ARC Review: Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

Pride and Premeditation
Author: Tirzah Price
Series: Jane Austin Murder Mysteries (Book 1)
Publication: HarperTeen (April 6, 2021)

Description: Perfect for fans of the Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper, the first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries series is a clever retelling of Pride and Prejudice that reimagines the iconic settings, characters, and romances in a thrilling and high-stakes whodunit.

When a scandalous murder shocks London high society, seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet seizes the opportunity to prove herself, despite the interference of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious firm Pemberley Associates.

Convinced the authorities have imprisoned the wrong person, Lizzie vows to solve the murder on her own. But as the case—and her feelings for Darcy—become more complicated, Lizzie discovers that her dream job could make her happy, but it might also get her killed.

My Thoughts: This book resets Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as a mystery set in London. I am one of the minority who hasn't read the original nor have I seen any of the screen adaptations. My only knowledge of the original story is that of anyone who lives in this culture. Midway through reading this story, I did read the Spark Notes summary of the plot.

Lizzie Bennet is the second daughter of a competent but not very ambitious lawyer. She would very much like to work for him and become a lawyer herself. She has spent years helping in his office which deals mainly with contract law trying to convince her father to take her on as an employee. She is distressed that her father has taken Mr. Collins as a partner and intends to leave the business to him because she sees that Collins is incompetent among other faults.

When Collins steals credit for a discovery Lizzie makes, her father tells her that she needs to find her own case and solve it by logic. Luckily, one of her street sources tells her that there has been a murder. She quickly goes to the site to find that Mr. Bingley has been accused of killing his wastrel brother-in-law. She convinces Bingley to let her investigate but her plans to be hired are thwarted when Bingley hires his old friend Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Lizzie and Darcy don't hit it off. In fact, each gains a very negative opinion of the other. But Lizzie is determined to solve the crime. She is assisted in her investigation by Mr. Wickham who is a Runner and quite often underfoot when she is investigating. She also learns that Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy are enemies. Wickham blames Darcy for getting him fired from Pemberley and Associates. 

This was an engaging mystery. Fans of the original Pride and Prejudice will enjoy seeing the characters recast into new roles in this one. Though some characters seem to retain their original roles like Mrs. Bennett who is still the discontented hypochondriac wife willing to do anything to marry off her five daughters. Her strong interest in society gossip does provide a very helpful clue as Lizzie investigates.

I recommend this one to fans of historical mysteries.

Favorite Quote:

Lizzie strode off, filled with renewed purpose and just a bit of unease. To be followed was such an exciting thing! She'd never been followed before, at least not in the course of her work for the firm. Lydia following her around assemblies her first season certainly didn't count.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from Edelweiss. You can buy your copy here.