The fourth installment in the Miss Tilney Mr. Darcy mystery series does not disappoint. This time our hero and heroine find themselves caught up in the excitement and overwhelm of London during the height of the social season. Gone are the cozy country house setting of the first three novels, and no one misses the tranquil idyll more than Mr. Jonathan Darcy. However our neurodivergent hero is determined to push through his discomfort and use this season away from the overbearing reach of his parents to pursue Miss Tilney. His unlikely hosts are the Bertrums and the Rushworths of Mansfield Park, and of course they couldn’t be hosts in this series without usefully providing a murder to bring Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy together again to find a killer.

I am a fan of this series for its setting and characters. If you’d ask me if I needed a mystery— sure, it’s nice, but my true love here is the Jane Austen of it all. I honestly think Miss Tilney and Jonathan Darcy are so well written. The setting of regency England in this novel is so rich, it informs the characters sensibilities— what they can and cannot do as detectives is sometimes frustrating to a modern reader like myself! Why can’t they be in a room together without a chaperone!? But it all adds to the feeling that I’m reading a real Jane Austen novel. I fully trust this authors voice and opinions— it’s easy to believe these novels could be a part of the Austen cannon. That being said, I don’t think the mystery element of this story is always the strongest. It feels more cozy than a page turner.

I once heard a professor talk about Austen and how her books aren’t romantic in nature, they are first and foremost cultural critiques. I think Kiera Knightly and Matthew Macfadyn might disagree, but Claudia Gray, it seems, is trying to emulate what Austen is up to besides just romance. Yes— there is a slow burn romance in this series that makes me kick and scream when they as much as brush fingertips, or in Jonathan Darcy’s case, realize that brushing fingertips with Juliet Tilney might in fact be an enjoyable experience. You’d think they were far more explicit by the amount of squealing I’ve done! But Gray is also commenting on the societal shifts of the time, in this book specifically the Bertram family grapples with selling the family’s plantation and having benefitted from owning enslaved people. This part of the story fit nicely with the murder mystery as we tried to figure out who is a killer and who is just a morally contemptible human being.

I struggle to find a critique for this book because I loved it so much. Sure, the murder didn’t always hold my attention over the slow burn romance, but did it really bother me? Not at all. Maybe my critique is that the ending left me TOO desperate for the next installment! BEWARE THE CLIFFHANGER.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage for this ARC.

I really could not have been more excited to receive an ARC of the newest Mr, Darcy and Miss Tilney murder mystery, and I enjoyed this newest installment. We have officially moved into stories involving characters that I don't know at all-- never read Mansfield Park but I know the general premise and the main characters--and I thought the author told their backstory well while also setting forth events that had happened since then. The murder in this book was well conceived and unclear until the end. I love the romance between Jonathan and Juliet. Claudia Gray is really adroit at mixing characters from different stories into the plot, and this story includes the Bertrams and some of the TIlneys, the Darcys, Caroline Bingley from Pride and Prejudice, and Lawrence Follett from the Late Mrs Willoughby. I cannot wait for another book and can only hope that one day one of these stories will include Lady Susan (IYKYN)

I have been reading the Darcy and Tilney novels since the beginning and I think this one might be my favorite! The amateur sleuths are at it again, this time in London, with the Bertram family. I have never been a fan of Maria Bertram Rushworth or Mrs. Norris so I was not saddened when one of them was murdered. But poor Mr. Rushworth! He definitely deserved better. Fanny and Edmund make an appearance and have their own sorrows, which are eventually healed. It was fun to revisit Austen's characters and to further explore Jonathan and Juliet's futures. I hope there is more to come!

4.5 out of 5 stars

A fantastic book from start to finish. I was so invested in this mystery that brings the extended Bertram family from Mansfield Park together with Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney. Thoroughly enjoyed the new setting in London as well as the development of their relationship throughout the course of the book. Very eager for more in this series!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Vintage books and Austenprose PR for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.4.5 out of 5 stars

A fantastic book from start to finish. I was so invested in this mystery that brings the extended Bertram family from Mansfield Park together with Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney. Thoroughly enjoyed the new setting in London as well as the development of their relationship throughout the course of the book. Very eager for more in this series!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Vintage books and Austenprose PR for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Gray has done it again with her cozy regency-era murder mystery featuring two young detectives, Mr. Jonathan Darcy and Ms. Julia Tilney. Gray delivers a lighthearted who-done-it with clever clues and subplots that develop as each book progresses. One only wonders: how many books in this series does the author plan on writing?

