Suspense and Sensibility: Or, First Impressions Revisited

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries #2

by Carrie Bebris

Fresh from the curious and unsettling matter of Caroline Bingley (as related in Pride and Prescience ), Mr. and Mrs. Darcy have every intention of enjoying their still newlywed status at Pemberly until they are confronted with another mysterious situation, ... one of

Suspense and Sensibility

Elizabeth Darcy and her beloved husband Fitzwilliam are taking on the responsibility of finding a suitable suitor for Elizabeth's younger sister Kitty, thereby assuring her a proper place in society.

The angels smile on the young and a perfect match is found, and wedding plans are soon under way. Suddenly a change in personality occurs in Kitty's soon to be model husband-a change so striking as to jeopardize not just the Darcys' social standing, but their lives as well.

A mysterious mirror, an insidious reprobate from the past, and matters far beyond the social circles around Pemberly all come into play in a dangerous puzzle, where the consequences may be the exchange of a soul for a soul.

Once again the Darcys take center stage as the Regency era's answer to The Thin Man 's Nick and Nora, searching for truth between tea times, amid the social whirl of Jane Austen's England.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Regency, Romance

301 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Carrie began her career in publishing after previous roles as a newspaper reporter and college English teacher.

As an editor for fantasy publisher TSR, Inc., she developed supplements for the Dungeons & Dragons® roleplaying game before striking out on her own as a freelance writer and editor. She wrote two fantasy novels, Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor (2001) and Shadowborn (1998, with William W. Connors), before making her mystery debut in 2004 with Pride and Prescience.

In addition to fiction, Carrie pens remodeling articles for Better Homes and Gardens® Special Interest Publications and writes other nonfiction. She has also edited such books as Tea with Jane Austen (by Kim Wilson) and Walking with
William Shakespeare (by Anne-Marie Edwards). She is on the faculty of the
Antioch Writers' Workshop and speaks frequently about writing and publishing.

Carrie holds a master’s degree in English literature with an emphasis on 19th-century authors and studied Austen on the graduate level with one of today’s most respected Austen scholars. She is a life member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and travels to England to enhance her understanding of Austen’s life and work.

Originally from Wisconsin, Carrie now lives in Ohio. When not writing, she likes to travel, watch costume dramas that send her husband fleeing the house, and indulge in her love of all things British. She is currently working on her next novel, based on Persuasion.

Reviews

[Kavita · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second book of the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mysteries, Suspense and Sensibility sees the couple settled in their marriage. But now they have to sponsor Kitty into society and give her a London "season". Kitty immediately manages to find a great match, but then things begin to go awry. Harry Dashwood, who started off as a nice young man with a decent fortune, soon began to behave extremely erratically. Is there a secret behind it? Elizabeth thinks so ...!

This was much better and more interesting than the first book, Pride and Prescience, which sort of bored me. I enjoyed Kitty's search for a groom and the drama of social life and its intricacies were well observed. Bebris is really great with the details and managed to bring across the feel of the times quite vividly.

Unfortunately, she again decides to insert supernatural mumbo jumbo into the story and it all goes haywire at some point. The plot is pretty ridiculous centred around an evil mirror. While I really enjoyed Bebris' portrayal of the characters and the Austenesque setting, the shoddy plot was annoying. I am just glad she got rid of the supernatural nonsense in the next book in the series.

[MRB · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

It happens to me so often that you guys are probably as sick of reading about it as I am of experiencing it: I fall in love with the first half of a book, only to fall rapidly OUT of love with the second. In this case, though, it wasn't because the plot, themes and characterizations became tiresomely repetitive or because the pacing became either frustratingly slow or alarmingly erratic. It's because the charming, witty, wonderfully written romantic comedy/light mystery of the first half gave way to an utterly bizarre paranormal, supernatural 'thriller.' The change was both jarring and poorly executed.

