This book reminds me of that song "Sisters are doing it for themselves!"

The second installment in Price's "Jane Austen Murder Mystery" series is a whodunit retelling of "Sense and Sensibility." Someone has murdered Mr. Dashwood and his intrepid daughters - a chemist, an amateur sleuth and a budding mystery writer, must solve the crime before they find themselves in the killer's sights. Dun Dun DUN!

You get Willoughby, Brandon and a bit of romantic angst, but mostly it's all about the mystery, the sisterhood and the wacky feminist adventure of it all. While S&S isn't my fave Austen novel (I"ve always found Marianne annoying and immature) I liked this version better (Marianne is still a chore to read, so the book didn't hold my interest for long amounts of time). It's a fun retelling. Instead of re-reading the originals for the umpteenth time, mix it up and give this refreshing series a try!

"Manslaughter Park" is next! The BEST title so far! LOL. I have to dock "Sense & Second-Degree Murder" one star because Marianne survives to annoy another day.

I absolutely adore this series! These YA murder mystery retellings of Jane Austen novels are clever and entertaining, and I can't put them down once I start. I'm not very familar with Sense & Sensibility, but that didn't matter. The story is engaging and the characters are well-drawn, and I was interested right through the last page. I can't wait to read the next one! Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and Netgalley for the chance to read this very fun advance digital copy!

This was such a fun retelling of Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility. Right away we are thrust into the story: Mr. Dashwood is found dead in his study one morning and the family believes this is more than a random health issue. The Dashwood ladies must prove there is a murderer walking about and they take it upon themselves to solve the case. I came to this with two readers in mind: one, a reader who has never read Austen before, and two, from someone who has read Austen thoroughly. I am the latter, however I really tried to leave my Austen days behind me and focus on the story itself.

For someone who has never read Austen, this story is refreshing, quirky, and intriguing. It's a whodunnit with quick-witted characters and a nicely developed plot. You don't need to have read Austen to enjoy this. Even though it is set in the same time period as Austen's novels, it doesn't feel that way. It has a modern feel, with the characters sometimes acting in ways they should not. There are some moments of romance but nothing overwhelming. The Dashwood sisters are a force to be reckoned with. Marianne is wild at heart, strong and independent. Elinor is sure of herself, intelligent and mild-mannered. Margaret actually gets more page time than the original, which I loved - she is so delightful. What was even more appealing was the acceptance of women pushing past barriers and working in areas they would never have been allowed. The men in the story were fine with it and even supported them.

For someone who has read Austen, let me start by saying that, even though this breaks away from the novel quite a bit, it still finds its way back. The characters end up in their situations, just in different ways. This may not sit well for some readers, however it was fun to see how Price worked around the plot. I wasn't completely satisfied with it due to the girls getting into situations that would NEVER have happened to them. Nor were ladies at the time ever allowed to act in the ways they did. Although, not being a fan of Willoughby, I enjoyed seeing him set down by Marianne in the smoking club scene. And also, Colonel Brandon is one of my favorite characters, and I just didn't feel he was shown as he should have been. He felt a little underdeveloped and too minor for my tastes.

Fans of Austen will hopefully still read this with pure enjoyment as Price took a much-loved novel and made it her own. The Dashwood ladies took their departure from their previous lush lives well and grabbed their new "situation" by the reins. I loved that Price gave them the enthusiasm needed to push past any obstacles in their ways. And the best part is the dialogue between the characters. Price certainly knows how to write witty conversations. By allowing myself the opportunity to read this knowing I needed to step away from Austen's novel, I was able to enjoy a delightful novel full of intrigue, murder and mayhem. I'm so glad I did!

The Dashwood sisters are fantastic in this YA murder-mystery!

One sister wants to be a scientist and the other wants to follow in their fathers’s footsteps as a detective. The story begins with their father’s death. They set out to discover the murderer and find much more along the way.

If you love YA and Jane Austen this is the book for you!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC. It was a super fun read!

Title: Sense and Second-Degree Murder
Author: Tirzah Price
Genre: YA, historical, mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5

When eighteen-year-old aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood discovers her beloved father slumped over the desk of his office study, she knows his death means dire straits for the Dashwood women. To make matters worse, an outdated will entails his estate—including Norland & Company, the private investigation firm where her younger sister Marianne worked as her father’s partner and protégé—to their half-brother and his haughty wife, who waste no time in forcing the Dashwoods out of their home and into a cramped apartment on London’s Barton Street.

But before they go, the Dashwood sisters make a startling discovery that points to foul play, and the killer might be family.

