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A Quest for Mr Darcy: An emotional tale of Elizabeth and Darcy inspired by the classic
"10% of profits from all eBook sales will be donated to the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation."
Fitzwilliam Darcy is on a quest. Convinced he is over his foolish infatuation with Elizabeth Bennet, he returns from a year of travelling with a plan, both to protect the estate of which he is guardian and to ensure his sister's happiness: he intends to do his duty and secure a wife at the earliest opportunity.
Duty; a path from which Darcy knows he should never have been diverted. Duty was safe and nothing would persuade him from it a second time.
Soon restored to his home in Derbyshire, Darcy puts his quest in motion, preparing to welcome guests from Town, one of whom is the suitably eligible young lady he has earmarked as his future wife.
But what of the Bennets of Longbourn? What befell them in Darcy’s absence from England? And what of the new tenants on his estate named Bennet? Is his path fated to cross with Elizabeth's once more?
With the addition of his friend, Bingley's, mischievous twin younger sisters, letters from a stranger and a shadowy figure lurking in the grounds of Pemberley, Darcy's life is about to be turned upside down.
Can he remain steady to his purpose, or will his carefully laid plans soon be in tatters as the rigid protection he has placed around his heart begins to falter?
Fitzwilliam Darcy is on a quest. Convinced he is over his foolish infatuation with Elizabeth Bennet, he returns from a year of travelling with a plan, both to protect the estate of which he is guardian and to ensure his sister's happiness: he intends to do his duty and secure a wife at the earliest opportunity.
Duty; a path from which Darcy knows he should never have been diverted. Duty was safe and nothing would persuade him from it a second time.
Soon restored to his home in Derbyshire, Darcy puts his quest in motion, preparing to welcome guests from Town, one of whom is the suitably eligible young lady he has earmarked as his future wife.
But what of the Bennets of Longbourn? What befell them in Darcy’s absence from England? And what of the new tenants on his estate named Bennet? Is his path fated to cross with Elizabeth's once more?
With the addition of his friend, Bingley's, mischievous twin younger sisters, letters from a stranger and a shadowy figure lurking in the grounds of Pemberley, Darcy's life is about to be turned upside down.
Can he remain steady to his purpose, or will his carefully laid plans soon be in tatters as the rigid protection he has placed around his heart begins to falter?
781 pages, ebook
Published June 22, 2017
135 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 5, 2017
This is a distinctive P&P What if that imagines:
1] That following his humiliation in Hunsford Darcy packed up his household and took an extended tour of Northern Europe
2] That Lydia not only wasn't recovered but was killed in an Inn Fire
3] That Mrs. Bennet succumbed to the stress of the loss of her daughter and followed her to the graveyard in a seven night
4] That the remaining Bennets fled Meryton to points unknown.
5] Darcy decides at 30 he must have a bride
6] That Bingley has more sisters and they are delightful
The best part is that 99% of what I wrote above is explained having already happened we really join the action when Darcy & Bingley go to Meryton to ascertain the suitability of Netherfield as a home for Bingley and his 3 younger 1/2 sisters.
When Darcy gets to Pemberley to prepare for the visit by the family of his potential future wife, as well as Bingley and his much younger twin sisters and of course Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley.
Upon his arrival he learns that the Bennets have leased a home, the Grange, on Pemberley's lands.
Soon he and Lizzy are struggling with the feeling they have both been repressing for so long. Alas Lizzy believes he is to marry another and he believes that Lizzy still hates him.
And let me tell you eventually this got really tedious. Each of these characters needs a xanax and a little less introspection and the book could have been a little shorter. This was one of those boos where I wanted to reach in and shake Lizzy and remind her "You were not formed for Ill Humor" a little less introspection a little more pianoforte practice wouldn't be the worst thing here honey. And Darcy is a bit of a micro-manager who still seems to have no control over anything.
So why did I like this book, well I have finally started watching Stranger Things and this book reminds me of it. There is a mysterious figure who lives in the woods who is watching everyone. There are the twins who are two fun loving adventurous girls who are convinced there is a ghost.
The one thing I didn't love was the Epilogue. I am celebrated for my lack of appreciation of epilogues. Here is my philosophy, "If you have more to say write another book", that "they all lived Happily Ever After" is brilliant. IMHO this epilogue set three years past the ending was sufficient plot to be the outline for a sequel and unnecessary.
1] That following his humiliation in Hunsford Darcy packed up his household and took an extended tour of Northern Europe
2] That Lydia not only wasn't recovered but was killed in an Inn Fire
3] That Mrs. Bennet succumbed to the stress of the loss of her daughter and followed her to the graveyard in a seven night
4] That the remaining Bennets fled Meryton to points unknown.
5] Darcy decides at 30 he must have a bride
6] That Bingley has more sisters and they are delightful
The best part is that 99% of what I wrote above is explained having already happened we really join the action when Darcy & Bingley go to Meryton to ascertain the suitability of Netherfield as a home for Bingley and his 3 younger 1/2 sisters.
When Darcy gets to Pemberley to prepare for the visit by the family of his potential future wife, as well as Bingley and his much younger twin sisters and of course Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley.
Upon his arrival he learns that the Bennets have leased a home, the Grange, on Pemberley's lands.
Soon he and Lizzy are struggling with the feeling they have both been repressing for so long. Alas Lizzy believes he is to marry another and he believes that Lizzy still hates him.
And let me tell you eventually this got really tedious. Each of these characters needs a xanax and a little less introspection and the book could have been a little shorter. This was one of those boos where I wanted to reach in and shake Lizzy and remind her "You were not formed for Ill Humor" a little less introspection a little more pianoforte practice wouldn't be the worst thing here honey. And Darcy is a bit of a micro-manager who still seems to have no control over anything.
So why did I like this book, well I have finally started watching Stranger Things and this book reminds me of it. There is a mysterious figure who lives in the woods who is watching everyone. There are the twins who are two fun loving adventurous girls who are convinced there is a ghost.
The one thing I didn't love was the Epilogue. I am celebrated for my lack of appreciation of epilogues. Here is my philosophy, "If you have more to say write another book", that "they all lived Happily Ever After" is brilliant. IMHO this epilogue set three years past the ending was sufficient plot to be the outline for a sequel and unnecessary.
June 26, 2017
I first followed this as a WIP online and then reread it when it was published. The story seemed to have (as Anji said) been tightened up in places and a few details changed or amended. I loved it either way.
Mr. Darcy has fled to the continent with Georgiana in an attempt to escape thoughts of Elizabeth, dreams of Elizabeth, the image of her as she rejected his proposal at Hunsford. Georgiana and he have become much more open with each other and he has shared his heart break with her. Now back in London he jumps into The Season determined to fulfill his duty; the Darcy line needs an heir, Pemberley needs him back at the helm with a wife by his side. He decides on an Eleanor Latimer, a proper demure young lady with a £50,000 dowry.
But in reviewing the books from Pemberley while in London, he notices new tenant by the name of Bennet. He and Bingley take a short ride to Netherfield and between a housekeeper's relating the local news and a headstone in the church cemetery, discover that Lydia and Mrs. Bennet are dead, after Lydia's infamous elopement. The Bennets have moved away as have the Philips and no one knows where the former family relocated.
Darcy and Georgiana return to Pemberly with company expected: Charles is coming with his twin half-sisters, the Latimer family is coming (Darcy expects to propose but nothing has been stated...yet) and another family, with an eligible daughter is also expected. The colonel will take some leave and be there for a while, in addition.
There are amusingly ironic events at the on start: Darcy walks at dusk to the cottage of his new tenants as the name "Bennet" is just too coincidental and he must determine if it is the Hertfordshire family. Elizabeth hears what she thinks is the nuisance of a fox who has been annoying the chickens & steps out to toss a bucket of water in the direction of the disturbance...on Mr. Darcy. Then there are the Bingley twins who, between their sightings of a ghost in the tree tops and the little tricks they pull off and "arrangements" they plan as matchmakers...get it all wrong in the latter and "serve" one trick on the wrong party in the former, keep the other guests apprehensive as to their next move.