I'm an Austen fanatic, but I'm in no way an Austen purist. I'm open to a variety of sequels and spin-offs, and I neither expect nor even want them to be slavishly faithful to Austen's original work. As a mystery lover, I loved the idea of a whodunnit featuring Elizabeth and Darcy as sleuths. More importantly, I found this book was written in a delightful and sneakily sharp style that, while different from Austen's, managed to capture a lot of the same wit, insight and spirit of which Jane would have approved. And Sense and Sensibility was my second favorite of Austen's novels (and one of my favorite books of all time), so I leaped at a chance to catch up with some of those characters. In theory, I wouldn't have even minded a paranormal element, but here it just swallowed the book whole, overshadowing all the elements of the book that worked in favor of forcing a plot and tone that really DIDN'T work at all. The novel was no longer even a whodunnit---the only 'mystery' was when Darcy would acknowledge that something supernatural was at play and whether I'd throw my poor Kindle across the room in frustration ;)

The first half was a solid 4.5 stars for me, filled with charm and wit and subtly brilliant turns of phrase. The second half was closer to two stars...and that's being excessively generous ;) I've heard that Bebris' later mysteries are more mysteries, with the paranormal element mercifully minimized. I'm hopeful that those will get a spot on my 'keeper' shelf that this one didn't quite manage to earn!

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for anything based on Jane Austen if it is well done. And sometimes when it is not. This is evidenced by the fact that I've read all of these Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries, though this is the only one I have actually written anything on. It starts off pretty well; the characters seemed pretty true to the originals, though Kitty is given a more positive spin. It is an improvement over Pride and Prescience. I actually chuckled a few times. Sadly, it degenerates pretty quickly once the mystery kicks in. Unfortunately, it is another paranormal mystery and it is positively outlandish. It was nice to see the Dashwood women again. Lucy Ferrars nee Steele starts out true to form, but her ultimate fate is positively ludicrous and cringe-worthy. The resolution has some tragic aspects considering the fluffy way it starts out. I was considerably less patient with the rest in the series, just skipping through the mystery part. I remember looking forward to more of Georgiana as she was pretty intriguing, and also an appearance of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Unfortunately, I do not remember anything about any of the other stories, which I guess is a review of the whole series in and of itself.

https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....

[Elisabetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ritrovo ancora una volta i coniugi Darcy alle prese con un mistero e ammetto che, se non leggessi di tanto in tanto qualche derivato di orgoglio e pregiudizio sentirei enormemente la mancanza di questi personaggi che ormai mi sono entrati nel cuore.
è sempre un piacere ritrovarli anche se non hanno i tratti e le caratteristiche tipiche degli originali (inimitabili).
In questo secondo libro della Bebris ritroviamo i coniugi Darcy alle prese con la stagione londinese con lo scopo di trovare corteggiatori per Kitty e Georgiana.
Se nel primo avevamo trovato Caroline Bingley alle prese con un fidanzato, ora ritroviamo Kitty mentre Georgiana è poco più di una comparsa in questo capitolo.
Mi è piaciuto molto il personaggio di Kitty in quanto si percepisce un evoluzione, un assennatezza crescente.
nel resto dei personaggi, la Bebris si è presa qualche libertà per quanto riguarda l'età.
Infatti il protagonista maschile è Harry Dashwood, figlio di Fanny e John Dashwood (fratello di Elinor e Marianne giusto per dare un riferimento)che ai tempi di ragione e sentimento era solamente un bambino e che qui è un bel ragazzo, inizialmente un po' frivolo, che si innamora di Kitty.
Se la trama sembra inizialmente normale, ecco che l'elemento fantasy/mistery irrompe nelle vicende di tutti, stravolgendo i piani. Lo specchio narciso è un elemento ben descritto all'interno al romanzo ed ho trovato la vicenda creata intorno ad esso molto intrigante.

Nonostante abbia letto a saltoni questa serie partendo bene con il primo, ma poi saltando al terzo e da lì al quindo per poi ritornare al secondo, tutti i libri della serie possono considerarsi quasi degli stand-alone. Ovvio, qualche riferimento alle vicende passate c'è, ma nulla che una storia intrigante non possa far dimenticare.

