Two of my favourite genres of story are Austenesque and cosy mystery so a story combining the two is definitely something that will make it onto my to be read list. The Late Mrs Willoughby by Claudia Gray is the second in Mr Darcy & Miss Tilney Mysteries series. I am so pleased there was a second book, because I enjoyed the first in the series (The Murder of Mr. Wickham) very much and was really hoping for there to be a sequel because I wanted to see more of the two investigators (the son of P&P’s Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet and the daughter of Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey).

You don’t need to have read The Murder of Mr. Wickham to read this story, but I would strongly recommend it – firstly because the identity of the murderer of Mr Wickham is mentioned in this book so reading them the wrong way round would ruin the first book for you, but mainly because in the first book there’s quite a bit of character building of Mr Darcy and Miss Tilney and there’s much less of this in The Late Mrs Willoughby. I grew very fond of both of them during the first book, and I think that made me enjoy this book more, because I knew the characters and was invested in them.

As you can tell from the title, this mystery is what happened to Mrs Willoughby. The story is set a relatively short time after the end of S&S so the Willoughbys haven’t been married all that long… but it’s long enough for poor Mrs Willoughby to have realised that she was just married for her money.

Willoughby has inherited Allenham, the house in the area that the Dashwoods and Colonel Brandon live in, and he has come with his wife and a party of friends to celebrate his inheritance. Well, I say friends, but the people he has invited are an unsuccessful suitor of his wife, and two people he bullied at school, including Mr Jonathan Darcy.

Visiting the Colonel and Mrs Brandon is Miss Juliet Tilney. They met during the events of the first book and have struck up a friendship. Juliet hadn’t expected to meet with Mr Darcy again, but when Mrs Willoughby dies, and it is suspected to be murder, they fall back into their previous roles of investigators.

One thing I very much enjoyed about this book was the humour; so many of the inner thoughts of the characters, and some of their misinterpretations or misunderstandings gave me amusement:

‘I must go into Barton eventually, she thought. No one could hide within Delaford forever. (Marianne had considered this seriously enough to have determined its utter impossibility.)

I was a little disappointed with the mystery in the first book feeling that any of a number of people could have done it, but I found the mystery in this book more satisfactory. I worked out whodunnit this time (woohoo!).

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Jonathan and Juliet develop. I fell a little bit in love with him in the first book, which made me feel very sour towards Willoughby and his bullying and unpleasant ways.

I found the ending of the book a little bit disappointing as it was so abrupt. However, it gives clear indications of there being another book to come so I will forgive this. To be clear, the murder mystery is neatly solved by the end of the book, it’s not a cliff hanger in that respect.

I am really looking forward to reading the next installment in the Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mysteries series when it comes. I found The Late Mrs Willoughby to be a book I didn’t want to put down, and would rate it as a 4 star read.

3.5 stars rounded up -- another excellent Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney mystery! The second book in the series has allowed both of these characters to really develop and it makes for very enjoyable reading!

Jonathan and Juliet are pleasantly surprised when their visits to friends lead to their reunification. They are less pleased when one of the guests of the dinner party they are attending dies a gruesome and horrifyingly public death by drinking a glass of poisoned port.

Marriane Brandon is once again in the spotlight of suspicion as she was the former beau of the deceased husband, Mr. Willoughby. In order to prevent her name from being further harmed, they must figure out the true culprit behind this awful crime.

Told in short chapters through multiple POVs, this mystery moves quickly. I can only hope that book three will lead to romantic confessions between these two lovely characters!

The Late Mrs. Willoughby is the second book in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery series, and even though it can be read as a standalone novel, I believe that reading the first book will enhance the pleasure you’ll have because it will allow you to have a better understanding of the main characters.

This novel brings back Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney to the front stage as they are once again guests at a house where a murder occurs. This time the victim is Mrs. Willoughby, and the young couple will once more team up to discover who the murderer is. This is not their first rodeo, so they have more experience with these investigations, but that doesn’t mean it will be easier to get to the bottom of the mystery 🙂

The Murder of Mr. Wickham was one of my favourite books from 2022, so my expectation towards The Late Mrs. Willoughby was very high but it certainly didn’t fell short. I absolutely loved this second mystery not only because of the setting but also because it gave me the opportunity to spend more time with Jonathan Darcy and Miss Tilney. I really enjoyed their personalities in the first book and how they developed a sweet and innocent friendship, so I was very happy to see their relationship grow in this book and become something different. Their relationship was my favourite aspect in this book and I hope the third novel will focus even more on it.

