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Nameless
“This was not a man who would explode in a rage, or who would give way to shame or temper...which meant my choices were either he had killed her in cold blood, or he had not killed her at all.” ORPHANED AND ALONE IN THE WORLD, Elizabeth Bennet has found reasonable contentment as a companion to the Dowager Countess of Matlock, the affairs of 1811 and Fitzwilliam Darcy long forgotten. But the past intrudes upon her again, and Mr Darcy returns to her, handsome, wealthy, and widowed, and hiding many secrets beneath his solemn exterior. BUT IF TIME HAD ALTERED THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, one thing Mr Darcy still wishes to marry her, and this time, Elizabeth consents. At nearly twenty-nine it is inarguably a good prospect for her and indeed, not until they arrive at his vast estate does she realise how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their growing love. But the new Mrs Darcy’s courage will continue to rise despite the many attempts to intimidate her; and she vows to use whatever power she holds over the master of Pemberley to keep him. NAMELESS is a tale of the triumph of good over evil, of passion over prejudice, of loyalty over lies…and most of all, of enduring, unfailing love.
406 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2021
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March 27, 2025
“If only there could be an invention that bottled up a memory, like scent. And it never faded, and it never got stale. And then, when one wanted it, the bottle could be uncorked, and it would be like living the moment all over again.” ― Daphne du Maurier
What if memories are not happy ones?
What if that bottle should remain corked?
What if you didn’t want to live a moment all over again?
“Every moment was a precious thing, having in it the essence of finality.” ― Daphne du Maurier
“Nameless” is a skillful weaving of two of my favorite books: “Pride and Prejudice” and “Rebecca”.
The story opens eight years after Netherfield Park had been let at last. Darcy and the Bingleys returned to London and were not seen again in Meryton. Lydia disappeared with Wickham and was presumed to be dead. Mr. & Mrs. Bennet died during the search for their daughter. The remaining Bennet daughters are scattered. Jane and Kitty are married. Mary makes her home at Longbourn with Charlotte and William Collins. Elizabeth serves as a companion to the Dowager Countess of Matlock who lives at Rosings.
Darcy had married Anne de Bourgh — not his cousin in this story — and been widowed a few months. He arrives at Rosings for a short visit and within days, he approaches Elizabeth with a proposal.
“No, I'm asking you to marry me, you little fool.” ― Daphne du Maurier
Darcy’s proposal is not romantic — no “ardently admire and love you” — but at least he manages not to call her a fool.
Quote from the book: And then, in the most casual tone one could imagine, he asked, “I wonder if you would do me the honour of marrying me?
At twenty-eight, Elizabeth knows what life holds for an unmarried woman. She accepts the proposal at once and the couple is soon married.
“It wouldn't make for sanity would it, living with the devil.” ― Daphne du Maurier
The newlyweds arrive at Pemberly where Elizabeth learns that her husband’s first mother-in-law still lives there. Elizabeth knows she must immediately assume the role of mistress of the household.
The author shows us an Elizabeth who remains as she was in canon P&P but with the addition of eight years in the school of hard knocks, she is stronger and more resolute. I loved this depiction of Elizabeth. Resolved to act in the manner which will constitute her happiness; determined to create a happy home for her husband; Elizabeth confronts Mrs. de Bourgh at every intersection.
Anne de Bourgh, the first Mrs. Darcy, is the reincarnation of Rebecca de Winter. She was certainly not the weak, sickly creature from Pride and Prejudice. Her mother takes the role of Mrs. Danvers and creates a shrine to her lost daughter. George Wickham plays a dual role as himself and also Jack Favell, with a vicious twist neither of those men shows in their original stories.
As always, Pemberley plays its part in the story. Constructed at the edge of a cliff, the west wing family bedchambers overhang the cliff, leading to death.
“We're not meant for happiness, you and I.” ― Daphne du Maurier
Just how did the first Mrs. Darcy die?
Is Fitzwilliam Darcy a murderer as so many believe?
And most important of all, does Pemberley burn to the ground?
The mysterious death of the first Mrs. Darcy is similar, but not identical to the death of the first Mrs. de Winter. The crossover creates multiple plot possibilities.
“Nameless” is well-written and tightly edited. The mystery evolves clue by clue. The romance endures.
I loved this book!
“I believe there is a theory that men and women emerge finer and stronger after suffering, and that to advance in this or any world we must endure ordeal by fire.” ― Daphne du Maurier
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What if memories are not happy ones?
What if that bottle should remain corked?
What if you didn’t want to live a moment all over again?
“Every moment was a precious thing, having in it the essence of finality.” ― Daphne du Maurier
“Nameless” is a skillful weaving of two of my favorite books: “Pride and Prejudice” and “Rebecca”.
The story opens eight years after Netherfield Park had been let at last. Darcy and the Bingleys returned to London and were not seen again in Meryton. Lydia disappeared with Wickham and was presumed to be dead. Mr. & Mrs. Bennet died during the search for their daughter. The remaining Bennet daughters are scattered. Jane and Kitty are married. Mary makes her home at Longbourn with Charlotte and William Collins. Elizabeth serves as a companion to the Dowager Countess of Matlock who lives at Rosings.
Darcy had married Anne de Bourgh — not his cousin in this story — and been widowed a few months. He arrives at Rosings for a short visit and within days, he approaches Elizabeth with a proposal.
“No, I'm asking you to marry me, you little fool.” ― Daphne du Maurier
Darcy’s proposal is not romantic — no “ardently admire and love you” — but at least he manages not to call her a fool.
Quote from the book: And then, in the most casual tone one could imagine, he asked, “I wonder if you would do me the honour of marrying me?
At twenty-eight, Elizabeth knows what life holds for an unmarried woman. She accepts the proposal at once and the couple is soon married.
“It wouldn't make for sanity would it, living with the devil.” ― Daphne du Maurier
The newlyweds arrive at Pemberly where Elizabeth learns that her husband’s first mother-in-law still lives there. Elizabeth knows she must immediately assume the role of mistress of the household.
The author shows us an Elizabeth who remains as she was in canon P&P but with the addition of eight years in the school of hard knocks, she is stronger and more resolute. I loved this depiction of Elizabeth. Resolved to act in the manner which will constitute her happiness; determined to create a happy home for her husband; Elizabeth confronts Mrs. de Bourgh at every intersection.
Anne de Bourgh, the first Mrs. Darcy, is the reincarnation of Rebecca de Winter. She was certainly not the weak, sickly creature from Pride and Prejudice. Her mother takes the role of Mrs. Danvers and creates a shrine to her lost daughter. George Wickham plays a dual role as himself and also Jack Favell, with a vicious twist neither of those men shows in their original stories.
As always, Pemberley plays its part in the story. Constructed at the edge of a cliff, the west wing family bedchambers overhang the cliff, leading to death.
“We're not meant for happiness, you and I.” ― Daphne du Maurier
Just how did the first Mrs. Darcy die?
Is Fitzwilliam Darcy a murderer as so many believe?
And most important of all, does Pemberley burn to the ground?
The mysterious death of the first Mrs. Darcy is similar, but not identical to the death of the first Mrs. de Winter. The crossover creates multiple plot possibilities.
“Nameless” is well-written and tightly edited. The mystery evolves clue by clue. The romance endures.
I loved this book!
“I believe there is a theory that men and women emerge finer and stronger after suffering, and that to advance in this or any world we must endure ordeal by fire.” ― Daphne du Maurier
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 25, 2023
I was thoroughly intrigued when I realized that Nameless is a mash-up of Daphne du Maurier's gothic classic Rebecca and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It may have been a few decades since I'd read the former, but that's one plot you never, ever forget. I was inspired to dig it out and read it again after I finished reading this.
(Before I go any further, I have to offer the strong recommendation to read it or check out Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 movie based on the book if you haven't already had the pleasure. It will enhance your appreciation for Nameless, which masterfully merges two true classics.)
Ms. Cooper replaces one iconic opening line with another, making a notable change: I dreamed I went to Pemberley again. (Conveniently, "Manderley" and "Pemberley" have a similar cadence.) The narration is all in first person, with Elizabeth telling the story.
Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and the rest of the Netherfield party exited her life the day after the Netherfield ball. There was no Hunsford proposal. Wickham successfully ruined Lydia, who was never found and presumed dead. Mr. Bennet died of shock when the two disappeared, leaving the rest of the Bennet family in disarray. Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner are now dead, too. That was all many years ago now, and the family is scattered. Interestingly, Jane Bennet is very happily married to someone other than Mr. Bingley.
The first time Elizabeth sees Mr. Darcy again is eight years after the Netherfield ball, and she's all but forgotten him. He goes to visit his aunt at Rosings, the cantankerous Countess of Matlock, for whom Elizabeth now works as a companion. We learn that Darcy is a grieving widower who recently lost his beloved wife.
Elizabeth is shocked when he unexpectedly proposes marriage but agrees to what she believes is a marriage of convenience rather than love. A searing kiss convinces her that there is, at least, attraction between them. At this point, she respects and admires Darcy but doesn't really know him.
