This is a very clever spin on Pride and Prejudice with Lizzie taking on the role of an aspiring barrister as she tries to exonerate Bingley on a murder charge. Price tells an original story, but there are intersections with Austen’s novel that are ingenious.

This was a refreshing retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I loved the mystery and the banter throughout. I can't wait to read more of this series.

Pride and Premeditation is a Jane Austen murder mystery. We follow seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet who seizes the opportunity to step up and show that she can hang with the best of the best. While working Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy interference. So when authorities have imprisoned the wrong person Lizzie believes she can solve this murder on her own. Things slowly become more and more complicated when Lizzie's feelings for Darcy began to develop. Lizzie is a character that teaches us to follow our dreams even when things will be hard. Lizzie is a strong character who is still rooted in the classic while still feeling new. The mystery is crafted very well and paced out perfectly. I also have to say I enjoyed how Darcy came in later in the books and didn't overshadow Lizzie. They have a witty relationship. Lizzie's sisters are just background characters and aren't in it as much as I thought they were going to be. The mystery was super fun. Mysteries are either hit or miss with me, for me, this one was a hit. The historical part was written so well, kept my attention.
If you are looking for a historical mystery with a dash of romance then look no rather!

While this book took considerable liberties with the time period and there were anachronisms galore, she hit so many more important notes by taking the wonder that is Lizzie Bennet and turning her into a crime solving detective. I love the divergences from the original story, the depth of character we got for ones Austen gave short shrift, and especially the murder mystery that ended quite unpredictably. I think this is a really fun read that will appeal to Austen fans as well as whodunit readers. But just, you know, prepare yourself for the anachronisms bc boy howdy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

It took me awhile to pick this one up but I once I did I was hooked! Such a fun modern twist on a classic and I can’t wait to recommend to others.

I love a good Jane Austen Re-Mix and this one fits the bill. It combines everything I adore about Pride and Prejudice: Mr. Darcy, Bingley, the best lines from the novel and a good murder mystery. I very much enjoyed Pride and Premeditation and eagerly await Tirzah's next Austen mystery mash-up.

First, I'm loving this cover. Such a beautiful introduction to an amazing new series by author Tirzah Price.

With a different take on the classic enemies to lovers storyline, setting Ms. Bennett and Mr. Darcy out solving Jack the Ripper's murders is too delicious of a book to put down.

With quick wit and fun dialogue, Tirzah brings the readers, as well as Elizabeth and Darcy, on an amazing adventure through high society London.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review.

Additionally, I featured the book on my TV segment with San Antonio Living.
https://authory.com/app/content/March-Book-Picks-Inspired-by-Famous-Women-ad88123e1fd30d5c45a3db5754bc43424

I thought this book was an okay read. It was interesting to see how the mystery would play out in this P&P inspired retelling, and this aspect was probably my favorite part of the book. However, the romance lacked chemistry for me and the feminist culture/modernism felt way too strongly inserted for the Regency world. Also, the charm and likeability of Lizzie was harder to grasp in this story, which made it harder to connect with it. Overall, Pride and Premeditation is a unique twist on the beloved classic and a light read, but not a favorite. 2.5 stars.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

From the title, it is clear that this book will have something to do with Pride and Prejudice and, indeed, it does. While this is a book for kids, many adults who like Austen retellings may want to read this as well. It is quite clever in how it situates the original P and P characters into the story which takes place in a time period similar to that of the original.

Those who’ve read P and P know that Lizzie is clever, independent and has her own mind. This is true in this title as well. As the book opens, Lizzie is working in her father’s law firm. She wants her work to be recognized but that is quite difficult for her as a young woman. Rather, the loathsome, Mr. Collins takes credit for her labors. Also working in the office as a secretary is Catherine. These are just some of the old friends who appear in this title.

When a certain Mr. Bingley is accused of murder, the plot line is set. Read along for an enjoyable take off on the original. I found it to be a fun read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s Children’s Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

This was a clever retelling of Price and Prejudice! It had the charm of the original novel! All the characters were very likable! I also like how it had a murder aspect in the story! It gave the retelling an interesting spin! I also like how it mostly stayed faithful to the original! Overall, I recommend this fans of The Jane Austen mysteries, Death Comes to Pemberly, and Ineligible!

I absolutely requested this based on the title and premise, but unfortunately it was a letdown for me. Tirzah definitely has a winner with the idea of retelling classic romances as murder mysteries, however her voice as a writer was just not to my taste. I tried, but found it difficult to connect with the characters or truly fall into the story and ended up DNFing around 40%. Others may love, it just wasn’t for me.

This was a fun new twist on the Pride and Prejudice canon. A bit like a cross between Agatha Christie and Jane Austen. I loved it! Fans of Enola Holmes are sure to love this one! Looking forward to the sequel.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for a re-telling of a classic story. The mystery was interesting and engaging.

Lizzie wants a job in her father’s law firm. Although she’s been helping him, she gets no recognition nor pay. To prove herself worthy of a position, she takes on a case of her own. Mr. Bingley is accused of murdering his brother-in-law, and Lizzie sets out to discover the real murderer. Characters and relationships from Pride and Prejudice are seen in a new light through this mystery. More of a spin than a retelling, it’s a fun story. It does help to be familiar with the original. Although I don't agree with some of the character changes, it works overall.

