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2.96 AVERAGE
2.96 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An entertaining and quick read with a good little mystery. I'm not an Austen purist so I wasn't offended by her approach, but if you are, you might not like this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style in this book. The author captured Jane Austen's voice perfectly. From what I read of PD James, she was born in 1920 and this was written (or published) in 2011, at age 91! I will definitely pick up more of her novels when I see them.
This book just didn't seem cohesive. It did not seem to have the spirit of a mystery or an Austen novel. At many points it seems redundant and contrived. The wit is gone from Elizabeth and Darcy, and don't expect to see any window into their later life. A mystery where no clues are to be found, intelligence does not prevail, and the ending is wrapped up with possibly the worst confession I have ever read. I was so excited to read this, but it was a huge disappointment.
Disappointing. Such a promising book: a murder mystery set in the world of P&P by a legend of British detective fiction who has long shown signs of Austen's influence. While the lackluster mystery is a disappointment, it would be easier to overlook had PD James captured any of the wit and sparkling banter of Austen's characters. Elizabeth and Darcy are almost entirely humorless and most of the other characters are given only brief walk-on appearances. I had hoped for a sort of Georgian version of The Thin Man with Elizabeth and Darcy bantering their way, together and separately, from clue to clue in the manner of Nick and Nora Charles. No such luck.
Stopped on pg. 106
I hate marking books as DNF, but I hate wasting my time on a book I'm not getting into. It was just boring and I had to keep talking myself into reading it. It was overwrought with detail and even the murder aspect of the mystery wasn't holding my interest. Maybe the BBC mini-series will be better. It does have Matthew Rhys as Darcy, so that's promising.
I hate marking books as DNF, but I hate wasting my time on a book I'm not getting into. It was just boring and I had to keep talking myself into reading it. It was overwrought with detail and even the murder aspect of the mystery wasn't holding my interest. Maybe the BBC mini-series will be better. It does have Matthew Rhys as Darcy, so that's promising.
A page turner. Not bad for someone in her 80's. A tribute to the style and period of Jane Austen. Enjoyed.
dark
sad
slow-paced