Obviously, the girls must investigate. It could be dangerous; it could ruin their reputations; and most importantly, it won’t bring back their father. But if the Dashwood sisters can combine their talents and bring their father’s murderer to justice, it may bring them all some comfort—and it might even lead to love.

This was a fun read. I forgot how much Marianne annoyed me—in this and the original—but she really got on my nerves for the first 3/4ths of the book. The supporting characters were very well-done, and I loved the combination of the original storyline and the ladies having their own interests and ambitions. This is definitely a good weekend read.

Tirzah Price Grew up in Michigan. Sense and Second-Degree Murder is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 4/4.)

I was very excited to read this second installment of the series. I thoroughly enjoyed Pride and Premeditation, and Sense and Second Degree Murder was awesome, as well! I appreciate the fact that it's updated in all of the ways that it needs to be updated but retains the spirit and charm of the original. Yes, the female characters are still struggling to be treated with equity in a male-dominated society, but we don't get the same level of sexism that we would in the originals, making it more approachable for younger readers. Charming and lovely, and a great way to bring the love of classic characters to a younger generation!

Inspired by Sense and Sensibility, this murder mystery takes place in Jane Austen's book setting. Mr. Dashwood dies and it turns out it was murder. His daughters set out to find the culprit.

I wish there had been more deviation from the Jane Austen book. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the characters had been the same but it had been more of a side plot of Sense and Sensibility rather than woven throughout the plot of the original.

I ADORE this series! I am an avid fan of Jane Austen and love to read books based on her stories, but I have never read a series like this! Tirzah Price took the characters I knew and loved from Sense and Sensibility and placed them in a murder mystery. When Mr. Dashwood is found dead, aspiring chemist Elinor and burgeoning private investigator Marianne believe their father was murdered. But who did it? Was it their older brother and his wife who inherited everything their father had ever built? Or did it have something to do with his private investigating business? I loved trying to figure out which of the Jane Austen-inspired characters was a murderer and why they turned to murder! Also, the characters are so loveable as they desperately try to be respected for their career goals within a male-dominated field. Even adorable little Margaret was so dedicated to her writing as she takes what's happening in the mystery of her father's death and uses them in her murder mystery novel. I loved every moment of this book and couldn't put it down! I hope Tirzah Price continues to take Jane Austen novels and turn them into hilarious and intriguing mystery novels!

Thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins, and Tirzah Price for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait for Manslaughter Park to come out next year!

ARC from NetGalley - This was a fun, quick, well-written second installment in the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series by Price. I enjoy Austen and YA novels, so this one hit the mark for me. The characters are fun and witty, and Price spins a believable tale. Marianne and Elinor are strong-willed, well-written characters, and I can't wait for the third installment. I am grateful for the opportunity to read the ARC, as I thoroughly enjoyed it.

In Sense and Second Degree Murder, three strong, independent sisters are faced with the murder of their father. The eldest sister Elinor is a scientist, the middle daughter Marianne worked with her father at his private investigation firm, and the youngest Margaret is a delightful budding writer. When their father dies from poison and they are thrown out of their house by their odious half-brother, they don't back down and slink away. Instead they investigate and solve the murder. This was so much fun! Anyone familiar with Sense and Sensibility will appreciate this re-imagining. The personalities of the Dashwood sisters, the villains and the romantic interests remain true to the original, while placing them in a murder mystery. Anyone not familiar with the original novel will still be intrigued by this historical cozy murder mystery.

This is the second in the series following the storyline and spirit of the original Austen stories but adding a Mystery.
These Dashwood sisters are even more independent and advantageous than the originals. I really enjoyed following them trying to solve this mystery. Their father had taught them what he knew in his investigating and even had them accompany him.
Fanny is just as horrible in this book than the other. She's the perfect petty selfish character that everyone hates, and everyone knows of one of these people in their life.
I didn't want to put this book down!
The characters have similar names and characters from her original book but were doing much different things.
The mystery kept unraveling and things they didn't realize were related were connected. Then when it all panned out it was a much bigger conclusion than they were expecting.
The two sisters trying to stay in the same occupation as their father and finding support from the two men they ended up with was great!
Loved the chemistry experiments!

Tw: drugs, death


Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen and Net Galley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review

3.5/5

In this Austen retelling with a murder mystery twist, sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood find their lives upended when Elinor discovers their father dead in his study. Legal loopholes caused their older brother and his wife to inherit the family home, and the Dashwood sisters and their mother are forced to leave. Marianne, a budding investigator, smells something fishy though, and Elinor, whose passion is chemistry, quickly finds that things don't add up. To catch a murderer, the sisters must be clever, but as sense wars with sensibility, will they remain united?