I started reading this book and found that it was not for me. It didn't seem fair for me to review a book that I didn't finish.

This was an intriguing mystery and an incredibly fun twist on the original Pride and Prejudice. I loved how the author took the setting and characters and ran with it in a totally different direction that feels both authentic and modern. I think this will have huge appeal for teens who may have read P&P recently for school, as well as adults who have treasured the classic. Can't wait to read more by Tirzah Price!

This was your standard Pride and Prejudice retelling with a side of murder mystery. This was completely average to me. Nothing special and was bored for most of it....

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cover Story: Stitch-Crossed Lovers
BFF Charm: Yay!
Talky Talk: A Truth Universally Acknowledged
Bonus Factors: Austen Retelling, Murder Mystery, Mr. Darcy
Relationship Status: Yes, Yes, A Thousand Times Yes!

Cover Story: Stitch-Crossed Lovers

This cover is freakin’ GORGEOUS. The cross-stitched pattern is perfect and I love the details like the guns, dagger and teacup. And this is the SECOND gorgeous cover this book has had! It’s original cover was amazing too, but underwent some last minute changes before publication.

The Deal:

Lizzie Bennet loves to help her father at the Longbourn & Sons office, but helping is about as much as she can do. At 17, Lizzie dreams of being a lawyer – something that’s practically unheard of for women of her time. She’s sick of men like her father’s apprentice, Mr. Collins, taking credit for her work and ideas. But Mr. Bennet has a soft spot for his second daughter, and agrees to hire her on as a lawyer if she can convince him with facts and logic.

To prove herself, Lizzie decides to solve the recent murder of George Hurst and prove the innocence of Hurst’s brother-in-law Charles Bingley. Bingley has already hired his own lawyer – Fitzwilliam Darcy, his best friend and the heir to the prestigious law firm Pemberley Associates – but he appreciates Lizzie’s help and offers to pay her for finding the real murderer.

Darcy is none too happy to have Lizzie getting in his way, and Lizzie sees Darcy as just another man taking credit for her work. As the evidence piles up and the clues are pieced together, everyone in Charles Bingley’s life begins to look like a suspect, and more than one of them has it out for Lizzie. Can she solve the case to land her dream job, without getting murdered for trying?

BFF Charm: Yay!

Lizzie’s got a keen eye and a sharp mind, and when she wants something, she goes for it. In this case, she wants to earn her father’s trust and use logic to win him over (and prove Bingley’s innocence, of course), and she won’t be stopped in her fight to uncover the truth. There are a few times when she gets into precarious situations because she’s not thinking about her own safety, but overall, she’s level-headed and smart, cares about other people, and totally worthy of a BFF charm.

Swoonworthy Scale: 7

It would be difficult to write an un-swoony Pride & Prejudice retelling, and I’ll admit that this one had me worried. Lizzie and Darcy as rival attorneys has the makings for a lot of arguing and enemistry, but they are BARELY on the page together in the first half of the book. If you are impatient for on-page romance, this is probably not the retelling for you. Price really makes us wait for it. But the swoon amps up in the second half – with the added tension of a killer on the loose, and the occasional nod to some of my favorite scenes from the 2005 film adaptation.

Talky Talk: A Truth Universally Acknowledged

All the usual suspects are here – and most of them are indeed suspects. Though the story is different, Price does a wonderful job of incorporating the characters we know perfectly into the murder mystery. Wickham is a handsome runner who charms Lizzie as he helps her with her case. Darcy is an uptight lawyer-in-training who is ride-or-die for Bingley. Bingley is going to end up in prison for being too trusting and open of those around him. And of course Mr. Bennet would own a struggling law firm called Longbourn & Sons when he doesn’t have a single son to inherit the business.

Bonus Factor: Austen Retelling

I can never get enough Pride and Prejudice, honestly. But we’re in luck, because Pride and Premeditation is the first of three Austen Murder Mysteries Price is releasing!

Bonus Factor: Murder Mystery

An Austen retelling that’s ALSO a whodunnit? I love when authors tailor books perfectly to my tastes.

Bonus Factor: Mr. Darcy

No further comment needed.

Relationship Status: Yes, Yes, A Thousand Times Yes!

I’m always on board for a Pride and Prejudice retelling, but what I particularly loved about Price’s version was the murder mystery element. A little mystery and intrigue only heightened the romance. And what’s more romantic than being locked in a dark room, afraid for your life with a killer on the loose, and you just happen to be locked in that room with Mr. Darcy?

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a brilliant idea, conceived and executed by a clever young woman, must be claimed by a man."

TL;DR: A perfectly fine retelling of Pride and Prejudice that attempts to do something new with the story -- murder! intrigue! city setting! -- but doesn't capture the spark of the original.

