Another winner from Price! This is such a great follow up to her first novel, Pride & Premeditation. I love her take on Sense & Sensibility, transforming the Dashwood sisters into investigators, chemists, and aspiring authors. This book is full of suspense, humor, and soft romance.

I love Price's writing style. She captures the time period so well, not only with the dialogue, but also with how the characters think and act. I think she does Austen such a good turn by envisioning bold, aspiring women who are here to break barriers to their sex. Elinor Dashwood is one of my favorite Austen characters and I think she is so well represented here. Price even got me to appreciate Marianne, a character I normally dislike!

I think the plot is another winner for this book. It's bright, snappy, and ties up nicely at the end. It's an easy read, even a bit of a page-turner, and I found myself still guessing till the end. I like how Price wraps things up and I think it's a very satisfying mystery, all in all.

I absolutely cannot wait to see what Price has in store next!

This is a good book but I was thrown off by the fact that the audio for the review copy was done by a synthesized voice. While I do understand that an actual voice actor will be used for the final copy of the audio book, I found the robotic voice really threw me off and took me out of the story. I'd be willing to try this again in another format though.

Mr. Dashwood is dead, and Marianne suspects foul play. She and Elinor look for clues, trying to determine how he died, who would kill him, and why. The reimagined characters from Sense and Sensibility take on new life as they search for the truth, striking out to make a new lives for themselves. This fun story is well-done, and can be enjoyed without having read the original or the first book in the series. Family, social status and norms, and mystery taken on by two intelligent women.

Sense and Second-Degree Murder by Tirzah Price is currently scheduled for release on April 5 2022. It is the second book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries, but can be read as a stand alone since there are only a few references to the first book in this volume. Usually when reviewing an audio book I credit the narrator(s) and include my thoughts on their performance. However, in this case I listened to a synthetic preview, which is not the final version, so I cannot comment on that at this time.

In Sense and Second-Degree Murder, aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood and her sister Marianne, a budding detective, work together to solve the mystery of their father’s murder. When eighteen-year-old aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood discovers her beloved father slumped over the desk of his office study, she knows his death means dire straits for the Dashwood women. To make matters worse, an outdated will entails his estate—including Norland & Company, the private investigation firm where her younger sister Marianne worked as her father’s partner and protégé—to their half-brother and his haughty wife, who waste no time in forcing the Dashwoods out of their home and into a cramped apartment on London’s Barton Street. But before they go, the Dashwood sisters make a startling discovery that points to foul play, and the killer might be family. Obviously, the girls must investigate. It could be dangerous; it could ruin their reputations; and most importantly, it won’t bring back their father. But if the Dashwood sisters can combine their talents and bring their father’s murderer to justice, it may bring them all some comfort—and it might even lead to love.

Sense and Second-Degree Murder starts readers right as the action begins. I liked the way character development and society interactions were handled, with the twists of very unconventional interests. It held up well to my expectations after having greatly enjoyed Pride and Premeditation. I loved that Price took aspects of the original, and the characters of course, and twisted it to give the sisters more agency and make the mystery engaging and enjoyable. I thought it was a fun and entertaining read even as some tougher subjects, such as drug abuse, were explored. I liked the dynamic among the Dashwood family, and thought it was realistic and well written. The slow reveal of clues, personalities, and connections was paced well- even though I admit to suspecting certain reveals early on. The journey to the conclusion was greatly enjoyable even as I worried for the characters. I look forward to the third book in this series.

Sense and Second-Degree Murder is a fun and entertaining read that will please fans of Jane Austin, mysteries, and historical fiction. I eagerly await the third installment in the series.

