As an avid reader of this series, I could not wait to get my hands on the next book! We follow our pair to London where the family's of our leads hope to keep them apart, but yet another murder brings Jonathan and Juliet together. If you are faint of heart with slow burn, this series might be too strong for you. Struggle as I may with the slow burn, it is really wonderful to see the progression of time for the characters. I think I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the first one (no shade to two and three, I enjoyed them very much) and to see Mrs. Tillney was a delight. The mystery seemed predictable at first, but I found parts of the reveal to still surprise me. There was quite a lot going on this time and some details did not seem as central as others, but it did not take away from the enjoyment of reading this book.

For those who are avid readers of mystery, I think this series might not entertain as much, but as an Austen fan and a fan of these two main characters, I have loved reading about their world and their development. I will be patiently waiting for the next book!

Thank you Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fourth book in the series. I greatly enjoyed the first book, but somehow missed the second and third ones. The current novel is much more complex than the first, with many more characters (mostly from Jane Austen, I assume) to keep track of.

Nevertheless once I got into the book I was usually able to remember them all. I especially enjoyed seeing how the lives of Jane's characters (and their descendants) might have developed.

The murder plot and the descriptions of the "London Season" with its balls, theatre and exhibitions are very well done, as is the depictions of life among these well-off visitors to London. Every chapter held my interest. It was hard to put down!

I was rooting for Jonathan and Juliet throughout. I adore them as a murder investigative duo as much as Lord Peter and Harriet, and I hope they eventually do marry. What I did not remember from the first book is how severe Jonathan's social anxiety was - perhaps it was emphasized more this time by the author.

I highly recommend this wonderful series to all Jane Austen fans and others interested in historical mysteries of the period.

The London season is happening and many families with eligible young women are busy looking for suitable suitors for their daughters. Among them is Miss Tilney, who is not at all thrilled at the prospect, and her mother, Caroline, who is presenting her daughter at the firm request of the grandfather. Also in London, and not happily, is Mr. Darcy, whose family had to return home unimpededly, and requested their son stay at the home of their friends the Bertram's. Once the young pair find that they are both in London, neither is sad at being there. And once the body of Mr. Rushworth, the former brother-in-law to the Bertram's if found, the young pair is requested by the police to investigate due to their previous police assistance, and they are more than happy to assist. The investigation is tedious and long, when the sister of the Bertram's, who was formerly married to the first victim is found murdered everything heats up. Was it one murderer, or two...when it seems things are going well, a scandal involving Miss Tilney happens that threatens to ruin everything, especially any hopes of the young pair having a future together.

I've enjoyed all the books in Claudia Gray's cozy mystery series, populated with Jane Austen's beloved characters. This time the main characters were the Bertrams from Mansfield Park. To be honest Fanny and Edward Bertram are my least favorite of all the heroines and heroes in Austen's universe, and that probably took some enjoyment away from this book as well.
However, I am looking forward to the next instalment in the series.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

The fourth installment of the Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney literary universe brings the murder mystery to the London season, and I loved every minute of it.

If you’re familiar with this series, you’ll know that our background characters (along with our leads) all originate from Jane Austen’s various works, and in this book we reunite with the cast of Mansfield Park and follow along as their family drama unfolds into a double homicide to be solved by Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney.

Jonathan and Juliet have been falling in love over the course of this series, and seeing them through one another’s eyes is so tender. The two work together beautifully because of their mutual care and respect, and they’re impossible not to root for.

ARC Review: The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage Books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This 4th book in Gray’s Austen-universe mystery series follows our favorite characters to London for the opening of the societal season. I love getting further and further into this series, my love for all the new characters and previous side characters just continues to grow! I feel like this 4th book had more niche details than the others, making this series truly for dedicated Austen readers. I loved that this one ramped up the stakes, after book 3 felt a bit lackluster. And we finally get to see Jonathan and Juliet courting one another! 😍 But now I have to wait for book 5! 😭

I do want to include a trigger warning for anyone sensitive to pregnancy loss and infertility triggers, as this is a small sub-plot in this book.

The Rushworth Family Plot releases June 17th 2025!

