I want to thank Netgalley and Harper via for this arc! This was a fun take on redeeming Caroline Bingley and will be great for Austen fans, Caroline sets off after Georgina who escapes Darcy's estate and sets out to solve a mystery.

Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator is a fun, if not perfect, start to a new regency mystery series. Caroline is snobbish and self-centered, but she's also bright and held back from reaching her full potential. As the narrative unspools, we see her incremental growth toward understanding people outside herself. I think Caroline is really the strong part--anyone who has read P&P will appreciate the characterization the authors employ. I would have liked the mystery element to be a bit stronger and more suspenseful, but I think a slightly rocky start is common in these types of series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was delightful as it blends the world of Austen with murder mystery! I love that this creation was able to give me a different view of Caroline Bingley as she has never been a favorite of mine. Intrigued with the idea of her as a PI, I was pleasantly surprised by the natural way she was able to be redeemed in my eyes through this storyline. The author did a great job of keeping the heart of this true Regency but bringing the excitement of mystery. I applaud Miss Bingley on her unexpected choice of hobby and hope to see more of her in the future!

Following her brother’s marriage, restless Caroline Bingley becomes unexpectedly embroiled in a murder investigation in London’s underbelly when her friend Georgiana Darcy’s maid disappears. Caroline’s sharp mind and resources lead her on a thrilling chase for justice, revealing the dark side of the British Empire along the way.

This is an interesting start to a new cozy mystery series. The plot and characters are well-constructed. I like that the novel weaves themes of empire and injustice into the story.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kelly Gardiner; Sharmini Kumar for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator coming out July 8, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

These are new authors for me. I absolutely love everything Jane Austen, so I was excited to check it out. I’ve read several Pride and Prejudice murder mysteries. Caroline is definitely not a character I enjoy, but I did really enjoy her in this book. It made her seem more human. I enjoyed the mystery. I would be down if this was a series!

If you are not a fan of Caroline Bingley's character in Pride and Prejudice, be prepared to change our opinion. The Caroline is a whip-smart, take-charge, no-nonsense lady who goes all out to help her friends and family. I have to say that I hope this becomes a series. Don't mess with Miss Caroline Bingley!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Via for this digital e-arc.*

I was vaguely intrigued by the idea of Caroline Bingley, resident mean girl of Pride and Prejudice, as a detective. Her nerve and perceptiveness certainly would be assets, but I really didn't know what to expect beyond that. This book did incredible things with that premise. Not only did I get an incredible reframing and growth of Caroline Bingley and Georgiana Darcy's characters, but it highlighted the insidous presence that the East India Company held in London well into the Regency and beyond. Yes, some of you may argue that we already knew that, but most pieces tend to focus on the 18th-century impact. Regency-set pieces rarely focus on the way India and Indians in Britain were treated; if we're lucky, they might focus on the abolition of slavery and the presence of Black Brits. This book definitely leaves itself open to being a series, so I am intrigued to see if we get more stories in the future. In the meantime, it proved itself a refreshing and delightful read. In Caroline's own words, "I am all astonishment!"

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Claudia Gray's and Tirzah Price’s mysterious novels featuring the beloved 'Pride and Prejudice' characters, so 'Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator' was an easy "Want to Read" for me. To be honest, I had previously dismissed Caroline Bingley as a mere antagonist. It is refreshing to see her perspective as a sister, friend, and clever young woman. Make no mistake—she’s still self-confident and calculating—but she also cares about doing things well. I’d say the role of sleuth suits her nicely. And Georgiana’s youthful optimism provides a light-hearted contrast. Overall, my favorite character is Gordon, Caroline’s capable manservant.

Fans of traditional Austen-style literature might find this book too silly, but I found it to be a fun adventure. Truly, aside from the built-in familiarity with Caroline and Georgiana’s family and backstories, the novel could have featured any two women in early 19th-century England. The inclusion of the Indian community and the exploration of international trade ethics added a fascinating dimension to this London-set historical mystery.