Eleanor Latimer's father has a great many reasons to believe that the purpose for their invitation is that Darcy will be proposing. He lets Darcy know right from the beginning of their visit what he expects and then pushes for the event at every opportunity. Darcy has had a year to get over Elizabeth. This story is all about his quest to determine if he was successful and to determine his next move.
The tension between Elizabeth and Darcy is such that even in the second reading I was on-the-edge-of-my-seat wanting to push them into each other's arms, wanting a kiss, a touch, a mutual sharing of a look and a smile. Well done.
Mr. Darcy has fled to the continent with Georgiana in an attempt to escape thoughts of Elizabeth, dreams of Elizabeth, the image of her as she rejected his proposal at Hunsford. Georgiana and he have become much more open with each other and he has shared his heart break with her. Now back in London he jumps into The Season determined to fulfill his duty; the Darcy line needs an heir, Pemberley needs him back at the helm with a wife by his side. He decides on an Eleanor Latimer, a proper demure young lady with a £50,000 dowry.
But in reviewing the books from Pemberley while in London, he notices new tenant by the name of Bennet. He and Bingley take a short ride to Netherfield and between a housekeeper's relating the local news and a headstone in the church cemetery, discover that Lydia and Mrs. Bennet are dead, after Lydia's infamous elopement. The Bennets have moved away as have the Philips and no one knows where the former family relocated.
Darcy and Georgiana return to Pemberly with company expected: Charles is coming with his twin half-sisters, the Latimer family is coming (Darcy expects to propose but nothing has been stated...yet) and another family, with an eligible daughter is also expected. The colonel will take some leave and be there for a while, in addition.
There are amusingly ironic events at the on start: Darcy walks at dusk to the cottage of his new tenants as the name "Bennet" is just too coincidental and he must determine if it is the Hertfordshire family. Elizabeth hears what she thinks is the nuisance of a fox who has been annoying the chickens & steps out to toss a bucket of water in the direction of the disturbance...on Mr. Darcy. Then there are the Bingley twins who, between their sightings of a ghost in the tree tops and the little tricks they pull off and "arrangements" they plan as matchmakers...get it all wrong in the latter and "serve" one trick on the wrong party in the former, keep the other guests apprehensive as to their next move.
Eleanor Latimer's father has a great many reasons to believe that the purpose for their invitation is that Darcy will be proposing. He lets Darcy know right from the beginning of their visit what he expects and then pushes for the event at every opportunity. Darcy has had a year to get over Elizabeth. This story is all about his quest to determine if he was successful and to determine his next move.
The tension between Elizabeth and Darcy is such that even in the second reading I was on-the-edge-of-my-seat wanting to push them into each other's arms, wanting a kiss, a touch, a mutual sharing of a look and a smile. Well done.
August 23, 2020
This book is pricey. I went back and forth as to whether to buy it. I like the author but what if I didn't like the book? Amazon had a $5 off deal for any book $20+ so I went for it. Money well spent! I loved this book. I had no idea what would happen. It was amazing. So glad I bought the paperback because this is one I am proud to have on the shelf to read again and again.
Reread: Loved it once again. This one is a winner.
Reread: same as above
Reread: Loved it once again. This one is a winner.
Reread: same as above
August 25, 2017
My Rating: 5+++++
"He was a single man in want of a wife."
This book is lovingly referred to as 'The Beast'. I was very fortunate to have won it in a giveaway. It will now grace my bookshelves as one of my favourite variations from one of my very favourite authors!
I had first read this as a work-in-progress. However, holding 'The Beast' in my hands, it's as if I am reading it for the first time. I am enthralled. Ms. Grafton's writing is beautiful and flows seamlessly in this hefty tome. All emotions are engaged as you journey with Darcy on his quest. And what a journey it has been!
As the book description states, he and Georgiana have returned from a year abroad...after the Hunsford proposal. He is now determined to do his duty and secure his sister's happiness in finding a wife. However, all does not go as planned as he invites guests to Pemberley. His attempts to not think about the Bennets, especially Elizabeth, are unsuccessful.
"It was as though he were wading through time surrounded by swirls of mist, desperately seeking something, someone, and culminating with him calling out Elizabeth's name..."
Mr. Bingley and his twin younger sisters (Olivia and Viola), who are absolutely delightful and full of mischief, will spend time at Pemberley before heading off to finishing school. These young girls steal the show and steal your hearts.
"And a mischievous nature must always be forgiven, you know, because there is no hope of a cure!"
The Bingley's are the first guests, with the Latimers arriving soon after. Colonel Fitzwilliam also attends providing wise counsel and great humour to the serious and conflicted Darcy.
But what of the Bennet's? What has been their fate? I hate to give much away, but their lives have been seriously impacted by Lydia's elopement and no Darcy to save the day. What of Wickham?
"Wickham is like a shadow, he infiltrates dark places, and he disappears like smoke at the smallest sign of trouble."
There is many a mystery to solve as well. However, when Darcy finally meets Elizabeth again it is epic! And Jane, oh I just loved her. Actually, I loved them all...
What I also loved was the reference to 'Persuasion' with Reverend Wentworth and reference to his brother, Captain Wentworth. The use of phrases from canon that are cleverly used by others or the same characters in different circumstances. I loved how Darcy always got so tongue-tied in Elizabeth's presence. Was there anything I didn't like?
Not a thing!
This is an all engrossing saga of love lost and found, hearts broken, finding love and redemption. There is a wonderful epilogue at the end that was very satisfying. However, I didn't want to let these characters go.
I highly recommend this book and all others Ms. Grafton has written.
"He was a single man in want of a wife."
This book is lovingly referred to as 'The Beast'. I was very fortunate to have won it in a giveaway. It will now grace my bookshelves as one of my favourite variations from one of my very favourite authors!
I had first read this as a work-in-progress. However, holding 'The Beast' in my hands, it's as if I am reading it for the first time. I am enthralled. Ms. Grafton's writing is beautiful and flows seamlessly in this hefty tome. All emotions are engaged as you journey with Darcy on his quest. And what a journey it has been!
As the book description states, he and Georgiana have returned from a year abroad...after the Hunsford proposal. He is now determined to do his duty and secure his sister's happiness in finding a wife. However, all does not go as planned as he invites guests to Pemberley. His attempts to not think about the Bennets, especially Elizabeth, are unsuccessful.
"It was as though he were wading through time surrounded by swirls of mist, desperately seeking something, someone, and culminating with him calling out Elizabeth's name..."
Mr. Bingley and his twin younger sisters (Olivia and Viola), who are absolutely delightful and full of mischief, will spend time at Pemberley before heading off to finishing school. These young girls steal the show and steal your hearts.
"And a mischievous nature must always be forgiven, you know, because there is no hope of a cure!"
The Bingley's are the first guests, with the Latimers arriving soon after. Colonel Fitzwilliam also attends providing wise counsel and great humour to the serious and conflicted Darcy.
But what of the Bennet's? What has been their fate? I hate to give much away, but their lives have been seriously impacted by Lydia's elopement and no Darcy to save the day. What of Wickham?
"Wickham is like a shadow, he infiltrates dark places, and he disappears like smoke at the smallest sign of trouble."
There is many a mystery to solve as well. However, when Darcy finally meets Elizabeth again it is epic! And Jane, oh I just loved her. Actually, I loved them all...
What I also loved was the reference to 'Persuasion' with Reverend Wentworth and reference to his brother, Captain Wentworth. The use of phrases from canon that are cleverly used by others or the same characters in different circumstances. I loved how Darcy always got so tongue-tied in Elizabeth's presence. Was there anything I didn't like?
Not a thing!
This is an all engrossing saga of love lost and found, hearts broken, finding love and redemption. There is a wonderful epilogue at the end that was very satisfying. However, I didn't want to let these characters go.
I highly recommend this book and all others Ms. Grafton has written.
