Jane Austen's timeless classic gets a fresh new twist in this phenomenal debut featuring Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy as you've never seen them before: solving murders!

Lizzie Bennet wants nothing more than to become a solicitor, working for her father's law practice, the ironically named Longbourn & Sons. However, her sex is the largest stumbling block, no matter how much she studies and proves her worth. When Lizzie learns of a shocking high-society murder, she is determined to solve the case herself and prove the innocence of Charles Bingley--once and for all proving that she can and should be a solicitor. However, what she wasn't expecting was one certain obstacle: Mr. Darcy, of Pemberley and Associates...

A wonderful first in the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series, Price takes the familiar story of Pride and Prejudice and turns it into a thrilling story with unexpected twists and fantastic surprises. Readers will be addicted to this book, delighting Austen lovers and mystery fans alike. Also, I really love how cozy this YA mystery is. We don't see a lot of YA mysteries that are similar to cozy mysteries aimed at adult audiences. We so rarely see mystery series for YA at all, so this trilogy (or, at least, trilogy so-far) is highly anticipated and is highly entertaining!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I already love Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, so it seemed like a no brainer to read a book that took its own take on the novel and turned it into a murder mystery. I whole heartedly agree with the assessment that if you like the Stalking Jack the Ripper series that you will enjoy this book.

In an era where "Gentleman get to choose, but the only power ladies have is in their refusal", Lizzie Bennett has higher aspirations than to simple enter into a loveless marriage (or any marriage at all). Lizzie would like to follow in her father's footsteps and work as a solicitor for his law firm and work her way towards becoming a barrister. Unfortunately, the law is no place for a woman and Lizzie finds that she must prove herself to her father that she is equally qualified, if not more, to work for his law firm.

He tells her that she must find her own case and show that she can use logic to solve it. When Lizzie stumbles across a murder, she finds herself at a cross road with the prideful Mr. Darcy who has already been employed as the solicitor for the family. While Mr. Darcy is tasked with proving Mr. Bingley's innocence, Lizzie pursues a different course of action and aims to find the murderer instead. Their methods, personalities, and opinions are frequently at odds and Lizzie continues to find herself in an uphill battle to prove herself necessary and useful in solving this case.

At some point, Mr. Darcy and Lizzie find that their theories and information lead them in the same direction and they are forced to acknowledge each other's findings and work together to close the case.

The story holds true to the nature of each character from Pride and Prejudice. Mrs. Bennett is obsessed with marrying her daughters off to wealthy and esteemed families, and Mr. Bennett could not care less. Mr. Darcy is still ever as prideful and Lizzie is full of misguided judgments and preconceived notions. The family dynamics between sisters is equally comparable to the classic story. I love the development of Mr. Darcy and Lizzie's relationship as it aligns with how it developed in Pride and Prejudice.

I adored this book and highly recommend it. I could not put it down and while several of my suspicions regarding the culprit were on track, I was still pleasantly surprised with the turn of events at the end. Tirzah Price has paved the way for a few more murder mysteries for Lizzie and Mr. Darcy to solve that will still stay true to the historical premise of the original story.

I find myself considering re-reading Pride and Prejudice just so I can have a little more Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett.

Pride and Premeditation is the first in a new series of retelling Jane Austen’s books as mysteries.
This book reimagines Austen’s classic novel as a whodunit as Lizzie (Elizabeth Bennet) rushes against the clock to find out who is framing Mr. Bingley for the death of his brother in law and prevent him from going to jail for something he didn’t do. Lizzie wants to prove to her father that she has just as much skill and is just as good as anyone else her father could hire for his law firm, and sees this as her stepping stone to proving to him he should take her on at his office.
Along the way Lizzie meets a whole host of characters, both friend and foe. Particularly that Mr. Darcy who she has a hard time deciding which category he belongs in.
***
Pride and Premeditation is a fun story. I laughed a couple times, I cringed in sympathy for Lizzie’s frustrations and struggles, and I definitely grumbled at one point in between reading the story that she and Darcy needed to kiss already and put me out of my misery.
Lizzie is strong and proud, and makes many mistakes but always gets back up and tries again. I really enjoyed this story and hope to see more of Tirzah Price popping up in my feed, I’ll definitely be looking forward to more of this series.
***
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for Lride and Premeditation!

If Jane Austen wrote mystery YA... this would be the book. Tirzah Price delightfully brings together the beloved characters of Pride and Prejudice in a completely new context. Instead of meetings at various balls and dinner parties, relationships are built while attempting to prove Mr. Bingley’s innocence in the murder of his brother-in-law. While some of the characters read the exact same way (including the same lines on occasion!), Price was able to change enough where it still felt like an entirely new story.