Special thanks to the publisher, HarperVia, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Another entry in the expanding Pride and Prejudice universe, Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator, (publication day July 8, 2025) by Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar, is a satisfying mystery centered on a minor character from Pride and Prejudice.

As the book opens, Caroline Bingley is staying with her brother Charles and his new wife Jane (formerly Bennett) at their country house that is somewhat near Pemberley, where Darcy and his new wife Elizabeth are also living, with Darcy's young sister Georgiana. Georgie has sent Caroline a note that she has gone to London, alone, and she asks that Caroline not tell her brother. Afraid for Georgie, who is so young and unaware of the dangers that face a young woman, Caroline sets out in a snowstorm to find her.

Georgie has run after her maid, a young Indian woman who has gone to find her brother after having exchanged letters with him, and so Caroline gets drawn into the drama. Caroline is no-nonsense, a woman near thirty who has not yet found a husband but has taken her inheritance and set up housekeeping by herself in London. With her butler, Gordon, assisting her, Caroline starts making inquiries to try to find Caroline's maid, Jayani, and her brother, Sameer.

Caroline does find them, unfortunately too late for one . So now she's drawn into a murder, which is not something that respectable ladies in society even discuss, let alone inquire about!

Crossing paths with the magistrate who is investigating the murder, representatives of the Company (Royal East India Company) and an interesting family, the Dunstons, who are also involved with Colonel Fitzwilliam, Georgie's guardian, Caroline waltzes in like the high-born lady that she is. Luckily she has Gordon, her butler, to get information not available to her, and she eventually figures the whole thing out, with, like all good mysteries, a meeting of all concerned where the detective reveals all in a dramatic scene.

I enjoyed it, and thought the authors did a great job of making the writing true to the original, while having the characters do things that were difficult for women to do at the time. It was weight-neutral, no negative mention of body size.

⭐️ rating: 4-

This was such a fun and unique historical fiction mystery! Although I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice (yet), I felt the history between the characters. Miss Caroline Bingley is a well to do but independent young woman who gets swept up into a murder mystery. She becomes so invested in solving the case that she continues to pursue leads despite warnings to stop from all sides. I love a headstrong woman and I love a historical fiction so this was right up my alley. I thought the ending wrapped up the mystery well and even left room for a possible sequel! I have been in quite a reading slump lately but was still able to get into this book each time I picked it up.

I received a copy of this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. #NetGalley #LilReads

I thank NetGalley and HarperVia for an advance reader copy of “Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Our Miss Caroline Bingley makes a fine private investigator as she traces the deadly effects of a family scandal, wrapped up in a Jane Austin-ish pastiche with colorful characters Miss Austin would have recognized.

This Regency heroine is not in search of a husband. She’s quite happy being on her own. But she is in search of distractions, and what better distraction than helping a dear friend search for her missing lady’s maid? Authors Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar don’t stop at just a simple search and rescue mission, however, and it soon becomes apparent that this is far more than a case of a runaway servant.

With insightful looks at the plight of servants, and reminders of how every aspect of life in Regency England was held to strict standards of Society, “Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator” leads readers on an examination of more than just justice for one person. There’s a bit of a commotion at the end (after all, Caroline’s somewhat new at this), but it’s soon sorted, even if it’s not quite the neat finish that would be wanted. There will be dire consequences for some, and a growing-up for others. And Caroline will find something else to investigate, depend on it.

An interesting whodunit using Jane Austen characters. I enjoyed Caroline's sharp wit and her imperious manner. Gordon the butler, makes the book for me in his interactions with Caroline. At times, I felt a little muddled in the story which is why I gave it a 4.