I could not get interested in the book and the narrator was off putting and made it a lot worse. I have read other reviews of this title, which are glowing so I’m fairly sure the format is the issue.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
***
Sense and Second-Degree Murder by Tirzah Price is the second Jane Austen Murder Mystery series but does not need to be read in order as each novel is giving a murder mystery spin to their classic counterpart. While I’m not the most familiar with Austen’s works I do enjoy a good mystery and thoroughly enjoyed this novel.
When older sister Elinor discovers her investigative father dead in his study she realizes the family is about to be in trouble, especially when they find their father’s will has not been updated in a very long time and everything is left to the older half brother, whose wife instantly does her best to drive out the family. When the sisters can’t find their father’s journal middle sister Marianne becomes convinced it was murder despite the medics proclamation of heart failure, and Elinor reluctantly accepts it as a possibility until they come across something that really has her believing it. The two sisters go at the mystery from slightly different angles, Elinor scientific and controlled and Marianne investigative and a bit reckless but their hearts are in the right place and their goal, find who killed their father and why, the same.
Their is something fun about how proprietary and manners have such an affect on what can be said and how, and how it can drive a story, and of course I can’t help but want to cheer on women in this era where they weren’t allowed much but still can’t help but want to strive for it anyway despite realizing the difficulties they will face.
Fun, easy read.

As a fan of both Jane Austen and thrillers, I was excited (and, honestly, apprehensive) to see how the merging of these two very different genres would go. What a pleasant surprise! Price used the characters and situations just right, taking the plot in a wildly different direction without losing the original story completely (a failing of many Jane Austen adaptations). I will definitely be seeking out the others in this series.

This was a very cute in the same way that Pride and Premeditation was. I love Jane Austen‘s works, and to see someone take them and give them a mystery twist with a little bit of updating is very fun. This one really struck me because of the character development that the Dashwood sisters were given. They weren’t just catalysts for the story, they were fully fledged people with interests and opinions and skills. I look forward to seeing what she does next. Maybe Emma as a spy? Catherine Morland as a ninja? Anne Elliott, master con woman?

The enterprising Dashwood sisters must pick up the investigation when they suspect their father has been murdered.

I think I enjoyed this book just a smidgeon more than the first book. Although both are great retellings of Austen classics, this one just had a bit more suspense to the mystery for me.

I applaud Tirzah Price's ability to bring forth these classic characters with their well-known traits and spark and turn them around into her own story. Maryann's impulsivity and Eleanor's steadfastness come through so well and are utilized in such a way that make them perfect detectives.

All the players are here and many won't be surprised by certain revelations about those characters, but it's the way in which it all ties into the mystery that is so fun and fresh to read.

I really hope that Tirzah Price continues to get to write these wonderful mysteries. They've become highly anticipated releases.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book was SO MUCH FUN. I loved the twist on Sense and Sensibility. The characters were amazing (minus Fanny of course). My only complaint were the Dashwood sisters being so young....but is that really a complaint? No. I loved Marianne being an amateur detective, and Eleanor being a chemist. Also THE AUTHORS NOTE. Fantastic.

Highly recommend.

I so enjoyed this book! I was a huge fan of Pride and Premeditation last year and was so excited for this. It definitely lived up to the hype! The roles the Dashwood sisters take on are so fun to see for young women in their time. The mystery was well plotted which is always a major selling point. I will definitely be recommending this one to many people!

This book was a fun read and I think it is a great way to make a classic novel more accessible to the teen audience. As with the original Sense and Sensibility, Elinor remains my favorite. The mystery aspect was well balanced against the problems from the original story. Marianne felt a bit more center to the story than I recalled in the original Sense and Sensibility, which was at times a bit frustrating, because I found her character to be self-centered and short-sighted (more so than I recall her being in the original text). However, I think there are a lot of teens who will readily identify with her, so it may also be personal preference biased further by the dispassionate AI-narration). Tirzah Price really seems to understand the essence of the original characters and then portray them in a way that is true to their original nature, but easily understandable for the modern reader.

Though the version of this book that I listened to used an AI-generated voice, there were several moment when I was listening that I thought, "Oh, I'd love to hear how this will be narrated in the final version of this audiobook." There were also moments where I found it a little difficult to connect with certain characters, but again I think that is something that would be rectified in the final version of the audiobook, since a human narrator will add nuance to the way certain lines are delivered or actions are described. I recall enjoying the narrator for the first book, so if it's the same person, I don't think a reader could go wrong with either the book or the audiobook.

Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are tasked with solving the murder of their beloved father who dies of mysterious causes. Each sister has a talent that lends itself useful in solving the case. Will the sisters along with the help of their youngest sibling, be able to come together and trust each other enough to solve what truly happened to their father? Are the people coming into their lives truly who they claim to be, or is there another mystery that their father had been working on coming into play with his early demise?

