London Season, Scandals, and Our Favorite Sleuthing Pair

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

TYPE OF NOVEL: Mansfield Park Sequel Mystery

SERIES: Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery #4

(NOTE: While it is a stand alone novel, I’d recommend reading the other books in this series – The Murder of Mr. Wickham, The Late Mrs. Willoughby,  The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh – before reading this book for a more enhanced experience – also to avoid spoiling the mysteries of the first three books.

THE PREMISE:  When simultaneous opportunities to enjoy the delights of a London Season befall Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy, they both seize the chance to continue furthering their relationship. What they didn’t expect was another opportunity to work together and solve another murder mystery… When Mr. Rushworth is found dead, everyone is quick to enlist Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney to help solve this unexpected homicide…

WHAT I LOVED:

• More Mansfield Drama: Does it surprise me that someone from Mansfield Park was murdered? No. Does it surprise me that someone from Mansfield Park may be the murder? Also, no. Never was there a more selfish and morally bankrupt group… I think this collection of characters is a wonderful choice to explore a murder mystery with. And I loved how Claudia Gray brought them all to new environs by having her story take place in London instead of Mansfield Park.

• Exciting London: Amidst the hustle and bustle, the gossip and the gaieties, the rumors and the reputations – the inner dramas of the Bertrams, Crawfords, and Rushworths are explored. It was interesting to see characters like Fanny, Edmund, and Lady Bertram who seem to thrive in the country deal with the constant activity of London. There were balls, concerts, walks in parks – so many diversions and so many encounters. The action of this story was truly captivating, and Claudia Gray highlights the pleasures and pitfalls of a London Season very well in this tale.

• Fanny’s Troubles: It was a welcome surprise to see more of Fanny Bertram and her own private struggles in this story.  She is dealing with disappointment , guilt, jealousy, and fear. She has some difficult challenges to work through and I appreciated how she progressed through these challenges in solitude. Even though she has Edmund to confide in, she doesn’t. She bears her own burdens and eventually experiences growth and understanding. I love how the author highlighted Fanny’s emotions through her challenges – they felt authentic, relatable, and in character.

• Sir Thomas’s Responsibilities: With the passing of his father, Tom Bertram has now inherited the title and responsibilities that come with it. He is making plans for the future, for marriage, and for preserving the estate. It is interesting to observe Sir Thomas’s mindset during this time. Understandably he is feeling the pressure and weight. He is the head of the family, and must make decisions or set courses of actions for others. I enjoyed the evolution of his character in this novel.

• Caroline’s Schemes: Love that Caroline Allerdyce née Bingley was in this novel and has two marriageable daughters she is trying to achieve brilliant matches for. She is as calculating and cutthroat as before and still cannot resist chasing after the Darcys…although this time it is for one of her daughters. I enjoyed witnessing her antics…and the times her schemes were thwarted or backfired.

WHAT COULD’VE BEEN BETTER:

• Mystery Development: I loved the premise of the mystery and how it began, but unfortunately it seemed to accelerate in pace before the end. There were not many new twists or developments to surprise the reader or make them change their reasoning. In fact, the culmination of the murder mystery seemed to come about quickly out of nowhere when both main characters each declared they solved part of the mystery on their own. Perhaps with all the attention on individual characters in this story, some page time for the mystery was sacrificed?

• Romantic Development: Juliet’s and Jonathan’s relationship seems to continue moving in low gear. I am suspecting that this isn’t the last book in the series, and as such there is a wish to delay the culmination of things.  But at the same time I wish Juliet and Jonathan did or said more in this book. Especially since it is clear to everyone around them where their affections lie,  their hearts have a mutual understanding, and Jonathan did something very heroic and brave. Can we just get a little something to satisfy those with romantic sensibilities???

FINAL THOUGHTS:

🙋🏻‍♀️ Is anyone surprised that several years later the Bertrams continue to experience scandals, squabbles, and shame?

🫢  While Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy are well-versed in dealing with mysteries and murderers, they find themselves unprepared to deal with the disreputable acts and consequences of London society.

📚 Claudia Gray continues to cleverly weave together Jane Austen characters, embroil them in dark and sinister mysteries, and create a long arcing romance between two extremely likable original characters.

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