The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray was such a fun and twisty read. I love a good mystery, and this one delivered all the eerie vibes I was hoping for. It had that perfect mix of family drama, secrets, and a little touch of the unexpected that kept me guessing the whole way through. The characters were messy in a way that felt totally believable, and I couldn’t help but get pulled into all the tension brewing beneath the surface. It felt like a modern gothic with a sharp edge, and I was totally hooked. If you’re into clever whodunits with some emotional weight, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

Claudia Gray delivers another charming and suspense-filled mystery in The Rushworth Family Plot, a welcome continuation of the Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney series. Featuring Austen-inspired characters and clever original twists, this novel is an engaging read for fans of fiction, Regency-era stories, and murder mysteries.
For those of us eagerly hoping for and waiting for an engagement between Juliet and Jonathan, there is a lot of focus on their personal relationship, almost more than on the mystery, which at this point readers appreciate. The twist of the plot delivered in drama and spectacle. It’s helpful to have a basic knowledge of the Austen universe for this series, but this book, more than the others in my opinion, requires in-depth knowledge about Mansfield Park.
My only criticism is that there may have been too much Mansfield Park storyline when I really just wanted to focus more on Juliet and Jonathan. This could be partly because there are so many characters in Mansfield Park in comparison to other Austen novels.
I am already eagerly awaiting the next book in the series and to see where Juliet and Jonathan's adventures and relationship go from here.

Another entry in the Mr. Darcy/Miss Tilney mysteries and just as enjoyable as the rest! I went into this one both excited (because Claudia Gray has yet to set a single step wrong) but also a bit nervous (because the characters from “Mansfield Park” and especially the dynamic between Edmund and Fanny seem like the most challenging of Austen’s originals to re-create). But, as always, I shouldn’t have worried at all!

Let’s start with the mystery itself! Like always, Gray does an excellent job setting the stage for the murder at the center of this story. There are a number of excellent suspects and red herrings, and every time the reader (or Miss Tilney or Mr. Darcy, for that matter) feel as if they might begin to get a reading on the situation, another twist will be thrown in. I also enjoyed the other, smaller mysteries that made up many of the subplots, such as the Bertrams’ handling of the sale of their plantation in Antiqua.

The story also delved into Fanny’s character and her struggles with childbirth in a very deep way. Poor Fanny. She’s always getting the most rough end of the stick, both in her original story and now here with all of this tragedy. However, I think the way that infertility and miscarriage was handled was incredibly sensitive, and some of Fanny’s internal thoughts and struggles are of the sort that you don’t often see portrayed well on the page. On a lighter note, I enjoyed her interactions with Edmund, and it we even got a bone thrown to some of the Edmund/Fanny/Mary Crawford drama from the original book.

Of course, the main draw is, as always, Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney themselves. Their relationship continues to be hindered by their ridiculous parents, but I was incredibly excited to see Catherine Tilney finally in person on the page! It’s also poetic justice that she immediately gathered a better reading on the situation between Jonathan and Juliet than her husband did in the last book. Their letters discussing the matter were particularly fun! Of course, as this is a series that is ongoing, sticks continued to be thrown in the cogs of them actually formally pursuing things (Darcy and Elizabeth really need to get their act together!). But the story definitely took a twist in this area that I wasn’t expecting and that lead to some of the major action at the end of the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! It didn’t perhaps reach the highs of some of the previous books (mostly because the secondary characters are largely unlikable or fairly depressed through most of the book which lead to a bit less humor). But I really liked the mystery and I will be first in line to check out the next one!

Rating 8: Full of unexpected action and twists and turns galore, this is another incredibly showing in the series!

Link will go live on June 25 on The Library Ladies

This excellent addition to the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney series sees the two sleuths in London for the season, with their respective families hoping that each will meet a more suitable match. However, they are once again thrown together at various balls and events, and they must work together to solve a murder.

What I liked: The story is lively and exciting, particularly towards the end (there is a DUEL!). As always, meeting familiar characters from various Austen novels is fun. Jonathon Darcy is staying with the Bertram family, and I loved the character development of Fanny Bertram (originally from Austen's Mansfield Park). The description of the grief she feels at losing someone important to her (avoiding spoilers here) is poignant, and her character arc through the story is excellent.

What I disliked: The beginning was a bit slow. As always, Jonathan and Juliet's romance is progressing slowly, and, while it makes some satisfactory leaps forward here, all the obstacles in their path are growing a bit frustrating.

Overall: A fun, comforting, satisfying addition to the series.

Thanks to and NetGalley for providing the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

For book recommendations and reviews, follow me on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@whileireadwithkatiedodrill?si=jxOMZ3BPnlH5ofeU

Book Review: The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reading Copy of The Rushworth Family Plot, the fourth installment in Claudia Gray’s delightful Austen-inspired mystery series featuring Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney.