I enjoyed this book. I don't know if it was my favorite mystery book from this time period. However all three sisters are distinct personalities that really shine through in this book. I think that all the storylines tie together nicely in the end, but the book does drag a little bit.

Thank you so much to Haper Audio and Netgalley for allowing me to have access to an advance copy of this novel.

This Sense and Sensibility retelling, set as a Murder mystery, is charming. Our beloved Dashwood sisters are at the heart of the story which includes all of the classics characters. When Mr. Dashwood is found slumped over his desk dead, Elinor and Marianne must use their combined intellect to figure out what happened to him and ultimately find his murderer. This is a good detective story and the suspects are plentiful, staying true to the original story characterizations. I particularly enjoyed to pace of the action in the latter half of the novel.

I listened to the audio version of the story and found it easy to stay engaged in the narrative, as well understand the story twists. I believe the author did a wonderful job staying true to the feel of the classic while creating a delightful mystery.

Thanks you Harper Audio and NetGalley for the audio arc for my honest review.

I read the first book in Price’s mystery retelling of the Austen classics last month for our Austen retellings post.

As you can tell from the title, this particular book is a retelling of Sense and Sensibility – with the Dashwood sisters out to figure out who murdered their father!

I loved seeing how the well known characters would play a role in this clever retelling. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.

Thanks to Harper Teen for my review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Story of the Dashwood sisters after their life had been turned upside down. First, they need to know what truly happened to their father and then to survive after being forced out of their home.
This was another great mystery work from the author using the characters of Jane Austen. It was a good length detective story with so many characters who are possible suspects. Intrigued how they were to discover the culprit and then what happens to them. The intricacies/complexities added were just right.
Strongly recommend this story and looking forward to the next one.
I had received a copy of the audiobook and I am voluntarily giving my review of the story.

I love Price's retelling of Austen. The mystery makes the retelling more modern but stays true to the original story. I will order but am not a fan of the obscure narrator.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I will be adding the first in the series to my TBR list pronto! But, you're interested in this stand-alone novel, classified as a YA mystery and my thoughts. It was fun, it was just the right mix of mystery, romance, family, regency era politesse and finesse. What a great story to bring together the super sleuth and super chemist daughters of the recently deceased Lord Dashwood, Marianne and Eleanor. I loved the cast of characters and the British audio-galley voice made it that much more realistic.

The author's attention to detail throughout the novel is so key to a mystery, and the added layer of STEM heightens that, making it just that much smarter and involved. Not to mention, of course, the men. Willoughby, Brandon and Edward add romance and intrigue to the mix, in just the right proportions for this reader. It kept the focus of the story on the young women and their tasks, but gave them some of the leverage they needed in the regency era to get that work done. Oh and one cannot forget little sister Margaret, the sometimes quiet but ever studious and just waiting for her own adventure, companion in this tale. She gets her moment but it is not without loss and pain. I think it would have been really easy for the author to tidy things up a little nicer, but she resisted that urge and I admire that in a writer. She still gives us a great story, one with several surprises (for me at least!) and a healthy dose of reality (always welcome here!).

Just like in Jane Austen's classic Sense and Sensibility, the Dashwood sisters are devastated when their father abruptly dies and they're forced out of their home for lack of funds. Things take a surprising turn when they begin to suspect that their father wasn't taken by a heart attack as they had supposed, but was actually murdered for meddling in things that certain clients of his private investigation business wanted him to stay out of. No longer the passive, heartsick maidens of the Regency era, Elena and Marianne, as well as their little sister, Margaret, set out to discover just who has been making their lives miserable and why laudanum is suddenly everywhere.

I'm glad I read Sense and Sensibility this weekend before tackling Sense and Second-Degree Murder. Even though it spoiled some of my suspicions about who the killer might be, there were some unexpected surprises, and I was delighted to see new interpretations of some unfortunately neglected characters. Like book one in this series, this one reads like a fanfic, but it was really enjoyable for all that, and I appreciated the depths the author went to to try to make things believable while reinforcing the message that women are strong and smart. Excited to read the next one in this series!
Thank you to HarperCollins and Tirzah Price for this audiogalley.

Slam dunk for Jane Austen fans. I liked the twists and the strong female leads.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the ARC.