Cover Image: Sense and Second-Degree Murder

Sense and Second-Degree Murder

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Member Reviews

REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

I really loved this book, I love Sense and Sensibility and to see it played out like this I thought it was fantastic. I liked that Price turned Eleanor into a chemist and Marianne into a budding detective. I also loved that Margaret got more of a personality. No offence to my girl Jane, Margaret always seemed a bit dry to me.

I also loved how I went in thinking that yeah I know how this is going to end, it's going to be Mr. Willoughby who is the villain, but to being in Lucy Steele I loved it even more.

Absolutely deserving of the five stars and I cannot wait until the next installment comes.

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I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, and I can say the same for this one. Although I knew who the “bad guy” was the moment I met him, I still enjoyed how everything ended.

Elinor was my favorite character, and her development was well done. I love how her dream is realized in the end.
The other Dashwood sister were written well, but I did think Marianne was a bit rude when there was no need. I wish she and Brandon spent more time together so their love story was more believable.

I look forward to adding this to my library and the next installment!!

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This was an absolute delight to read especially as a fan of Jane Austen and fun procedural mysteries. All of the memorable character's from Austen's Sense and Sensibility make an appearance and do not diverge too much from their original characterization. The villains are played up a bit, but not in overtly obvious ways that detract from reading or listening to the book. I really enjoyed how well the mystery was worked into the this classic and had fun seeing how the author has made efforts to connect the worlds from Pride and Premeditation into this sequel.

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I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

In the second instalment of the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series, Sense and Second-Degree Murder follows the intrepid Dashwood sisters, who, having just lost their father and their home, search for the truth about his death, and try and continue his work at Norland & Company. When the eldest sister, Elinor, discovers her father's dead body, she thinks only to protect her sisters, Marianne and Margaret, but soon it's clear that his death was not normal. There's clues afoot, and with Marianne's knowledge of investigating, soon the sisters find themselves in a twisted web of lies, and the new people in their lives may be hiding their own secrets.

When I finished reading Pride and Premeditation I couldn't wait for Tirzah's next book. I love Austen's works, and the premise of this series was perfect for me, but I struggled a little with this book. Part of that may have been that I was approved for a voice galley, and it takes me longer to 'read' them than e-books, but I wasn't as invested. I mean, P&P is my favourite of Austen's book so I was bound to enjoy that more, however I had really high hopes for Sense and Second-Degree Murder. What I found was that Marianne was very annoying, until about the last 20% of the book. Obviously if you know the source material, Willoughby is a wrong-one, and Marianne is taken in, but with how she is introduced to us, it's a bit farcical how easily he dupes her. Margaret may have just been my favourite character. She's so plucky and smart, and really helps the plot when all was just about lost. Elinor, I just wanted to hug and comfort. She takes on so much responsibility in the book, and honestly, she deserves to be treated better by her family, and friends. I found once the plot had really begun, and the characters had settled, it definitely improved, and the last 25% or so made it a 4 star book! I was hoping a book in the series would focus on Emma, but it seems the next book will be Manslaughter Park.

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What a delightful new mystery! I hope that is is the first of many more. The characters are well defined, full of humor, and utterly charming. After the Dashwood sisters and their mother are forced to leave their home, they set out to prove that their father’s death was not natural as originally though. They navigate their new social status while rooting out the truth! If you haven’t read this novel, move it to the top of your to be read pile!!!

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Sense & Second-Degree Murder is a well written period murder mystery pastiche based on Jane Austen's characters and the second book in this series by Tirzah Price. Due out 5th April 2022 from Harper Collins, it's 416 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Although it's the second book in the series, this is a standalone story and self contained in one volume. The characters and dialogue are appealingly written (with nods to the original period characters) but the whole is perfectly accessible and enjoyable for the modern reader. Although fairly true to the original source material, the author has constructed a solid mystery with a satisfying denouement and resolution.

Although published under the HarperTeen imprint, this is a robust mystery for all ages.

Four stars. Enjoyable and well done.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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This is an inventive adaption of Austen's Sense and Sensibility. The Dashwood sisters have career ambitions and fall into the mystery of how their father died. Price involves all the Sense and Sensibility characters in an inventive way. The romance between Elinor and Edward Farrows is different but still involved, which was my favorite part of Sense and Sensibility. I liked how Price brought in Willoughby and Brandon as very different characters than the original book, and the underlying mystery was a fun way to use these characters in a different way. The only portion that took me out of the story and/or bothered me about the adaptation was the language that really seemed more 20th century than 18th-19th century, but overall a fun mystery and way to look at the Dashwood family.

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3.75 Will recommend to my young friends. A fun mystery in the style of Jane Austin which handles more difficult issues (drug addiction in this time period) in a gentle and intelligent fashion. The mystery was enticing and the ending was completely satisfying. A "kisses only element of romance was perfectly accomplished. "The author's note at the end was an excellent addition to the story. I listened to this early copy via audio via NetGalley. I appreciated the opportunity to read this and am planning to enjoy the first book in this series, Pride and Premeditation, as well

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i should start by mentioning that sense and sensibility is not my preferred Austen. that said, this was a fun adaptation. love the STEM aspects and the mystery.

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(3.5 rounded up to 4 stars)

Sense and Second-Degree Murder is another fun, Regency murder mystery.

I haven't actually read Sense and Sensibility (thought I want to now after Sense and Second-Degree Murder), but I'm pretty sure that Sense and Second-Degree Murder is like Pride and Premeditation, in that it takes the characters from Austin's work and drops them into a different storyline, while still retaining the feel of the original characters.