Although I refer to her as "Elizabeth," you won't see her name mentioned until the book's climax. She remains "Nameless" up until that point, giving the novel its title. Although anyone familiar with Pride and Prejudice knows who it is, there's a symbolic reason for this omission. All is well during their extended journey to Derbyshire, but the atmosphere changes significantly once they get to Pemberley. Darcy's first wife, Mrs. Anne Darcy - formerly Anne de Bourgh - has cast a long shadow that looms large over the estate and the new Mrs. Darcy. In addition, her mother, Mrs. de Bourgh, still lives there.
Make no mistake; this Anne is not the feeble character from P&P but instead is modelled after du Maurier's sparkling, larger-than-life, incomparable Rebecca de Winter. Mrs. de Bourgh takes the role of the sinister Mrs. Danvers.
Anne's tragic death was the result of a fall from the balcony off her cliffside bedroom in Pemberley's West Wing, which Mr. Darcy, presumably out of grief, has ordered locked up and closed off. Mrs. de Bourgh is less than thrilled that he remarried less than a year after Anne's death and makes her disapproval of the new Mrs. Darcy apparent from the start. Any changes the new mistress wants to make are met with resistance, since the previous mistress had impeccable taste and established household routines that should not be disrupted.
Darcy is the perfect counterpart to Rebecca's Maxim de Winter. He's reticent, prone to standing and staring out of windows, and hides painful family secrets. Also, like Manderley, Pemberley is a prominent "character" in its own right; in this case, that's especially true in the West Wing.
Fittingly, the tone of Ms. Cooper's novel is neither as light as P&P nor as traditionally gothic as Rebecca. It is, however, more of a romance than a ghost story. Elizabeth Darcy is not a shy, hesitant young girl; she's Jane Austen's quick-witted, confident heroine, only older, wiser, and made of tougher stuff than Rebecca's never-named narrator. The story becomes a chess match between her and Mrs. de Bourgh, and there's never a doubt about who is going to win, especially once Elizabeth gets Darcy to talk about his first marriage. There are many surprises with plenty of divergences from BOTH stories that keep the reader guessing about where everything is headed. The climactic scene is a doozy that finally unravels the underlying mystery.
The writing is excellent, and the editing is virtually error-free. The premise itself is inspired and executed brilliantly. While there's nothing graphic, there is some adult content.
Highly recommend!
I received an ARC with no promise of a review, favorable or otherwise.
(Before I go any further, I have to offer the strong recommendation to read it or check out Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 movie based on the book if you haven't already had the pleasure. It will enhance your appreciation for Nameless, which masterfully merges two true classics.)
Ms. Cooper replaces one iconic opening line with another, making a notable change: I dreamed I went to Pemberley again. (Conveniently, "Manderley" and "Pemberley" have a similar cadence.) The narration is all in first person, with Elizabeth telling the story.
Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and the rest of the Netherfield party exited her life the day after the Netherfield ball. There was no Hunsford proposal. Wickham successfully ruined Lydia, who was never found and presumed dead. Mr. Bennet died of shock when the two disappeared, leaving the rest of the Bennet family in disarray. Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner are now dead, too. That was all many years ago now, and the family is scattered. Interestingly, Jane Bennet is very happily married to someone other than Mr. Bingley.
The first time Elizabeth sees Mr. Darcy again is eight years after the Netherfield ball, and she's all but forgotten him. He goes to visit his aunt at Rosings, the cantankerous Countess of Matlock, for whom Elizabeth now works as a companion. We learn that Darcy is a grieving widower who recently lost his beloved wife.
Elizabeth is shocked when he unexpectedly proposes marriage but agrees to what she believes is a marriage of convenience rather than love. A searing kiss convinces her that there is, at least, attraction between them. At this point, she respects and admires Darcy but doesn't really know him.
Although I refer to her as "Elizabeth," you won't see her name mentioned until the book's climax. She remains "Nameless" up until that point, giving the novel its title. Although anyone familiar with Pride and Prejudice knows who it is, there's a symbolic reason for this omission. All is well during their extended journey to Derbyshire, but the atmosphere changes significantly once they get to Pemberley. Darcy's first wife, Mrs. Anne Darcy - formerly Anne de Bourgh - has cast a long shadow that looms large over the estate and the new Mrs. Darcy. In addition, her mother, Mrs. de Bourgh, still lives there.
Make no mistake; this Anne is not the feeble character from P&P but instead is modelled after du Maurier's sparkling, larger-than-life, incomparable Rebecca de Winter. Mrs. de Bourgh takes the role of the sinister Mrs. Danvers.
Anne's tragic death was the result of a fall from the balcony off her cliffside bedroom in Pemberley's West Wing, which Mr. Darcy, presumably out of grief, has ordered locked up and closed off. Mrs. de Bourgh is less than thrilled that he remarried less than a year after Anne's death and makes her disapproval of the new Mrs. Darcy apparent from the start. Any changes the new mistress wants to make are met with resistance, since the previous mistress had impeccable taste and established household routines that should not be disrupted.
Darcy is the perfect counterpart to Rebecca's Maxim de Winter. He's reticent, prone to standing and staring out of windows, and hides painful family secrets. Also, like Manderley, Pemberley is a prominent "character" in its own right; in this case, that's especially true in the West Wing.
Fittingly, the tone of Ms. Cooper's novel is neither as light as P&P nor as traditionally gothic as Rebecca. It is, however, more of a romance than a ghost story. Elizabeth Darcy is not a shy, hesitant young girl; she's Jane Austen's quick-witted, confident heroine, only older, wiser, and made of tougher stuff than Rebecca's never-named narrator. The story becomes a chess match between her and Mrs. de Bourgh, and there's never a doubt about who is going to win, especially once Elizabeth gets Darcy to talk about his first marriage. There are many surprises with plenty of divergences from BOTH stories that keep the reader guessing about where everything is headed. The climactic scene is a doozy that finally unravels the underlying mystery.
The writing is excellent, and the editing is virtually error-free. The premise itself is inspired and executed brilliantly. While there's nothing graphic, there is some adult content.
Highly recommend!
I received an ARC with no promise of a review, favorable or otherwise.
May 30, 2023
Excellence in Writing - 5⭐️+++++
My oh my, I hardly know where to begin with this book. Bottom line—my review title says it all. I don’t believe this measly review can ever do it justice. I wish I could give it more stars. I can’t wait for the audiobook, and I wish it could be made into a movie. It’s a book that screamed dramatization at me. Even the book blurb is perfect. This is most definitely not your typical Pride and Prejudice variation. Julie Cooper has artfully recreated some of the classic’s characters and wound them craftily around an intriguing and engaging plot, and ohhh what a plot it is!
The story is brilliantly executed from the point of view of a 28-year old spinster Elizabeth, in service to a dowager Lady Matlock who resides at Rosings, and who is cantankerous and demanding, treating Elizabeth as a drudge. There is no Lady Catherine. Elizabeth is there in this capacity because the Bennet parents and her Uncle Gardiner have died. She is full of grief and bitterness from the events that overtook her life.
Darcy is newly widowed and has come to visit Lady Matlock. He seems as brooding and aloof as the Darcy of old that Elizabeth remembers. He seeks out Elizabeth on a walk and proposes. She doesn’t need to marry, but she wants to have her own home, her own life. Then he kisses her—
“He wanted me. It was in the seeking pressure, the restrained hunger, the intensity of purpose, the coaxing pleasure. Within it, I was taken by yet another surprise: I wanted him, as well. I wanted to wrap my arms around his neck, be held close, to return his seeking with my own. I wanted to know what he thought, and I wanted his thoughts to be of me. I was young again, pretty and proud and powerful.”
Elizabeth is my hero in this book. Rather than the overly stubborn and unyielding shrew she is depicted as in many redrawn sketches of her, here she earnestly endeavours to exercise the patience she has learned to apply while in service, and remains resolute in not allowing villains to thwart her cause in being a good wife and Mistress of Pemberley. She is still full of wit, and exercises kindness towards others. In this book, she is the best Elizabeth I’ve read in a long time.
“Especially do I understand the anger that comes with loss, the temptation to shake a fist at God, the contempt for well-meaning platitudes and envy of others whose miracles I was never granted. Oh, yes, I do understand those sentiments. But when one encounters stinging nettles, one does not roll naked amongst them. Relief is seldom found by drowning in bitterness.”—quote from book
Darcy too is filled with grief and bitterness, but for different reasons. His marriage was not a happy one. There are rumours Anne Darcy’s death was suspicious and possibly at Darcy’s own hand. The outstandingly intriguing plot that fills the remainder of the story will have you eagerly feasting on the words that describe the miserable and troubled life Darcy has endured for eight years married to a diabolical woman whose equally diabolical mother lives with them. I have to say these are two of the best-written villains I’ve read in a P&P variation. Elizabeth, however, is not about to give in to an insane mother or a dead wife.