I've never read Sense and Sensibility, but I might just have to now, because I found the dynamic between the Dashwood sisters to be very complex and intriguing! I thought the pace of this novel was a little slow at first, but I was able to connect more with the story as the plot developed. The murder mystery element of this novel added an extra level that kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought the ending and the way the events of the story were interconnected was a really creative way to include historical elements and create a more nuanced plot. The family relationships, as well as the romantic ones, had a lot of depth, and might be my favorite element of this novel.

I would recommend this novel for fans of murder mysteries and historical retellings! Thank you so much to Harper Collins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Another winner from Price! This is such a great follow up to her first novel, Pride & Premeditation. I love her take on Sens & Sensibility, transforming the Dashwood sisters into investigators, chemists, and aspiring authors. This book is full of suspense, humor, and soft romance.

I love Price's writing style. She captures the time period so well, not only with the dialogue, but also with how the characters think and act. I think she does Austen such a good turn by envisioning bold, aspiring women who are here to break barriers to their sex. Elinor Dashwood is one of my favorite Austen characters and I think she is so well represented here. Price even got me to appreciate Marianne, a character I normally dislike!

I think the plot is another winner for this book. It's bright, snappy, and ties up nicely at the end. It's an easy read, even a bit of a page-turner, and I found myself still guessing till the end. I like how Price wraps things up and I think it's a very satisfying mystery, all in all.

I absolutely cannot wait to see what Price has in store next!

Once again, I enjoyed this retelling or inspiration of Sense and Sensibility.

This follows Elinor and Marianne Dashwood as the main POVs. Elinor one day finds her father dead in his office of their family business Norland and Co. After his body is taken away, both her and Marianne go take a further look because they think it's odd how he died suddenly. After finding a teacup with some odd substance, they determine something nefarious must have happened to their father and together launch an investigation to find out who did it.

Just like Pride and Premeditation, we get to see all the same characters from Sense and Sensibility. Sense and Sensibility is actually my favorite out of all the Jane Austen stories, so I was excited to read this one! I loved seeing all my favorite characters, and the roles they played. Elinor is a science nerd, which I loved! And her sister Marianne loves a good mystery and helped her father out sometimes which is why she is all over this investigation. I always loved the dynamic between the sisters in the original, and you get to see that in this book, plus I loved how much more Margaret is involved in this book. There is a tad bit more romance involved in this book, and I loved seeing how they came about.

If you love to read different interpretations of classics, and you love a good mystery, then I recommend this one! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and TBR and Beyond Tours for the free digital copy to read.

This was a very cute in the same way that Pride and Premeditation was. I love Jane Austen‘s works, and to see someone take them and give them a mystery twist with a little bit of updating is very fun. This one really struck me because of the character development that the Dashwood sisters were given. They weren’t just catalysts for the story, they were fully fledged people with interests and opinions and skills. I look forward to seeing what she does next. Maybe Emma as a spy? Catherine Morland as a ninja? Anne Elliott, master con woman?

"In this second book of the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series, Tirzah Price takes readers for another fun, murderous romp through one of Austen’s beloved novels. Perfect for fans of The Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper. A Junior Library Guild pick!

When eighteen-year-old aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood discovers her beloved father slumped over the desk of his office study, she knows his death means dire straits for the Dashwood women. To make matters worse, an outdated will entails his estate - including Norland and Company, the private investigation firm where her younger sister Marianne worked as her father’s partner and protégé - to their half-brother and his haughty wife, who waste no time in forcing the Dashwoods out of their home and into a cramped apartment on London’s Barton Street.

But before they go, the Dashwood sisters make a startling discovery: a suspicious substance in their father’s teacup - one that can only be described as poison. And poison, as Marianne’s father taught her, always points to murder.

It could be dangerous; it could ruin their reputations; and most importantly, it won’t bring back their father. But if the Dashwood sisters can combine their talents and bring their father’s murderer to justice, it may bring them all some comfort - and it might even lead to love."

I love that so many people go, how can we reinterpret Austen? How about murder!

This continues Price's retellings of Jane Austen novels as murder mysteries. This time with Sense and Sensibility. The story of the Dashwood girls who find themselves penniless after their father's untimely death after being kicked out of the family estate by their older half-brother and his spiteful and greedy wife. They are forced to rely on the kindness of their mother's cousin, Sir John, and his family.

