I didn't read The Murder of Mr. Wickham. And now I'm not going to. Even though parts of the first book are mentioned in snippets, this can mostly be read as a standalone. Retellings are hit or miss, but this read more like next-gen fanfiction than anything else. And while that doesn't necessarily have to be bad, this was. Darcy/Thumps reads like the author looked up the autism spectrum, took one glance, and decided to base his entire character off that. Tilney is so boring. The killer is so boring. Everyone is so boring.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage Anchor for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Note: I did not read the previous book.

As someone who has focused quite a lot of my academic focus on Jane Austen and her works, when I saw this pop up on NetGalley, I was a little suspicious as I have a difficult time with most published Austen fanfiction. I always find them too out of character, too little research into the time periods, and/or too influenced by adaptations rather than the original text itself. That said, I decided to take the chance since this blended Austenian fanfiction with mystery. I enjoyed "Death Comes to Pemberley" for the most part so I thought this wouldn't be too bad for me.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. I DNF'd this one at like 65% (I always try and give most books a chance because I struggle so much with my creative writing).

Like most fanfiction, this relies on you having some kind of foundational knowledge of Austen and her multiple works. I think if you've only seen television and/or movie adaptations, you should be fine but there are also some references here that I think you'd only catch had you read the original texts otherwise they will fly under your radar. You'll want to make sure that you're especially familiar with "Sense and Sensibility" as this one focuses on expanding that story (obviously with the title). S&S is one of my favorite books in general and one of my favorite Austen books but I have got to say that I did not have fun with this one. I just could not get into the expanded world of this fanfiction and I though the mystery aspect of it would help drawn me in but where was the mystery?? None of it made sense to me and the reveal was just so predictable. Nothing fun or mysterious about it.

On Jonathan and Juliet...again another hard sell for me. Now, I'm getting the feeling that I am just not the right audience for this one because I cannot stand next-gen fanfiction especially for classic literature, it just feels disrespectful at some point. I definitely got the feeling that the portrayal of the Tilneys and the Darcys as parents came straight from the adaptations rather than the actual texts and you can see this especially in how Jonathan and Juliet are characterized. Although I like the implication of Jonathan being on the spectrum, I would have liked to see more of the socioeconomic reactions to this as it could definitely lead down a Phillip Wakem path (not Austen, but Eliot and Austen are pretty synonymous especially "The Mill on the Floss") or down the path of Austen's older brother.

Having said all of that, I know I'm being an absolute menace and no fun. I think if you read the first book, love fanfiction, and want something easy to read, definitely check this out.

"The suspenseful sequel to The Murder of Mr. Wickham, which sees Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney reunited, and with another mystery to solve: the dreadful poisoning of the scoundrel Willoughby's new wife.

Catherine and Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey are not entirely pleased to be sending their eligible young daughter Juliet out into the world again: the last house party she attended, at the home of the Knightleys, involved a murder - which Juliet helped solve. Particularly concerning is that she intends to visit her new friend Marianne Brandon, who's returned home to Devonshire shrouded in fresh scandal - made more potent by the news that her former suitor, the rakish Mr. Willoughby, intends to take up residence at his local estate with his new bride.

Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley are thrilled that their eldest son, Jonathan - who, like his father, has not always been the most socially adept - has been invited to stay with his former schoolmate, John Willoughby. Jonathan himself is decidedly less taken with the notion of having to spend extended time under the roof of his old bully, but that all changes when he finds himself reunited with his fellow amateur sleuth, the radiant Miss Tilney. And when shortly thereafter, Willoughby's new wife - whom he married for her fortune - dies horribly at the party meant to welcome her to town.

With rumors flying and Marianne - known to be both unstable and previously jilted by the dead woman's newly made widower - under increased suspicion, Jonathan and Juliet must team up once more to uncover the murderer. But as they collect clues and close in on suspects, eerie incidents suggest that the killer may strike again, and that the pair are in far graver danger than they or their families could imagine."

