A MATTER OF MURDER

Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy return in this Regency whodunit sequel to Pride and Premeditation (2021).

Smart, driven, sympathetic Lizzie works in her father’s law firm—and in the minds of many, a “lady solicitor” is a scandalous figure. It is with this reputation hanging over her that she arrives at Netherfield Park, the country estate of her sister Jane and Jane’s husband, Charles Bingley. After Lizzie exposed her crimes, Lady Catherine de Bourgh went into hiding—and now she’s begun sending Lizzie menacing letters. Darcy and Mr. Bennet urge Lizzie to leave London for her own safety. However, Netherfield Park isn’t the refuge they’d hoped it would be. A grisly discovery in the grand but poorly maintained manor house sets the stage for another murder mystery. A rumored curse, which many of the estate staff and villagers believe to be true, lends the crime an eerie overtone. Lizzie’s and Darcy’s mutual respect and deepening relationship are evident during their sleuthing as Lizzie continually bumps up against the bounds of convention. The plot, which is rooted in Netherfield’s history, incorporates familiar period elements, such as the planning of a ball at the estate, before wrapping up with a conclusion that neatly ties up the story’s many strands. Most main characters read white, with the exception of Lizzie’s biracial best friend, Charlotte, a significant presence who’s Black and white.

A sprawling and satisfying duology closer that will please Jane Austen fans.