I also enjoyed the setting of this story and the fact that it has many different Sense and Sensibility characters in it, especially Mrs. Jennings as her matchmaking brought some humor to the book and allowed the relationship between Juliet and Jonathan to be further developed. The dynamics Claudia Gray was able to build between the many different characters was very interesting and made this book exciting. Not only did I love to see the direction in which she took Jonathan and Juliet’s relationship, but also the connection between Marianne Brandon with Colonel Brandon’s ward, the interactions between Willoughby and Marianne, and even the awkward moments that the Ferrars faced with each other.

The only character I wasn’t too fond of was Willoughby himself because Gray described him as a cruel person who takes pleasure in tormenting his friends, and even though I think of him as a weak, self serving person, I never imagined him with this facet.

I also enjoyed the mystery surrounding this story and could never guess who had done it. I suppose the murderer’s reason was not as solid as the one we saw in The Murder of Mr. Wickham but the author kept me guessing until the end.

I cannot wait to read the third book in the series and I hope it will come out this year because I really do not want to have to wait another year to see where Jonathan and Juliet’s relationship is going 🙂

Summing up, The Late Mrs. Willoughby is a riveting cozy mystery with interesting characters that Austen enthusiasts will cherish. It is fast paced, well written and engaging. I recommend it to my readers.

These books are just delightful. Jumping in to Austen’s world and getting lost amongst her beloved characters and world, I think I could stay here. Ready to read many more of these in the series, so I hope they keep coming!
This time we visit Colonel Brandon and Marianne Brandon, whilst getting to catch up with Edward and Elinor Ferrars as well. With little cameos made by both the Dashwood and Ferrars sides of the family. We get to meet Beth, Colonel Brandon’s ward, and get to know her, along with Me. And Mrs. Willoughby, of course. Willoughby is as dashing as always but much less charming as we all know his character now. What I love is that the author truly stays true to Austen’s characters as well as keeping the beloved ones beloved. She doesn’t try to change our opinion of them, she stays true to their origins. It makes read them as fan feel so much more real and enjoyable.
Now this time I saw the end coming and made the right guess, but it was a delightful ride to go on regardless.

I appreciate the oppurtunity to read this. But I realized this writing style or story plot isn't my type. I tried few chapters and that is it.

First off thank you for allowing me to read an arc of the book, however I got about 30% in and I had to stop, the writing style and the flow of the story just wasn’t doing it for me. I’m not saying that this isn’t a good book it just wasn’t for me.

The second in a series of mysteries set in the world of Jane Austen books. Claudia Grey is adept at writing in the style, characters, and settings begun by Austen. The connections between the characters is clever and the novel is well researched! Perfect mystery for fans of Jane Austen

When Jonathan Darcy is invited to a house party by his old school “friend” Willoughby, he cringes at the idea of spending days on end with the man who bullied him all through his school years. The happy fortune of Juliet Tilney being in the same vicinity, visiting her friends the Brandons, makes it almost worth the daily humiliation that Willoughby, Follet, and Bamber thrust upon him. Jonathan discovers that Willoughby’s marriage is not a happy one. His rich wife Sophia is continually unhappy with him, and Willoughby is doing all in his power to ingratiate himself with the woman he deserted, Marianne Brandon.

When Mrs. Willoughby drinks a glass of port while at a dinner party and falls down dead of poisoning, the entire countryside begins whispering in shocked wonder. Marianne Brandon, so fresh for her justified self-defense against Mr. Wickham, is the logical suspect. It is up to Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney to join forces to clear their friend in the court of public opinion and to catch the real killer before he (or she?) strikes again.

Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney reprise their delightful roles from the first book in the series as amateur investigators. Juliet–kind, understanding, and quick-witted–puts up with Jonathan’s quirks and mannerisms like no one else can, seeing the great-hearted man behind the odd fellow whom his schoolfellows nicknamed “Thumps.” Jonathan uses his logical mind and social oddities to painstakingly wend his way to the truth . . . and to a realization that Juliet Tilney is the one person in life he could imagine taking into his arms to hold and have forever. Although the book leaves us in suspense of that resolution (it is a series, after all!), it was delightful seeing Jonathan come to terms with the reality of love and what it could mean to be close to another person.

