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.

A brilliant sequel to the equally thrilling “Murder of Mr. Wickham”, we’re transported back to the age of Austen with another murder to solve. Familiar faces and new characters alike help to tell a new story set after the close of Austen’s seminal work, “Sense and Sensibility.” When Mr.. Willoughby’s intriguing new wife dies in the midst of a dinner party, Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy are thrown back together in the hopes of finding an elusive murderer.

I absolutely loved every second of this novel. Not only has Claudia Gray recaptured the essence of Austen’s storytelling, she puts a fantastic spin on the murder mystery plot, again. Readers are kept guessing who might have done it as the list of suspect merely grows as the plot thickens. Everyone has a motive, but Miss Tilney and Mr. Darcy are eventually able to whittle it down to uncover the perpetrator.

My one complaint is that the eventual resolution happens too quickly for my tastes. The end seemed rushed with everything coming to a head in a single chapter. I wished there was more time for the eventual confrontation to marinate instead of the solve leading immediately into a conclusion. Otherwise, I highly recommend reading this one! Fun, richly detailed, and brilliantly plotted. Another solid addition to the historical fiction/mystery crossover.

Reviewed this for Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club and will be recommending this for our Austen in August tradition, along with hosting author Claudia Gray.

The perfect book for late summer. it goes down easy, but there is a surprising amount to discuss with a book club in this title.

I love everything Claudia Gray writes and this was no exception!! Such a fun cozy mystery, and now i have to go back and read all of Jane Austen's novels!

This series is a perfect blend of Jane Austen and murder mysteries! You do not need to know the original stories before reading this series, but it helps with character backstories. I liked the first one a bit more because there were more characters featured and Willoughby is not my favorite to read about, but this one was good too! There were points that I kind of guessed the ending, but it was still a fun journey getting there. I really enjoy our two main characters: Juliet and Jonathan and hope to see them again in another story :)

Absolutely loved this book as much or maybe even more than the first one. The Late Mrs Willoughby takes us to town of Barton and the world of Sense and Sensibility, one of my absolute favorite Jane Austen books with some of my favorite characters. In this next installment of the cozy mystery, we get the reunion of Miss Tilney (one of the best characters) and Jonathan Darcy, as well as Marianne and Colonel Brandon, the aforementioned Willoughby, plus Eleanor, Edward, Sir John and Mrs Jennings. I loved the mystery and the story, i loved the writing style which kept me entertained and guessing the entire time, and I loved the hope given in the future for where the story can go. I can only hope that there is a book set in each of the Austen books because I cannot wait to see the way the stories play out for each of the characters.

book featured here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs6ixtSLReQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

My top reasons for reading The Late Mrs. Willoughby now

🎉 Jane Austen fans will adore this
🎉 Page turner huh well plotted mystery too
🎉 The sleuths are incredibly charming and have amazing chemistry
🎉 Historical fiction mystery at its best
🎉 A main character in the spectrum / Neurodivergent rep

I really enjoyed this one for the fun characters that will stay with me long after.

I love this series of mysteries that include a collection of Jane Austen characters! The author does a great job of keeping to the characters' personalities. I really enjoy following the relationship between Johnathan and Juliet and how it develops more with every book. This time Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney work together to find out who poisoned Mrs. Willoughby. Was it an accident? Her husband? Marianne or Colonel Brandon? A jealous lover? Or is someone seeking revenge? The reveal may surprise you! Another great, light read for the lazy days of Summer!

Thank you NetGalley and Vintage Anchor Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

In The Late Mrs Willoughby, readers are reintroduced to the ever lovable Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney as they once again find themselves embroiled in a murder. It was a joy to see these characters again, despite the circumstances. Even without trying to solve a murder, Jonathan and Juliet are interesting characters to observe as they try to navigate the ins and outs of society while staying true to their own personalities. Neither character feels that they truly fit in with the society around them and while this brings them closer, it does so slowly, allowing the friendship time to breathe and develop.

It was lovely to see so many well known characters in a new way. While some may have issues with seeing some of their beloved characters in this way, I found it fascinating to see beyond the original stories. The tone, while obviously different from that of Jane Austen, still maintained the air of propriety and decency that is so easy to come to love.

The only time the tone and pace struggled was when the actual mystery was involved. At times, the mystery was fast paced and interesting, at others, it lagged. It suffered from a repetition of facts. This could be simply because there were so many characters involved in the plotline. With that many people involved, all of whom need answers or have important information, it is hard not to hear the same facts over and over.

This book was an excellent sequel and I absolutely loved being transported to a different time and place where I could take a break from the real world for a few hours. I cannot wait to see how and why Jonathan and Juliet may be reunited in further books.