The only thing Price is missing is Austen’s smooth satire that subtlety pokes at societal issues. Instead, this book was quite explicit in discussing women and class inequalities in Regency England. The heavy handed-ness of those themes made the overall book seem targeted to a younger audience.

What a fun retelling! It's hard to make a Pride and Prejudice retelling stand out because there are so many of them. This one was enjoyable and inventive while still containing the same heart as the original Jane Austen novel.

This was SO much fun. Highly unexpected and a fresh take on a beloved classic.while the characters you know so well will be recognizable here, they won’t be in the same roles which made for a page turning experience. Highly recommend for any Jane Austen fan.

I have never read any Jane Austen books or watched any of the movies, mini-series etc. so had just a little familiarity with the characters. I knew there was a Bennett Family with daughters that were hoping to find husbands. This book has Lizzie wanting to work in her father’s law firm, much to the disdain of her mother who just wants Lizzie to get married. Mr. Bennett told Lizzie she had to impress him by doing something that would help both the firm and a client using logic and facts. A murder happens and the supposed murdered is brought to prison. Lizzie believes that he is innocent and sets out to prove it. She has help from a Mr. Darcy, a Mr, Collins and a Runner named Wickham. Pirates are involved and some people aren’t who they seem to be. The author does add a disclaimer that some of the situations in the book could never have happened at the time the book took place. I did enjoy this story and was enjoyed the red herrings that showed up. I probably will read the next one, if there is a next one.

When it comes to retellings, they can be a hit or miss. I wanted to try this one out because I love the cover, it’s P & P, and who doesn’t love a good mystery? Sadly, this one just missed the mark for me.

When it comes to the retelling aspect, it is very loose. The characters do tend to be a bit, or more depending on the character, different than their counterparts and I could name a couple but don’t want to include spoilers. Some characters, Lizzie’s sisters, are just background characters and don’t have much going for them like they did in the original. I will give credit to the author for thinking outside of the box though.

The romance just wasn’t there for me. There were only a few times up to 70% through that Darcy and Lizzie had anything to do with each other. 30% just isn’t enough time to make me believe in them being together. As someone who has read the original, this one was just lackluster.

As for the murder mystery, it also was a bit of a letdown. It’s more of a light mystery and I wouldn’t say anything ever thrilled me about it. It does take up a lot of the plot which is probably why the romance lacked. I also didn’t get certain parts of it but maybe that’s just me.

Overall, it was okay but just not for me. I can see this doing well for those who haven’t read the original or have and can see past it. It’s just hard for me to separate the two.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any review of Tirzah Price’s reimagining of Jane Austen’s 'Pride & Prejudice' must begin with that novel’s epic first line. Indeed, Price herself begins her novel this way, changing the punchline from Austen’s irony-laced maxim about women and marriage to a non-ironic truth about the tendency of men to take credit for women’s labor. Though the wit of Austen isn’t very easily replicated, Price trades wit for a “truth” that existed in the late Georgian era just as much (or more!) as it does in 2021.

Price transplants the Bennet clan from Longbourn to the Cheapside area of London. There, Mr. Bennet owns a small law firm that also employs Mr. Collins, Charlotte Lucas, and Lizzie Bennet. Collins, true to Austen’s entail plot, is set to inherit the firm; unlike Charlotte, however, Lizzie is determined to do more than “women’s work.” She wants to take a position in law herself! Price sets up this particular conflict at the very beginning of the novel with Lizzie demonstrating her legal and forensic acumen by solving a case—for which, predictably, Collins immediately takes credit. Lizzie begs her father for a chance to supplant Collins, to which Mr. Bennet issues a challenge: Solve a crime relying purely on logic rather than emotion and conjecture.

What works best in this novel is, in fact, the murder mystery that soon unfolds. Enter Mr. Bingley, falsely accused—or so Lizzie believes—of murder. His legal representation? None other than Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley Associates, of course. What follows is an enjoyable whodunit that balances the beats of the genre with just the right amount of uncertainty and doubt. Adolescent readers familiar with Austen’s novel will find 'Pride and Premeditation' a welcome opportunity to spend more time with these characters; adolescent readers who enjoy whodunits are likely to find enough in these characters to want to read more and maybe, just maybe, venture into Austen’s world.

Through the lens of adaptation, 'Pride and Premeditation' does not encapsulate the full scope of what Austen does in the original novel—but what could? Again, Price’s novel is a reimagining, which provides her with a lot more latitude to work with these characters and their stories. For the most part, Price stays true to the emotions and motivations of these characters. Mrs. Bennet and the three youngest daughters are insufferable, Collins is the literal worst, Bingley is charming, and Darcy is—well, Darcy. The “pride” and “prejudice” elements of Austen's novel are here as well. Wickham appears early in the novel as a “runner,” part of the London police force. In short, the gang’s all here.

