me. i’m so excited to see what mystery phaedra solves next!!
romance: flirting
thank you to berkley and austenprose for the gifted copy. my thoughts are my own.
September 7, 2024
I will read just about anything and this was a STRUGGLE to get through. Only picked it up because my son (who was 4) had gotten me the 3rd book of the series as a gift and I figured I should read it from the beginning. No redeeming qualities to any characters. The protagonist holds a grudge against men which I'd understand if she had a series of disasters with them... but no. All stems from being stood up at prom by a dude who had strung her along before. Then there's a quasi-declaration of feelings from the detective who knows nothing of her except being a nosy-Nelly who wants to solve the investigation for him. And the mother? Leaves her father on an annual basis out of sheer, arbitrary drama. Her father seems to be a saint. This book was atrocious. I love my boy and love that he picked out a book for me all by himself and right now I wish it had been anything else. Id rather read a phonebook. Or a dictionary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2023
The best thing about this cozy mystery is the cat.
It gets better towards the end, in fact quite intense, but most of the way through I disliked the protagonist/sleuth. I like the character who winds up playing Darcy at the festival, but the cat is the best part of the story.
This rating is mostly my personal taste. The clues are all there, and well placed, so in that respect it's an intelligently put together, satisfying mystery. I think the protag goes too far into what should be left to the police, and in taking risks. The only editorial annoyance is a couple of references to the "Pemberley ball" when I'm quite sure it should have been the Netherfield ball. I would have stopped reading halfway through, but I found I wanted to know who the killer was, so I kept going. Again, I love the cat.
It gets better towards the end, in fact quite intense, but most of the way through I disliked the protagonist/sleuth. I like the character who winds up playing Darcy at the festival, but the cat is the best part of the story.
This rating is mostly my personal taste. The clues are all there, and well placed, so in that respect it's an intelligently put together, satisfying mystery. I think the protag goes too far into what should be left to the police, and in taking risks. The only editorial annoyance is a couple of references to the "Pemberley ball" when I'm quite sure it should have been the Netherfield ball. I would have stopped reading halfway through, but I found I wanted to know who the killer was, so I kept going. Again, I love the cat.
February 8, 2023
Pride, Prejudice, and Peril (Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery, #1) by Katie Oliver
Phaedra Brighton is a College professor and Jane Austen expert. She is hired to be a consultant on a Jane Austen themed reality show, being filmed at her friend Charlene's Estate. All is good until Charlene's Husband ends up dead and she is the prime suspect. Phaedra is determined to clear her friend and find the real killer.
A fast paced (original) murder/mystery with a classic who-done-it feel. With well developed characters, a likable lead (Phaedra), many suspects, secrets revealed and a bit of family drama. I was hooked from the first page until the end. Fantastic. I highly recommend Pride, Prejudice, and Peril to those who enjoy a great murder/mystery.
Phaedra Brighton is a College professor and Jane Austen expert. She is hired to be a consultant on a Jane Austen themed reality show, being filmed at her friend Charlene's Estate. All is good until Charlene's Husband ends up dead and she is the prime suspect. Phaedra is determined to clear her friend and find the real killer.
A fast paced (original) murder/mystery with a classic who-done-it feel. With well developed characters, a likable lead (Phaedra), many suspects, secrets revealed and a bit of family drama. I was hooked from the first page until the end. Fantastic. I highly recommend Pride, Prejudice, and Peril to those who enjoy a great murder/mystery.
February 13, 2023
I probably should have known better. Yes, I love Pride and Prejudice and am always willing to give a shot to an homage, an update, or and expansion story that connects to the original in some way. Unfortunately this one, being as it centres around a P&P focused reality tv show really was not my jam.
I loathe reality tv in all its forms and find it irritating in the extreme so I guess it shouldn't surprise me that both the plot and the characters did not connect for me at all.
Fortunately, I got this from the library, and it will be going back there post-haste, while I move on to something else.
I loathe reality tv in all its forms and find it irritating in the extreme so I guess it shouldn't surprise me that both the plot and the characters did not connect for me at all.
Fortunately, I got this from the library, and it will be going back there post-haste, while I move on to something else.
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