This series always delivers, and manages to up the ante, especially in the romance department which has fully kicked into gear in the latest entry.

Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney haven't seen each other since the events of the previous book, which left both of their families certain that Jonathan and Juliet are badly suited for each other - a point that Jonathan and Juliet could not disagree more on. The latest mystery that brings them back into each other's orbit revolves around the family at the center of Mansfield Park, who Jonathan is staying with during his stay in London.

What I really enjoyed in this novel was Fanny's storyline of her struggles with infertility and coming to motherhood in a different way. This was especially poignant for a character like Fanny, who was not raised by her parents and was always treated as the unwanted member of the family. Her fears that those same resentments could be enacted by her was a really poignant and moving aspect of the story.

Jonathan and Juliet continue to inch closer to each other but this was the first book in the series that felt like they were fully on the same page as each other and their problems moving forward will be from outside forces rather than their own uncertainty of the other's feelings. Can't wait to read the next one!

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another winner in the series, with one caveat. Can't spoil it but there was one part of the plot that never did make sense having to do with money. Anyway, otherwise, I really enjoyed this book every bit as much as the previous ones. If you are new to the series, I recommend starting at the beginning to get the most out of it. If you are not familiar with any of the Jane Austen books, I recommend you also read those (or at least some of them and summaries of all of them.) Read if you enjoyed Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. I look forward to many more in the series.

I enjoy visiting favorite characters from Austen's novels. The author has taken Jane Austen’s characters and settings, and reimagined them in the form of a “who done it”. Can't wait for the next one!

Claudia Gray is so good at characterization -- Jonathan and Juliet are two of my favorite characters being written right now. She sprinkles the Austen references throughout without being heavy handed. Can't wait for the next one!

I gobbled this book up. I love the representation of Jonathan and Juliet and their relationship. It is always fun to visit old favorite characters and see minor characters from Austen's novels dotted along the landscape. Can't wait for the next one!

Lots of characters and uneven pacing. And now the author is so desperate to keep our main characters apart that they’ve undone the work Austen had Mr. Darcy do and made him worse than he was in Pride and Prejudice. I hoped this installment would get it together with sweet Jonathan and Juliet’s relationship, but I’m struggling. The lack of reasonable progress is so contrived. I don’t even mind Mansfield Park, so that’s not my issue. I like these characters, I like the mysteries for the most part, but the contrived ways to make zero progress in their relationship is unbelievable even as they work together to solve a mystery. It’s not for character development or because of the mystery plot and for me now their continued separation doesn’t feel natural.

I’ll have to check reviews before I come back for book 5. I’m guessing it’ll be a Persuasion/second chance themed opportunity to inch forward, but still not culminating until we get book 6 at Northanger.

Review of uncorrected eBook file

When an accident causes James to break his arm, the Darcy family ends their stay in London and returns to Pemberley, leaving Jonathan [much to his chagrin] in in the city as a guest of the Bertram family. He is, however, in for a pleasant surprise when he reluctantly attends a ball and discovers that Juliet Tilney is also in attendance. Certain he can change his father’s mind about the suitability of a marriage with Juliet, he is pleased when the circle dance provides him with an opportunity to dance with Juliet.

It isn’t long, however, before Jonathan and Juliet find themselves enmeshed in a far more familiar activity: investigating a murder. Edmund’s sister, Maria Rushworth, had caused a scandal when she left her husband and ran off with Henry Crawford. Now divorced from her husband, she has returned with her daughter, Ellen.

And then Mr. Rushworth is murdered . . . .

=========

Set in 1823, this tale, the fourth in the author’s “Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery” series, takes Jane Austen’s characters and settings, reimagining them in a murder mystery. The author provides a short “About This Book” that gives readers new to the series sufficient background so that the book works as a standalone.

The tone of the nineteenth century is maintained; the growing attraction between Jonathan and Juliet is one of the highlights of the series although readers may become a bit impatient with the drawn-out situation. However, the two have an undeniable charm and do indeed reflect the society of the time thanks to the author’s strong world-building.