The one weakness of this novel is *mild spoilers* that Price does not appear to be fundamentally interested in the concept of the marriage plot. Price wants to imagine Lizzie Bennet as a professional woman whose primary existence has nothing to do with romance or marriage, and I appreciate how valuable that image is in the cognitive development of an adolescent reader. At the same time, though, the marriage plot is part of the DNA of Austen’s novels; trying to riff on any of these novels without it feels odd.

That one substantial quibble aside, I enjoyed the novel and would recommend it to adolescent readers who enjoy Austen already and/or who enjoy mysteries. Since this is the first novel in a planned series, I hope to see the “marriage plot” problem addressed in some way. In any case, I look forward to Price’s next novel.

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price is a fun and delightful read!

Lizzie Bennet wants nothing more than to be a barrister. She is tired of men getting the credit for her work and being held back. When Mr. Bingley is arrested for the murder of his brother-in-law, she knows it is the perfect case to prove that her father should hire her at his firm. But Mr. Bingley has already hired Mr. Darcy to defend him, and Darcy makes it clear that Lizzie needs to leave this case alone. However, Lizzie is determined to prove Mr. Bingley's innocence and find out who the real killer is - and she won't let any man stand in her way.

I really enjoyed this novel! It was so fun seeing the classic characters of Pride and Prejudice involved in a new and exciting story. The book was not always historically accurate, but it did not bother me. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the other Jane Austen Murder Mysteries that Tirzah Price is working on.

Everyone knows I am a sucker for retellings, and everyone really knows how addicted I am to P&P.

So, when I saw this book in NetGalley, I immediately requested a copy.

“Do you purposefully misunderstand everything I say, Miss Bennet?”
“Do you purposefully overlook all inconvenient truths, Mr. Darcy?”

Fetch me my smelling salts immediately!

This look was lovely. It had all the elements of the original and similar lines that transported you back. Lizzy definitely continued to "buck" traditions, waltzing around London without a chaperone. But, that seems in character for her. Darcy was still challenging and frustrating, but apparently still swoon worthy, based on Lizzy's thoughts.

I had two things annoyed me: the language, and I don't mean like swearing. Just language that would have been out of context for the time. I've read enough regency fiction to know how a young lady would speak, even if she was a bit of a bluestocking like Elizabeth may have been.

However, I overlook that, everything else was fun. It was quick read that kept me smiling!

“Papa, do you plan to die anytime soon?” Lizzie asked.
“Not unless this conversation continues,” he replied.

Sadly, I didn't finish this one. I wanted to love it so much, but I found it less charming than I'd hoped. The characters are much the same, but the wit isn't Jane Austen's.

I love pride and prejudice and I was so excited about the premise for this book! It definitely lived up to expectations and then some!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperTeen for this opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. This was a fun retelling of JA's Pride & Prejudice with certain liberties taken for the Regency period. Over the past 3 years I've encountered many ways the characters of JA have been written into new stories/timeframes and so on and it gets a bit wearisome however, Pride & Premeditation was a fun read. I loved seeing how each character played their role in this storyline and the banter between Lizzie and her family, Fitz, and strangers was delightful.

This book can stand alone however I do believe the author has 2 more stories coming for Lizzie & Fitz with some great titles Sense & Second-Degree Murder and Manslaughter Park (love this title name!).

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because that's how math works

This was an interesting read. It started off very slowly, and I was beginning to think that I would have to DNF this book. However, somewhere around page 75 or so, this book took off and I couldn't stop reading.

This book follows good old Lizzie Bennet as she dreams of becoming a barrister, a profession that woman are barred from holding. She comes across the murder of Mr. Bingley's brother-in-law and knows that she needs to insert herself into the case if she ever hopes of making her dreams come true. However, the dark and brooding Mr. Darcy seems to want to put an end to Lizzie's dreams. Whatever is a girl to do?

This ended up being a fun read. As noted above, I did nearly DNF it but after the dreadfully slow start, the plot picks up and resolves itself in a reasonable fashion. The book did a great job of keeping me guessing. While I guessed semi-early who could have been involved in the crime, I still enjoyed reading the book to see how it resolved itself. There were a few minor twists that I didn't see coming, which added to the enjoyable-ness of the read.

Of course, everyone is going to be wondering how the romance between Lizzie and Mr. Darcy develops because everyone knows they're Endgame. The OTP. As someone who has never read Pride and Prejudice (I know. I'll get there some day.), I was pleased by how the romance developed.

The author finished the book on a positive note. The book definitely can stand on its own, but there are at least 2 more coming in the future. I'm not sure if Lizzie and Darcy will feature at all in the next book.