Vibes: Pride and Prejudice + Miss Scarlett and the Duke + Legally Blonde

Genre: YA-New-Adult* / Historical Fiction / Retelling
First in a series.
*I say "new adult" because even though the characters are (inexplicably, and for no real good reason) teenagers, they're basically young adults

Character MVP: NOT LIZZIE. Ugh -- that was painful to write. I'm going to go with Lady Catherine, as she's probably the biggest departure from Austen's original story and she's got "moxie."

Verdict: This was fine. A solid read that was perfect for the end-of-semester grading push and start of the holiday stress -- it didn't require a lot of mental energy and the story was predictable, following the basic premise of Austen's original novel. But it just fell flat for me -- because as a P&P retelling, it was lackluster and I didn't understand why the story *had* to be a P&P retelling (more below).

Here's the thing. I *LOVE* Pride and Prejudice. I love historical fiction. I love murder mysteries. But this? This I did not love.

I could see what Price was trying to do, and on the surface, the premise is cool: the commentary on the plight of everyone-who's-not-a-rich-white-male was apparent, and Lizzie's budding interest in social justice matters wasn't exactly subtle.
✔️-- I appreciated that Price tried to insert some diversity into the largely-white-world that is Jane Austen by making Charlotte biracial. Unfortunately, since Charlotte is still relegated to the sidelines, it just seems a little bit like token representation since it has little impact on the storyline.
✔️ -- Likewise, I appreciated Lizzie's awareness of the injustices of her world, and her interest in fixing them.

But, as a Jane Austen stan, there were just some aspects that fell really flat for me:
✖️-- The Historical Setting.
In her Author's Note, Price acknowledges that she took some liberties with the Regency setting. Yeah, clearly. There was no way a woman was going to be a lawyer in Regency England.
And that's fine -- but why maintain the Regency setting? When I started reading, I actually got Edwardian / Downton Abbey vibes, with Lizzie going through the same sort of struggles as Sybil and Edith, trying to become a working woman breaking out of the domestic sphere.
Then, as I kept reading and it became apparent that it was definitely the 19th century, it seemed more Victorian at first, like Miss Scarlett and the Duke, where Scarlett is trying to become one of the first female detectives in Victorian London. THAT would line up.
But, nope. It's the Regency period and I don't get why it had to be. It could still be P&P and the social commentary could land stronger. I get that this could be Historical Fiction, in which case, sure, you can take some liberties with historical accuracy, but this was a pretty big leap to take.



✖️-- The City Setting.
Oooh, I did not like moving Jane Austen's drawing-room-satires to the city.
For one, the Bennets live in Cheapside, which, thanks to all the Dickens and Shakespeare I've read, I associate with Dickensian orphans and Victorian poverty. Which...Austen's Mr. Bennet owns an estate: which makes him a member of the landed gentry, aka the upper class, albeit an impoverished one. So to have them live in Cheapside, while perhaps a nod to Mrs. Bennet's family, is a huge change, with ramifications. Plus, you can't emotionally stride across the moors in the city:



✖️-- THEY ALL WORK?!
Okay, Bingley I get. It's kind of a nod to the book where its implied that the Bingleys are nouveau riche, or at least not landed gentry because it's a big deal that "Netherfield Park is let at last" -- as in, the Bingleys don't own it, they're just kinda AirBnB-ing it for the summer. He's rich, OBVIOUSLY, but rich like Gatsby is rich.
Darcy and Mr. Bennet though? Working? No, no, no, no, no. NO. The whole dynamic of the story changes. Because how is Darcy proud if he's working for a living? And while being a lawyer may be a financially prosperous endeavor it's still definitely not the same as living off the money your estate makes/your inheritance and his PRIDE comes from being a member of that landed gentry. So, no. I did NOT like this change at all.



✖️-- Spoilers But All The Character Nuances Are Gone
If you've read P&P -- even if you've read the SparkNotes of P&P -- you know who the murderer(s) is/are.
All the antagonists -- NOT villains -- of P&P become flat out evil here. OF COURSE we don't like Collins and Wickham and Lady Catherine in P&P, but they are nuanced, gray characters.
And that nuance just...gets flattened. Our good characters are the Goodest and our bad characters get turned into piratical masterminds and murderers.
This is exactly why Austen was such a master of her craft: P&P is literally titled after the two main flaws of the protagonists, and she sets about showing how all of the characters are basically gray: Mr. Collins may be a simpering, social-climbing, pompous man with a VERY inflated sense of self-worth, but he's not inherently a BAD guy. He's detestable to Lizzie -- but, of course, we know her pride and prejudice affect her perceptions of others. Same with Lady Catherine: she comes between our two lovers so OF COURSE we don't like her, but in the end, she's just a vain old woman trying to get her sickly daughter married off. Not evil -- just human. (Not a *great* human, but again, not evil.)
All that complexity of character is gone, and it just made me sad while reading Price's take.


Nah, not really. I think Price's second book is a retelling of Sense and Sensibility which I'm less familiar with, but I think I also saw that #3 is Mansfield Park which I LOVE. And is perhaps Austen's most poignant social commentary (expanding to race and not just social class), so I'm a little wary of turning that into a lighthearted murder mystery. I mean...Northanger Abbey is RIGHT THERE.