Set in 1820s England, this series imagines a richly interwoven world where all of Jane Austen’s characters coexist. Jonathan Darcy, eldest son of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, is now 23 years old — a timeline that aligns if one considers the date Pride and Prejudice was written (1796–97), rather than its 1813 publication date. Gray’s ability to merge Austen’s worlds into a cohesive and believable setting is good, and fans of literary pastiches will find much to admire.

I've thoroughly enjoyed the first three novels in the series, which offered a compelling mix of historical mystery and staying true to the source material. However, this fourth entry didn’t quite hold my interest to the same degree. The plot unfolds more slowly, with pacing that feels more measured than suspenseful, and I found myself less engaged with the new cast of suspects, many of whom are tied to Mansfield Park—a novel I personally admittedly don’t care for as much, though others may feel differently.

Jonathan remains a unique protagonist; readers must be willing to accept the premise that he may be on the autism spectrum. Having done some research, this interpretation isn’t completely far-fetched, and it adds an interesting layer to his character and his interactions. The slow-burn sweet romance between Jonathan and Juliet continues to be a highlight of the series. Their partnership is rooted in mutual respect, understanding, and quiet affection, which plays out within the constraints of Regency society and their families.

While The Rushworth Family Plot wasn’t my favorite of the series, I still wholeheartedly recommend this series to fans of Austen and historical mysteries. Gray’s respectful yet imaginative reworking of Austen’s world remains a clever and comforting escape.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Rushworth Family Plot is the fourth book in the Miss Darcy & Miss Tilney Mysteries. While the mystery is once again self-contained, the layers of character and relationship development here both depend on context depicted in the first and third books, plus you should at least have passing familiarity with Mansfield Park and the web of relationships between those characters, because that drama features heavily in this book.
In fact, that drama dominates the book, to the point of often dominating the mystery. And on some level, I didn’t mind, as while there are some side-tangents, concerning the Bertram family and their role in slavery in the Caribbean, the stories did all interconnect. And while I did have massive dread when the Bertrams showed up, with Edmund in particular once again being rather holier-than-thou, he did grow on me a bit by the end of the book. His relationship with Fanny remains solid, and I particularly liked how her arc with infertility paid off in a way that respected people going through similar struggles, and also paid tribute to her own upbringing as an adopted child of the Bertram family.
And all this tied in nicely with the central mystery arc, surrounding Mr. Rushworth’s murder, which escalated when Maria too was found murdered. The “whodunit” aspect itself was fairly obvious, but the related intrigue around Maria’s continued ties to Rushworth post-divorce, while also still seeing Henry Crawford, created a great foundation for the murder plot.
But when it comes to so-called “main characters,” I feel like all this drama ended up leaving them mostly sidelined from the main action. I mean, they do investigate and solve the murder, but with who did it being far less interesting than the family drama, I didn’t feel like their roles were all that satisfying in that department. As far as the romance, I did appreciate seeing how far Jonathan was willing to go to defend Juliet’s honor, but the fallout of this leaves the state of their romance still in question, and their families’ discord with one another from the prior book remains unresolved.
While this book was a bit of step down from the prior two, it’s still a solid read, and I’d recommend it to Austen fans who also enjoy cozy mysteries.

I love how the author brings in characters from Jane Austen's books! I like that Gray writes in the style of Jane Austen.
I was happy to see Fanny and Edmund again, and couldn't help wishing them a happy outcome. Obviously you can't not root for Juliet and Jonathan, who still have obstacles to overcome before they can be together. I was afraid that this would be the last book, but with that ending...Please keep this series going!

This was so good it made me mad I’ll have to wait a whole year for the next one. This series continues to develop in such interesting ways.

I do enjoy these Austen-based mysteries and this has been one of the best of them. I’m looking forward to the next.

The 4th book in the series deals with the characters of Mansfield Park. Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy both find themselves in London for the Season. Jonathan is staying with the Bertram's, acquaintances from the house party in the first book. The two are thrilled to reunite, although both father's disapprove of the match.

The drama of Mansfield Park rears it's ugly head when Maria Rushworth arrives in London and her ex Husband is promptly murdered. Edmund Bertram enlists Juliet and Jonathan to solve the mystery with discretion.

In this book the mystery takes a back seat to Juliet and Jonathan's developing relationship, which I appreciated. I liked the characterization of the Bertrams and Crawfords. Tom has grown in some respects, but his refusal to change in some respects may cost him. Maria Rushworth and Henry Crawford are still terrible, I don't think there's much that could be done to redeem them. Slavery and abolition are addressed as well.