As with the first book, a few of the representations of Austen’s characters were right on target, and a few felt like a miss. The Brandons, learning how to deepen their relationship, felt true to Austen’s story. Elinor and Edward Ferrars, however, were a little on the dull side and missing the Austen sparkle. The side plot involving Edward’s relationship to his mother was not my favorite. Sir John Middleton and Mrs. Jennings were amusing, however, and Willoughby was as much of a self-absorbed monster as one would expect. My favorite characters are still the ones that Claudia Gray has crafted for herself (Jonathan and Juliet), and I would be curious to read a Regency by her that is NOT an Austen spinoff and entirely her own creation. At the same time, one wonders which Austen family Jonathan and Juliet will visit next in the next installment of the series . . . I’m certain that I’ll be going along for the ride.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Late Mrs. Willoughby is a decent follow up to The Murder of Mr. Wickham. It continues the Agatha Christie style mystery series featuring characters from all of Jane Austen's novels. I do think this book might suffer slightly from being the middle book in a series, but I can't wait for more.

*I received a review copy from the publisher through Netgalley

I am just starting my Jane Austen journey. With what little I know I found this story enjoyable. If you are well versed in Jane Austen and stories you will love this book.

The author brings the characters we love into this story. She brings in elements from Austen's novels to tie in motives, character background and relationships. I liked reading how the elements came together throughout the story.

This is the follow up to The Murder of Mr. Wickham. You do not need to read the first before reading this story.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Like the first book, The Late Mrs. Willoughby was an excellent story using the characters of Jane Austen. I love Jonathan and Juliet as characters. They're wonderful and clever. Jonathan is written as autistic; the author does a great job with this and with exploring how he experiences the world and his own emotions. Juliet is just as clever as her mother, and I love her friendships with Marianne and the other women in the group. Regency crime-solving duo is a great premise for a book, too! I especially like that the incidents are focused on unlikeable characters from Austen's books.

The Late Mrs. Willoughby is the second Regency romance/mystery featuring Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney written by Claudia Gray. Released 16th May 2023 by Knopf Doubleday on their Vintage Anchor imprint, it's 400 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. Large print library bound edition due out in 4th quarter 2023. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is an homage series, featuring some of the iconic characters from Austen's classic works, (this one revisiting Sense & Sensibility). This outing sees an apparently neurodivergent Darcy solving a poisoning murder along with his partner / potential romantic lead Juliet Tilney. Much of the plot stretches the boundaries of belief and readers need to bring a healthy suspension of disbelief to the read.

The story is self contained in this volume, so it works very well as a standalone mystery. If read out of order, readers should be aware that there are references to the plot and incidents from the first book, which could give spoilers if read out of order.

The writing is occasionally overwrought and tries too hard for Austen homage and comes across as well edited fanfic. Three and a half stars. It's well written, very well edited and polished, but ultimately recommended mostly for die-hard Regency romance/mystery fans, and not so much for fans of historical Jane Austen who won't be fooled for a second.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I am officially a follower of Claudia Gray's series with Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy. I have so enjoyed these two characters, their relationship and the adventures they get up to. I hope there will be many more! In this case, both Juliet and Jonathan are visiting the same area, albeit different friends, and a murderer strikes again. Juliet and Jonathan team up to solve the crime again and we are graced with appearances from others in Jane Austen's world. Definitely did not see the murder coming in this one and finished the book wishing for more!