June 25, 2017
Life is full of obstacle illusions. ~Grant Frazier
Darcy’s obstacle illusion is that he can travel far enough to escape his memories.
When he returns from his travels, his obstacle illusion is that he can replace a woman he loves with one he appreciates.
This is an entertaining mystery that I can recommend to anyone who likes JAFF.
[O]ne of my favorite Sufi poems ... says that God long ago drew a circle in the sand exactly around the spot where you are standing right now. I was never not coming here. This was never not going to happen. ~Elizabeth Gilbert
Darcy’s obstacle illusion is that he can travel far enough to escape his memories.
When he returns from his travels, his obstacle illusion is that he can replace a woman he loves with one he appreciates.
This is an entertaining mystery that I can recommend to anyone who likes JAFF.
[O]ne of my favorite Sufi poems ... says that God long ago drew a circle in the sand exactly around the spot where you are standing right now. I was never not coming here. This was never not going to happen. ~Elizabeth Gilbert
August 31, 2024
Another great read from this author. Not sure it had to be quite so long, but the writing was good enough that I almost barely noticed.
Loved the confidence Jane acquired, so that she was advising Lizzy (who was a tiny bit of a wet blanket) the rest of the family we met were also altered in a realistic way for the story.
Poor Mr. D never stood a chance, but it is about TWU LOVE...
The remainder of the supporting characters were also nicely believable and added just enough to the story. And what a pleasure that we didn't have the requisite scene with Lady C.!!
Loved the confidence Jane acquired, so that she was advising Lizzy (who was a tiny bit of a wet blanket) the rest of the family we met were also altered in a realistic way for the story.
Poor Mr. D never stood a chance, but it is about TWU LOVE...
The remainder of the supporting characters were also nicely believable and added just enough to the story. And what a pleasure that we didn't have the requisite scene with Lady C.!!
December 17, 2017
What If, One Year Later, Mr. Darcy Had Moved On?
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation
TIME FRAME: July 1813 (around one after Elizabeth’s visit to the Peak District)
MAIN CHARACTERS: Elizabeth and Jane Bennet, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Georgiana Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Olivia and Viola Bingley, Colonel Fiztwilliam
SYNOPSIS: What if, instead of returning home to Pemberley and running into Elizabeth and the Gardiners at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy traveled to the continent for a year with Georgiana? And if Mr. Darcy doesn’t encounter Elizabeth at Pemberley, that means he doesn’t find out about Wickham’s flight with Lydia and come to the rescue… What becomes of the Bennets when their family name is disgraced and more than tragedy takes place within the year?
WHAT I LOVED:
- Unique Premise: Such inventive and creative premise! Missing the significant encounter at Pemberely produces quite a different chain of events – Lydia is not saved, the Bennet family is ostracized, Mr. Bingley never returns for Jane, and several others events are triggered by this alteration. It is interesting to see what happens when these changes take place and the effect they have on the Bennet family. And what happens when their paths cross with Mr. Darcy who does not know about any of their past year’s troubles. It is such a unique situation for a Pride and Prejudice variation and it was so much fun to explore this thoughtful and plausible divergent path.
- Moved On and Hopeless: Here we see what happens when Mr. Darcy believes his affections and wishes for Elizabeth are in the past and that he has moved on… He even has a lady in mind that he believes will suit as a wife and has made some steps towards courting her. In addition, Elizabeth is seeing a different side of Mr. Darcy and it is quite hard for her to admit that she no longer despises him, but in all actuality likes him against her will. She strives to protect her heart because she knows that her situation in life is such that it is even more of a degradation for Mr. Darcy to marry her than it was before. I love seeing Darcy and Elizabeth at such cross purposes…it isn’t simple misunderstandings or pride, they truly are in an awkward and delicate situation where they believe the other has moved on or that such a possibility is hopeless.
- Original Characters: I adore Ms. Grafton’s original creations in the Bingley twins! They are fourteen year old mischief-makers that love romance, ghost stories, and pranks! Their liveliness was infectious – I loved how much merriment they brought to this tale. It is quite funny to think that they are related to Caroline and Louisa, and to see Mr. Bingley – who is usually caught under his sisters’ thumb – in the position of trying to maintain and discipline such boisterous younger sisters! In addition, I also enjoyed the Latimer family and their drama, Alice, the Bennet’s, fussy housekeeper, and Mr. Wentworth, the kind vicar in Kympton with an interest in one of the Bennet daughters…
- Leisurely Paced: I loved seeing the Bennets live somewhere else other than Longbourn, and I loved bearing witness to all their daily encounters and interactions with the neighborhood. Especially with Mr. Darcy! There is so much that happens in just a few days – so many significant meetings and surprising exchanges… I love how Cassandra Grafton builds her story with small, everyday experiences. To see it all gradually develop firsthand really immerses the reader into the story.
- Mysteries and Secrets: The feeling of someone lurking in the woods, Mr. Bennet’s questionable business in a nearby town, petty thefts around Pemberley – some strange and unsettling things are happening! I always love when there is a bit of intrigue involved!
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
*scoffs* not a thing!
CONCLUSION:
A Quest for Mr. Darcy is a truly enchanting and imaginative variation that brings readers on the most delightful sojourn to Derbyshire. I can’t decide what I loved more – the tender and achingly beautiful romance, the tension-building drama and mystery, or the many heartwarming relationships formed throughout! I highly recommend!
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation
TIME FRAME: July 1813 (around one after Elizabeth’s visit to the Peak District)
MAIN CHARACTERS: Elizabeth and Jane Bennet, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Georgiana Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Olivia and Viola Bingley, Colonel Fiztwilliam
SYNOPSIS: What if, instead of returning home to Pemberley and running into Elizabeth and the Gardiners at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy traveled to the continent for a year with Georgiana? And if Mr. Darcy doesn’t encounter Elizabeth at Pemberley, that means he doesn’t find out about Wickham’s flight with Lydia and come to the rescue… What becomes of the Bennets when their family name is disgraced and more than tragedy takes place within the year?
WHAT I LOVED:
- Unique Premise: Such inventive and creative premise! Missing the significant encounter at Pemberely produces quite a different chain of events – Lydia is not saved, the Bennet family is ostracized, Mr. Bingley never returns for Jane, and several others events are triggered by this alteration. It is interesting to see what happens when these changes take place and the effect they have on the Bennet family. And what happens when their paths cross with Mr. Darcy who does not know about any of their past year’s troubles. It is such a unique situation for a Pride and Prejudice variation and it was so much fun to explore this thoughtful and plausible divergent path.
- Moved On and Hopeless: Here we see what happens when Mr. Darcy believes his affections and wishes for Elizabeth are in the past and that he has moved on… He even has a lady in mind that he believes will suit as a wife and has made some steps towards courting her. In addition, Elizabeth is seeing a different side of Mr. Darcy and it is quite hard for her to admit that she no longer despises him, but in all actuality likes him against her will. She strives to protect her heart because she knows that her situation in life is such that it is even more of a degradation for Mr. Darcy to marry her than it was before. I love seeing Darcy and Elizabeth at such cross purposes…it isn’t simple misunderstandings or pride, they truly are in an awkward and delicate situation where they believe the other has moved on or that such a possibility is hopeless.
- Original Characters: I adore Ms. Grafton’s original creations in the Bingley twins! They are fourteen year old mischief-makers that love romance, ghost stories, and pranks! Their liveliness was infectious – I loved how much merriment they brought to this tale. It is quite funny to think that they are related to Caroline and Louisa, and to see Mr. Bingley – who is usually caught under his sisters’ thumb – in the position of trying to maintain and discipline such boisterous younger sisters! In addition, I also enjoyed the Latimer family and their drama, Alice, the Bennet’s, fussy housekeeper, and Mr. Wentworth, the kind vicar in Kympton with an interest in one of the Bennet daughters…
- Leisurely Paced: I loved seeing the Bennets live somewhere else other than Longbourn, and I loved bearing witness to all their daily encounters and interactions with the neighborhood. Especially with Mr. Darcy! There is so much that happens in just a few days – so many significant meetings and surprising exchanges… I love how Cassandra Grafton builds her story with small, everyday experiences. To see it all gradually develop firsthand really immerses the reader into the story.