⅘ stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Vintage Anchor for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Take a dash of Agatha Christie and a splash of Jane Austen, and you have this new cozy mystery series, featuring Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilley as they investigate terrible incidents and make their way in the world. A wonderful continuation of this series!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the complimentary digital review copy of this title.

The second book in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery series by Claudia Gray is The Late Mrs. Willoughby. Juliet Tilney, the daughter of Catherine and Henry Tilney, is visiting her friend Marianne Brandon. Juliet met the Brandon’s at a house party while visiting the Knightley’s in book one of the series. Also present at that party were the Darcy family and their oldest son Mr. Jonathan Darcy. Jonathan and Juliet formed a close friendship during the investigation into the death of Mr. Wickham.

Marianne Brandon is in need of emotional support and a friend after the events of book one, so Juliet has come for a visit. When they hear Willoughby and his new wife have come to claim his newly inherited estate in the area. Marianne stress level increases and her anxiety threatens to overwhelm her. Willoughby has invited three friends from his school days to visit as well. One of these so called “friends” is Mr. Darcy. Darcy does not consider Willoughby a friend but a bully but etiquette demands that if an invitation is extended you accept if you have no other plans and Darcy follows societal rules. He is counting the days until he can leave when the Middleton’s decide to host a welcoming party and toast for the newly married couple. How delighted Darcy is to be reunited with friends in the Brandon’s and Juliet. But the gathering is marred by the poisoning death of the new Mrs. Willoughby. Who could have wanted the new bride dead?

Juliet and Jonathan decided to investigate but this case is much more dangerous than their last.

I’m officially obsessed with this series. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about a historical story that used Jane Austen’s most famous characters but it works so well. Love Jonathan Darcy’s idiosyncrasies and how Juliet Tilney grows in each book. Can’t wait for the next one!

I totally fell in love with the first book in this series, it was fun and unusual and totally awesome so requesting to review the sequel was a complete no-brainer.

Again we have the main characters of some of the famous and fantastic Jane Austen books under scrutiny for yet another mysterious death. It's really quite fascinating to see where these characters are after their respective books finished and whether they are still together, did they have children and so on. Of course the Darcy's son Jonathan is one of the two junior detectives in these books, along with the Tilney's daughter Juliet, and that is compelling in itself as his parent are probably the most famous of Austen's creations.

Claudia Gray is an engaging writer as it is and this book just shows how fabulous her work is and how great her imagination is when using someone else's infamous characters and making them her own while maintaining the integrity of Austen's original works.

Would I recommend this book and this series..... well yes I would, with bells on!!

A year ago the Austenesque community was given a delightful read in Claudia Gray’s The Murder of Mr. Wickham. Within this cozy mystery, many characters from the mind of Jane Austen were given new life, and original individuals were brought to the literary stage as well. The most notable of the fresh faces were drawn from Austen’s Northanger Abbey and Pride and Prejudice. Juliet Tilney is the daughter of Northanger Abbey’s Henry and Catherine. She is joined by Jonathan Darcy, son of the Darcys of Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice. Both of these young people proved to be an effective team as the mystery of the death of George Wickham was worked out in The Murder of Mr. Wickham. In this sequel they have been reunited, and once again are witnesses to a suspicious death. The wife of Sense and Sensibility’s John Willoughby, Sophia Willoughby, suddenly dies of poisoning while in the presence of several witnesses and suspects. Jonathan and Juliet work diligently to determine the identity of those who might be at fault in the case. They are not only motivated by a sense of curiosity, but also by a desire to see justice done. Without their efforts, a blameless friend may be accused of the crime.

Author Claudia Gray has again crafted a delightful mystery with beloved characters which are both fresh from her imagination and well-established from Austen. While the death of Sophia Willoughby is a dramatic one, the circumstances surrounding it are completely plausible. Mrs. Willoughby is presented as a distasteful woman, married to a man already known to be of questionable integrity. Any number of people could be enemies to the Willoughbys, and readers are kept guessing throughout the narrative. Claudia Gray offers quite a few red herrings, and while this reader was able to eliminate several suspects from the outset, I never truly saw who was to blame until the very end. The culprit(s) was/were completely unexpected, yet utterly believable as well. The finale held stunning and creative choices. The Late Mrs. Willoughby was familiar in tone, but never predictable. In this regard it was literary comfort food and a surprise dish, all in one.

Although The Late Mrs. Willoughby is firmly a cozy mystery, I commend Claudia Gray for exploring ancillary issues as well. As was presented in the first novel, Jonathan Darcy is a neurodivergent personality. A modern diagnosis might reveal some type of sensory disorder, or perhaps autism-spectrum issues. He struggles to understand social cues, is highly intelligent and sometimes has trouble with particular sensory influences. These factors are all too real to many families in the 21st century, and it is interesting to see how Jonathan’s condition manifests within 19th century English society. I found his character to be utterly endearing, especially as I am a family member of persons with similar issues. Including this type of character within the novel is unique and appreciated.