This "modern" retelling maintains that part of the story, but keeps all the action in London. Transforming Barton Cottage on Sir John's estate to a flat on Barton Street in Cheapside that he owns. The Barton's friends, relatives, and acquaintances become people who previously hired Mr. Dashwood who's cases may connect to his murder.

Rather than being an artist, Elinor is a budding scientist who longs to study chemistry. She has a lab in the attic at their family house, and then in the corner of the kitchen at their flat. She performs experiments vital to the investigation. First by determining that the substance the sisters found in their father's tea cup is, in fact, poison, and then by recreating Miss Williams's experiments from her notes. While such a career would have been highly improper and improbable in Austen's time, women interested in STEM fields existed. Elinor and Miss Williams face criticism from some male characters, and support from the younger, more open minded ones. This helps to illustrate the long road woman have had to being accepted in the sciences.

Mariane, rather than an accomplished pianist, is a budding investigator. She longs to take over their father's company, Norland and Co. (Norland is the name of the estate in the source material). Her father has trained her in techniques for questioning suspects and finding out information and clues. She hopes that by solving her father's murder, she can reopen the business and earn an income for the family. Like her sister, and Elizabeth Bennett in the previous novel, this line of work would have been improper for a young woman. But it again illustrates the long road woman have had to tread to be accepted as anything in society. Mariane gains respect from their clients for connecting their case to her father's death and solving both murders.

These changes also give them more "modern" appeal to the target audience. Other changes include making Colonel Brandon a medical student rather than a military officer and making him around 20 instead of 35, a change to make him a more appropriate love interest in a YA novel. He also plays a more active role in Mariane's recovery from injury due to his status as a medical student. Edward is also an accountant instead of wanting to go into the clergy, another STEM interest, and a skill that helps them set up shop in the end. Edward's last name is also changed from Ferras to Farrows, but I'm not sure I understand that one.

As for the story, I really liked how it played out. It was a fast paced condescending and re imaging of the plot as a murder mystery worthy of other historical crime novels. The twist of who did it I didn't see coming. It was very unexpected! I knew that thinking Fanny and John did it would be a red hearing, but I never expected the outcome. Willoughby being involved is perfect. He's the perfect scoundrel, just like Wickham, and he gets a just ending too.

The further discussion of opium and laudanum usage added a another modern element by discussing the source of the current opioid epidemic in historic terms. Opium usage was just becoming en vogue, as was laudanum as a cure all and treatment of depression and anxiety, especially in women. We see Mrs. Dashwood take laudanum to treat her depression and the brain fog she subsequently is in, plus we see the effects on Willoughby and others. Addiction isn't a recent issue, and this show just how far back in our society it goes.

There is not only discussions of depression and addiction, but a small discussion of post postpartum depression and pain too. Elinor remembers when her mother was depressed like this before after the youngest Dashwood sister, Margaret, was born and she was described laudanum then too. Her concern for her mother's mental state and the use of the drug is shown through her actions when she refuses to buy her mother more. Miss Williams wants to cure pain by making a different opioid that is stronger, but doesn't realize the effects can be deadly.

All in all, I give this one Four Lightsabers for it's use of modern STEM interests for it's characters; discussion of addiction, depression, and pain; and fast paced mystery.

I’m not as familiar with Sense and Sensibility as I am with other Austen stories, but I happily reacquainted myself with the broader particulars here, although with a sensational and intriguing murder mystery to frame it in. This second installment in Price’s murder mystery series was even more enjoyable than the first. I felt the subtlety of the allusions was created a more believable conjecture than the first book. I could have done with a little more from Edward and Mr. Brandon, but I was thoroughly entertained!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

SENSE AND SECOND-DEGREE MURDER
by Tirzah Price
HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen
Pub Date: April 5

Oh how I adored this second in the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series. Even more fun than Pride and Premeditation, Sense and Second-Degree Murder is a delightful nod to Austen's story of the Dashwood sisters with a fine twist of mystery.

Elinor finds her father dead in his office and she and Marianne soon discover traces of poison in his teacup. And as their father once instructed, where there is poison, there is always murder.

The sisters work together to discover the killer, and to deal with their half-brother's inheritance of the estate. He and his snobby wife soon kick the sisters out of their father's house, forcing them to move to a tiny apartment. Will they succeed in finding the murderer? And what about the will that's turned up giving all to their nasty half-relation?

Any Janeite will love this story, as will fans of wonderful mysteries that keep them pinned to the last absorbing page.

Thanks to Tirzah Price, HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen, and NetGalley for the e-ARC. Opinions are mine.

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Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

I loved this book just like I loved the first one! I actually think I liked this one better. I love a good mystery and it didn’t disappoint!