- Mysteries and Secrets: The feeling of someone lurking in the woods, Mr. Bennet’s questionable business in a nearby town, petty thefts around Pemberley – some strange and unsettling things are happening! I always love when there is a bit of intrigue involved!
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
*scoffs* not a thing!
CONCLUSION:
A Quest for Mr. Darcy is a truly enchanting and imaginative variation that brings readers on the most delightful sojourn to Derbyshire. I can’t decide what I loved more – the tender and achingly beautiful romance, the tension-building drama and mystery, or the many heartwarming relationships formed throughout! I highly recommend!
Austenesque Reviews
July 1, 2017
When I heard that Cass Grafton had a new Regency era P&P work in progress, I was so excited. I absolutely love her writing style, her ability to delve into the minds and hearts of the characters and her talent to tell a captivating story. I was not disappointed. A Quest for Mr. Darcy lived up to my expectations and more. The standard set by the author in her series of books, A Fair Prospect, Volumes I, II and III was met with ease.
What if Darcy, along with Georgiana and her companion left for northern Europe shortly after the Hunsford proposal? What would happen to the Bennet family if Darcy had not been there to find Lydia after she ran off with Wickham, to save the family from disgrace? When Darcy returns a little over a year later, we, as readers, discover exactly what did happen with this one change in circumstance. Much is altered and the story that unfolds is gripping and entertaining.
When Bingley shows up shortly after Darcy’s return to London with a request of his old friend, they set off for Netherfield. Upon their arrival, they find nothing is as it was. Troubled and perplexed, Darcy is already beginning to realize he has not completely driven Elizabeth from his heart after all. The questions that this visit bring up get more mystifying with each new bit of information gleaned. Nobody knows where Mr. Bennet and his daughters are!
After Darcy returns to Pemberley, Mr. Bingley and his twin sisters make some stay with him. The twins, Viola and Olivia, are adorable. They are full of mischief and exactly the opposite of Louisa and Caroline. These two girls are genuine, and perceptive too! Quite often, they steal the show. How nice it was to have two Bingley girls that were fun and lovable!
Darcy has determined to marry to secure an heir and he has settled on an eligible young woman he feels is suitable to the task. Does he love her? No, but he feels he will never have the one woman of his dreams. Eleanor Latimer is everything his family, except for Georgiana, would wish for him. The Latimers are invited to visit Pemberley at the same time as Bingley, Olivia and Viola. Oh, the fun that ensues is hilarious.
Darcy encounters Lizzy early on in the story and what an encounter it is! Curiosity gets the better of him and he pays dearly. It is absolutely priceless! I laughed with glee when reading the passage. Darcy is still ever the gentleman but his shield of indifference is beginning to crumble.
There is angst, mystery, romance, suspense and fun. Several familiar names are in the script; Wentworth, Higgins, Thornton, and even Latimer, to name a few. I enjoyed these nods to different books and authors. It became a bit of a game to see who else I might find. Well done, Ms. Grafton.
I loved everything about this book. There is absolutely nothing that dissatisfies. After finishing the novel, I felt the warmth and gratification of a book well read. With the wonderful way that Cass Grafton writes, her beautifully flowing Regency ‘speak’, a surprising mystery or two, a story with feeling and depth, and a wonderful ending with a few neat twists, this is a book anyone would fancy. I highly recommend it.
February 25, 2024
1st Read December 25, 2018
Delicious!
As Col. Fitzwilliam says in the book, “this is delicious”. I loved everything about this book from cover to cover. Highly recommend. This is a book I could read again. Many reviews have given story details, so I won’t repeat.
Note: I initially read this in 2018, and reread it in early 2020. I’m sure I’ll read it again.
Delicious!
As Col. Fitzwilliam says in the book, “this is delicious”. I loved everything about this book from cover to cover. Highly recommend. This is a book I could read again. Many reviews have given story details, so I won’t repeat.
Note: I initially read this in 2018, and reread it in early 2020. I’m sure I’ll read it again.
August 10, 2017
A very different variation!
Totally surprised by the events that took place to put Mr. Bennet, Jane and Elizabeth living so close to Pemberley. When Darcy had returned from his European trip with his sister.... trying to forget his horrible proposal at Hunsford and trying to help his sister get over the frightful event with Wickham.... he was stunned to find Lizzie living so close in the vicinity. Is was a wonderful journey fraught with hilarious guests, adventure for all included and quite the happy ending!
Totally surprised by the events that took place to put Mr. Bennet, Jane and Elizabeth living so close to Pemberley. When Darcy had returned from his European trip with his sister.... trying to forget his horrible proposal at Hunsford and trying to help his sister get over the frightful event with Wickham.... he was stunned to find Lizzie living so close in the vicinity. Is was a wonderful journey fraught with hilarious guests, adventure for all included and quite the happy ending!
March 15, 2021
There is so much to enjoy in this story, especially the many interactions between Darcy and Lizzy. I loved the addition of the new characters: the mischievous Bingley twins and Miss Latimer. The story is well written and beautifully told. I thought the epilogue was perfect. Despite the longer length, I didn't want the book to end.
Read
March 29, 2019Dear Reader,
While I thoroughly enjoyed the first 60% of this book,I confess to scanning the remaining 40% as I simply grew tired of it.
The fault,as ever,was mine,as I think I need some different reading material and a break to whet my appetite anew for JAFF.
I loved Bingley's half sisters,how those who were 'lost' were again 'found',but thought the book overly long.
Potential reader,please read the excellent 5* reviews on this book. Just because it didn't 'float my boat',doesn't mean you won't find it an enjoyable and worthwhile reading experience.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the first 60% of this book,I confess to scanning the remaining 40% as I simply grew tired of it.
The fault,as ever,was mine,as I think I need some different reading material and a break to whet my appetite anew for JAFF.
I loved Bingley's half sisters,how those who were 'lost' were again 'found',but thought the book overly long.
Potential reader,please read the excellent 5* reviews on this book. Just because it didn't 'float my boat',doesn't mean you won't find it an enjoyable and worthwhile reading experience.
December 3, 2017
5+++++++! DON’T READ THE REVIEWS, just read it! So many twists and turns better left unknown. This is the best variation I’ve read in a long time. Funny, engaging read with great new characters! This is one complete book, long but fulfilling. I hate books written and sold in a series published one at a time. I love getting the full story so you feel complete when it’s ended. Definitely got my money’s worth and more on this one. I guess if I were going to be picky, a little Caroline Bingley would be nice.
June 25, 2017
I was one of Ms. Grafton's avid followers for six months as this story was posted online and I loved the story then. The edited version is just as good, if not better. The pacing is better, slightly tighter I'd say, but "In essentials, I believe, it is very much what it ever was." I maybe slightly misquoting a famous author there!
Ms. Grafton's trilogy "A Fair Prospect” was in my Desert Island Five on an Austen-related blog a couple of years ago and still is, though it would have to be Ten (or even Twenty) nowadays as so much good stuff has been published since. This new book would definitely be in there too, if I had to choose again.
What do I love about A Quest for Mr. Darcy? So many things! Without giving away too many spoilers: Darcy and Elizabeth’s first meeting in Derbyshire, Bungley’s twin sisters (yes, that IS a typo – long story!), Colonel Fitzwilliam, Alice, Sarah, Darcy’s proposal *sigh!*. Oh, and there’s a Wentworth, too!
Ms. Grafton's trilogy "A Fair Prospect” was in my Desert Island Five on an Austen-related blog a couple of years ago and still is, though it would have to be Ten (or even Twenty) nowadays as so much good stuff has been published since. This new book would definitely be in there too, if I had to choose again.