I mean, why think it's Marianne when Willoughby is RIGHT THERE!?!

I made a NetGalley account specifically because I was so excited to read this book and didn’t want to have to wait for its release date, I was not disappointed! This is the second book in a murder mystery series with Jane Austen characters. The first book is called The Murder of Mr. Wickham and sets up for this second book. They need to be read in order.

I liked the first book a lot but I loved this one even more! The mystery really kept me guessing and I thought several different characters were guilty! I was surprised by the ending. There is a romantic subplot that continues from the first book, and it’s really kept me rooting for these characters. The ending left me dying for the next book 😭 the mystery resolves but there are plot points to still be resolved with the main characters.

If you like historical fiction, cozy mysteries, and Jane Austen you will love this!! I consider myself a sensitive reader, I hate being stressed out and anxious. For me this was the perfect blend of intrigue without anything overly sinister or anxiety inducing.

Highly recommend this series! Thank you so much NetGalley and Claudia Gray for this ARC!!

I enjoyed this second cozy mystery set in Jane Austen’s world just as much as the first one. This one is focused on the characters from Sense and Sensibility, but I really feel that you don’t need to be familiar with the source material in order to enjoy this one. I certainly didn’t. I read Sense a really long time ago, and don’t remember it at all well, but Ms Gray does a great job of explaining the backstories of all of the characters well enough that you totally understand what their motivations are.

The real joy and the central characters of these books are Jonathan Darcy and Elizabeth Tilney, the son and daughter of original Austen characters. I just love the two of them and enjoyed watching them piece the mystery together. Darcy still struggles with understanding human behavior and the social constructs of his world, but I love his commentary on it as well. He showed a lot of growth in this book, with his continued growing feelings toward Miss Tilney, and his ability to stand up for himself as well. I also like Elizabeth’s growth. She is becoming more confident in herself as well and worked hard to stay with in the social bounds of acceptable behavior and yet insert herself into the mystery. They still haven’t admitted their feelings to each other, but are beginning to admit them to themselves, hopefully the next book will see them coming together as more than friends.

All of the other characters are well fleshed out and we see much of the story from their perspectives as well. The other thing I like about these books is the imaginings of what happened to these characters after the original stories was finished. I especially liked the story between the Brandons and the ups and downs of their marriage. Willoughby is just a despicable in this story as I remember him in the first, but I did feel a tad sorry for him at times.

The mystery itself was well done. There were lots of plot twists and some red herrings. The big reveal was well done, but I thought the murderer’s motive was a tad weak. But within the confines of the society of the times, I could see it working. The pacing and the writing match the source material but with the author’s own style still shining through. The pacing was a bit slow in spots, and the storyline with the Delaford family didn’t seem necessary, but other than that I found myself engaged in the story.

If you are a fan of Jane Austen’s works I think you will find these books enjoyable. But I think people who have never read her books will still find these books quite good and it might even lead them to read the source materials which is always a good thing.

Unfortunately, I ended up DNF-ing THE LATE MRS. WILLOUGHBY. It wasn't holding my interest and I found myself not invested in the characters or plot.
I greatly appreciate the ARC but this one simply wasn't for me.

I am completely charmed by this Jane Austen mash-up series and can't wait for the next installment. The author does a fantastic job of reintroducing readers to the Austen characters while building them into situations Austen probably never imagined.

This novel takes place in Devonshire, the setting of Jane Austens novel “Sense and Sensibility”. Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy, again find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation and work together to try and solve the mystery.

In my opinion, I think that readers who haven’t read Austen or Claudia Greys previous novel would likely be confused about the cast of characters in this novel. Knowing the history of the characters and their relationships was key to my enjoyment of the novel.

I loved the relationship between Juliet and Jonathan. They are both intriguing characters and I enjoyed how they worked together to unravel the mystery. Plus, their restrained yearning for each other is very similar to what you would see in Austen’s novels.