“Even when we believe ourselves to be utterly alone, there is help waiting in the wings. A situation is never hopeless, unless we give up hope.” —quote from book
Within this exceptional plot, Julie Cooper never loses sight of Elizabeth and Darcy’s beautiful love story. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s now my favourite Julie Cooper book, and without a single shred of doubt, goes into my 2021 Favourites list. This book also immediately goes into my re-read stack and I will purchase the published version for my Kindle library once it is released. You simply must read it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Note: While I have become aware this book is a mashup of Pride and Prejudice and Rebecca (by Daphne duMaurier), I have never read the latter; thus, my review reflects no awareness of the apparent similarities.
August 12-13, 2021
Audiobook Review
As always, Stevie Zimmerman gives an outstanding performance in her narration of this brilliant book.
My oh my, I hardly know where to begin with this book. Bottom line—my review title says it all. I don’t believe this measly review can ever do it justice. I wish I could give it more stars. I can’t wait for the audiobook, and I wish it could be made into a movie. It’s a book that screamed dramatization at me. Even the book blurb is perfect. This is most definitely not your typical Pride and Prejudice variation. Julie Cooper has artfully recreated some of the classic’s characters and wound them craftily around an intriguing and engaging plot, and ohhh what a plot it is!
The story is brilliantly executed from the point of view of a 28-year old spinster Elizabeth, in service to a dowager Lady Matlock who resides at Rosings, and who is cantankerous and demanding, treating Elizabeth as a drudge. There is no Lady Catherine. Elizabeth is there in this capacity because the Bennet parents and her Uncle Gardiner have died. She is full of grief and bitterness from the events that overtook her life.
Darcy is newly widowed and has come to visit Lady Matlock. He seems as brooding and aloof as the Darcy of old that Elizabeth remembers. He seeks out Elizabeth on a walk and proposes. She doesn’t need to marry, but she wants to have her own home, her own life. Then he kisses her—
“He wanted me. It was in the seeking pressure, the restrained hunger, the intensity of purpose, the coaxing pleasure. Within it, I was taken by yet another surprise: I wanted him, as well. I wanted to wrap my arms around his neck, be held close, to return his seeking with my own. I wanted to know what he thought, and I wanted his thoughts to be of me. I was young again, pretty and proud and powerful.”
Elizabeth is my hero in this book. Rather than the overly stubborn and unyielding shrew she is depicted as in many redrawn sketches of her, here she earnestly endeavours to exercise the patience she has learned to apply while in service, and remains resolute in not allowing villains to thwart her cause in being a good wife and Mistress of Pemberley. She is still full of wit, and exercises kindness towards others. In this book, she is the best Elizabeth I’ve read in a long time.
“Especially do I understand the anger that comes with loss, the temptation to shake a fist at God, the contempt for well-meaning platitudes and envy of others whose miracles I was never granted. Oh, yes, I do understand those sentiments. But when one encounters stinging nettles, one does not roll naked amongst them. Relief is seldom found by drowning in bitterness.”—quote from book
Darcy too is filled with grief and bitterness, but for different reasons. His marriage was not a happy one. There are rumours Anne Darcy’s death was suspicious and possibly at Darcy’s own hand. The outstandingly intriguing plot that fills the remainder of the story will have you eagerly feasting on the words that describe the miserable and troubled life Darcy has endured for eight years married to a diabolical woman whose equally diabolical mother lives with them. I have to say these are two of the best-written villains I’ve read in a P&P variation. Elizabeth, however, is not about to give in to an insane mother or a dead wife.
“Even when we believe ourselves to be utterly alone, there is help waiting in the wings. A situation is never hopeless, unless we give up hope.” —quote from book
Within this exceptional plot, Julie Cooper never loses sight of Elizabeth and Darcy’s beautiful love story. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s now my favourite Julie Cooper book, and without a single shred of doubt, goes into my 2021 Favourites list. This book also immediately goes into my re-read stack and I will purchase the published version for my Kindle library once it is released. You simply must read it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Note: While I have become aware this book is a mashup of Pride and Prejudice and Rebecca (by Daphne duMaurier), I have never read the latter; thus, my review reflects no awareness of the apparent similarities.
August 12-13, 2021
Audiobook Review
As always, Stevie Zimmerman gives an outstanding performance in her narration of this brilliant book.
July 7, 2024
2022-Loved listening to this on audiobook. I had forgotten all about what Anne was and that Pemberley was up on a small mountain. Amazing story and very good performance by Stevie Zimmerman.
While reading the first time I was so caught up in all the emotional drama.
Listening this time, I am noticing little nuances that are different from P&Pverse.
Lady C is Mrs, daughter to a Baron
Rosings is owned by the Matlocks
Wickham is related to the De Burghs (?)
Pemberley is high up on a hill surrounded by forest and woods
Our story is told first person, which starts in the beginning as both melancholy and rational. This is an Elizabeth who has learned to govern not only her impertinence but also her emotions, she is mature and has worked hard to achieve patience due to her life's experiences. There is a lack of her sarcasm and wittiness, she does not laugh as much. The tone of E's monologue from the beginning starts building a tension of mystery. As her own thoughts are constantly questioning herself, her new situation and everyone and everything around her.
Her parents are gone, her favorite uncle is gone and her aunt has moved back to Lambton. Lydia is not mentioned, Wickham is despised. Jane is married to Tilney - who is awesome! Elizabeth and Darcy have not met since after the Netherfield ball.
Working for a year as a companion to Dowager Mattlock (at Rosings? Took me a bit to reconfigure some of the facts in this story not coinciding with P&P canon. The de Burghs are not related to Darcy, Lady C. is a Mrs., Lambton is 20 miles away, Richard is a distant cousin and works as Pemberley steward) Darcy comes to visit. She is shocked when D proposes after only a few weeks of him visiting his aunt, with no notion he even thought of her at all. In fact the reader should be as well -there was NO indication, only we aren't, cause -ya know...
They marry almost immediately, even though D is still in mourning. Physically there is major compatibility, but D is even more quiet than E remembers. In fact, she perceives him as more sad than proud. He is very needy of her, there is something almost childlike in his need, like a lost, sad little boy. This mature E uses her patience and maturity to react and deal with D in the best way possible for him and their marriage. Their relationship deepens, as he learns to trust her. I get the feeling D suffers from PTSD from his previous marriage. Here and there D lets drop some of his feelings from way back in Longbourn. E, with non of the "usual" misunderstanding or baggage, learns very quickly to think well of him as -the 'best of men'.
Pemberley's secrets start to come out. Wickham shows up like a bad penny and as vicious as ever. Mrs. deB is worse even worse. Gossip and rumors prevail against D, murder among them. Darcy has tracked the Bennet's lives and acted, but to say more would give much of the story away.
There is a duality to this story, that as the secrets peel away from Pemberley, the reserve falls away from Darcy. It is a subtle transition of D opening up to letting himself be vulnerable to E.
This is a love story and mystery all in one. Beautifully written, (no annoying repetitions) Highly recommended!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
While reading the first time I was so caught up in all the emotional drama.
Listening this time, I am noticing little nuances that are different from P&Pverse.
Lady C is Mrs, daughter to a Baron
Rosings is owned by the Matlocks
Wickham is related to the De Burghs (?)
Pemberley is high up on a hill surrounded by forest and woods
Our story is told first person, which starts in the beginning as both melancholy and rational. This is an Elizabeth who has learned to govern not only her impertinence but also her emotions, she is mature and has worked hard to achieve patience due to her life's experiences. There is a lack of her sarcasm and wittiness, she does not laugh as much. The tone of E's monologue from the beginning starts building a tension of mystery. As her own thoughts are constantly questioning herself, her new situation and everyone and everything around her.
Her parents are gone, her favorite uncle is gone and her aunt has moved back to Lambton. Lydia is not mentioned, Wickham is despised. Jane is married to Tilney - who is awesome! Elizabeth and Darcy have not met since after the Netherfield ball.
Working for a year as a companion to Dowager Mattlock (at Rosings? Took me a bit to reconfigure some of the facts in this story not coinciding with P&P canon. The de Burghs are not related to Darcy, Lady C. is a Mrs., Lambton is 20 miles away, Richard is a distant cousin and works as Pemberley steward) Darcy comes to visit. She is shocked when D proposes after only a few weeks of him visiting his aunt, with no notion he even thought of her at all. In fact the reader should be as well -there was NO indication, only we aren't, cause -ya know...
They marry almost immediately, even though D is still in mourning. Physically there is major compatibility, but D is even more quiet than E remembers. In fact, she perceives him as more sad than proud. He is very needy of her, there is something almost childlike in his need, like a lost, sad little boy. This mature E uses her patience and maturity to react and deal with D in the best way possible for him and their marriage. Their relationship deepens, as he learns to trust her. I get the feeling D suffers from PTSD from his previous marriage. Here and there D lets drop some of his feelings from way back in Longbourn. E, with non of the "usual" misunderstanding or baggage, learns very quickly to think well of him as -the 'best of men'.
Pemberley's secrets start to come out. Wickham shows up like a bad penny and as vicious as ever. Mrs. deB is worse even worse. Gossip and rumors prevail against D, murder among them. Darcy has tracked the Bennet's lives and acted, but to say more would give much of the story away.