The mystery was nice. Price did a nice job of tying all of the plot threads and subplots together. And the characters were well done. The sibling dynamics between the Dashwood sisters were great.

The romance subplot between Marrianne and Willoughby had some strong insta-love vibes to me, but it didn't bother me too much.

Overall, Sense and Second-Degree Murder was a very fun read.

Cautions: two instances of swearing; five blasphemy; three kisses; moderate romance

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This is the second book in Price's retelling of classics where she turns them into mysteries. It can be read as a stand alone or in any order.
After the death of their father, the Dashwood sisters, along with their mother, are forced out of their home by their half brother. Given little to live on, they must make do and move to a less wealthy area. When the sisters can't believe their father just died, they set about to find out what happened. They quickly decide it was murder but have to figure out who did it. Through their investigations, they get themselves in a bit of trouble.
Opinion
What drew me to this series first was the awesome artwork of the cover. Both the cover of the first book, Pride and Premeditation, and the cover of this book have a very retro feel to them. As you look closer at the covers, you will see hints of what happens in the book. Whoever designed them is a genius.
I personally have never been fond of the classics. Give me Price's retelling and I will consume the book as fast as I can. I am a big mystery fan so perhaps that is the twist I needed to become interested in them. I will say that according to my friends who have read the classics, the stories stay close enough to what happened in Austins original book. I am amazed that Price could pull off the retelling. so beautifully.
These books, perhaps, will become modern day classics inviting young adult readers into the world of classics and mystery.
Many thanks to Harper Collins and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

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This book was so cute! I love the murder mystery take on Jane Austen - and I loved just how fierce each of the sisters were as they tried to solve their father's murder.

The Dashwood sisters are devastated to find their father dead unexpectedly, but when foul play is suspected, they decide they must get to the bottom of it. Losing their father is tragic, but they aso find out that with his death, their house and all their money will go to their half brother. So now they are homeless and the life they've come to known is over.

The sisters know finding out their father's killer won't bring him back, but it will bring some comfort and satisfaction in bringing justice to their family. This creative twist on Sense and Sensibility is great! I can't wait to read Pride and Premdeitation and the third in this series once it comes out.

Definitely worth the hype! Thanks for the early look at the book :)

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Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book. This series is such a fun twist on Jane Austen’s classics. I can’t wait for the next installment.

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If you enjoyed Pride and Premeditation, you'll love Sense and Second-Degree Murder!
Tirzah Price dishes up another Jane Austen classic retold as a fun murder mystery. While familiar characters and plot points from Sense & Sensibility are obvious, this story doesn't follow the original material precisely. It also isn't strictly historically accurate, which the author acknowledges.
What the book does do is reinvent Elinor and Marianne as characters who resolutely determine their own lives rather than letting life happen to them. Despite early disagreements, all three Dashwood sisters learn to rely on one another and value each other's abilities. A not-too-complex mystery wraps up into an immensely satisfying conclusion with punishment for the characters you love to hate and success for your heroines.
And can we talk about how this cover nails it once again? Amazing!

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This reimagining was a lot of fun! The plot was a lot of great. It’s full of twists, banter, and sass. I appreciated the feminism and inclusivity the author included while trying to keep it relative to the era. I spent most of the book thinking I knew the ending, but only got it mildly right.

Rather you’re an Austen fan or not, I think you’d enjoy this fun historical mystery.

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With the mysterious death of their father the Dashwood sisters are thrown into a world of opium dens, murder plots, and cover up. I loved this retelling and the emphasis placed on the importance of feminism and family, and the dangers of opium.

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This book war just not for me. It's a good book. I hate the voice of the audiobook narrator.. With this in mind I am giving it two stars

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A murder mystery makeover of a Jane Austen’s classic novel? Of course I wanted to read it!

While it was pleasant to read this romantic thriller, I was totally underwhelmed. I expected more mystery, more romance, and more feelings. I kept on thinking "That's it? Is that all?", "There must be something later". Then it ended without giving me something I waited for.

Maybe that's the charm of this Austen makeover. It might be an antidote of "too violent", "too explicit", and "too depressing" modern culture. It's definitely a decent escape read if you want to forget what's happening in the real world.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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I'm a sucker for retellings and fresh twists on old classics, and I enjoyed the first book in this series, so I couldn't wait to see how this story unfolded.

Like the first book, it had some familiar characters and touched on some plot points from the original; and while the first book was a fresh twist on Pride and Prejudice; this one retold Sense and Sensibility; which is by far my favorite Jane Austen book, so my expectations were obviously higher this time around.

Overall I thought it was a decent read with a few unexpected twists, and yeah a few predictable ones as well, but I enjoyed it all the same. The characters were likable too, and while there weren't as many call-backs to the original that I would have liked; I thought the author did a good job keeping the Jane Austen classic vibe.

With that said; I recommend it to any Jane Austen or whodunit fans..

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In this intriguing adaptation of the classic Sense and Sensibility, someone has killed Father and it’s up to the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, to solve the mystery of who killed him.

Although I am not too knowledgeable about the original story, I did really like the shocking elements that arose and how well written it is. The nods to the previous book, Pride and Premeditation, were so subtle and I was delighted!

I listened via the NetGalley app and with the generic text to speech narration wasn’t the greatest but given the fact it’s not the fully edited, proof copy, I get it. But I am sure that the physical copy and audiobook by a human narrator(s) will be wonderful.

I voluntarily listened and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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