What do I love about A Quest for Mr. Darcy? So many things! Without giving away too many spoilers: Darcy and Elizabeth’s first meeting in Derbyshire, Bungley’s twin sisters (yes, that IS a typo – long story!), Colonel Fitzwilliam, Alice, Sarah, Darcy’s proposal *sigh!*. Oh, and there’s a Wentworth, too!
February 3, 2018
What a fun and enjoyable book. I love the Bingley twins! Such an interesting twist and plot!
June 29, 2017
Wow - lucky me - I get to give this book its first review!
I had the privilege of reading this book as Cass posted it chapter by chapter on her blog over several months. It was so much fun! I waited with baited breath for every new chapter. Can't wait to read it again as soon as the kindle edition is available.
If you enjoy P&P variations, you'll love this one!
Update: I loved reading this again. The editing for the final version tightened up some transitions and improved the readability. The new characters, especially the Bingley twins, added fun to the story.
I had the privilege of reading this book as Cass posted it chapter by chapter on her blog over several months. It was so much fun! I waited with baited breath for every new chapter. Can't wait to read it again as soon as the kindle edition is available.
If you enjoy P&P variations, you'll love this one!
Update: I loved reading this again. The editing for the final version tightened up some transitions and improved the readability. The new characters, especially the Bingley twins, added fun to the story.
November 19, 2018
A good book. Lol not what I was expecting (thought Darcy was going on an adventure). Enjoyed the book.
October 2, 2025
As far as my enjoyment goes, this is a very solid 4 star read, one of the very few books this year that got such a high rating from me, and one of the 5 P&P variations that got that high.
When it comes to second-chance P&P variations, my biggest issue is that they take place DURING the original timeline - there're plenty of Christmas-after-Netherfield-Ball where Darcy&Bingley randomly meet Bennet women in London, there're also plenty of stories that take place soon after Kent/Hunsford proposal, again in London, or in Pemberley; and there're quite a few stories that take place years and years after P&P in which Elizabeth is a widow/married to someone else and Darcy is a widower after his marriage to Anne.
The first kind of stories I've read plenty of and they're quite typical, and I don't like the idea of Darcy&Elizabeth meeting each other 5-10-20 years later.
This story takes place just a little over a year after the proposal in Kent. Plenty enough has happened during that year (Bennets fall from grace after Lydia's elopment and they moved away from home, and Darcy decided he needed to do his duty as a 30yo man with no heir to his estate and settle down), but nothing that would ruin the chance of happiness for all our dear couples had happened in those 15-17 months - which makes it very pleasing starting point to a second-chance story.
I don't like to think of our characters suffering greatly and marrying someone else before them achieving the desirable HEA.
The book is a solid continuation to P&P (had the actual story finished with Kent). It's not exactly Austen-esque and it's a bit cheesy or stretched out at times, but it's a very enjoyable experience nontheless. Another "continuation to P&P" story (the completed P&P unlike this one) I really enjoyed was What Kitty did Next.
I thought it was too long for what the book offered. It stands at 188k words (the "ebook" edition on goodreads says it's 781 pages, but a regular paperback with normal-sized text it should be around 550-650 pages).
There's too much angst. It's not the miscommunication angst, nor do the characters argue when they find out something was hidden from them for a good reason, but there's A LOT of mutual pining, with PLENTY of chances to talk and admit their feelings for another party, but instead the talks get sidetracked. It felt like the author wanted certain conversations to happen at specific points in time, so until author wanted to have those talks, the story resolved to filler to prolong the angst. There's also a few unnecessary actions/conflicts, the one that made me scream "WHYYYYYYYYY? And when will it end? were the endless walks of Elizabeth. She'd be told not to walk so many times yet for no reason she'd want to go on a walk again (and actually do so, or be stopped by another character from doing so), when there was a threat she was warned against again and again and when she should've known the weather was going bad. I HATED the circumstances which lead to a scene clearly inspired by the 2005 adaptation.
Besides angst / delayed important conversations, characters would forget about certain circumstances/details when it seemed important to the book's present events, for it to be remembered at a later time when the author wanted to deal with it / tie up loose ends.
There are a lot of things that are not entirely plausible, and some of them were fun to read about, and some made me pull my hair out. Some are just annoying pining "Darce, you have this pained look on your face! Same one I've seen 18 months ago in Kent!", like
One giant annoyance with the writing was the characters frequently mentioning "the year eleven/twelve"). I do not hold the opinion that P&P takes place in 1811-12 - it's up to interpretation, but it was written in 1797 before editing it for 1811 publication and I don't think Austen even planned for it to have a certain year, and I just WISH more fanfiction writers would've selected OTHER years besides 1811-12. Any year within a 30-year period would've worked, most likely
Even if you decide to place P&P in 1811-12, there's no reason for that to be constantly mentioned! the narration should've switched to "when I was with Bingley" or "when we were last together at our aunt's" or "when we've seen each other over a year ago" or "THAT spring when we met", etcetc. Instead the narration provides never-ending "year 11/12"
I always love the idea of Bingley having more siblings. That note of P&P text where everyone are unsure how large is his party hints there were more siblings. Making him the only son among many ladies is one of the many things that seemed implausible (I guess the author didn't want to deal with "needing to provide for my younger brothers" storyline), but I am always happy to know that he has more sisters than just Caroline and Louisa, especially when their manners are more like the brother than their older sisters.
P&P quotes had no place in this story. "Your family owes me nothing, much as I respect them, I thought only of you" when providing VERY minor comfort to Bennets just doesn't ring the same AFTER Wickham seduced Lydia without Darcy intervening to save her. At that point in the story Darcy should be thinking of his own guilt and fault in Wickham roaming free & seducing innocent country maidens which ACTUALLY led to ruining Elizabeth's family and caused , yet he's "thinking only of Elizabeth".
There was a bit of wanton-ism - a midnight meeting in nightgowns (seemed implausible) and then maybe too much kissing in the end with the proposal and aftermath. Considering that at that point they had SO much history and mutual pining with "we've lost so much time and lived through many hardships", I'll allow it (I am NOT allowing midnight nightgown meeting, though).
There was some talk of ruination & compromise which I don't like. I've read a fair share of compromise-trope stories, but they always seemed far-fetched, because you cannot totally compromise and ruin a rich womanand an independent man - he'll not agree to marry you if he doesn't want to, his honor IS NOT engaged by compromise, - but in this book the talk is about rich women being compromised. Georgiana cannot be compromised. Rich woman's reputation would be damaged and there're people that might choose not to associate with her, but there're plenty of respectable gentlemen who'd be willing to marry them for her dowry/connections. The woman doesn't have to marry the man who compromised her, she can still pick and choose, and her respectability will be elevated after marriage (not totally repaired, but improved).
The Bennet situation was good and bad.
There's 200-300 pages of filler content, yet the author didn't want to deal with those plotlines in a satisfying manner.
Although I enjoyed the book, the main plotline dealing with Mrs Hawes I didn't enjoy at all. I saw it coming, it was predictable, the set-up was too long, yet it was satisfying in the "I'm glad in happened" way. But the main villain altercation was lame.
Mrs & Miss Latimer were a nice addition to the story, even though the secondary villain plotline connected with them was a bit far-fetched and not executed in a consistent fashion.
The end is cheesy. The author really tried to play matchmaker and find spouses for EVERYONE, the Epilogue takes place 4 years after the book (and 5 years after P&P) and everyone are coupled with tiny kids. And despite it, one particular action left one big plotline very open-ended.
When it comes to second-chance P&P variations, my biggest issue is that they take place DURING the original timeline - there're plenty of Christmas-after-Netherfield-Ball where Darcy&Bingley randomly meet Bennet women in London, there're also plenty of stories that take place soon after Kent/Hunsford proposal, again in London, or in Pemberley; and there're quite a few stories that take place years and years after P&P in which Elizabeth is a widow/married to someone else and Darcy is a widower after his marriage to Anne.