I feel that a little “cheat sheet” with a bit of info about each of the characters, would make this novel more accessible to readers who aren’t familiar with the characters from “Sense and Sensibility”.

Thank you to Netgalley and Vintage Anchor for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.

oh Willoughby. *le sigh*

I’m so happy to continue following Juliet and Jonathan as they navigate their feelings, society and *gasp*, another murder! This cozy mystery series is really charming and well done. I love going back into the world of Austen, with all my beloved characters, and locations. This story centers more on that of Sense & Sensibility, and though you don’t need to be well-versed in the novel, it will definitely help you to understand the dynamics, and if you’re like me, enjoy seeing Willoughby squirm a bit. (Is that awful? A little. But he crushed my heart along with Marianne’s…)

I can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my unbiased review!

Like many an adult who used to be a teenage girl, I have a soft spot in my heart for Jane Austen and her ever-relatable stories. I've spent many a rainy afternoon cozied up with Eliza and Elinor and Anne and a warm mug of tea. As a mystery lover, you can imagine my delight when I learned of The Murder of Mr. Wickham last year, an ambitious attempt by Claudia Grey to create an Austenverse (and a mystery). The story features the next generation of our Austen heroes, Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy, as they investigate the murder of Mr. Wickham. I devoured the book in a single sitting and hoped that we'd get another outing with these characters...

...and luckily, my wish has been granted. I'm so excited to share a sneak peek of the sequel, The Late Mrs. Willoughby. (Thanks to NetGalley and Vintage for the gift copy!) This time around, Jonathan and Juliet run across each other in Devonshire. Jonathan is (reluctantly) visiting school friend, John Willoughby; Juliet is paying a call on the Brandons. And when Willoughby's wife is gruesomely and publicly poisoned, our two amateur detectives take it upon themselves to solve the mystery. (After all, it's more interesting than socializing, especially in mourning...)

The potential appeal here is threefold: further exploration of the Austen world, a fun mystery, and the budding romance between Jonathan and Juliet. It's a lot to try and cover in just one novel - so how does The Late Mrs. Willoughby stack up?

A more focused fan update...

Let's start with the Austen, which is the most differentiating factor of this series. The Late Mrs. Willoughby takes our heroes to Devonshire, specifically to Delaford. And if the names Delaford, Elinor, Edward, Marianne, Willoughby, and Colonel Brandon mean nothing to you, you may not want to read this book. Unlike its predecessor, The Late Mrs. Willoughby focuses heavily on expanding the universe of just one novel - Sense and Sensibility. The story takes place in that neighborhood, and all the character are either original or drawn from just that novel.

It's not just that the novel features specific characters in a specific setting - it's that the emotional beats rely on knowing their history. This is the promise and peril of fanfiction: you can tell deeper stories, but risk leaving newer readers behind. I imagine it would be difficult for a reader unfamiliar with Sense and Sensibility to fully understand the implications of John Willoughby moving back near Marianne and Colonel Brandon. While a new reader might understand why different characters are suspected, they may not feel the same dramatic tension. I'd even suggest Austen fans brush up on Sense and Sensibility before picking this one up... That said, as a Sense and Sensibility fan, I quite enjoyed this deep dive! It was nice to explore the everyday lives of characters I already love.

...with a less tense mystery

Of course, there's a second factor at play here: the mystery. The Late Mrs. Willoughby features the investigation of, well, the death of Lucy Willoughby (John's London wife). We get a brief introduction to Lucy before she's unceremoniously poisoned at a local dinner party. Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilley decide to investigate, both to help their friend Marianne and because they're a bit bored.

This is very much a closed-circle mystery, with the the principal cast of Sense and Sensibility as the main suspects. Focusing on just one novel's worth of characters is a bit of a double-edged sword here. While it makes for great fanfiction, it also narrows the "playing field" of suspects. One of the cleverest elements of The Murder of Mr. Wickham was that it featured only beloved Austen characters, heightening the drama. No matter whodunnit, it was likely to be a character you loved. Here, there's less of that tension, as there are plenty of secondary characters to take the blame.

