Pride and Premeditation (Jane Austen Murder Mysteries, 1)
One of BuzzFeed's best YA books of 2021!
Perfect for fans of the Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper, the first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries trilogy 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.
Three of Jane Austen’s classic novels receive a murder mystery makeover in this romantic and thrilling three-book series that’s perfect for fans of The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy.
Pride and Premeditation is followed by Sense and Second-Degree Murder, in which aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood and her sister Marianne, a budding detective, work together to solve the mystery of their father’s murder.
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Community Reviews
Pride and Premeditation takes a new approach to give a classic a new look.
Unique Storytelling
I am going to be honest I have never read Pride and Prejudice. I have seen movie adaptations, so I know what the story is about, but I have never actually made it through the actual book.
That said, I loved Pride and Premeditation. Price did a fantastic job of adapting the classic elements and making them work in a murder mystery setting. Bingley has been accused of murder, and Lizzie, eager to prove herself to her father that she can be a barrister, seeks to prove him innocent on her own. Of course, being a woman in Victorian England, she meets some bumps. One of the bumps is Mr. Darcy, Bingley’s friend, and family solicitor.
Price develops the story amazingly, focusing on the characters and their dynamics. She creates this beautiful murder mystery that is reminiscent of Sherlock. It is wonderful how it starts setting up Lizzie’s strong personality and how unfair society is towards women, limiting their worth to what they can do at home. This is a theme repeated throughout the narrative and will resonate with readers. It has that feministic edge, saying women can be whatever they choose to be and that society should not limit them.
It is a great theme that creates relevancy while adding tension to the story.
Now, the rising tension is already incredible because of the murder mystery. However, not all murder mysteries are engaging. Some can be downright boring. That is not the case here. It is incredible to see the rising tension balance off the characters, what they see, what they think, and how they adapt to their situations.
Price shows their passion in the storytelling. They weave together this mystery while also pulling in those elements from the original, working them in to make the story unpredictable.
Characterization
Honestly, the characterization is everything in Pride and Premeditation.
Price was able to capture the strong spirit of Lizzie and the pride she and Mr. Darcy have. That tension between them captures the heart of the classic but gives it new life. Lizzie is so headstrong and observant. Her clever mind and the fact that she is a woman allow her to see the world’s injustices, that not everything is as perfect as Mr. Darcy would hope.
The way their relationship develops is expected, but it was written in such a fantastic way. It has this freshness to it, this passion that develops through their shared love of the law. I loved it, how they butt heads, how they learn to compromise and work together.
Price made sure that they had the personality and passion for keeping the story engaging and moving forward.
Final Thoughts
Pride and Premeditation was such a fantastic novel. From start to finish, from the story to the characterization, to the dynamics, this novel is engaging.
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This story had all the nuances of the original Pride and Prejudice but with murder of course! It was fun seeing all my favorite characters portrayed in a different light. Mr. Bingley has been accused of murder and Lizzie and Darcy work together as his solicitors to prove he didn't do what he's accused of.
I think that the story stayed true to the original tone of pride and prejudice but added the lovely mystery twist. I definitely plan on reading the next books!
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