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tanja_alina_berg 's review for:
Death Comes To Pemberley
by P.D. James
Usually I do quite careful research before adding a book to my to-buy list, but of course, the author being P.D. James AND a sequel to Jane Austen's famous "Pride and Predjudice" was cause for exception. Not that I always love the 4+ star rated books either, tastes differ. However, an average of three stars is a strong indication that I will not like it either. This was okay though. It might have dropped to two stars, but by two stars I normally HATE it - but can find some redeeming quality to save the book from a one - and I did not hate this.
I have no love for Jane Austen so I don't really mind an attempt to continue one of her stories in her style. I can see how some might view this as an atrocity. I couldn't care less. I have only seen "Pride and Prejudice" as a mini-series on TV, but that several times so I know the story well. I love that particularly story, I just don't like Austen's style of writing much. I have read something else of Austen and not cared for it much. Meeint Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth and most of the rest of the characters again was quite lovely. P.D. James captures them well.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have been happily married for six years and have two beautiful sons. On the eve before a great ball is to be held at Pemberley, a coach containing Elizabeth's sister Lydia comes racing up the drive-way. Lydia is in a state, screaming bloody murder and that her husband, the notorious Mr. Wickham has been killed. An expedition is sent into the woods where he was seen storming after his companion Mr. Denny. The latters is found in Mr. Wickhams arms, dead. Naturally enough Mr. Wickham claims his innocence, but will he be believed and who really killed Mr. Denny? How will Pemberley be saved from the disgrace of being associated with murder? The answers come at the end and I did not find the explanations entirely convincing. Although I should have, they were boring and plausible enough as such.
This book is quite sure to disappoint both the ardent P.D. James fans, of which I am one, and the passionate Austen readers, which I am not. The former will find the story too simple, P.D. James has a knack for more complicated mysteries than this one. I suppose the latter would be appalled that someone would dare make an attempt of any sort at a sequel to "Pride and Prejudice", and worse, such a sordid one as this. For me this was passable, but far from impressive.
I have no love for Jane Austen so I don't really mind an attempt to continue one of her stories in her style. I can see how some might view this as an atrocity. I couldn't care less. I have only seen "Pride and Prejudice" as a mini-series on TV, but that several times so I know the story well. I love that particularly story, I just don't like Austen's style of writing much. I have read something else of Austen and not cared for it much. Meeint Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth and most of the rest of the characters again was quite lovely. P.D. James captures them well.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have been happily married for six years and have two beautiful sons. On the eve before a great ball is to be held at Pemberley, a coach containing Elizabeth's sister Lydia comes racing up the drive-way. Lydia is in a state, screaming bloody murder and that her husband, the notorious Mr. Wickham has been killed. An expedition is sent into the woods where he was seen storming after his companion Mr. Denny. The latters is found in Mr. Wickhams arms, dead. Naturally enough Mr. Wickham claims his innocence, but will he be believed and who really killed Mr. Denny? How will Pemberley be saved from the disgrace of being associated with murder? The answers come at the end and I did not find the explanations entirely convincing. Although I should have, they were boring and plausible enough as such.
This book is quite sure to disappoint both the ardent P.D. James fans, of which I am one, and the passionate Austen readers, which I am not. The former will find the story too simple, P.D. James has a knack for more complicated mysteries than this one. I suppose the latter would be appalled that someone would dare make an attempt of any sort at a sequel to "Pride and Prejudice", and worse, such a sordid one as this. For me this was passable, but far from impressive.