The first kind of stories I've read plenty of and they're quite typical, and I don't like the idea of Darcy&Elizabeth meeting each other 5-10-20 years later.
This story takes place just a little over a year after the proposal in Kent. Plenty enough has happened during that year (Bennets fall from grace after Lydia's elopment and they moved away from home, and Darcy decided he needed to do his duty as a 30yo man with no heir to his estate and settle down), but nothing that would ruin the chance of happiness for all our dear couples had happened in those 15-17 months - which makes it very pleasing starting point to a second-chance story.
I don't like to think of our characters suffering greatly and marrying someone else before them achieving the desirable HEA.
The book is a solid continuation to P&P (had the actual story finished with Kent). It's not exactly Austen-esque and it's a bit cheesy or stretched out at times, but it's a very enjoyable experience nontheless. Another "continuation to P&P" story (the completed P&P unlike this one) I really enjoyed was What Kitty did Next.
I thought it was too long for what the book offered. It stands at 188k words (the "ebook" edition on goodreads says it's 781 pages, but a regular paperback with normal-sized text it should be around 550-650 pages).
There's too much angst. It's not the miscommunication angst, nor do the characters argue when they find out something was hidden from them for a good reason, but there's A LOT of mutual pining, with PLENTY of chances to talk and admit their feelings for another party, but instead the talks get sidetracked. It felt like the author wanted certain conversations to happen at specific points in time, so until author wanted to have those talks, the story resolved to filler to prolong the angst. There's also a few unnecessary actions/conflicts, the one that made me scream "WHYYYYYYYYY? And when will it end? were the endless walks of Elizabeth. She'd be told not to walk so many times yet for no reason she'd want to go on a walk again (and actually do so, or be stopped by another character from doing so), when there was a threat she was warned against again and again and when she should've known the weather was going bad. I HATED the circumstances which lead to a scene clearly inspired by the 2005 adaptation.
Besides angst / delayed important conversations, characters would forget about certain circumstances/details when it seemed important to the book's present events, for it to be remembered at a later time when the author wanted to deal with it / tie up loose ends.
There are a lot of things that are not entirely plausible, and some of them were fun to read about, and some made me pull my hair out. Some are just annoying pining "Darce, you have this pained look on your face! Same one I've seen 18 months ago in Kent!", like
One giant annoyance with the writing was the characters frequently mentioning "the year eleven/twelve"). I do not hold the opinion that P&P takes place in 1811-12 - it's up to interpretation, but it was written in 1797 before editing it for 1811 publication and I don't think Austen even planned for it to have a certain year, and I just WISH more fanfiction writers would've selected OTHER years besides 1811-12. Any year within a 30-year period would've worked, most likely
Even if you decide to place P&P in 1811-12, there's no reason for that to be constantly mentioned! the narration should've switched to "when I was with Bingley" or "when we were last together at our aunt's" or "when we've seen each other over a year ago" or "THAT spring when we met", etcetc. Instead the narration provides never-ending "year 11/12"
I always love the idea of Bingley having more siblings. That note of P&P text where everyone are unsure how large is his party hints there were more siblings. Making him the only son among many ladies is one of the many things that seemed implausible (I guess the author didn't want to deal with "needing to provide for my younger brothers" storyline), but I am always happy to know that he has more sisters than just Caroline and Louisa, especially when their manners are more like the brother than their older sisters.
P&P quotes had no place in this story. "Your family owes me nothing, much as I respect them, I thought only of you" when providing VERY minor comfort to Bennets just doesn't ring the same AFTER Wickham seduced Lydia without Darcy intervening to save her. At that point in the story Darcy should be thinking of his own guilt and fault in Wickham roaming free & seducing innocent country maidens which ACTUALLY led to ruining Elizabeth's family and caused , yet he's "thinking only of Elizabeth".
There was a bit of wanton-ism - a midnight meeting in nightgowns (seemed implausible) and then maybe too much kissing in the end with the proposal and aftermath. Considering that at that point they had SO much history and mutual pining with "we've lost so much time and lived through many hardships", I'll allow it (I am NOT allowing midnight nightgown meeting, though).
There was some talk of ruination & compromise which I don't like. I've read a fair share of compromise-trope stories, but they always seemed far-fetched, because you cannot totally compromise and ruin a rich woman
The Bennet situation was good and bad.
There's 200-300 pages of filler content, yet the author didn't want to deal with those plotlines in a satisfying manner.
Although I enjoyed the book, the main plotline dealing with Mrs Hawes I didn't enjoy at all. I saw it coming, it was predictable, the set-up was too long, yet it was satisfying in the "I'm glad in happened" way. But the main villain altercation was lame.
Mrs & Miss Latimer were a nice addition to the story, even though the secondary villain plotline connected with them was a bit far-fetched and not executed in a consistent fashion.
The end is cheesy. The author really tried to play matchmaker and find spouses for EVERYONE, the Epilogue takes place 4 years after the book (and 5 years after P&P) and everyone are coupled with tiny kids. And despite it, one particular action left one big plotline very open-ended.
August 31, 2018
I really loved this... it's so long - over 700 pages so took a while but it was really worth the effort. It's one of those books I feel a bit sad to have finished as there are so many great characters in here.
We start with some significant events... Darcy travelled for 12 months after Huntsford so never met with Elizabeth again. He therefore did not force Wickham to marry Lydia - she was killed in a fire and her mother also died soon after. The scandal meant the Bennets left Hertfordshire to become tenants in the grounds of Pemberley.
When Darcy returns from his travels he is determined to marry Miss Latimer as she plays the piano rather well... he has forgotten all about Elizabeth... until the second he lays eyes on her again! Things are going to get complicated as the ton anticipate the engagement and Miss Latimer and her family are on the way to Pemberley!
There are some additional Bingleys in this book - twins - I really liked them! Colonel Fitzwilliam is brilliant, I liked him so much! I wish we'd seen a bit more of Miss Latimer - by the time the book finished I quite liked her but didn't really feel I understood her. Jane and Bingleys story gets surprisingly little time and I'd have also to have seen a bit more of them. I wasn't sure about the character and behaviour of Sarah Hawes - knowing what we do about her I wasn't sure I was convinced by her behaviour but I loved the story none the less.
There was angst, but not too much... there were hurdles to overcome but I felt confident about the ending. A really good read, really enjoyable!
We start with some significant events... Darcy travelled for 12 months after Huntsford so never met with Elizabeth again. He therefore did not force Wickham to marry Lydia - she was killed in a fire and her mother also died soon after. The scandal meant the Bennets left Hertfordshire to become tenants in the grounds of Pemberley.
When Darcy returns from his travels he is determined to marry Miss Latimer as she plays the piano rather well... he has forgotten all about Elizabeth... until the second he lays eyes on her again! Things are going to get complicated as the ton anticipate the engagement and Miss Latimer and her family are on the way to Pemberley!
There are some additional Bingleys in this book - twins - I really liked them! Colonel Fitzwilliam is brilliant, I liked him so much! I wish we'd seen a bit more of Miss Latimer - by the time the book finished I quite liked her but didn't really feel I understood her. Jane and Bingleys story gets surprisingly little time and I'd have also to have seen a bit more of them. I wasn't sure about the character and behaviour of Sarah Hawes - knowing what we do about her I wasn't sure I was convinced by her behaviour but I loved the story none the less.
There was angst, but not too much... there were hurdles to overcome but I felt confident about the ending. A really good read, really enjoyable!
June 29, 2017
Shining perfection
I usually restrain my voracious reading habit by selecting new books from Kindle Unlimited. The reputation of this author, the cover and the reviews caused me to take a chance and download the sample. From there, the author had me hooked! Everything about this book was stellar: grammar, writing, plot development, and dialogue. Bonus points for the seamless (and believable) integration of characters from other Austen works.
I do not regret the purchase of this book from my meager book budget and plan to seek out more of this author's work in the future.
Don't you wish that all Austen fiction was this well-written?