In fact, when the solution was revealed, it came a bit out of left field. It made sense structurally - but lacked the character impact of the first novel. In my experience, the best fair-play mysteries rely either on intricate character work or meticulous setup of physical evidence. The Murder of Mr. Wickham worked in the first context; but The Late Mrs. Willoughby reads more like an adventure than a mystery, without the same level of setup and payoff. That's fine if you're looking for an adventure, more than a mystery (as is many a modern mystery reader).

Jonathan and Juliet's infinite mystery list

A brief note on Jonathan and Juliet: as a fanfiction reader, I've always enjoyed next-gen fic, and this is no exception. It's great to see how our favorite characters act as parents, and to imagine how they might influence their children. Gray clearly put a lot of care into writing Jonathan in particular - he seems to be somewhere on the spectrum, and I'd be curious how those in the community react to this character. Juliet is fine - she's a teenage girl, learning how the world works, a proto-feminist ahead of her time. But it's great to see the two of the interact - and interesting to thin about how Jonathan's traits make him a better match for Juliet's independence.

If you, like me, are hoping for romance between the two, you will find it here! But it's a very slow burn, with lots of misunderstandings and mishaps along the way. This time the duo are joined by one of Darcy's old schoolmates, creating a love triangle-esque setup. (Is it a love triangle if one of the points doesn't realize he's in love?) It's a fun, sweet romance, and I'm excited to see more unfold in future entries.

Reader's notes & rating (⭐⭐⭐✨)

Look, you already know if you are going to like this book. If you like Jane Austen and mysteries and young adult romance, this is a great book for you. Read it! You will enjoy it.

If any of those things is not your cup of tea, give this one a pass - particularly if you're not a fan of Sense and Sensibility. While I'm sure the story technically makes sense for a non-Austenite, it certainly won't evoke the intended reactions. It's a fun and engaging update to the Austen lore with a bite of mystery thrown in - a good read for a very specific audience. 3.5 stars.

Read this if...

You read and loved The Murder of Mr. Wickham

You already love fanfiction or are open to the possibility

You sit in the Venn diagram of Austen fan and mystery lover

Skip this if...

You have not read Jane Austen or don't like Sense and Sensibility

You are a Fanfiction Skeptic

You want to read a Mystery with a Great Puzzle

The Late Mrs. Willoughby will be published May 16, 2023.

Juliet Tilney feels lucky that her parents even let her go away for a visit after what happened the last time she did--a murder at the house party she attended. But even though she and Jonathan Darcy helped clear Marianne Brandon's name, Marianne's return home has been unpleasantly surrounded by the scandal that tainted her. Plus, she's experiencing PTSD and needs a friend, so Juliet decamps to Devonshire to be with her. Meanwhile, Jonathan Darcy is coincidentally staying in the same area, but his stay is markedly less pleasant as his host is a bully from school days (his parents made him stay with John Willoughby in the hope of improving his social skills). But when Willoughby's wife falls dead at a dinner party both households are at together, it's up to Juliet and Jonathan to solve yet another murder together before either of them becomes the next victim.

She's done it again! The Late Mrs. Willoughby is wholly entertaining and well-plotted. It is period-appropriate in many ways, and helps the reader understand what would have been appropriate and inappropriate for the time period--especially when it comes to interactions between men and women. It helps us imagine some possible "what ifs" of the "happily ever afters" of Jane Austen's heroines and villains. I love that the characters are appealing to a modern reader, including being neurodiverse. I also found it much easier to keep track of the characters' original storylines from the original books than I did in the first book in this series. Also, I'm ecstatic that it looks like there will be another book coming up, and I can't wait!