There is a duality to this story, that as the secrets peel away from Pemberley, the reserve falls away from Darcy. It is a subtle transition of D opening up to letting himself be vulnerable to E.
This is a love story and mystery all in one. Beautifully written, (no annoying repetitions) Highly recommended!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 27, 2024
Stunning! Brilliant! Compelling! Rereadable!
I simply will run out of praise before I can appropriately describe this book!
It is so engrossing that I discovered that my hot tub automatically shuts off the bubbles after 30 minutes. And I only paused long enough to make sure it wasn't a power outage before returning to the story.
This is a P&P / Rebecca Mash up. Not for the weak of heart - chock full of gothic horror and adult themes.
To achieve this goal a few things were changed; Lizzy's cousin is the rector to the Earl of Matlock; Lizzy doesn't go to Rosings the deBoughs are not related to the Darcys; Lizzy and the Gardiners don't take their tour. Our story opens 6 years after P&P with Lizzy working as a companion to a dowager Countess. If you know Rebecca you know what is coming.
Like Rebecca this story is told from Lizzy's POV. Which is brilliant. This is an older, wiser and more sanguine Lizzy but she's no door mat. So true confession time I never read Rebecca but I saw the Hitchcock film and I loved it.
This is one of the best P&P books I have read this year and possibly ever.
I simply will run out of praise before I can appropriately describe this book!
It is so engrossing that I discovered that my hot tub automatically shuts off the bubbles after 30 minutes. And I only paused long enough to make sure it wasn't a power outage before returning to the story.
This is a P&P / Rebecca Mash up. Not for the weak of heart - chock full of gothic horror and adult themes.
To achieve this goal a few things were changed; Lizzy's cousin is the rector to the Earl of Matlock; Lizzy doesn't go to Rosings the deBoughs are not related to the Darcys; Lizzy and the Gardiners don't take their tour. Our story opens 6 years after P&P with Lizzy working as a companion to a dowager Countess. If you know Rebecca you know what is coming.
Like Rebecca this story is told from Lizzy's POV. Which is brilliant. This is an older, wiser and more sanguine Lizzy but she's no door mat. So true confession time I never read Rebecca but I saw the Hitchcock film and I loved it.
This is one of the best P&P books I have read this year and possibly ever.
November 9, 2021
Rating: MA: adult themes that will curl your hair [SM]: sexual discussions, sensual moments, and conversations: murder[s], madness, violence described, attempted murder, trigger warning for the squeamish: A very Gothic Prologue + 32-chapters + epilogue: Angst Level: medium-to-high: It got so bad I broke out in a nervous sweat, just saying. There will also be stressors due to the death[s] of major and minor characters: Source: ARC from the publisher via BookSprout [6-23-21] Just a note: I had not read ‘Rebecca’ [1938 Gothic novel by Dame Daphne du Maurier] so did not see the connection between the two stories. If you have read it or watched any of the various movie[s], you will recognize the mash-up. If you have not… it doesn’t matter as it still is a great story.
SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** Spoilers ***
OMG! How on earth do I review this story? Nothing was as it seemed so you have to keep reading to see when it all changed and it wasn’t what you’d think. It was amazing, infuriating, scary as heck, wicked as sin, shocking, to say the least, and… OMG… creative as all get out. OK, housekeeping first. I consider this an AU [alternate universe]. Know going in, that there have been many changes that will be a bit startling at first but will make sense later. Some names were changed but that was necessary in order to make this work. Places, situations, positions, villages, distances, and even Pemberley itself were changed but… yada-yada, you get the picture. The reader will still find the thread of Austen’s P&P and other names will pop up from Austen’s other stories. Yeah, that was a surprise so watch for them. And in the end, it all worked.
“Things’ll get worse before they get better.” –Karen M. McManus, One of Us Is Lying
Some will be astonished by the changes and the OOC [out-of-character] behavior in Elizabeth Bennet. Well, she was several years older and wiser than she was at twenty. Writing the character of EB after Austen is a hard act to follow. Many authors struggle to find that line… that balance that Austen walked so easily. EB’s wit can often become caustic or sarcastic while her intellect sometimes comes off as stupid. She often becomes ridiculous in her attempts to engage Darcy. Well, you don’t have to worry about that here. IMHO [in-my-honest-opinion] Julie Cooper nailed it. This was so much fun being in Elizabeth’s head as she worked through what was happening, what she thought about the situation, and how she should respond or not respond. I absolutely loved her wisdom and her wit, I also enjoyed watching her work… um… manage Fitzwilliam Darcy in spite of his strange behavior. She was smart; she handled herself well; and she was truly the Elizabeth that Austen described… only older. She was the saving of FD and Pemberley. I loved her.
“Listen carefully. I’d crush you like a bug for causing my wife one single moment of pain. Believe it. Fear it.” –(Roarke) J.D. Robb
One thing we know for sure… Fitzwilliam Darcy cared about Elizabeth Bennet and her safety. Another thing… he was not accustomed to sharing responsibilities, worries, and the running of Pemberley. In Greek mythology, the Titan Atlas held the weight of the heavens on his shoulders as punishment demanded by Zeus. In this story, I wanted to ask Darcy… [What the Zeus] was he doing trying to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders? Everything that had ever gone wrong, Darcy picked it up and threw it into the basket he had strapped to his back. I wanted to shake him. His influence was wide-reaching and you only learned or heard of it in pieces and snatches. I was stunned to learn just how influential he had been. Elizabeth was rather shocked herself. WOW! I loved that part.
“The sweetest smiles hold the darkest secrets…” –Sara Shepard, Flawless
Mrs. Anne Darcy née De Bourgh. OMG! THIS is what Anne de Bourgh would have been like had she been healthy. Anne’s mother, Mrs. De Bourgh… certainly no Lady in this story… was horrid and a monster. Seriously, she put Austen’s Lady Catherine to shame on so many levels that it became scary. This was what they would have been like had Anne not been the sickly creature featured in canon. Wow! Pemberley was remade in her image. She had remodeled and added to Pemberley until it looked nothing like what we remembered.
Poor Darcy was a mess. The evolution of this story was amazing, scary, shocking, diabolical, breath-stealing, heart-stopping… hey, Bingley even threw up. Yeah, it was dicey there for a while. There were so many secrets at Pemberley. There was an unusual mystery regarding FD, his first marriage, his first wife’s death, and his hasty second marriage. The gossips in the Ton and local area were in a feeding frenzy. Lambton wasn’t as close to Pemberley as in canon. Another village altogether was nearby and Elizabeth felt their shunning of her immediately. She wondered what on earth had happened to cause such animosity regarding her husband.
I’ve got to stop as I’m going to give something away. I just know it. I hope you read it but hopefully not before going to bed. Yipes, it might give you nightmares. I highly recommend this for a very different but amazing story.
SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** Spoilers ***
OMG! How on earth do I review this story? Nothing was as it seemed so you have to keep reading to see when it all changed and it wasn’t what you’d think. It was amazing, infuriating, scary as heck, wicked as sin, shocking, to say the least, and… OMG… creative as all get out. OK, housekeeping first. I consider this an AU [alternate universe]. Know going in, that there have been many changes that will be a bit startling at first but will make sense later. Some names were changed but that was necessary in order to make this work. Places, situations, positions, villages, distances, and even Pemberley itself were changed but… yada-yada, you get the picture. The reader will still find the thread of Austen’s P&P and other names will pop up from Austen’s other stories. Yeah, that was a surprise so watch for them. And in the end, it all worked.
“Things’ll get worse before they get better.” –Karen M. McManus, One of Us Is Lying
Some will be astonished by the changes and the OOC [out-of-character] behavior in Elizabeth Bennet. Well, she was several years older and wiser than she was at twenty. Writing the character of EB after Austen is a hard act to follow. Many authors struggle to find that line… that balance that Austen walked so easily. EB’s wit can often become caustic or sarcastic while her intellect sometimes comes off as stupid. She often becomes ridiculous in her attempts to engage Darcy. Well, you don’t have to worry about that here. IMHO [in-my-honest-opinion] Julie Cooper nailed it. This was so much fun being in Elizabeth’s head as she worked through what was happening, what she thought about the situation, and how she should respond or not respond. I absolutely loved her wisdom and her wit, I also enjoyed watching her work… um… manage Fitzwilliam Darcy in spite of his strange behavior. She was smart; she handled herself well; and she was truly the Elizabeth that Austen described… only older. She was the saving of FD and Pemberley. I loved her.
“Listen carefully. I’d crush you like a bug for causing my wife one single moment of pain. Believe it. Fear it.” –(Roarke) J.D. Robb
One thing we know for sure… Fitzwilliam Darcy cared about Elizabeth Bennet and her safety. Another thing… he was not accustomed to sharing responsibilities, worries, and the running of Pemberley. In Greek mythology, the Titan Atlas held the weight of the heavens on his shoulders as punishment demanded by Zeus. In this story, I wanted to ask Darcy… [What the Zeus] was he doing trying to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders? Everything that had ever gone wrong, Darcy picked it up and threw it into the basket he had strapped to his back. I wanted to shake him. His influence was wide-reaching and you only learned or heard of it in pieces and snatches. I was stunned to learn just how influential he had been. Elizabeth was rather shocked herself. WOW! I loved that part.