[Rebekah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just finished the second book I only completed because I hate to leave a novel unfinished. Suspense and Sensibility is the second in a series of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery novels by Carrie Bebris and while I am sure Mrs. Bebris has the upmost respect for the Darcy’s, I can’t say I respect her for what she has done with them. She mixed the most beloved characters from Jane Austen into some sci-fi drama along the lines of The Potrait of Dorian Grey except this time it is a mirror causing a young man’s soul to be possessed or swapped with that of a dead Uncle. I enjoyed Elizabeth Bennet Darcy meeting up with Elinor Dashwood Ferrars. Though they are too different in age to really bond as two women with lots of sisters could, one still appreciates the chance at their connecting. But doing so while Elizabeth is playing matchmaker for Kitty and Elinor’s nephew is a tad strange. Seeing Fanny as a mother was rather amusing as she has gained no remorse for her rudeness and learned nothing from her mother’s attitude.
Any one who felt sorry for Lucy Steele Ferrars at the end of Sense and Sensiblity will hate this novel as Mrs. Bebris reduces her to a gossip and an adulterous whore.
I think I just wasn’t looking for a gothic horror mixed in with my classic romances. revisiting old friends is one thing watching them battle mythological mirrors and trading souls for souls is quite another. I guess I was remembering a book I had read where Jane Austen herself was the detective and at least there it was real bad guys and real solutions, but such is the difference in styles.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so I guess I'm going to have to read all of Carrie Bebris's mysteries written around Jane Austen books.

I don't know why. The gothic supernatural elements that get thrown in always seem a touch on the ridiculous side - I'm sure young girls 200 years ago would have LOVED them - but she's so faithful to the characters, I like them anyway.

The second in the series explores Sense and Sensibility. She's set the happenings of Sense & Sensibility a few years earlier than they actually happened, so that John and Fanny Dashwood's son, Harry, is the right age to fall in love with Kitty Bennet.

The thing I like most about these books is the way Carrie Bebris remains faithful to the original characters. Some of the situations seem a little ridiculous - Gothic to the extreme - but the characters act like Jane Austen wrote them.

I was very happy to encounter Elinor and Edward Ferrars, who have three children in this book; Marianne and Col. Brandon have five (!) and Margaret is married with three of her own. Of course, I was less than thrilled to see Fanny Dashwood and Lucy Steele Ferrars, but one can't have any drama without conflict caused by ridiculous people like the two of them.

I shan't give away the supernatural Gothic twist, although it made my eyes roll a bit. Suspension of disbelief is vital to the plot of any of these.

I'm sure I'll be reviewing more of these books in the future. I like them, despite the Gothic eye-roll-inducing twists.

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first discovered PP alternatives in this series of books. Here a happily married Darcy & Lizzy are giving Georgiana and Kitty a season. Kitty quickly attracts a suitor a Mr. Dashwood (nephew of Elinor and Marianne) Who has recently come into his inheritance - unfortunately it comes with some heavy implications mainly the possessions of a distant relative Mr. Francis Dashwood of the infamous Hellfire Club.

Kitty's suitor is soon behaving uncharacteristically and Lizzy And Darcy need to get to the bottom of it. Luckily Professor Randolph returns from Pride & Prescience to help with the heavy lifting.

[Lollyletsgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't a traditional mystery, touching more on the edges of a Gothic horror story- not Frankenstein, but I don't want to mention the one it reminds me of, for that is the fun part of trying to figure out a mystery from your chair, isn't it? ;]

[Ruby Grad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read in the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries series. This time, it's Pride and Prejudice meets and Sense and Sensibility. There is an author's note at the end that explains just how this could have happened, that the Darcys could have met the Dashwoods after the death of John Dashwood, which would have occurred after the book ended, leaving Norland to John's son, Henry. Many of the Sense and Sensibility characters appear, including Fanny Dashwood and Lucy Steele (now Lucy Ferrars), who are as despicable as ever. Elizabeth, Darcy, Georgiana, and Kitty--one of the two as yet unmarried Bennet daughters--have come to London for the season to hopefully find Kitty a husband. She and Henry Dashwood meet, fall in love and get engaged, to Henry's mother's Fanny's dismay. But strange things start happening with Henry, and it's up to Elizabeth and Darcy to figure it all out. Along the way, Elizabeth strikes up a friendship with Elinor, so two of my favorite Austen heroines meet and like each other, which makes the read even more fun.

[Maddie Rospierski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing. Give me 1000 more of these.

[Christine Honsinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mentioned to my mil i was out of reading material and the next day she dropped off this book...I was not home, but when I saw what she had done and what she had left, began reading asap if for nothing else, pure curiosity. It was strange but fun, and I recommend it to anyone who may be interested in a Jane Austin meets Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Grey sort of way...the best part for me was the characters of Pride and Prejudice coming together with some of the families from Sense and Sensibility. As to be expected, Elinor and Elizabeth hit it off! :) For the most part, the conversations were quite authentic sounding and "Austenesque", with just a few anachronistic exceptions. Overall, I enjoyed it but it should be taken for what it is, a sci fi, horror, gothic suspense, fantasy hybrid and not at all to be confused with the exceptional classics it borrows heavily from. I think I may read the other books in this series, I like the Darcys and have always wondered how their life would have turned out together! :)

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Woohoo! The S&S characters meet the Darcys! How fun. I had never thought about how far apart the two books were set. It was a bit sad to have Elinor 15 years older than Elizabeth, but it all still worked. And it was nice to see Kitty a bit more mature and find her happiness (and in the way that Austen dictated after P&P was published!). I had a little trouble liking Harry at the beginning. I felt the Darcys were "enamoured" with him a little too easily, but I suspect that was to drive the plot along so we could get to the shocking changes later on. And they were indeed shocking. Bebris was right--to put that in Austen's world? Major GASP!!! But it was intriguing. And with they mystery, I again had my immediate suspicions--which were mostly correct. I was a bit more ready for the paranormal/magic aspect this time, though it still felt slightly disjointed. Oh well.

Another light, fun enjoyable read. Perfect for what my mind can handle. And I feel definitely assured in my recommendations of this book to Austen and Austen spin-off fans.

[A Hudak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the novel started out in a rather clever and entertaining mishmash of Austen characters, it became too bizarre and supernatural to sustain interest.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ceci est le deuxième opus d'une série nous emmenant sur les traces d'Elisabeth et Darcy après leur mariage et dans celui-ci, vous l'aurez compris, ils auront l'occasion de croiser différents personnages issus de Raison et Sentiments dans leur quête pour marier Kitty convenablement. Mais attention, s'il s'agit bien d'un cross-over, genre que j'affectionne particulièrement, il s'agit surtout ici d'une suite mêlant Jane Austen et fantastique. Ça peut surprendre, je vous l'accorde, et c'est d'ailleurs la raison principale pour laquelle j'avais détesté le premier tome, mais une fois qu'on est averti que les objets peuvent avoir des pouvoirs magiques, je vous assure que ça se passe mieux.

D'une manière générale, j'ai donc bien aimé ma lecture. L'univers de Jane Austen est bien retranscris (comprendre que vous ne trouverez pas une fille Darcy en train de coucher avec le premier venu derrière la salle de bal) et nous avons plaisir à retrouver les personnages, même si j'ai mis quelques temps à resituer ceux de Raison et Sentiments puisque nous retrouvons en fait Harry Dashwood, le neveu de Marianne et Elinor, devenu adulte. Il y a parfois quelques petits manques de cohérences dans le comportement de Kitty par exemple, ou dans le profil du jeune homme qu'elle séduit, mais je peux comprendre que cela sert l'histoire et je le pardonne bien volontiers à l'auteur.