Readers who are fans of Jane Austen’s stories as well as those who enjoy historical stories will find much to appreciate here. Be warned, however, there’s a cliffhanger hear that [presumably] will be dealt with in the next book.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor / Vintage and NetGalley
#TheRushworthFamilyPlot #NetGalley

This series is one of my must-read series each year. I love Jonathan and Juliet - I am shipping their relationship (#jandjdarcy4ever). This mystery was interesting for several reasons. First, Juliet and Jonathan are being kept apart by their respective fathers, so there was no real reason for them to meet. Second, in a reverse of book 2, Jonathan ends up as company for the Bertram family and Juliet and her mother travel to London for the season. It was fun to see Austen's characters integrate with this cast because the personalities are so vastly different. Maria is flamboyant, Fanny is sad, hopeful, and meek all at the same time, Thomas is keeping secrets, and Mrs. Norris has her own agenda. Third, this particular book addresses illegitimacy, the effects of being disowned, family dynamics and how they can be manipulated, society's mixed reactions to behaviors and their long-lasing impact on status and reputation. I felt that Jonathan in particular was very focused and more developed in this book. As always, Gray leaves us with some cliffhangers as relates to Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney. The deaths in this book are solved in a rather fun manner. As a fan of Jane Austen, reading these books allows me the opportunity to once again revisit these worlds and sneak a peek at the lives my favorite characters are living (according to this author).

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced kindle copy.

***SPOILERS***

The dynamic duo is at it again, this time with more ankle *GASP*. Juliet and Johnathan are united again with not one but two murders to solve. I think this was my favorite mystery within the series so far. You were able to appreciate how their skill of deduction have grown. But Lord help me, can these two not catch a break when it comes to their budding "attachment". This is a slow burn, not in affection but of circumstances. It took me time to get over the portrait scandal. I knew this would cause another significant obstacle for the young pair. Follett is, of course, portrayed as an antagonist, but this action seemed even too far compared his previous actions. It would be good to have context for why he despises Johnathan so much because he acted out of malice with no regard for collateral damage a year after they last interacted. While not friends, they seemed to part ways on neutral grounds from the last book. He claimed it was a lark, but his reasoning behind the act didn't fit how things played out. May I request he be murdered next? And now we also have Caroline Bingley to deal with. Can these kids please get a win soon? I imagine we are waiting for Mr. Darcy to get closer to a more appropriate marrying age, but my heart hurts for Juliet. I really enjoyed the book. I finished in less than 24 hours and have gone back to read my favorite parts. The next book can't get here soon enough!

I received this as an ARC.

This series is such a delightful concoction. Jane Austen’s characters get involved in murder mysteries, while staying true to form. At this point I’m so interested in the romance, will Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy finally get together? This is not something that normally appeals to me, but Juliet and Jonathan are so perfect for each other that I can’t help but root for them. My problem with this 4th volume is that the plot didn’t work as a mystery. It takes too long to get to the crime and the investigation is not as well organized as usual. The suspects, the clues, the whole plot is not tight. The denouement is almost an afterthought, and it was hard to follow the inquiry to its conclusion. The final part was suspenseful and I was really engrossed, but it didn’t have anything to do with the crimes so it was just distracting and felt rushed. My other problem was that the author gives contemporary principles to these Regency people. We all now know the horrors of slavery, but having all these characters have endless discussions about it over and over takes away most of the suspense. There are also all the parts about Fanny and her struggle to have children. In general, there are too many subplots, which slows down the pace. The final chapters about Jonathan and Juliet (and that awesome very last sentence) get five stars. The rest of the content, including the murder(s) get 3. Rounded up because I’m still waiting for the next one.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage.

Miss Tilney and Mr. Darcy meet again to solve a murder in London. Although it seems they have finally recognized their mutual attraction to each other, circumstances seem to pull them apart. Two murders, a little girl, a duel and the angry parents factor into this charming book. Looking forward to where the story goes from here.

I am a self-admitted book worm, and I have been the majority of my life. Here lately, I gravitate towards suspenseful books. I admit that while I don’t really read much mystery, I was really excited to get a chance to read this book. “Pride and Prejudice” was one of my favorite books growing up. I read “The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh” and I fell in love with the characters of Jonathan and Juliet.

Although I did read book three, I do think that this book is possible to be read as standalone. I definitely enjoyed this book. As a slight spoiler, there was a second murder in the book that I did not see coming at all. At that time, I will say it threw off my theory. I will honestly say that, unlike book three, I did not feel any sympathy at all for the killer in this book.

I definitely enjoyed this book. I’m not “in love” with the ending; however, it does make me excited to read what is next. Ultimately, I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for something different that holds your attention, and also if you are a fan of “Pride and Prejudice.”