“The sweetest smiles hold the darkest secrets…” –Sara Shepard, Flawless
Mrs. Anne Darcy née De Bourgh. OMG! THIS is what Anne de Bourgh would have been like had she been healthy. Anne’s mother, Mrs. De Bourgh… certainly no Lady in this story… was horrid and a monster. Seriously, she put Austen’s Lady Catherine to shame on so many levels that it became scary. This was what they would have been like had Anne not been the sickly creature featured in canon. Wow! Pemberley was remade in her image. She had remodeled and added to Pemberley until it looked nothing like what we remembered.
Poor Darcy was a mess. The evolution of this story was amazing, scary, shocking, diabolical, breath-stealing, heart-stopping… hey, Bingley even threw up. Yeah, it was dicey there for a while. There were so many secrets at Pemberley. There was an unusual mystery regarding FD, his first marriage, his first wife’s death, and his hasty second marriage. The gossips in the Ton and local area were in a feeding frenzy. Lambton wasn’t as close to Pemberley as in canon. Another village altogether was nearby and Elizabeth felt their shunning of her immediately. She wondered what on earth had happened to cause such animosity regarding her husband.
I’ve got to stop as I’m going to give something away. I just know it. I hope you read it but hopefully not before going to bed. Yipes, it might give you nightmares. I highly recommend this for a very different but amazing story.
December 20, 2021
“I dreamed I went to Pemberley again…”
That opening line set fire to my imagination. I wasn’t many chapters in when I confirmed that I was getting a clever rendition inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Dark, brooding, but hopeful and sparkling.
My full review will post at The Book Rat blog for #AustenInAugust
That opening line set fire to my imagination. I wasn’t many chapters in when I confirmed that I was getting a clever rendition inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Dark, brooding, but hopeful and sparkling.
My full review will post at The Book Rat blog for #AustenInAugust
June 26, 2021
This story is full of drama and, yes, angst. It bears little resemblance to canon although we do have many of the same characters. Some, i.e., Collins & Charlotte, Lydia, etc. are heard of only in passing. Others, although taking up just a little story space more than those have a great effect on the story.
Elizabeth is telling us her story, a flashback to many years ago.
The last Elizabeth has seen Darcy was at the Netherfield Ball. When Lydia elopes it is Mr. and Mrs. Bennet who decide to go to London to search for her and are killed in a carriage accident. Collins is quick to take over Longbourn where only Mary is allowed to stay. Jane marries a Vicar, Mr. Tilney, never having heard from Bingley again. Elizabeth is now a companion to Lady Matlock who lives at Rosings, a property she brought into her marriage. Her nephew, "Willsy", comes to visit. Lo and behold, it is Fitzwilliam Darcy. His wife has died only about 3 months ago and now he proposes to Elizabeth. Here she is not holding out for a great love but his kiss touches something within and she says, "Yes."
Darcy remains a silent, a reticent man. The sexual chemistry between him and Elizabeth is immediate and she finds herself reaching out to bring him closer many times. Their physical relationship speaks loudly of how he cares for her. He also stands guardian...against his mother-in-law, Mrs. de Bourgh, from his first marriage to Anne (not his cousin) and as Elizabeth interacts with servants, neighbors and visitors.
Pemberley is a different structure in this story, having a wing which is partly built into a cliff. This house becomes part of the story as we learn of Anne and her obsession to make Pemberley an estate that is all hers.
There is much gossip and speculation about Anne. Not only do we learn of her character and behavior towards Darcy but also with Bingley, with Wickham and many others. She was beautiful, charming and an excellent hostess. Elizabeth learns about her little by little but not from Darcy. Mrs. de Bourgh is vehement in relating how wonderful Anne was and how Elizabeth can never take her place.
I kept waiting for the word "love" to be spoken between Elizabeth and Darcy. Their interactions to say that it is there but I wanted them to give that to each other. We do reach a point at which Darcy finally opens up and relates to Elizabeth the circumstances of his first marriage. It is not a pretty picture and as we have come to admire Darcy and love his care of Elizabeth our hearts are touched.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Elizabeth is telling us her story, a flashback to many years ago.
The last Elizabeth has seen Darcy was at the Netherfield Ball. When Lydia elopes it is Mr. and Mrs. Bennet who decide to go to London to search for her and are killed in a carriage accident. Collins is quick to take over Longbourn where only Mary is allowed to stay. Jane marries a Vicar, Mr. Tilney, never having heard from Bingley again. Elizabeth is now a companion to Lady Matlock who lives at Rosings, a property she brought into her marriage. Her nephew, "Willsy", comes to visit. Lo and behold, it is Fitzwilliam Darcy. His wife has died only about 3 months ago and now he proposes to Elizabeth. Here she is not holding out for a great love but his kiss touches something within and she says, "Yes."
Darcy remains a silent, a reticent man. The sexual chemistry between him and Elizabeth is immediate and she finds herself reaching out to bring him closer many times. Their physical relationship speaks loudly of how he cares for her. He also stands guardian...against his mother-in-law, Mrs. de Bourgh, from his first marriage to Anne (not his cousin) and as Elizabeth interacts with servants, neighbors and visitors.
Pemberley is a different structure in this story, having a wing which is partly built into a cliff. This house becomes part of the story as we learn of Anne and her obsession to make Pemberley an estate that is all hers.
There is much gossip and speculation about Anne. Not only do we learn of her character and behavior towards Darcy but also with Bingley, with Wickham and many others. She was beautiful, charming and an excellent hostess. Elizabeth learns about her little by little but not from Darcy. Mrs. de Bourgh is vehement in relating how wonderful Anne was and how Elizabeth can never take her place.
I kept waiting for the word "love" to be spoken between Elizabeth and Darcy. Their interactions to say that it is there but I wanted them to give that to each other. We do reach a point at which Darcy finally opens up and relates to Elizabeth the circumstances of his first marriage. It is not a pretty picture and as we have come to admire Darcy and love his care of Elizabeth our hearts are touched.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 2, 2022
8/1/22- Just finished for the 2nd time and loved it even more this time around! This is definitely a favorite JAFF that I will keep rereading or listening to since I did the audiobook this time around! Can’t go wrong with this one!
Wow, this was an incredibly engaging gothic story with strong elements of the classic, “Rebecca” by Daphne duMaurier and even, to a much lesser degree, “Jane Eyre”! I could not resist the mysterious and foreboding allure that pulled me in right from the start and kept me anxiously on pins and needles as the mystery unfolded. Not only was it a great and well developed story, but the writing was was absolutely beautiful. This is quite a deviation from canon P&P, but it had enough elements of the original to make it feel connected.
This is a story told retrospectively from Elizabeth’s POV. The timeline and events of this story seem to be mostly congruent to the original story up until the Netherfield party leaves the area after the Netherfield ball. This is where the stories take different paths. We begin about 7 years later and find Elizabeth Bennet in reduced circumstances and Darcy a recent widower. The two are once again in company and Elizabeth is shocked when a marriage proposal almost immediately follows. Her circumstances along with a little spark of attraction cause her to accept and the couple are hastily married. Elizabeth enters her marriage without having much knowledge of Darcy’s first marriage or his life for the past 7 years and has no idea of the difficulties that await her at Pemberley. Our hero and heroine’s fortitude and resilience are put much to the test as we learn more about Darcy’s first wife and the mysterious circumstances of her death. As the pieces of the mystery are slowly revealed, old wounds that are far from being healed become visible and new ones are created. There are many forces at work and elements in place that have the potential to damage or even destroy the new couple’s happiness when the past refuses to stay buried. It is not an easy road and the difficulties surrounding D&E provide lots of opportunities for change and growth as they try to come to know one another and, at the same time, navigate through some pretty murky waters.
The story development as well as character development was very well executed. Even though it was a long book, it was well paced and kept my attention from start to finish. If I’m completely honest, there were only a couple of little things that I didn’t absolutely love in this book and that is rare for me.
Overall, I adored this book and highly recommend it! This recommendation comes with a warning to clear your schedule when you begin, because you will not want to put it down once you start. This is a book that I know I will read and reread in the future!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow, this was an incredibly engaging gothic story with strong elements of the classic, “Rebecca” by Daphne duMaurier and even, to a much lesser degree, “Jane Eyre”! I could not resist the mysterious and foreboding allure that pulled me in right from the start and kept me anxiously on pins and needles as the mystery unfolded. Not only was it a great and well developed story, but the writing was was absolutely beautiful. This is quite a deviation from canon P&P, but it had enough elements of the original to make it feel connected.