3.5 stars
Not quite as good as the first in the series, but I still really enjoyed this mash-up of Austen novels. Juliette Tilney and Jonathan Darcy are quite a pair, and I love their friendship and enthusiasm for sleuthing! I don’t know how much farther this theme of murders occurring when they both happen to be in the same place can go on—maybe one or two more books, I would think, which would be fine.
The author does a great job imagining how the couples from the different novels would continue their lives and also how their timelines might intersect to create plausible relationships between the characters. In this one, that jerk-face Willoughby from Sense and Sensibility is a past schoolmate of Jonathan’s and it’s no surprise that he sucked in his youth too.
One thing that bummed me out is that I figured out just about everything quite early on. The blue cloak thing was a surprise, but the main revelations were not. I’m always torn between congratulating myself when this happens and doubting how good the mystery was if I solved it so fast. I’d much rather be tricked and surprised. The other thing that made me frown a little was the love triangle. It was of short duration—I don’t even know if it qualifies as a love triangle—but I was still frustrated with the misunderstandings it caused. I think I get why the author went there. I just really hate love triangles.
It’s still quite fun to see these characters together, and I appreciated how the author imagined their continuing stories. When the next book rolls around, I’ll be ready to cheer on Jonathan and Juliette again!

Gray has crafted another cozy mystery with the characters of Austen. Johnathon and Juliet remain delightful in every awkward interaction. Furthermore, the mystery is surprising and fascinating in its unraveling.

I'm really loving this series. This second installment was just as good as the first. I hope Claudia Gray continues to write these books. I have purchased them for my library and they seem to be popular.

An excellent follow-up to The Murder of Mr. Wickham! Great for Jane Austen and cozy mystery fans alike.

A warning: if you have not yet read The Murder of Mr. Wickham but intend to...stop. Do that first before reading this book. The plot for The Late Mrs. Willoughby picks up shortly after Wickham leaves off, and key spoilers for the previous book are revealed here. (It's worth the read--promise.)

Several weeks after the events at Donwell Abbey, Juliet Tilney finds herself visiting her new friend, Marianne Brandon, in Barton. And what good timing: her new friend, Jonathan Darcy, has been invited to the nearby home of his school bully, John Willoughby. They are excited to reunite at a dinner at Barton Hall held in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby, who recently inherited Allenham after the death of Mr. Willoughby's aunt. (You know, the same aunt who nearly disinherited him because of his wickedness, ultimately leading to his estrangement from Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility.) Tragedy strikes after the dinner when Mrs. Willoughby falls suddenly ill: she has been poisoned, and the village of Barton immediately looks to Marianne as the possible murderer given her history with Willoughby. Fresh of their recent success in sleuthing, Jonathan and Juliet decide to once again investigate a murder--this time, joined by another of Willoughby's school friends and a possible suitor for Juliet, Mr. Bamber.

While I really liked Wickham, this book is more enjoyable for being more focused on a single set of Austen characters--the Dashwoods, Ferrars, Willoughbys, Brandons, and Middletons from S&S. (Of course, we do get a glimpse of the Tilneys at Northanger Abbey and the Darcys at Pemberley.) The mystery twists and turns with several possible suspects--including the odious Willoughby--although cozy mystery lovers will likely ferret out the murderer early on. Half the fun, though, is watching Jonathan and Juliet together once again, sorting their feelings for one another as they gather clues. And for those who appreciated the fan fic-elements of the previous book, you get to see Elinor and Edward, Marianne and Colonel Brandon, even the kind but interfering matchmaker Mrs. Jennings.

The door is open for another sequel in this series, and I am definitely looking forward to reading that one as well. Can't wait to see what mysteries Juliet and Jonathan get to solving next!

'The Late Mrs Willoughby', the second book in the series, is a fun read for people who enjoy crossover genres - Jane Austen characters in an Agatha Christie setting. The two lead characters Juliette Tilney and Jonathan Darcy (yes, it is easy to guess who their parents are) meet again by chance when they are both invited to stay with friends in the same town and very soon witness another death that they are bound to investigate.