I did not notice going in that this is the second book in a series. The two lead protagonists have already met in a previous installment and solved a murder together.
The year is 1820, and society being the way it was, a woman accused of killing another and escaping 'without punishment' continues to face ridicule in the town she calls home.
Jonathan Darcy is a wealthy only son of titled parents. He is also neurodivergent at a time when it makes him a subject of ridicule. He has managed to function in society thus far, although he does not enjoy doing the things that make him seem normal. The other lead character, Miss Juliet Tilney, is a little too ambitious for a woman of her time, and she has been invited to stay with a friend to help her through an awkward time.
I liked the interactions of the central characters, and the overall writing style was simple but engaging. I did not even feel like I was coming into the series midway because the background was well explained.
There were two main drawbacks that held up the ratings for me. The first was the pacing. The story seemed to drag. It may have been the extra ambience-inducing pages that did it, but I wished the entire thing would move faster - it made the book seem longer than it was. The second and more crucial part was that I guessed the reveal (without meaning to), and that meant that I saw every point when the ball was dropped by the amateur investigators.
I hoped for a better ending for the duo than they got, and it felt a little abrupt. I might still read the next book in the series solely to see where the two go from here!
I recommend it to fans of the historical mystery genre because the book does that part well and would appeal to the more seasoned readers of the genre.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Thank you to Vintage and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel though I am late in sending feedback. I wanted to read the first in this series before I started this and I feel that was necessary to ensure you have the background for these characters and what they previously encountered. I am not a Jane Austen aficionado to remember all of the novels and their plot details but this is a lovely continuation for the characters and I do enjoy seeing Juliet and Jonathan get closer to each other in solving another mystery. I did not know who the culprit was and enjoyed how the story progressed and then the reasonings behind the murder. I am guessing there will be more in the series and I am happy to continue this series when it comes. 4 stars.

The problem with this series and I is that we have different priorities. It wants to focus on plot, and I want more time and depth in the characters. It will be good for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries.

A very fun read. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries. If you like Jane Austen and are expecting this to be a retelling then this is not for you. This is almost like a play on words and simply using some of the familiar and loveable parts of the Austenverse. I do think the author relied a bit heavily on the socially inept detective trope here and could have leaned less into that.

The suspenseful sequel to The Murder of Mr. Wickham, which sees Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney reunited, and with another mystery to solve: the dreadful poisoning of the scoundrel Willoughby's new wife.
Catherine and Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey are not entirely pleased to be sending their eligible young daughter Juliet out into the world again: the last house party she attended, at the home of the Knightleys, involved a murder—which Juliet helped solve. Particularly concerning is that she intends to visit her new friend Marianne Brandon, who's returned home to Devonshire shrouded in fresh scandal—made more potent by the news that her former suitor, the rakish Mr. Willoughby, intends to take up residence at his local estate with his new bride.
Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley are thrilled that their eldest son, Jonathan—who, like his father, has not always been the most socially adept—has been invited to stay with his former schoolmate, John Willoughby. Jonathan himself is decidedly less taken with the notion of having to spend extended time under the roof of his old bully, but that all changes when he finds himself reunited with his fellow amateur sleuth, the radiant Miss Tilney. And when shortly thereafter, Willoughby's new wife—whom he married for her fortune—dies horribly at the party meant to welcome her to town.
This was such a fun read and an outstanding sequel. While it could be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the first book in the series for some important background and character information. Hopefully it will not be a long wait for another adventure of Juliet and Jonathan. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

With rumors flying and Marianne—known to be both unstable and previously jilted by the dead woman's newly made widower—under increased suspicion, Jonathan and Juliet must team up once more to uncover the murderer. But as they collect clues and close in on suspects, eerie incidents suggest that the killer may strike again, and that the pair are in far graver danger than they or their families could imagine.

The Late Mrs. Willoughby is the follow up to The Murder of Mr. Wickham— a mashup of Jane Austen’s characters getting together for a party when a murder occurs. In this installment, it’s Willoughby’s poor wife who drops dead in front of the group.
**Must read in order.**

Austen fans will love seeing their favorite characters together again (although this one is missing Elizabeth and the elder Mr. Darcy), and the super fun investigation of the murder. Highly recommend!

This is the second installment in a series that combines characters from Jane Austen's novels, the offspring they may have had, and puts them in house party situations where a murder is committed. It combines the language and manners of Austen's novels with the locked room mystery idea from an Agatha Christie novel. Being a lover of both Austen's literature and mystery novels, this series is a natural for me.

Once again we see the young detectives, Mr. Jonathan Darcy and Miss Juliet Tinley, reunited at a house party where a murder takes place. Although Mr. Willoughby would seem to be the natural victim, so entirely is he disliked, it is his wife who is murdered. There are plenty of suspects for the twosome to consider. And will the pair finally speak of their affection for each other?

I found plenty to like and enjoy in this second in the series, and look forward to more!

Thank you to author Claudia Gray, her publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.