This is a story told retrospectively from Elizabeth’s POV. The timeline and events of this story seem to be mostly congruent to the original story up until the Netherfield party leaves the area after the Netherfield ball. This is where the stories take different paths. We begin about 7 years later and find Elizabeth Bennet in reduced circumstances and Darcy a recent widower. The two are once again in company and Elizabeth is shocked when a marriage proposal almost immediately follows. Her circumstances along with a little spark of attraction cause her to accept and the couple are hastily married. Elizabeth enters her marriage without having much knowledge of Darcy’s first marriage or his life for the past 7 years and has no idea of the difficulties that await her at Pemberley. Our hero and heroine’s fortitude and resilience are put much to the test as we learn more about Darcy’s first wife and the mysterious circumstances of her death. As the pieces of the mystery are slowly revealed, old wounds that are far from being healed become visible and new ones are created. There are many forces at work and elements in place that have the potential to damage or even destroy the new couple’s happiness when the past refuses to stay buried. It is not an easy road and the difficulties surrounding D&E provide lots of opportunities for change and growth as they try to come to know one another and, at the same time, navigate through some pretty murky waters.
The story development as well as character development was very well executed. Even though it was a long book, it was well paced and kept my attention from start to finish. If I’m completely honest, there were only a couple of little things that I didn’t absolutely love in this book and that is rare for me.
Overall, I adored this book and highly recommend it! This recommendation comes with a warning to clear your schedule when you begin, because you will not want to put it down once you start. This is a book that I know I will read and reread in the future!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 9, 2021
A P&P and Rebecca variation
I’ve never read Rebecca but I have seen the movie directed by Hitchcock three times. This is a superbly written story. If I had never seen Rebecca or read P&P I would still have enjoyed the story 100%. The mashup bringing of the two stories together is well plotted and makes for much additional fun while reading.
There are three sources of great evil here. They are George Wickham, Anne De Bourgh and her mother. The three of them want Pemberley, it’s money and they wouldn’t mind destroying Darcy’s life.
Lots and lots of angst. A much older and changed Lizzy must help her husband fight these three even though one of them Is dead. And the fight is by no means a forgone conclusion. All three are smart, lack any morals and rarely make mistakes. Lizzy is a worthy opponent but Darcy and his pride and his very private interior put limits on what he, Lizzy and their few friends can do.
Before or after you read the story I would suggest reading or watching ‘Rebecca’. It will make your second reading of the story even more enjoyable.
I’ve never read Rebecca but I have seen the movie directed by Hitchcock three times. This is a superbly written story. If I had never seen Rebecca or read P&P I would still have enjoyed the story 100%. The mashup bringing of the two stories together is well plotted and makes for much additional fun while reading.
There are three sources of great evil here. They are George Wickham, Anne De Bourgh and her mother. The three of them want Pemberley, it’s money and they wouldn’t mind destroying Darcy’s life.
Lots and lots of angst. A much older and changed Lizzy must help her husband fight these three even though one of them Is dead. And the fight is by no means a forgone conclusion. All three are smart, lack any morals and rarely make mistakes. Lizzy is a worthy opponent but Darcy and his pride and his very private interior put limits on what he, Lizzy and their few friends can do.
Before or after you read the story I would suggest reading or watching ‘Rebecca’. It will make your second reading of the story even more enjoyable.
August 22, 2021
You know, I think this was just a little too depressing for my mood. It was well written. Darcy’s pushing people away got a bit repetitive. I kept thinking how improbable it was for Mr Darcy to be hoodwinked into marriage by a woman of such depraved tastes. Then, to have him let go of his closely guarded secrets in such a public way at Mrs De Bourgh’s fiery debacle - it was such a contradiction to his character. I also feel that the author failed to make Pemberley itself a character, in the way Manderlay had a presence in Rebecca.
June 26, 2021
After losing her home and loved ones twice in seven years, Elizabeth Bennet has found work as a companion to the disagreeable, Dowager Countess of Matlock.
So much has been lost and changed, she barely remembers the events that followed “Netherfield Park being let at last” in 1811. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a faint memory.
A family member visiting the countess, turns out to be Mr Darcy. Still wealthy, handsome and recently widowed, Mr Darcy shocks Elizabeth with a proposal.
Experience has taught her not to squander opportunities, so she accepts. Although Darcy is grim and solemn at first, Elizabeth is delighted to enjoy a passionate and idyllic wedding tour, as they slowly wend their way to Pemberley.
At Pemberley, his first wife’s presence is everywhere, as is her vicious mother, Mrs de Bourgh.
And so progresses a tale of secrets, lies, debauchery, scandal, gossip and maybe even murder.
This is an excellent homage to both Pride and prejudice and Rebecca.
Darcy is so grim and stoic, but gradually unburdens himself with Elizabeth's loving patience. Darcy truly is the best of men, but boy does he try to hide it!
I love the familiar Austen canon character names, but placed in different situations. Tilney as a lovely brother in law. Mr Ferrers, Nurse Rook, Mr Martin. It was fun identifying which book they are from.
And of course, our villains.
The ever repellent, Wickham and the obsessed, malevolent Mrs De Bourgh are unutterably vile.
I loved this. It is well written, engaging, with a satisfying denouement.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.
So much has been lost and changed, she barely remembers the events that followed “Netherfield Park being let at last” in 1811. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a faint memory.
A family member visiting the countess, turns out to be Mr Darcy. Still wealthy, handsome and recently widowed, Mr Darcy shocks Elizabeth with a proposal.
Experience has taught her not to squander opportunities, so she accepts. Although Darcy is grim and solemn at first, Elizabeth is delighted to enjoy a passionate and idyllic wedding tour, as they slowly wend their way to Pemberley.
At Pemberley, his first wife’s presence is everywhere, as is her vicious mother, Mrs de Bourgh.
And so progresses a tale of secrets, lies, debauchery, scandal, gossip and maybe even murder.
This is an excellent homage to both Pride and prejudice and Rebecca.
Darcy is so grim and stoic, but gradually unburdens himself with Elizabeth's loving patience. Darcy truly is the best of men, but boy does he try to hide it!
I love the familiar Austen canon character names, but placed in different situations. Tilney as a lovely brother in law. Mr Ferrers, Nurse Rook, Mr Martin. It was fun identifying which book they are from.
And of course, our villains.
The ever repellent, Wickham and the obsessed, malevolent Mrs De Bourgh are unutterably vile.
I loved this. It is well written, engaging, with a satisfying denouement.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.
August 14, 2021
Holy cow a home run!
Wow what a story, the blending of Pride and Prejudice and Rebecca. I was concerned how this would play out and have too much Rebecca in it, however I loved this story.
Lizzy Bennet is a companion to Lady Matlock in Kent. Yeah a few changes made me stop and think but it made the story fit so much more than I would have thought. Darcy has made an awful match based on what his family and society expected and lived a horrible existence until he is a widower and jumps at the chance to marry Lizzy.
Along the way Lizzy learns exactly how much Darcy has done for her family over the years and makes Darcy come alive again.
This is a sad story but it proves love can overcome. It was hard reading of Darcy’s life with his first wife but the writer balanced it out with Lizzy’s lively spirit helping to heal Darcy.
Be prepared to not want to put the book down. I will put this one in my all time favorites.
Wow what a story, the blending of Pride and Prejudice and Rebecca. I was concerned how this would play out and have too much Rebecca in it, however I loved this story.
Lizzy Bennet is a companion to Lady Matlock in Kent. Yeah a few changes made me stop and think but it made the story fit so much more than I would have thought. Darcy has made an awful match based on what his family and society expected and lived a horrible existence until he is a widower and jumps at the chance to marry Lizzy.
Along the way Lizzy learns exactly how much Darcy has done for her family over the years and makes Darcy come alive again.
This is a sad story but it proves love can overcome. It was hard reading of Darcy’s life with his first wife but the writer balanced it out with Lizzy’s lively spirit helping to heal Darcy.
Be prepared to not want to put the book down. I will put this one in my all time favorites.
December 31, 2023
Another great audiobook. Easy to recommend. Julie Cooper writes great JAFF!!!
July 16, 2021
The ebook releases in August but the paperback is available now. The cover is so stunning that I just had to get a physical copy. This book is a combination of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and Pride & Prejudice. I haven’t read Rebecca but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment a bit. This book has tons of gothic vibes and some unbelievable villains. I couldn’t put it down. Darcy and Elizabeth’s love story was superb. There’s mystery and drama surrounding the death of Mr. Darcy’s first wife, Anne de Bourgh (who is not his sickly cousin and is in fact quite the opposite). Many familiar Austen names pop up, some of the couples are rearranged, and some new characters are added. This is a truly unique and extremely well written story.
December 1, 2021
5 Stars and Beyond!
Beautifully written. Brilliantly conveyed. Bold in its conception!
"I could not even scream; there was no air, my voice strangling upon the bitter, beautiful flames." (quote from the book)
This was a rich, haunting and compelling Pride and Prejudice variation with a strong helping of 'Rebecca'. Two classics that I love, and the 'outside-the-box' approach was deliciously inspired. Dark/ light, heart-wrenching/heartwarming, good versus evil...it is all within the pages of this book.