D'ailleurs, on se prend réellement d'affection pour le jeune héros qui va subir bien des revers et on s'inquiète rapidement de son destin. On tourne donc facilement et rapidement les pages, incapable de l'abandonner à son sort. Et finalement, ce qui m'a peut-être le plus déçu, c'est justement la fin. Sans vous en dire trop, même si la vérité est rétablie et que, comme dans Raison et Sentiments, le héros qui a été spolié se satisfait de ce qu'il a, je trouve vraiment la punition bien trop sévère et parfaitement injuste. D'ailleurs, c'est déjà ce que je pense pour Edward dans R&S et je suis consciente que l'auteur a voulu faire écho à cette situation, mais là c'est encore pire ! C'est dommage parce que je finis ma lecture frustrée et mitigée.


http://janeausten.hautetfort.com/arch...

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction. I also love Jane Austen. I really enjoyed this book seeing some of my favorite characters come to life in a new story. You not only get to see the Darcy’s again but also the Dashwood’s. This book is called a mystery so I thought it would fall in a similar vein to the other books I have read like this one. But there is murder but that’s not the mystery but it is of a “supernatural/sci-fi” nature. Which I don’t think I was ready for. There was definitely a lot of suspense through the story and it moved at a fast pace. I think if you know going in this is not a typical mystery set in the regency area then you should be able to enjoy it!

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Maren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like mysteries and I like Jane Austen's world, so I thought I would give this one a chance. It was entertaining and a pretty quick read.

[Cassie Linhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun read! The “mystery” was quite obvious to me from the start, but it was still an enjoyable novel!

[Aj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the 1st.

[Craftyhj · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

Another interesting and enjoyable book in this mystery series featuring Mr and Mrs Darcy as a newly married couple. This one involves characters from Sense and Sensibility as well as a real historical figure.

I really enjoy this writer's writing style which is easy to read whilst remaining authentic. There is a delightful humour which runs throughout the book. This was one of those rare occasions when I enjoyed the execution more than the plot.

There were two points which I was not sure about but as they impact the plot I have left them as spoilers,
Firstly, the idea of Lucy Ferrars as the mistress of her nephew was really quite icky. The plot made it clear she thought it was Harry himself rather than Sir Francis. Secondly, I felt the reaction of the Dashwood family to the loss of Norland was rather too understated.

I will continue with this series.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by characters from Jane Austen’s novels Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, the second in the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mysteries series begins four months after the marriage of Austen’s famous romantic duo, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Family obligations take them from Pemberley, their country estate in Derbyshire, to Town to help the couple’s younger sisters, Kitty Bennet and Georgiana Darcy, participate in the London social season. Being an heiress, Georgiana commands the respect and admiration of many who would like to connect with the Darcy family and its large fortune. Kitty, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. In contrast, her small dowry and lack of social accomplishments leave only her family connections and natural charms to entice an eligible suitor for her hand. He comes in the form of a rich dandy, Harry Dashwood, son of John and Fanny Dashwood of Norland Park, who when first introduced to Miss Catherine Bennet, thinks she is the highly accomplished and very rich Georgiana Darcy. A moment of realization and embarrassment for all is smoothed over by Harry’s continued attentions to Kitty. Elizabeth and Darcy are also relieved that he has other motives than those of his social climbing mother Fanny Dashwood in choosing a wife. He is quite taken with Kitty and invites her and the Darcys to Norland for his twenty-first birthday fete.

Revisiting Norland Park again, we are re-introduced to more characters from Jane Austen’s novel Sense and Sensibility: Robert and Lucy Ferrars & Edward and Elinor Ferrars – but twenty years has transpired since the conclusion of Austen’s novel – and the next generation takes center stage. Harry’s mother Fanny Dashwood, officious and manipulative as ever, disapproves of Catherine Bennet intensely. Wanting her son to marry for money and connections, she fosters a match between Robert & Lucy Ferrars’ unappealing daughter Regina. Harry will have none of it and proves he is his own man and asks for Kitty’s hand and is accepted.

