Would you just take a minute to appreciate the beauty that is this cover? Like, damn. I’d buy this book based on that cover alone.

I should probably say that I haven’t actually read Sense and Sensibility. However, even without reading the original, I know Sense and Second Degree is amazing!
In this retelling, Elinor is an aspiring scientist and Marianne works for their father’s private detective agency. After Mr. Dashwood is found dead, the girls suspect foul play and investigate, uncovering a lot more than they thought they would.

I loved this book! It’s on par with Pride and Premeditation, and I couldn’t really tell you which one is better. Tirzah Price did a great job of staying true to the original, but also making the story her own (I did watch the movie and I’ve been told it’s close to the book). She also does a great job of creating twists and turns you don’t see coming and building connections in the mystery.

Price also reimagined all the major characters to include them in the retelling—I loved how she created new identities for them but remained true to their characters. It was so interesting to see how she wove all the characters’ stories together to create the center mystery.

Also, I loved the subtle nods to Pride and Premeditation included in the book—there was more than one mention of Longbourne and Elizabeth Bennet.

In the end, I gave this book 4 stars and I will definitely be preordering it. It’s the perfect follow up to Pride and Premeditation, and I can’t wait for Manslaughter Park (can I have it now please??).

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

Would you just take a minute to appreciate the beauty that is this cover? Like, damn. I’d buy this book based on that cover alone.
I should probably say that I haven’t actually read Sense and Sensibility. However, even without reading the original, I know Sense and Second Degree is amazing!
In this retelling, Elinor is an aspiring scientist and Marianne works for their father’s private detective agency. After Mr. Dashwood is found dead, the girls suspect foul play and investigate, uncovering a lot more than they thought they would.
I loved this book! It’s on par with Pride and Premeditation, and I couldn’t really tell you which one is better. Tirzah Price did a great job of staying true to the original, but also making the story her own (I did watch the movie and I’ve been told it’s close to the book). She also does a great job of creating twists and turns you don’t see coming and building connections in the mystery.
Price also reimagined all the major characters to include them in the retelling—I loved how she created new identities for them but remained true to their characters. It was so interesting to see how she wove all the characters’ stories together to create the center mystery.
Also, I loved the subtle nods to Pride and Premeditation included in the book—there was more than one mention of Longbourne and Elizabeth Bennet.
In the end, I gave this book 4 stars and I will definitely be preordering it. It’s the perfect follow up to Pride and Premeditation, and I can’t wait for Manslaughter Park (can I have it now please).
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

I love Jane Austen’s novels and this retelling was a good ones. The story follows the Dashwood girls after their father has mysteriously died and their brother’s wife kicks them out of their home and family. Not only have the girls lost all sense of normal-they believe their father was murdered. They go on a journey to uncover the truth of his death.

Honestly this was really funny and perfect and exactly what I was looking for. It felt like pure comedy to me. So, what do you get when you mix 3 popular Jane Austen novels into one book? A disaster of course. This was everything I wanted and more and I cannot wait for the next instalment in the series. Thank you for the approval of the galley, this will surely stick with me for many years to come!

I love Pride and Prejudice adaptations and modernizations but Sense and Sensibility is my favorite Austen book and movie. So I thoroughly enjoyed Tirzah Price’s Sense and Second-Degree Murder.

The Dashwood sisters set out to prove their father's death was no random heart attack. Elinor is an aspiring chemist, Marianne an intrepid investigator and Margaret a budding gothic novelist. With these skills and their determination, they seek not only answers to their father’s death but also look into another unsolved case that gets them involved in London's opium scourge of the early nineteenth century.

Mr. Edward Farrows, Mr. Brandon, and of course Willoughby are all along for the ride.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Teen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A quick, fun read. Price does a good job of creating realistic, likable characters while keeping the pacing of her stories even and logical. While this one could do with a bit more hint dropping early on, a savvy reader will figure out most of the plot with only minor struggling. Additionally, this is a well-researched book and I do suggest that you all check out the notes in the back to find out a little bit more about the topics covered in this book.

While I'm not sure how much this will appeal to its intended audience, I enjoyed spending a day reading this one. I'm also not too sure about how well this one mirrors/parallels Sense and Sensibility since I have never read that book, I do think it stands well enough on its own.

In conclusion, if well-researched historical murder mysteries with budding romances are your jam, then definitely pick this one up when it comes out in 2022.

4.5/5 Stars
Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are shocked to wake up one morning and find their investigator father, Mr. Dashwood dead at his desk. Marianne, an aspiring investigator who followed her father around on all his cases, suspects foul play, especially after it is revealed their older step-brother has been left their father's entire estate. Elinor, who secretly wants to become a chemist, and the oldest sister, takes care of her sisters and mother following their father's passing. She also handles the nuances of their new reality after being pretty much kicked out of their own home by their brother and nasty sister-in-law, Fanny. Finding a suspicious substance at the bottom of the teacup their father last drank from, Elinor and Marianne begin investigating their father's desk on the down low.

What ensues is an adventurous murder mystery, taking many twists and turns to uncover the truth of their father's death. Price also weaves in the classic romances, feminist values, and addresses the mental health response to losing a loved one. Every character is bright and well-rounded, and the mystery details are woven well. The mystery was well-paced and had me fully immersed.

My favorite Austen novel is Sense and Sensibility, mainly because of the sister relationships, which Tirzah Price nails! I loved Pride and Premeditation, but I think I enjoyed Sense and Second-Degree Murder even more. I adore the idea of Elinor wanting to become a chemist, Marianne an investigator, and Margaret, the youngest, a novelist. This is a wonderful, fresh rendition of a classic Austen novel, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC copy I received in exchange for my honest review. #SenseandSecondDegreeMurder #NetGalley

I'm glad this author is carrying on with this series. It has a unique perspective that manages to not feel disloyal to the original while offering something entirely new.