This book was just plain fun for anyone who enjoys Austen spin-offs. Caroline Bingley was a very unlikeable character in the books/movies, so it took me a minute to try to view her in any other way. The author made her interesting and created a life and backstory that helped me grow to enjoy her. If anything, I found Georgiana to be more annoying! I love the perspective that Caroline is a strong, educated woman who has made sure that she can be independent, and if she wants to solve murders, that's okay. I would be happy to read another installment of this series in order to find out what Caroline does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

This playful reimagining of Austen's world brings Caroline Bingley into the spotlight with a surprising new role, as a detective. The premise is clever and the writing often charming, with witty nods to the original Pride and Prejudice. However, the mystery itself felt underdeveloped and the pacing uneven. While it was fun to see Caroline take center stage and grow beyond her traditional character, the story sometimes leaned too heavily on its concept without delivering a fully satisfying mystery. A light, inventive read for Austen fans, but not quite as sharp or gripping as it could have been.

Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator is a fun, cozy mystery by Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar. I enjoyed getting to see more of what Miss Bingley might have been like, as we have a limited view from Austen. While I ended up enjoying the story, it definitely took quite a while for me to really get into the book. There was a point at which the plot was very compelling, but it took a while to get to that point. I enjoyed the second half of the book enough that I would be willing to give any future books in a series a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a fun read if you are an Austin fan. It's a different version of Miss Bingley. She's much more daring and independent. Her personality is much more likeable. This book is well-written and includes a lot of historical details. Jayani definitely pushed the societal boundaries as a maid, while Georgiana still adheres to the time period's expectations. If you enjoy reading historical mysteries you will enjoy this book, even if you are unfamiliar with Pride and Prejudice.

Quite good start to what I hope will become an ongoing series. Lagged just a hair in some places but a darned good detective story overall. Miss Bingley is recognizable as Austen’s Caroline, matured realistically by the circumstances in this novel’s world. Looking forward to book 2!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My opinions are my own and are freely given.

Caroline Bingley has finally come to the conclusion that she does not need a man in her life and will be perfectly happy if she never marries (not that she is ruling it out altogether). I love this change in her character from Pride and Prejudice; the author has changed her goals in life but has not completely changed her. There is no focus on romance, and no male character comes up that immediately could be her main love interest in the series (although there is one possibility? maybe, she hasn't shown any interest and neither has he, so I don't know). So if so, be prepared for the slowest of the slow burns.

Not only is the mystery and plot amazing, but I absolutely love that the characters are starting to become aware of their own prejudices. For example, Georgiana gave her Indian maid a name, and later in the book, the women learn her real name. From that point on, the narrative changes what name she is called by, and the women change what they call her. While Caroline's thinking is quite a bit less progressive than Georgianna, both women have begun to think about it.

I can't wait for the next book in this series!!!

If you did too, please check out The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Grey. Amazing mystery series featuring Mr. Darcy and Lizzie's son, Jonathan

When Georgiana Darcy's maid goes missing Georgiana goes after her. When Miss Caroline Bingley find this out she goes after the both of them. This sets the stage for murder, London in the winter and a Lady investigating. This was a lovey look into the lives of the gentry, London out of season and the mystery kept me guessing. Caroline has a big personality, is totally tenacious and once she has her teeth in the mystery she did a remarkable job of hunting down suspects and following up on clues. I love that even within the strictures of her time and class she still got things done. It was a very engaging mystery.

I appreciate the attempt by the authors to redeem Caroline Bingley, one of the most unlikable characters in the Jane Austen canon. Of course Caroline behaves in a way unlikely to occur during Regency England, but otherwise there weren’t manners or phrases that jumped out at me as being inappropriate for the times. The mysteries were fairly predictable, but there were passages I enjoyed. I liked Caroline’s relationship with her man-of-many-talents butler. The criticisms of colonial England and slavery are welcome, and I welcome the desire to tell new stories. This is a decent entry into the many Jane Austen fan fiction and continuation novels.

My biggest criticism is the length. The story got quite draggy and could have been at least 80 pages shorter. My other complaint is the character of Georgiana. She did not seem much like the character from Pride and Prejudice, and I had a hard time imagining Georgiana being such a close friend of Caroline Bingley’s.

Would I read another book in the series? Maybe. I read an advance reader copy of Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator from Netgalley.