After some doubts about Harry, Elizabeth and Darcy and now very supportive of the engagement. Returning to Town to shop for Kitty’s trousseau, everyone thinks that she has made an excellent match for herself until their first impressions of Harry are sorely tested. His extended absence from his fiancé gives rise to speculation and doubt, coupled with damaging gossip about him being seen about Town engaging in late night carousing with disreputable characters. When he finally reappears at the Darcy’s townhouse to visit his fiancé, he explains that he has been away from London for two weeks visiting relatives. How could that be when he has been seen by so many in Town, including Mr. Darcy himself?

After leisurely starting off quite sedately as a continuation of Pride and Prejudice interlaced with characters from Sense and Sensibility, the plot takes a right hand turn into the realm of the supernatural. A mysterious ancient mirror and an infamous Dashwood relation from the past bring Gothic elements into this mystery that were quite unexpected, but intriguing. Bebris has a wonderful command of Regency history and a complete understanding of Austen’s characters. Even though I solved the mystery that Elizabeth and Darcy must investigate and deduce before the protagonists did, it mattered not. What is most delightful about Bebris’ Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mysteries is the couple themselves. I found myself laughing out loud several times at their witty banter.

“That is precisely why foxhunting is an inappropriate pastime for ladies,” Darcy said. “Blood sport runs counter to their gentle natures.”

Elizabeth thought about many well-bred women who occupied society’s highest ranks, and chuckled softy. “Ladies are quite capable of blood sport, darling. Their field is the drawing room.” Page 54

Suspense and Sensibility is a delightful read, albeit a bit slow to start, it eventually churns and always tickles the funny bone in all the right places.

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series where the newly married Mr and Mrs. Darcy stumble into these mysteries. This is the second book by Carrie Bebris, the first one is Pride and Prescience. In this book the Darcy's take Kitty to London in hopes of find her a husband. She falls for a Mr. Harry Dashwood, son on Fanny and John Dashwood from Jane Austen's Sense and Sensiblity, I love how the author entertwined the characters from these two beloved novels. However, this author also introduces Sir Frances Dashwood, a real person who lived around the time of Jane Austen and decided to make him related to the Dashwoods from Sense and Senseiblity. He was infamous for his debauchery and bad deeds. How does he become involved in this novel, you ask? Well the young Harry Dashwood, engaged to Kitty Bennet, brings a mysterious mirror and portrait of his infamous relative into his abode. Then he himself takes on a different behavior, is he idolizing his relative? Is her really a blackguard? What does this do to the Darcy's?

What a great page turner. You will be reading about your favorite characters from Pride and Prejudice as well as Sense and Sensibilty.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in Bebris' Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery series was yet another great read. I love the way Bebris writes. She stays true to Austen's characters and expands upon their story perfectly. She even includes the characters from Sense and Sensibility! I'm a huge fan of this series and I'm looking forward to the next one!

The second in the series takes the reader up to Pemberley where Lizzie and Darcy have been quietly residing in the months after the events of the first book. They have agreed to take in Lizzie's sister Kitty and sponsor her for her first season with the "ton". She meets a charming man who she quickly falls in love with and becomes engaged too. Soon after their engagement strange things begin happening and tales of her fiancée’s exploits around town threaten to end their engagement. Will Lizzie and Darcy be able to save Kitty's engagement? Read the book to find out!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up after watching "Death Comes to Pemberley" on Masterpiece Theater and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Four months after their marriage, Elizabeth Darcy and her husband travel to London with her sister Kitty and his sister Georgiana, both single. While Georgiana is content to remain single for the time being, Kitty is intent on finding a husband. She thinks she has found a match in Henry Dashwood, but soon after their engagement is announced he begins to act quite scandalously.

