Death Comes to Pemberley in Around the World in 80 Books

Jan 22, 2012 Kay rated it it was ok

Shelves: fiction, historical-fict, 50-page-rule, mystery-suspense-crime

Meh. James seems to be trying too hard to capture Austen's tone. Fifty-some pages in, and she was still "reminding" the reader of all the back story of major and minor characters, which was tedious. I'm not enough of a mystery fan to enjoy this somewhat belabored pastiche. ...more

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Jul 07, 2013 Pam rated it really liked it

Shelves: uk-mystery

AUTHOR: James, P. D.
TITLE: Death Comes to Pemberley
DATE READ: 04/30/13
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS: Crime Fiction/2011/Random House /291 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Stand Alone
TIME/PLACE: 1803/UK
CHARACTERS: Elizabeth Darcy, Bennett Family
FIRST LINES: At 11 in themorning of Friday 14th October 1803 Elizabeth Darcy sat at the table in her sitting room on the 1st floor of Pemberley House.
COMMENTS: Not a big Jane Austen Fan but do like PD James. Had not read her in some time, just the too ...more

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Oct 12, 2013 Windy rated it liked it · review of another edition

I have mixed feelings about this book. As a "sequel" to P&P I thought it worked well. PDJ wrote the characters well and with the right level of wit. I enjoyed the brief appearance of Mr Bennet who is one of my all time literary characters. I appreciated the reference to characters from other Austen novels.
However, as a crime story I was very disappointed. I thought the plot was weak and convoluted and the murder itself highly improbable.
Perhaps a case of style over substance? ...more

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Sep 22, 2018 Ann rated it did not like it

Shelves: dnf

I gave it a try despite the low reviews because it's a mystery set in Austenland.

Author's note: apology to Jane
Me: oh, that's nice, she's humble enough.

Prologue: recap of Pride & Prejudice
Me: wtf. Nobody comes here not knowing P&P

Chapter 1: Elizabeth thinking, "If this were fiction, could even the most brilliant novelist contrive to make credible so short a period in which pride had been subdued and prejudice overcome?"
Me: How dare you diss Jane?!
I stopped reading after that. ...more

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Feb 13, 2012 superawesomekt rated it did not like it

Shelves: dnf

This was my first foray into Austen-lit and I found that I just couldn't do it. I read through the prologue and into the first chapter and I found myself disliking characters that I liked just fine in Pride and Prejudice. That was when I knew it was time to stop, never to return.

If you are a fan of Austen-lit or murder mysteries, then do not let me dissuade you. Nothing personal, Ms. James--it's me, not you.

**Update**
Upon reading others' reviews, it appears it may not be me after all... ...more

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