J & J face even more obstacles at the hands of Caroline Bingley, who has grown up considerably but still can't get over the loss of Pemberley.

Omg I am addicted to these books! Jonathan and Juliet are perfect together, no matter what anyone says. Having all of Austen’s characters making appearances gives me so much joy! The mystery was so good, I only figured out half of it, and only just before the reveal! The drama was on point, the characters were so perfect, and the cliffhanger ending gave me hope for the next book!

Let me start by saying I adore Jonathon Darcy and Julia Tilney. They are delightful as a pair. It makes reading a murder mystery quite delightful. There is also the tension between them since they both know they would love to be together romantically as well as detective partners. And with each book I read I look forward to the next one.

This one has a lot of stuff going on with other characters. Honestly I spent a while in the middle of the book wondering why we needed a bunch of info. Was this leading up to a surprise murderer or victim? As it turned out, it was no. It was a bunch of storyline that didn't really need to be in there because it didn't further the murder storyline. So in my opinion, the book could have been shorter by glossing over the side plots. One of them added a lot of angst although I get why the author put in the drama adding to that side plot I still didn't feel it was needed. The murder storyline didn't need propping up and the placement of Ellen was obvious without the drama.

I only kinda solved the mystery and I made a list of suspects early on in the book based on what I knew about them from Mansfield Park. The bad guys were on my list but so were a number of other people, one of which never appears in the story. But I didn't really narrow them down to be 100% sure who dunnit before the reveal.

My feelings about the following characters have nothing to do with my overall feeling about the book. In many cases this is exactly how the reader is supposed to feel about the character. I was sorry for Tom having to learn a hard lesson. I noted that Caroline never learns her lessons. I love her husband but feel sorry for him too. But I admired their older daughter for standing up where she felt things weren't right. I still dislike the Crawfords for all obvious reasons. I still find Catherine Tilney charming. I was disappointed by the elder Mr. Darcy since he is being hypocritical and has obviously not learned his lesson well either. Both Fanny and Lady Bertram are so pathetic. I never expected Fanny to be so wimpy after marrying. Not to say she wasn't going through difficult things but I expect more from her. Mrs. Norris was always a horrible person and Maria was never likable either.

In short, what bit I didn't love about the book didn't keep me from loving the book overall and therefore I stick with my 5 star rating. Looking forward to the next one. But I confess I hope Jonathon and Juliet do finally marry soon because I'll hate it if it drags out through book after book. I'd love to see the next mystery be solved at Pemberley so Darcy has to watch his son and Juliet together and see how good she is to him. Just a suggestion.....

This was a delightful Austenesque mystery and fourth in series featuring the young Jonathan Darcy and his charming sleuthing companion, Miss Juliet Tilney. The London Season has commenced. Balls and visitations have the matchmakers pulling out all the stops. As Jonathan's parents are not able to join him, it has been requested of the Bertrams to lodge Jonathan at their home and facilitate his socializing. All was going fine until Mr. Betram's shamed and shunned sister descends upon the family home. Soon the bodies start accumulating and a gentle sleuthing touch is required as it involves the delicate reputation of members of the Ton. With the police being understaffed, Jonathan and Juliet are soon called upon to assist. They do, after all, have previous successful experience in such matters.

Ms. Gray has done a fabulous job of renewing and continuing our affection for these Austen characters. She writes exquisitely and in perfect form for the period represented. The character development is steady throughout and we slowly learn of each character's thoughts, concerns and motivations. The tension increases gradually throughout the story drawing to a peak and then relaxes to a satisfying conclusion. The friendship between Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney is sweet and chaste and inches further along. Perhaps someday, when all the stars align, it will be a little bit more than that. This reader is ever hopeful that yet another sequel is forthcoming where their relationship can be even further developed. If a Jane Austen style mystery is your jam then this may well be the perfect book for you.

I am grateful to author Claudia Gray and her publisher, Vintage Books, for having provided a complimentary uncorrected proof of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Vintage
Publication date: June 17, 2025
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 978-0593686607

This continues the very clever series involving the next generation of Jane Austen novels. Elizabeth and Darcy’s oldest son, Jonathan, is somewhere on the spectrum, but he’s fallen for the daughter of Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey, Juliet Tilney. It seems that they just keep encountering murders involving other characters from Austen novels. It’s all very intelligently plotted and written. Claudia Gray does a very good job imitating Austen’s style and dialogue.

I am really enjoying this series. I did have to go back and review the plot and characters from Mansfield Park since the murders involve some of those characters. It was well worth my time.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.