I liked how Carrie Bebris brings in characters from Sense & Sensibility: Henry Dashwood, while not seen in Austen's first novel, is the son of John & Fanny Dashwood, and Fanny as well as Elinor and Edward Ferrars, Marianne, and Lucy Ferrars, make appearances. While billed as a mystery, there is a supernatural aspect to the events. Bebris gets the period details right and the banter between Elizabeth and Darcy is amusing.

[Caite 🌷 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am so disappointed in this book. The first half was so good. I enjoyed seeing Kitty blossom and receive some attention. And Harry Dashwood's growth and determination to be a better man was amazing. I wish she'd stuck with that and had more Austen like trials of dealing with rude or uncouth people, learning from our own well intentioned mistakes, and growing into more compassionate and good people.

But no. Major spoilers ahead because I am honestly rather upset with things:

What in the world? I was expecting a Mystery of course, but I was not expecting such intense supernatural elements in Jane Austen's world. I was not expecting Satanic rituals, mentions of the Hell Fire club, nor such an abused, innocent victim of said supernatural elements!

Poor Harry!! I actually feel so sad and upset about his fate. And poor Kitty!

Harry is subjected against his will to have his SOUL ripped from his body and trapped inside a magical, ancient mirror, so his vile ancestor (formerly trapped in the mirror) can inhabit HIS BODY. And when I say inhabit i mean inhabit. This vile ancestor runs around gambling halls, brothels, takes a mistress! With Harry's body!! The ancestor not only ruins Harry's reputation, but also sleeps with random people, ages his body at least 30 years (though it de-ages to around 30--still a far cry from a wholesome, vital 21 years), loses Harry's family estate, and forces Harry's beloved Kitty to break off their engagement. It made me heart sick.

I figured that somehow Sir Frances (the vile ancestor) was the "Harry" we were seeing almost immediately, but I assumed he had the real Harry--body and soul intact--trapped either in the house or in the mirror. I find the whole "using Harry's body" for so much debauchery disgusting and has no place in a Jane Austen inspired book in my opinion.

To top it all off, there is no real fix for Harry. At the end of the book, he has received a living from Darcy as he wants to go into the church (heck, I would too after such a demonic experience; I'd be carry holy water with me everywhere). But his reputation is so badly damaged, and the reader is left unsure if Kitty will ever know the truth. He comes to her to apologize and she is in agony over his mistress, but HE DOESNT TELL HER WHAT HAPPENED! He's apologizing for hurting her and asking for forgiveness...for something he didn't do...for something he wouldn't do and was sick having to witness and know about...WHAT?! Lizzy and Darcy know the truth! Why can't they just tell Kitty so the audience and Kitty can at least have that piece of mind. The whole ending is acting like somehow Harry deserved this. Sure the characters feel bad for him, but he's beating himself up like he isn't the literal victim of all this nonsense!

I'm upset by this book. The climax got super demonic with flames of hell coming out of the mirror and a dead corpse before it and they tried to free Harry. This was a horrid book that began so well. If I'd had an idea of how vile and satanic it would become, I'd never had read it.

The one star is for poor Harry and Kitty. In my mind, none of this nonsense ever happened. They are happy married at Norland, receiving their aunts Elinor and Marianne, and inviting Mary to visit where she softens and becomes more open thanks to Marianne tutoring her on the piano forte and as a life mentor.

[Harsha Priolkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2nd in the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy series by Carrie Bebris and another delightful revisitation to the Austen universe.

This time, the Darcys are in London with Kitty who is making the most of her first season in town. Enter Mr. Harry Dashwood and things are going swimmingly until they are engaged and then the gentleman suffers a complete volte face of character and morals! The Darcys must get to the bottom of this obnoxious turnaround while safeguarding their own interests and those of their loved ones.

Once again Bebris manages to weave her own twist to the tale without it seeming intrusive or misplaced. This one has more obvious gothic elements than the first and I was quite intrigued by The Mirror of Narcissus - some Harry Potter channeling evident here but tastefully done.

