Score: 4/5 Bookmarks

Thank you to Harper Audio for gifting me a review copy of Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price. This is the first in the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series and I’m looking forward to seeing what they get up to next.

The reimagining of classics, or taking much-loved characters and putting them into new situations is tricky business but the author did it remarkably well and this book was so much fun. The characters and their personalities are much the same, but their environment and professions are much altered. Lizzie Bennet aspires to work at her father’s law firm, and is much thrown together with Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, from a rival firm, as they both fight to prove the innocence of their friend Mr Bingley (who’s been arrested for murder).

The closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous things become. You’ll be shocked to learn who’s behind it all!

I loved the banter between Lizzie and Darcy, but would have liked a little more romance. There’s a touch of it, but mostly the focus is on the mystery side. You’ll be pleased to note that Mr Collins is as odious as ever though.

The audiobook was narrated by Morag Sims, and is a quick 8 hours and 29 minutes. I recognized the narrator’s voice from The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows which is also wonderfully performed. Grab a copy of the audiobook via the button below, or you can get a physical copy here.

Synopsis:

Perfect for fans of the Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper, the first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries series is a clever retelling of Pride and Prejudice that reimagines the iconic settings, characters, and romances in a thrilling and high-stakes whodunit.

When a scandalous murder shocks London high society, seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet seizes the opportunity to prove herself, despite the interference of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious firm Pemberley Associates.

Convinced the authorities have imprisoned the wrong person, Lizzie vows to solve the murder on her own. But as the case—and her feelings for Darcy—become more complicated, Lizzie discovers that her dream job could make her happy, but it might also get her killed.