I usually restrain my voracious reading habit by selecting new books from Kindle Unlimited. The reputation of this author, the cover and the reviews caused me to take a chance and download the sample. From there, the author had me hooked! Everything about this book was stellar: grammar, writing, plot development, and dialogue. Bonus points for the seamless (and believable) integration of characters from other Austen works.
I do not regret the purchase of this book from my meager book budget and plan to seek out more of this author's work in the future.
Don't you wish that all Austen fiction was this well-written?
July 22, 2017
This is absolutely fabulous!!
It is so rare to finish a book and be completely pleased with the depth, intrigue, length and ending, but here I sit thoroughly satisfied! Easily one of the best P&P variations I have read (out of literally hundreds) and I cannot wait to read more from the author. Fantastic!!
It is so rare to finish a book and be completely pleased with the depth, intrigue, length and ending, but here I sit thoroughly satisfied! Easily one of the best P&P variations I have read (out of literally hundreds) and I cannot wait to read more from the author. Fantastic!!
January 22, 2018
Darcy is mistaken for a Fox by a tenant farmer
A delightful story. Very original plot, well written, the conversations by the characters are well crafted, the angst and all the other emotions ‘feel real’ as the story unfolds.
I recommend this book highly.
A delightful story. Very original plot, well written, the conversations by the characters are well crafted, the angst and all the other emotions ‘feel real’ as the story unfolds.
I recommend this book highly.
May 29, 2018
Enjoyable book. Perhaps about 100 pages too long. I'd strongly recommend you read other reviews before reading. I got this on loan through Kindle. There were some grammatical issues but not many.
July 10, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyable read
This is a lovely story. It starts with a different premise and grows from there. I really enjoyed the new secondary characters that were in this story, especially the Bingley twins. If you are looking for a thoroughly satisfying read, this is the book for you.
This is a lovely story. It starts with a different premise and grows from there. I really enjoyed the new secondary characters that were in this story, especially the Bingley twins. If you are looking for a thoroughly satisfying read, this is the book for you.
August 27, 2018
This is a Pride and Prejudice variation with a bit of a mysterious twist. I can't share some of my favorite parts without offering spoilers, which I hope to avoid here, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I recommend it even if that constraint makes this review seem less interesting.
Weeks after being rejected by Elizabeth Bennet at Hunsford, Mr. Darcy still can't seem to get her off his mind, and he must move on. So, at the same time Lizzy is going off to visit Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle, Mr. Darcy and his sister are off on a trip abroad, to spend a year or so in northern Europe, keeping their travel northward to avoid the war farther south. The reader is not taken on this journey. Instead the story picks up immediately with their return.
When they return, Georgiana is spirited away to stay with her aunt, Colonel Fitzwilliam's mother, for a short time, while Darcy settles into his London house, where he needs to catch up with a backlog of correspondence, and news of what's been going on at Pemberley in his absence.
He learns there's a new family renting The Grange, a manor house on his property, near Pemberley. The new tenants are named Bennet and consist of a gentleman and his two daughters. The name captures his attention, and makes him wonder, but a gentleman and two daughters could not be the same Bennets of his acquaintance, who are a gentleman, his wife, and five daughters. So it seems no more than a coincidence and an annoying reminder of people he'd rather forget.
Darcy's friend Mr. Bingley is concerned about sending his younger twin half-sisters to the same London finishing school that he thinks was detrimental to his older sisters' characters, so he wonders about moving back to Netherfield, in nearby Hertfordshire, where he can have the girls visit regularly on their breaks from school. He also wants to call on the Bennets there, as he never took proper leave of them on his prior departure from the neighborhood. Darcy and he take a brief trip to Hertfordshire, so Bingley can make some decisions. Darcy is determined not to go anywhere near Longbourn himself while he's there, a resolution he almost breaks after they arrive, when Bingley decides to ride over and see the Bennets. But Bingley rides off alone to Longbourn.
They learn that the Bennets have moved away. Lydia Bennet ran off with an unnamed Militia officer, and she died in a fire in London. Mrs. Bennet died soon after, her nervous complaints having turned out to be signs of a serious illness after all, worsened by the shock of Lydia's troubles. Lydia and Mrs. Bennet are buried in the churchyard, and the rest of the family, who were shunned by the neighborhood after Lydia's ruin, have moved away without a trace, as have the Phillipses. Longbourn has been leased to strangers. The Bennets are gone, and both men leave in somewhat of a state of shock. Darcy suspects Wickham had something to do with what became of Lydia, and he rides off angry as well.
Back in London, Darcy has decided he needs a wife, so he starts accepting invitations, and meeting young women, and soon settles on a Miss Latimer, with a fortune of 50,000, as a possibility. He doesn't so much court her as let her family draw him in, especially her father, who seems intent on Darcy marrying his daughter. Darcy is almost ready to make an offer for her when Georgiana intervenes, questioning his intentions, wondering why her brother is so ready to marry a woman he not only doesn't love but doesn't seem to even know or like very well. Georgiana doesn't like her, and she wants her brother to reconsider and instead hold out for love.
Darcy has previously shared with his sister and his cousin the colonel what happened between him and Elizabeth Bennet on his visit to Rosings the prior year. He tries to explain that he is no longer interested in a love match. He needs a wife, so he's doing what seems practical. But to help Georgiana adjust to the idea, he decides they'll go to Pemberley and invite a house full of guests, which is to include the Latimers, so that both he and Georgiana can have the opportunity to get to know the young lady better before he makes his offer. By this time Mr. Bingley has decided to send his twin sisters to a school near Pemberley, so he'll also be a house guest, along with his younger twin half-sisters, Olivia and Viola, before the girls are to go off to their finishing school.
But a question grows in Darcy's mind as to the identity of the Bennets leasing The Grange, and he decides to find out who they are.
That's as far as I can go without giving away too much that the reader will enjoy much more by reading the book. This is an intriguing variation, which kept me turning pages, and the characters are delightful, especially Bingley's twin younger sisters, and Colonel Fitzwilliam, who provided a lot of the humor. There is some sadness in this story, but also a bit of a mystery, and nothing too very tragic. A very satisfying story overall, though I felt the epilogue went on a little long and tried to wrap up too much. I always think it's best to leave some things to the reader's imagination. Still, it is a complex tale, and there was one important thread tied up in the epilogue, so it was worth reading.
Weeks after being rejected by Elizabeth Bennet at Hunsford, Mr. Darcy still can't seem to get her off his mind, and he must move on. So, at the same time Lizzy is going off to visit Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle, Mr. Darcy and his sister are off on a trip abroad, to spend a year or so in northern Europe, keeping their travel northward to avoid the war farther south. The reader is not taken on this journey. Instead the story picks up immediately with their return.
When they return, Georgiana is spirited away to stay with her aunt, Colonel Fitzwilliam's mother, for a short time, while Darcy settles into his London house, where he needs to catch up with a backlog of correspondence, and news of what's been going on at Pemberley in his absence.
He learns there's a new family renting The Grange, a manor house on his property, near Pemberley. The new tenants are named Bennet and consist of a gentleman and his two daughters. The name captures his attention, and makes him wonder, but a gentleman and two daughters could not be the same Bennets of his acquaintance, who are a gentleman, his wife, and five daughters. So it seems no more than a coincidence and an annoying reminder of people he'd rather forget.
Darcy's friend Mr. Bingley is concerned about sending his younger twin half-sisters to the same London finishing school that he thinks was detrimental to his older sisters' characters, so he wonders about moving back to Netherfield, in nearby Hertfordshire, where he can have the girls visit regularly on their breaks from school. He also wants to call on the Bennets there, as he never took proper leave of them on his prior departure from the neighborhood. Darcy and he take a brief trip to Hertfordshire, so Bingley can make some decisions. Darcy is determined not to go anywhere near Longbourn himself while he's there, a resolution he almost breaks after they arrive, when Bingley decides to ride over and see the Bennets. But Bingley rides off alone to Longbourn.