Gray also explores other themes which are attached to the mystery. Marianne Brandon seems to be suffering from significant post-traumatic stress in the wake of the events seen in the previous novel. Edward Ferrars struggles with forgiveness and reconciliation within his extended family. Colonel Brandon’s ward, Beth Williams yearns to find her place in the world as an illegitimate daughter and unwed mother herself. While The Late Mrs. Willoughby is an enjoyable mystery, deeper issues are woven throughout and lend a measure of substance to it.

Because The Late Mrs. Willoughby is a sequel, there are quite a few references to the previous title, The Murder of Mr. Wickham. The second work could be read on its own, but the enjoyment would be diminished significantly if read in such a way. Wickham is also an enjoyable read, so it is certainly recommended that both are read in succession. Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney make a great sleuthing pair, and elements near the conclusion of this novel seem to indicate that their work together is not yet complete. At ages 21 and 17 (respectively), Jonathan and Juliet are quite young and could have many years ahead and scores of adventures together. This romantic also hopes that their friendship will continue to grow, and perhaps one day we will find them in the position that Austen often placed her main characters, standing before the altar to begin their Happily Ever After.

The Late Mrs. Willoughby is the second delightful instalment in Claudia Gray's series featuring Juliet Tilney (daughter of Northanger Abbey's Henry and Catherine) and Jonathan Darcy (son of Pride and Prejudice's Darcy and Elizabeth) as amateur sleuths.

In this story, Juliet and Jonathan travel separately to Devon, Juliet to stay with her friends Colonel and Mrs. Marianne Brandon (of Sense and Sensibility), and Jonathan - quite reluctantly - to a house party hosted by his recently-married schoolboy tormentor John Willoughby (also of Sense and Sensibility). Juliet and Darcy are both delighted to renew the acquaintance they made in The Murder of Mr. Wickham (2022), although strict social conventions make it difficult for them to spend time alone together. However, when Willoughby's prickly new bride, the former Miss Sophia Grey, is horrifically poisoned in front of them both, it doesn't take long before they reprise their secret sleuthing proclivities to identify the culprit.

I found both The Late Mrs. Willoughby and its series predecessor to be entertaining and enjoyable reads, using the work of Jane Austen as a launching pad for the dramatisation of existing characters and the creation of a new generation. Austen afficionados are notoriously difficult to please when it comes to modern fictional homages, however the style, tone and dialogue felt convincing to me, notwithstanding the rather modern attitudes espoused by the characters at times. I’m no expert on Austen's tragically small oeuvre, simply an enthusiastic reader, but Claudia Gray has me absolutely entranced with her post-Austen universe! The Late Mrs. Willoughby sets the scene for more Tilney-Darcy collaborations in future and hopefully the resolution of a budding romance between the two. I can't wait to read the next instalment...

I'd highly recommend The Late Mrs. Willoughby to homage-tolerant lovers of Jane Austen's original works (especially Sense and Sensibility) and to any reader who enjoys well-paced historical mysteries and/or historical light romance.

My thanks to the author, Claudia Gray, publisher Vintage Anchor, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this delightful and engaging new title.

I really enjoyed this book. This series is quite fun and full of adventure.
I gave 3 stars because the different POV in every chapter is a bit confusing and there are actually many many characters that you need to care about. I was maybe in the mood for a simpler read.
Juliet and Jonathan are fun to watch working together and all these misunderstandings between them are hilarious.
All in all, fun read and fun series.

This series has been so FUN! I have absolutely loved seeing all of my favorite (and not favorite) Jane Austen characters all together in one place. Claudia did a fabulous job of depiction the characters strengths and weaknesses and the story line was fascinating! Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney’s characters were so funny! Their dismissal of propriety was hilarious, and I literally almost spit out my food at one part. It was so enthralled in the mystery of things and was constantly racking my brain, trying to figure out the who the culprit was in the story. I hope that there will be a third book in this series, I really need to know what is going to happen next with Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney’s friendship! I 100% recommend this book if you love mystery. There wasn’t a ton of romance, but there was some, and I was intrigued!

*I received a copy of this book as an ARC reviewer, but a positive review wasn’t required. All thoughts are solely what I personally thought of this beautiful book.❤️❤️❤️

I would like to thank netgalley and Vintage Anchor for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable second mystery. I enjoyed seeing all the characters interact and although the murderer was guessable it still had twists and turns.
Can't wait for the next book.