"Last night, I dreamt of Pemberley again." (quote from the book)
Who could imagine weaving these two novels together? It never crossed my mind but now that Ms. Cooper has opened the flood gates of my imagination, I can see it all so clearly! And yes, there truly are people so manipulative and self-absorbed as the first Mrs. Darcy...I use to know one.
"Some people, I believe, have gifts of darkness...Mrs. de Bourgh had polluted my rooms and, it seemed likely, all of Pemberley." (quote from the book)
Elizabeth Bennet's life has been marred with tragedy. Others in the family have been greatly affected as well. Eight years since Netherfield Park has been let, Elizabeth is a companion to the Countess of Matlock. Little does she realize that her past is coming back to face her...Mr. Darcy.
"My pride, that prickly wench, revolted, but I was accustomed to bridling her." (quote from the book)
Mr. Darcy is near silent. But his actions speak louder than words. One just has to 'listen' carefully. He is a man starved and a man on a mission to right his wrongs.
"I had no answers, but one thing was certain - this was a man in urgent need of relief from some burden." (quote from the book)
I loved this novel and the immense emotion that was infused into it and into me. I cannot begin to describe how deeply it touched me. Thank you, Ms. Cooper for your imagination and your talent. Brava!
"All of our words are final now." (quote from the book)
I highly recommend it to all!
March 24, 2024
Status: Read February 29 - March 8, 2024
via audible edition
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Library Notes:
Nameless
by Julie Cooper, Stevie Zimmerman (Narrator)
Audible Audio, Unabridged, 12 pages
Published August 11, 2021 by Quills & Quartos Publishing (first published June 23, 2021)
ASIN: B09C8ZLQ2T
“This was not a man who would explode in a rage, or who would give way to shame or temper...which meant my choices were simple: either he had killed her in cold blood, or he had not killed her at all.”
Orphaned and alone in the world, Elizabeth Bennet has found reasonable contentment as a companion to the Dowager Countess of Matlock, the affairs of 1811 and Fitzwilliam Darcy long forgotten. But the past intrudes upon her again, and Mr Darcy returns to her, handsome, wealthy, and widowed, and hiding many secrets beneath his solemn exterior.
But if time had altered their circumstances, one thing remains: Mr Darcy still wishes to marry her, and this time, Elizabeth consents. At nearly twenty-nine it is inarguably a good prospect for her and indeed, not until they arrive at his vast estate does she realise how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their growing love. But the new Mrs Darcy’s courage will continue to rise despite the many attempts to intimidate her; and she vows to use whatever power she holds over the master of Pemberley to keep him.
Nameless is a tale of the triumph of good over evil, of passion over prejudice, of loyalty over lies…and most of all, of enduring, unfailing love.
Listening Length: 11 hours and 32 minutes
via audible edition
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Library Notes:
Nameless
by Julie Cooper, Stevie Zimmerman (Narrator)
Audible Audio, Unabridged, 12 pages
Published August 11, 2021 by Quills & Quartos Publishing (first published June 23, 2021)
ASIN: B09C8ZLQ2T
“This was not a man who would explode in a rage, or who would give way to shame or temper...which meant my choices were simple: either he had killed her in cold blood, or he had not killed her at all.”
Orphaned and alone in the world, Elizabeth Bennet has found reasonable contentment as a companion to the Dowager Countess of Matlock, the affairs of 1811 and Fitzwilliam Darcy long forgotten. But the past intrudes upon her again, and Mr Darcy returns to her, handsome, wealthy, and widowed, and hiding many secrets beneath his solemn exterior.
But if time had altered their circumstances, one thing remains: Mr Darcy still wishes to marry her, and this time, Elizabeth consents. At nearly twenty-nine it is inarguably a good prospect for her and indeed, not until they arrive at his vast estate does she realise how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their growing love. But the new Mrs Darcy’s courage will continue to rise despite the many attempts to intimidate her; and she vows to use whatever power she holds over the master of Pemberley to keep him.
Nameless is a tale of the triumph of good over evil, of passion over prejudice, of loyalty over lies…and most of all, of enduring, unfailing love.
Listening Length: 11 hours and 32 minutes
August 19, 2021
Secrets of Pemberley
From the beginning of this story the aura was dark and dismal. There was no lightness from our Elizabeth and certainly not from Darcy. The reunion of these two characters was confusing at first. I wasn't sure that they had any previous interaction at all. So low key was their first conversations.
The tragic loss of Mr and Mrs Bennet was the impetuous of scattering the sisters. Elizabeth is now a companion to Lady Matlock and has learned to curb her impertinent tongue. But had a roof over her head, a warm bed and food so she counted herself lucky. But the dark theme continued through out the book. Even after their eventual marriage
So many haunted characters: Darcy abused and tortured from his disastrous first marriage. His evil mother in law. Even Wickham proved to elicit a small amount of sympathy in the end. Bingley's character was a huge surprise. Jane was lucky in this version for sure!
When Elizabeth hears that the locals believe Darcy killed his wife, she is curious but never wavers in her belief in his innocence. She showed remarkable restraint through out not asking more questions of her husband in regard to the death of his first wife. I think most women would have had a difficult time restraining themselves from asking the hard questions.
It was hard to believe for myself that such an intelligent well educated man as Fitzwilliam Darcy would have been taken in by such a wicked duplicitous female as Anne.
Kudos to Julie Cooper for such a thought provoking story!
From the beginning of this story the aura was dark and dismal. There was no lightness from our Elizabeth and certainly not from Darcy. The reunion of these two characters was confusing at first. I wasn't sure that they had any previous interaction at all. So low key was their first conversations.
The tragic loss of Mr and Mrs Bennet was the impetuous of scattering the sisters. Elizabeth is now a companion to Lady Matlock and has learned to curb her impertinent tongue. But had a roof over her head, a warm bed and food so she counted herself lucky. But the dark theme continued through out the book. Even after their eventual marriage
So many haunted characters: Darcy abused and tortured from his disastrous first marriage. His evil mother in law. Even Wickham proved to elicit a small amount of sympathy in the end. Bingley's character was a huge surprise. Jane was lucky in this version for sure!
When Elizabeth hears that the locals believe Darcy killed his wife, she is curious but never wavers in her belief in his innocence. She showed remarkable restraint through out not asking more questions of her husband in regard to the death of his first wife. I think most women would have had a difficult time restraining themselves from asking the hard questions.
It was hard to believe for myself that such an intelligent well educated man as Fitzwilliam Darcy would have been taken in by such a wicked duplicitous female as Anne.
Kudos to Julie Cooper for such a thought provoking story!
October 29, 2025
Julie Cooper's Best Book Yet
I liked this departure from canon P&P. So unique, clever and excellently written. I truly believe this is her best book. I appreciated the way she took some of the characters of the book and gave them whole new personalities. Lady Catherine becomes plain Mrs. DeBourgh with a diabolical, obsessive side. Anne DeBourgh is not the sickly, pale and unattractive daughter but a beautiful society woman married to Darcy. The marriage is a miserable existence for Darcy, not only because he's never loved her, but because she has multiple affairs and treats him horribly. Though I'm tempted to, I don't want to give too much away. I will say this though, the only thing about this book you won't like is that it ends.
I liked this departure from canon P&P. So unique, clever and excellently written. I truly believe this is her best book. I appreciated the way she took some of the characters of the book and gave them whole new personalities. Lady Catherine becomes plain Mrs. DeBourgh with a diabolical, obsessive side. Anne DeBourgh is not the sickly, pale and unattractive daughter but a beautiful society woman married to Darcy. The marriage is a miserable existence for Darcy, not only because he's never loved her, but because she has multiple affairs and treats him horribly. Though I'm tempted to, I don't want to give too much away. I will say this though, the only thing about this book you won't like is that it ends.
July 13, 2025
This is my second time reading Nameless. I first read it in 2021, and I remember getting goosebumps from the first chapter. I experienced the same feeling when I reencountered the characters whom I now consider my friends.
I know many would not believe me, but Julie Cooper's Darcy is the same Darcy as Jane Austen would have written if she had written Nameless.
Nameless is like poetry, with an author who is a master of her words, full of sorrow and hope, that gets better with the advancing age of the enthusiastic reader.
June 25, 2021
This is an AU retelling of Pride and Prejudice if Mr Darcy did not overcome his pride and married an ''acceptable'' woman of the tonne. After his disastrous first marriage, Mr Darcy seeks out Elizabeth Bennet, who has been orphaned and is now working as a lady's companion for his aunt. The shadows of his first marriage loom dark. Despite this, the budding relationship between our dear couple blooms. The characters are fascinating, the relationship builds at a nice pace. There are moments of tragedy, gothic horror, injustice and love spanning a decade all rolled into this unique story. I could barely put this down. 5/5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 29, 2023
This is about as du Maurier as an Austen variation can get! It's a lengthy variation on Pride and Prejudice that crosses over with Rebecca, which I only vaguely remember reading maybe 50 years ago. There's a lot to love about it, though I am not as much a fan of du Maurier as I am of Austen, and I am not sure that the novel Austen described as sparkling and in need of shade needs quite this flavor of shade. However, I enjoyed it, found it gripping at times, and I can appreciate the author's efforts. Well done.