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

Claudia Gray has once again taken two beloved characters and made them even more dear and more sweet than before in this fourth installment of the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney series. Jonathan, son of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, and Juliet, daughter of Catherine and Henry Tilney, both wind up in London for the season. Neither expects to see the other, but they wind up reunited at a ball and become sleuthing partners again. Jonathan's disapproving father has taken the family back to Pemberley and Jonathan is staying with the Bertams.

The subplots deal with the Bertam family's sugar plantation. Fanny is an abolitionist and Edmund has joined her in wanting the plantation sold. Eldest brother Tom has come to London to complete the sale. There is another subplot involving the former Miss Bingley, who has decided that if she couldn't have Pemberley, she'll scheme for a way for her daughter to marry Jonathan and have it. This second storyline is the impetus for the big finale of the book, which could drive a permanent wedge between Jonathan and Juliet.

I am very hard on Austen pastiche and find these books delightful. Jonathan and Juliet are the sweetest couple, but are excellent sleuths as well. I love getting to see so many characters from the original Austen books in the future with their children around. Lastly, Jonathan's neurodivergence and Juliet's acceptance of it is sensitive and charming. This book was an absolute delight!

The Rushworth Family Plot is the fourth and strongest book of this Jane Austen murder mystery series! This is a lot of fun for fans of Jane Austen and meddling mystery-solving young adults.

Every book in this series is a murder mystery featuring characters and settings from Jane Austen novels with some new original characters and fiendish murder plots. The mystery solving main characters are the most notable Claudia Gray original characters. The MMC is the son of Darcy and Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice and the FMC is the daughter of Henry Tilney and Catherine (née Morland) from Northanger Abbey. The cast and plot of this book mainly focus on the family of Mansfield Park, including Fanny Price and Edmund Bertram, Susan Price, all the Bertram siblings and their spouses, Mrs. Bertram and her sister Mrs. Norris, and the Crawfords. Catherine Tilney (finally) has a supporting role in this series and Caroline Bingley from Pride and Prejudice also enters the fray. Themes from Mansfield Park, including colonial slavery, society's double standard for women's versus men's behavior, and familial hierarchy dynamics, play out here. The author does a good job handling the nineteenth century characters' realistic repudiation of slavery and also introduces a thoughtful sub-theme on infertility.

The writing continues to be great in this series, and Claudia Gray finds a great balance of fitting the tone of the era and Jane Austen without bogging down the reader with 19th century prose. With the first three books in the series (which I rated 4 stars each), I would hit lulls in the plot that made me lose interest at times, but I stayed very engaged for the entirety of this book (and I'm not a murder mystery girl myself). I did not guess the murderer in this series, but I truthfully was more focused on the great friendship and burgeoning romantic relationship between the two main characters. I love both main characters and I hope that the fifth book is the last in the series only so that these poor kids can finally be together without everyone and their dog meddling in their relationship.

You do not need to have read the previous books in this series to read this one, but I think the relationship and its development between the main characters will be more meaningful if you have read the first three books that are great, too. You also need not have read Jane Austen's novels before, but I think a major accomplishment of this book is making me appreciate Mansfield Park, which is rarely anyone's favorite Jane Austen novel and is most definitely not mine (cousins raised as siblings get married :( ). I am hoping the next in Claudia Gray's series spends more time with Anne Elliot of Persuasion but I eagerly await the next book regardless.

Thank you, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, for this arc!

This is the fourth in the Austenesque mystery series featuring Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney. Written in the style of Jane Austen, Jonathan is the son of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and his wife, the former Elizabeth Bennet. Juliet is the daughter of residents of Northanger Abbey. Challenging the mores of their era, they have worked together investigating and solving prior crimes.

Although attracted to each other, their parents do not approve of their beginning a relationship and separately have sent both of them off to London for “season” in the hopes of finding suitable partners. They are drawn together again by mutual friends and another murder to investigate.

This is the third of the four installments that I have read. This continues to be a delightful series. I enjoy the young characters….both of them with their intelligence, unique charm, and Juliet’s willingness to accept Jonathan’s neurodivergent behaviors. The mystery is well plotted and kept me guessing. Gray remains true to the Austen writing style and employs a good sense of humor.

This can work well as a standalone. The stories are so charming, though, I would suggest reading all four at some point to thoroughly enjoy the characters. You do not have to be overly familiar (or remember) Austen’s writings to appreciate these books for their plots and reflection of the society at that time. My advice is to read them slowly to savor the language and nuances.

I am looking forward to the next in this series. There is somewhat of a “situation” at the close of this installment and I can’t wait to see how it is resolved.