They learn that the Bennets have moved away. Lydia Bennet ran off with an unnamed Militia officer, and she died in a fire in London. Mrs. Bennet died soon after, her nervous complaints having turned out to be signs of a serious illness after all, worsened by the shock of Lydia's troubles. Lydia and Mrs. Bennet are buried in the churchyard, and the rest of the family, who were shunned by the neighborhood after Lydia's ruin, have moved away without a trace, as have the Phillipses. Longbourn has been leased to strangers. The Bennets are gone, and both men leave in somewhat of a state of shock. Darcy suspects Wickham had something to do with what became of Lydia, and he rides off angry as well.
Back in London, Darcy has decided he needs a wife, so he starts accepting invitations, and meeting young women, and soon settles on a Miss Latimer, with a fortune of 50,000, as a possibility. He doesn't so much court her as let her family draw him in, especially her father, who seems intent on Darcy marrying his daughter. Darcy is almost ready to make an offer for her when Georgiana intervenes, questioning his intentions, wondering why her brother is so ready to marry a woman he not only doesn't love but doesn't seem to even know or like very well. Georgiana doesn't like her, and she wants her brother to reconsider and instead hold out for love.
Darcy has previously shared with his sister and his cousin the colonel what happened between him and Elizabeth Bennet on his visit to Rosings the prior year. He tries to explain that he is no longer interested in a love match. He needs a wife, so he's doing what seems practical. But to help Georgiana adjust to the idea, he decides they'll go to Pemberley and invite a house full of guests, which is to include the Latimers, so that both he and Georgiana can have the opportunity to get to know the young lady better before he makes his offer. By this time Mr. Bingley has decided to send his twin sisters to a school near Pemberley, so he'll also be a house guest, along with his younger twin half-sisters, Olivia and Viola, before the girls are to go off to their finishing school.
But a question grows in Darcy's mind as to the identity of the Bennets leasing The Grange, and he decides to find out who they are.
That's as far as I can go without giving away too much that the reader will enjoy much more by reading the book. This is an intriguing variation, which kept me turning pages, and the characters are delightful, especially Bingley's twin younger sisters, and Colonel Fitzwilliam, who provided a lot of the humor. There is some sadness in this story, but also a bit of a mystery, and nothing too very tragic. A very satisfying story overall, though I felt the epilogue went on a little long and tried to wrap up too much. I always think it's best to leave some things to the reader's imagination. Still, it is a complex tale, and there was one important thread tied up in the epilogue, so it was worth reading.
June 29, 2017
Good mystery
Enjoyed this novel because of its rather unique new characters and because I was able to predict a living person for the "ghost" and the archer's role.
Enjoyed this novel because of its rather unique new characters and because I was able to predict a living person for the "ghost" and the archer's role.
June 26, 2017
Excellent plot
I always enjoy a good plot and this book delivers. The addition of the Bingley twins was a delightful addition! Cassandra Grafton gave her faithful readers twists and turns and outcomes no one saw coming! Well done!
I always enjoy a good plot and this book delivers. The addition of the Bingley twins was a delightful addition! Cassandra Grafton gave her faithful readers twists and turns and outcomes no one saw coming! Well done!
July 13, 2021
Worth reading
Like so many others, I got sucked into buying this book by a new cover, and my kindle not informing me that I already had it, which it normally does. Why do authors do that? A ploy to make more money on the same old stuff? As annoyed as I was when I figured it out, I still enjoyed the story, not having read it in a long time, and it deserves a favorable mention. After the disastrous proposal at Hunsford parsonage, and Darcy's letter to Elizabeth, a despondent Darcy gathers up Georgiana and leaves the country for a year in order to try to forget Elizabeth, and get on with his life, including finding an alternate wife from high society. He chooses a woman, and invites her family to visit Pemberly.
Meanwhile, while Darcy has been absent, the Lydia debacle happens, but Lydia perishes in a fire, and Mrs Bennett has a nervous breakdown and soon dies, leaving the Bennett family in disgrace. Mr Bennett relocates his remaining family to a home in Derbyshire, as a tenant on the Pemberly estate. When Darcy finally comes back to Pemberly after his travels, he discovers Elizabeth in the neighborhood.
The circumstances of the reunion of Darcy and Elizabeth is cute and kind of silly, but ultimately romantic. I like the portrayal of Darcy and Elizabeth, they both are rather battered by life and are, therefore, somewhat softened up and receptive to a little romance. I was thankful that, although there was some resistance on both of their parts to succumbing to their attraction, it wasn't dragged out too long. In a book of this length, that would have been tiresome. I do think that, with some judicious editing, this book could have been condensed a little bit. Although a lot happens in the book, there's a lot of repetition of the concerns that both Elizabeth and Darcy have about reuniting with the other.
The premise of the story is imaginative, and there is some nice suspense, mystery, and excitement. Some of the plot points are far fetched, however, such as the Lydia Bennett reappearance, and the Wickham situation. The romance is lovely, and there's a lot of it. The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it.
Like so many others, I got sucked into buying this book by a new cover, and my kindle not informing me that I already had it, which it normally does. Why do authors do that? A ploy to make more money on the same old stuff? As annoyed as I was when I figured it out, I still enjoyed the story, not having read it in a long time, and it deserves a favorable mention. After the disastrous proposal at Hunsford parsonage, and Darcy's letter to Elizabeth, a despondent Darcy gathers up Georgiana and leaves the country for a year in order to try to forget Elizabeth, and get on with his life, including finding an alternate wife from high society. He chooses a woman, and invites her family to visit Pemberly.
Meanwhile, while Darcy has been absent, the Lydia debacle happens, but Lydia perishes in a fire, and Mrs Bennett has a nervous breakdown and soon dies, leaving the Bennett family in disgrace. Mr Bennett relocates his remaining family to a home in Derbyshire, as a tenant on the Pemberly estate. When Darcy finally comes back to Pemberly after his travels, he discovers Elizabeth in the neighborhood.
The circumstances of the reunion of Darcy and Elizabeth is cute and kind of silly, but ultimately romantic. I like the portrayal of Darcy and Elizabeth, they both are rather battered by life and are, therefore, somewhat softened up and receptive to a little romance. I was thankful that, although there was some resistance on both of their parts to succumbing to their attraction, it wasn't dragged out too long. In a book of this length, that would have been tiresome. I do think that, with some judicious editing, this book could have been condensed a little bit. Although a lot happens in the book, there's a lot of repetition of the concerns that both Elizabeth and Darcy have about reuniting with the other.
The premise of the story is imaginative, and there is some nice suspense, mystery, and excitement. Some of the plot points are far fetched, however, such as the Lydia Bennett reappearance, and the Wickham situation. The romance is lovely, and there's a lot of it. The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it.
August 8, 2020
I liked it, but,
I wish the author would have quit using the tremulous smile. There are other words that !ran the same thing. It seemed that was the only smile anyone ever had.
I wish Lydia could have remained Lydia, instead of another name. It is strange that they neighborhood knows of a younger sister having died and suddenly a distant cousin appears looking much like the Bennett girls. I would've thought people would wonder if this was indeed the dead sister.
It was only .99 do it was with it though a bit too long, with an abrupt epilogue ending.
I wish the author would have quit using the tremulous smile. There are other words that !ran the same thing. It seemed that was the only smile anyone ever had.
I wish Lydia could have remained Lydia, instead of another name. It is strange that they neighborhood knows of a younger sister having died and suddenly a distant cousin appears looking much like the Bennett girls. I would've thought people would wonder if this was indeed the dead sister.
It was only .99 do it was with it though a bit too long, with an abrupt epilogue ending.
March 8, 2020
A delightful story with a nice but of humor
I enjoyed reading this classic story. It deals with relationships and some consequences of secrets. I really appreciated the subtle humor that balanced out the serious events. I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work and definitely recommend this book.
I enjoyed reading this classic story. It deals with relationships and some consequences of secrets. I really appreciated the subtle humor that balanced out the serious events. I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work and definitely recommend this book.
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