April 28, 2022
Intense alternate P&P universe
Reader should beware this is not a variation simply 8 years in the future as implied by the description. Many facts in P&P storyline are tweaked. For example, the proposal between ODC never took place. Other facts, characters and names are completely reimagined. This can be quite confusing at first. In the end, it was an Intense read with so many terrible happenings that seemed endless. It is Worth reading which is why I gave it 4 stars. Its very dramatic with real themes and romance present, but a bit on the sad side.
Reader should beware this is not a variation simply 8 years in the future as implied by the description. Many facts in P&P storyline are tweaked. For example, the proposal between ODC never took place. Other facts, characters and names are completely reimagined. This can be quite confusing at first. In the end, it was an Intense read with so many terrible happenings that seemed endless. It is Worth reading which is why I gave it 4 stars. Its very dramatic with real themes and romance present, but a bit on the sad side.
March 13, 2022
A Harrowing and Healing Tale of Powerful and Passionate Love
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Gift from Publisher
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation that pays homage to Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca
THE PREMISE: Elizabeth goes from being the much harangued and undervalued lady’s companion to a cantankerous Lady Matlock to the second wife of the newly widowed and extremely grave Fitzwilliam Darcy. But the first Mrs. Darcy’s marks on and presence at Pemberley are long enduring, with Mr. Darcy carrying deep and indelible scars and others striving to keep Anne Darcy’s legacy alive…
MY THOUGHTS: Julie Cooper, you did it again! I’m in love with every word and every scene of this story. The idea of crossing Pride and Prejudice with Rebecca is ingenious – a captivating blend of haunting suspense and ardent love. But what is even more spectacular is how this brilliant story is composed – how it veers away from paralleling P&P or Rebecca in totality and becomes its own story. And how there are so many mysteries and unknowns waiting to be revealed. Not to mention how perfectly the story’s horrific wickedness and dangerous villainy is balanced by a supremely powerful and redeeming love.
Told solely from Elizabeth’s point-of-view, readers are privy to all her thoughts and introspections. And because he is even more quiet and reserved (and we are never inside his head), Mr. Darcy’s true feelings and thoughts remain tantalizingly unknown. The reader is filled with the same uncertainty and curiosity as Elizabeth. And yet she is beyond amazing in this situation. With her being a little older, experiencing some tragic upheavals in her life, and spending more time as a spectator than an active participant in life, our dear girl has matured into a most considerate, empathetic, and rational creature. She is no longer quick to pass judgement and her pride is under very good regulation. Her ongoing patience, astute perception, and sensitivity are all traits I wish to emulate. I loved this iteration of Elizabeth whole-heartedly – how she would always search for understanding, how she would never asked for more than what she needed, and how she immediately would protect and defend Mr. Darcy, even without knowing all. What a selfless and inspiring woman.
There is so many other facets and elements I loved about this story. I loved the creative deviations given to so many of our P&P characters – with both the amped up depravity of Anne and Mrs. De Bourgh and the intriguing new outcomes for characters such as Georgiana, Jane, and Mrs. Gardiner. In addition, I appreciated the sensitive and honest portrayals of characters dealing with trauma, intense grief, and mental health issues. And the inspiring reminder that no matter what hellfire or horribleness one encounters in life, it doesn’t have to claim them.
I’ll end with saying that what I loved most about Nameless is what I find I am loving in general about all of Julie Cooper’s stories and that is the writing itself. Her writing style is an articulate blend of eloquence, emotions, and cognizance. And her expressive prose delivers such subtle yet strong impressions that the reader cannot fail to see, to feel, and to understand all she is trying to impart. Julie Cooper is a masterful storyteller and Nameless is a sweeping and superior Pride and Prejudice variation. I most emphatically recommend!
NOTE: With some non-graphic allusions to violence and scenes of an intimate nature, I’d recommend this novel for Mature Audiences.
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Gift from Publisher
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation that pays homage to Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca
THE PREMISE: Elizabeth goes from being the much harangued and undervalued lady’s companion to a cantankerous Lady Matlock to the second wife of the newly widowed and extremely grave Fitzwilliam Darcy. But the first Mrs. Darcy’s marks on and presence at Pemberley are long enduring, with Mr. Darcy carrying deep and indelible scars and others striving to keep Anne Darcy’s legacy alive…
MY THOUGHTS: Julie Cooper, you did it again! I’m in love with every word and every scene of this story. The idea of crossing Pride and Prejudice with Rebecca is ingenious – a captivating blend of haunting suspense and ardent love. But what is even more spectacular is how this brilliant story is composed – how it veers away from paralleling P&P or Rebecca in totality and becomes its own story. And how there are so many mysteries and unknowns waiting to be revealed. Not to mention how perfectly the story’s horrific wickedness and dangerous villainy is balanced by a supremely powerful and redeeming love.
Told solely from Elizabeth’s point-of-view, readers are privy to all her thoughts and introspections. And because he is even more quiet and reserved (and we are never inside his head), Mr. Darcy’s true feelings and thoughts remain tantalizingly unknown. The reader is filled with the same uncertainty and curiosity as Elizabeth. And yet she is beyond amazing in this situation. With her being a little older, experiencing some tragic upheavals in her life, and spending more time as a spectator than an active participant in life, our dear girl has matured into a most considerate, empathetic, and rational creature. She is no longer quick to pass judgement and her pride is under very good regulation. Her ongoing patience, astute perception, and sensitivity are all traits I wish to emulate. I loved this iteration of Elizabeth whole-heartedly – how she would always search for understanding, how she would never asked for more than what she needed, and how she immediately would protect and defend Mr. Darcy, even without knowing all. What a selfless and inspiring woman.
There is so many other facets and elements I loved about this story. I loved the creative deviations given to so many of our P&P characters – with both the amped up depravity of Anne and Mrs. De Bourgh and the intriguing new outcomes for characters such as Georgiana, Jane, and Mrs. Gardiner. In addition, I appreciated the sensitive and honest portrayals of characters dealing with trauma, intense grief, and mental health issues. And the inspiring reminder that no matter what hellfire or horribleness one encounters in life, it doesn’t have to claim them.
I’ll end with saying that what I loved most about Nameless is what I find I am loving in general about all of Julie Cooper’s stories and that is the writing itself. Her writing style is an articulate blend of eloquence, emotions, and cognizance. And her expressive prose delivers such subtle yet strong impressions that the reader cannot fail to see, to feel, and to understand all she is trying to impart. Julie Cooper is a masterful storyteller and Nameless is a sweeping and superior Pride and Prejudice variation. I most emphatically recommend!
NOTE: With some non-graphic allusions to violence and scenes of an intimate nature, I’d recommend this novel for Mature Audiences.
Austenesque Reviews
August 25, 2021
This is an outstanding and unique book that would make a fabulous movie. It is full of suspense and is a Pride and Prejudice varation with a Daphne du Mariar Rebecca sort of theme. It satisfied my need for something different from the usual Pride and Prejudice varation. Darcy was married before to a beautiful on the surface, but evil woman with an evil mother who still lived at Pemberly and did not welcome a 2nd wife. ˇhis Elizabeth was wiser from age and experience. This Darcy was hurt from the evil, unfatithful first wife, but an honorable man who sought and had to learn how to deal with love without running away if the going got challenging. This was quite a challenging book to write, and I congratulate Julie Cooper on such a unique book. It was †ense at times with lots of surprises. This is almost a must read for lovers of JAFF.
September 13, 2021
This story is told from Elizabeth Bennet's point of view as the second wife of Fitzwilliam Darcy. She had met him in the past, but family circumstances have her working as a companion to his aunt. In an attempt to make himself happy, he brings Elizabeth home to Pemberley as his bride. What she finds is a house and man twisted and confused due the behaviors of the first Mrs. Darcy and her very interesting mother.
This is a dark, gothic style tale that was very unique.
This is a dark, gothic style tale that was very unique.
April 29, 2022
Totally different
A plot mixing Jane Austen and Daphne Du-Maurier full of intrigue and unexpected twists. I think this is an excellent combination that deviates from canon but takes advantage of Jane Austen's characters personalities and creates a perfect blend with the characters found in Daphne Du-Maurier's stories.
A plot mixing Jane Austen and Daphne Du-Maurier full of intrigue and unexpected twists. I think this is an excellent combination that deviates from canon but takes advantage of Jane Austen's characters personalities and creates a perfect blend with the characters found in Daphne Du-Maurier's stories.
August 22, 2022
I liked this book, but Elizabeth annoyed me at times. I also prefer books with Darcy's point of view, but that didn't bug me too much with this one.
July 4, 2024
This was a great story that took me two years to finish.
August 1, 2022
If gothic novels are your thing, this is an A+ read. The writing is gorgeous, the plotting intricately built. Up to about halfway through, I thought, « wow, I usually don’t like gothic novels, but this one is great! »… but then, extremely gothic-y stuff started happening and it was all too bananas for me. I still enjoyed it and will look up other books by this talented author.
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