I do wish that this book wasn't compared to Stalking Jack the Ripper. Yes, it's a mystery book taking place in Victorian times, but the book is no where near as dark and gritty as that series is. It's a pretty light-hearted romp, all things considered.

As far as Pride and Prejudice retellings go, this was definitely an enjoyable one! It took the integral parts of the characters and applied it to a new kind of scenario and I liked Lizzie as a narrator in this story.

3.5 rounded up

A super fun idea! Jane Austen's beloved classics reimagined into the equally beloved cozy mystery genre — for YA readers. It's teen Jane Austen meets teen Agatha Christie with a contemporary feminist flavor, and I'm definitely here for all of that. Two more books are already in the works: "Sense and Second-Degree Murder" and "Manslaughter Park."

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a brilliant idea, conceived and executed by a clever young woman, must be claimed by a man." And thus "Pride and Premeditation" opens with Elizabeth Bennet glaring at Mr. Collins, the inept junior partner of her father's law firm, as he regales the Longbourn & Son employees with "his" brilliant casework. Ugh. It's impossible that Collins should inherit the firm and all the family properties, but that's exactly what will happen if Lizzie can't persuade her genial but too traditional father that he should hire her instead. And, of course, she'll need to avoid her mother's matchmaking schemes and the young Mr. Darcy's attempts to derail her as he protects the interests of his friend Bingley and his firm Pemberley and Associates. The game is afoot and a number of familiar characters are players.

The characterizations of the players are fairly well done here, though all are younger than the originals and lacking some depth, none are stretched into unrecognizable roles. Lizzie is smart and lively and headstrong, though I missed the original's sly humor. The setting is just a bit off. It feels more Victorian (or after) than Regency and probably should've been adjusted so that was the case. I did love the obvious research that went into the barrister/solicitor/courtroom parts though! And an attempt was made at some racial diversity with Lizzie acknowledging racial and class privilege. I loved finding familiar phrases throughout, though tighter editing could have reduced a bit of distracting repetition in the use of that technique. The investigation/mystery plot was fun, with higher stakes than I was anticipating, but it felt both drawn out and frantic at times. Overall, however, this was fun read and I'll be looking out for the next one.

Content notes: death, murder, stabbing, drowning, kidnapping, blood, gunshot, brandished knife, piracy, locked in enclosed space, gender discrimination, racism, no sexual content (a couple of kisses) or profanity

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for a digital ARC.

Jane Austen + murder = delightful!
Fans of pride and prejudice will notice familiar characters and bits of the story woven into this whodunnit. It's a rather fun read with enough spirit of the original mixed with a fresh idea.

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our library wishlist and recommended it to students.

Story retellings can be interesting to read. Often times when readers finish stories they truly enjoy, they try to keep the characters alive in their mind’s eye, by reliving, extending, or even reimagining the story they just finished. Many lovers of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice have surely done this at some point. It’s also potentially why many authors have written sequels and retellings of the famed story over the years…a means to keep the characters that readers love fresh in their minds and hearts.

Pride and Premeditation is a very loose reimagining of Austen’s original tale. While Austen purists will surely find all of the Pride and Prejudice main characters in Price’s retelling, unfortunately, they’re going to be hard put in recognizing them beyond their names. Strong, sensible Lizzie Bennett comes off as being a bit headstrong in this tale, assuming some of the loud, brash and impulsive traits of her mother and younger sisters. Darcy, on the other hand, is a bit of a milksop. Here, he’s still maturing into his role; and whatever assertive and determined airs that he’s on the cusp of developing are easily eclipsed by Lizzie’s commanding presence.

This shifted balance is in part due to Price’s design to create a strong and potentially inspirational female lead for young readers—a heroine who would be willing to flout convention in order to prove her merit as a woman. The problem with this idea was keeping the setting during the Georgian era. In her author’s note, Price informs readers that she took a few liberties with history, especially regarding the role of women in the legal profession, which was practically non-existent until the 1920s. While women did make significant achievements during the 18th and early 19th centuries, it was not in the area of law. The story might have worked better if it was set approximately hundred years later, placing it within a historical context that could be better appreciated by readers. The change in setting would also have helped to better explain the use of modern expressions and phrases when the characters interacted. The occasional pairing of common expressions juxtaposed with the occasional phrase or two from Austen’s novel, stilted the flow of the text instead of enhancing it.

Like P.D. James’ Death Comes to Pemberley, Price presents readers with a murder mystery. The choice of villains is interesting, as well as the background as to how these relationships evolved. However, the presentation of the revelations is a bit campy. If this book was adapted for television, picture Disney Channel rather than Masterpiece.

As with all book adaptations and retellings, it was interesting to experience. It certainly offers a new and different take on Austen’s story, but I would not necessarily recommend this book for Austen purists.