The banter between the Darcys is for me a major highlight of the series and evidence of Bebris’ considerable writing skills. I wish there were more of Georgina, the Gardiners, and Elinor and Edward Ferrars but what little there is, is on point. This one had considerable character development not only for Kitty and Mr. Dashwood but also for Darcy who though clinging firmly to rationality is learning to trust in his wife’s intuition even against his better judgment.

Another easy, delightful tale that I read in a single setting! I also enjoyed the quotes from the original Austen books that Bebris includes at the beginning of each chapter. And most of all, I’m delighted to be able to read these on Kindle unlimited for free!!

Onward to Book 3.

[Meggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think my issue with this series is that the mysteries are so overblown and gothic that it's hard to reconcile them happening around the very prosaic characters from P&P. Additionally, they're not really murder mysteries; there was one murder in Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged, and one in this book, but they came so far into the story that the mystery is less "who done killed 'im" and more "hmm, this character is suddenly acting in an uncharacteristic manner, whatever could be happening here?"

Which is fine, but the answer each time thus far has been a cursed object. Who knew there were so many cursed items in Regency England?? Fortunately it looks like North By Northanger: Or The Shades of Pemberley has a less supernatural atmosphere, as I am apparently doomed to continue on with this series. (Another curse???)

[Peacefulbookery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty's new suitor, Harry Dashwood, turns from smitten to stranger, and Darcy/Elizabeth investigate the abrupt attitude change.

Gothic-inspired paranormal cosy. P&P/Picture of Dorian Grey casefic.

Plot summary: Harry is trapped by the Mirror of Narcissus, which channels a malevolent ghost into Harry's body - Sir Francis Dashwood, Harry's ancestor and founder of a debauched gentlemen's club (the Hell-Fire club). Sir Francis gets up to mischief as Harry, breaking Kitty's heart and ruining Harry's reputation.

Darcy and Elizabeth confront the mirror and the mirror implodes, freeing Harry's soul - which successfully returns to Harry's body. (When the mirror tries to contain Elizabeth's soul, it fails as it can only contain one soul at a time and Elizabeth is pregnant (=2 souls).

Harry is distraught and intends to become a clergyman. Darcy takes pity on him and offers him a position/living in Derbyshire. Harry accepts, profusely grateful for Darcy's generosity. Harry also apologises to Kitty for the distress she's gone through and seeks to marry her if she'll still take him. She will.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been a number of years since I read the first book in this series, and after falling in love with it I knew I wanted to hunt down as many of the others in the series as I could. Finally decided to get back to it for a while.

This tale brings in our beloved Lizzy and Darcy along with the characters from my other fav JA novel, S&S. Kitty is staying with the Darcys and is planning on enjoying her first season alongside Georgiana. While Georgiana is not set on finding love, Kitty has her hopes on finding love, ideally with a title. Enter the extended family of Elinor and Marianne. Love ensures and so does a proposal. But then the suspense enters the story when things begin to happen which cause everyone to doubt if they really knew each other (aka the First Impression part of the title) :)

A fun enjoyable book, the only little thing that bugged me - and I'll be honest I don't remember if the first book did this or not, but I'm assuming so - is that Lizzy calls Darcy by his last name. I guess I prefer stories where she calls him William; Darcy just seems so former for her to call him. But that little personal choice doesn't take away from the story and I'm looking forward to reading the 3rd in the series.

[Judine Brey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is impressive about Bebris' dealings with the characters from Austen's novels is how true she is to them historically. The characters from Sense and Sensibility have aged in order to meet up with the Darcys. Young Harry Dashwood (no more than four or five in Austen's novel) has just reached his majority, when the action takes place the spring and summer after the Darcys wed. The use of cursed objects allows for the easy return of Professor Randolph, and Elizabeth's sister Kitty is far more likeable in this book than in Austen's original (having largely to do with the absence of Lydia). The addition of a real historical figure named Dashwood is a delightful twist in this well-written work.