Claudia Gray stays true to the original Austen characters and era while still managing to allow them space to grow, although the two lead characters are original to the series. It's fun to see their friendship evolve as they work together to solve the murder. The story progresses slowly at first but there are enough twists soon and justifies motive, means and opportunity. The writing, though not quite Austen-like, flows smoothly along with the story and introduces just enough Regency Era romance while still sticking to the murder mystery genre. Its good to see neuro-diversity as well as diversity in professions and opinions in such a setting.

The rating which is 3 1/2 stars is rounded up to an integer 4 as the book delivers what it promises.

[One star for the premise and the whole book; Half a star for the characters; One star for the story arc; Half a star for the writing; Half a star for the world-building - Three and a half stars on the whole.]

Thanks to NetGalley, Vintage Anchor and Claudia Gray for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Thank you to Vintage Anchor and NetGalley for the ARC*

If you like Jane Austen retellings or interpretations and cozy mysteries, The Late Mrs. Willoughby will be right up your alley. This is the second book in the series featuring Jonathan Darcy (son of Fitzwilliam and Lizzie) and Juliet Tilley (daughter of Catherine and Henry); I picked it up unknowingly but enjoyed it even without having read the first entry. The characters are well-drawn, Austen respected but used as a jumping off-point rather than a boundary, and the mystery twisty but not too obscure. Planning to read the first book in the series and any others that come out!

I am very grateful I received this advanced copy of The Late Mrs. Willoughby on Netgalley! I was excited to read more from Claudia Gray, which is why I applied and I was truly rewarded! I loved this next adventure featuring Jonathan Darcy & Juliet Tilney! A cozy murder mystery, again with a Clue feel to it. I read this directly after finishing The Murder of Mr. Wickham, which I borrowed from my local library in order to have the context for the characters in this ARC. And so by them time I started reading The Late Mrs. Willoughby I had settled into the time period and style of writing, which I was not used to when thinking of Claudia Gray as I know and love her sci-fi works in the Constellation series (Defy the Stars et al) and her Star Wars novels. Absolute kudos to Claudia Gray for her ability to continue the stories of known Austen characters in a way that felt rather seem-less. I hope there will indeed be more adventures to look forward to as has been hinted at near the end of The Late Mrs. Willoughby!

Really enjoyed the first of this series so I went in knowing I’d enjoy this. Really love the neurodiversity and the intertwining of Jane Austen.

Juliet Tilney, daughter of Catherine and Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey, has been invited to visit Marianne Brandon, and they are not completely happy. Mainly because the last time she was invited out, Juliet had become involved in a murder investigation. This time, Marianne’s former suitor Mr. Willoughby has returned to Devonshire with his new bride. Juliet is looking forward to seeing her new friend.

Jonathan Darcy, son of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberly, has been invited to visit his former schoolmate, John Willoughby, at his new home, and they are completely happy. Jonathan, however, is not. Mainly because Willoughby was not a friend, instead he was a bully.

Jonathan finds himself better pleased at seeing the Brandons, but mostly Juliet Tilney again. Unfortunately, their reunion is darkened by the death of Willoughby’s new wife. Rumors begin to fly and Marianne is immediately under suspicion. Jonathan and Juliet team up once more to save their friend, but to also stop a ruthless killer as scary accidents indicate that someone else is being targeted.

I read The Murder of Mr. Wickham and loved it, so when Claudia Gray’s next book arrived on Netgalley, I immediately requested it. While I have read all of Jane Austen’s novels, and it might assist anyone with an OCD brain like me that wants the “complete” story, but I didn’t feel it was necessary. Claudia Gray does an extraordinary job of giving all relevant details while still making the story her own.

I love Jonathan and Juliet. I understand Jonathan in a very visceral way. I find that I don’t usually understand people and would rather spend time talking about books more than anything else. Juliet is compassionate while obviously intelligent. She recognizes what Jonathan needs, but never makes fun of him. Instead, she’s sees him for the unique person that he is. I hope the third book sees Juliet and Jonathan finally on the same page with each other. I’m a “in your face” person, and really don’t like slow burns all that much.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.