If you like Jane Austen and remotely enjoy murder mysteries, you absolutely have to pick up this series.

I've loved each and every book so far, but I think that this one, The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh is the best yet. I may be biased because this is the most Pride and Prejudice-centric of the three, but there is so much to love about this book.

Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy are, as always, icons who are absolutely made for each other. I love the autism rep in Jonathan Darcy as well, and the way Juliet would probably fight anybody who made him feel bad about himself. Is the slow burn killing me just a little? Yes, especially since I had thought that this was the last book and that they would finally get together at the end.

The other characters are amazing as well. Gray does the characterization of all of the Pride and Prejudice characters who appear so well, with Catherine de Bourgh and her daughter being unexpected standouts. The best secondary characters here, though, are without a doubt Mr. Darcy and Mr. Tilney, who invite themselves along on the mystery to keep an eye on their children and who spend most of the time sniping at each other because they don't believe the other's child is good enough for their own. Their interactions absolutely made the book for me, and I'm absolutely praying for Elizabeth and Catherine interactions in the next.

The mystery itself is pretty fun. While the first two books were standard murder mysteries, this follows Jonathan and Juliet as they're called in by Catherine de Bourgh to investigate a series of attempts on her life in the hopes of catching the murderer before he succeeds. This involves a lot of investigation of the dynamics of life at Rosings Park and Hunsford Parsonage in a way that lets Gray dive deep into each of the characters. The mystery was fun, but it did feel like there were portions in the middle that were just there to fill up space rather than to add any new depth or twist to it, which is part of the reason that I took off a star.

Overall, I highly recommend this book, as I do every book in this series. It is a love letter to Jane Austen that also allows us to see people murder (or attempt to murder) the most hated of Austen's characters (there is certainly a sort of delight in reading about attempts to kill Mr. Wickham and Mr. Willoughby). Juliet and Jonathan continue to be wonderful protagonists, Gray's characterization of existing characters is both true to Austen and gives side characters more depth, and, though the mystery here falters a little bit in the middle, it is still done well enough to see us through a book whose characters are its true strength. 4/5 stars.

Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books, so when this came across my email I knew I had to jump on it. I read the first book, but not the second. I will say I do not feel like anything was missed series arc wise by skipping book two, as it seems we are going to be subjected to a very long and drawn out "they can't possible court each other" stage between Johnathan and Juliet.

This book, much like book one, has pages and chapters of telling, where we are given multiple peoples perspective, for me, it took a lot of the mystery away from the plot. While I didn't know exact who the culprit was when revealed I was in the ballpark as we were given so much information of every characters day to day life, and secrets. But on the flip side, since this book is derived from a classic, it was nice to catch up with all of the cast for a beloved favorite.

Claudia Gray really does capture the essences of Pride and Prejudice perfectly. She brings all these characters to life again, and holds true to their personality traits, which is lovely. Who hasn't wondered what happen after Elizabeth and Darcy were wed. Can you believe that they would have a neurodivergent child?! Perfection. I can only image how many times she has read the book to have such a deep understanding of who these people grew into.

I loved that this mystery unfolded before a death has happened. It's unique to have the victim alive and able to annoy the sleuths as they work. Lady Catherine de Bourgh is the the bane of the entire casts existence, but is it enough to want her dead? The answer will surprise you but also pull at your heartstrings I feel.

I just can't express enough on how well the personality traits of each of these characters are captured. My only sadness comes from the classic writing style. I will say this book is much faster pace compared to book 1, but I believe that is more from the culprit continuing to commit crimes throughout the story.

I look forward to the next installment, and hope that the young potential couple will began their courtship sooner than later. It would be great to see the next mystery take place at Pemberley.

A cozy mystery based on characters from Jane Austen novels. This book is the 3rd in a series, but the only one I've read, and I thought it worked fine as a standalone novel. I'm not very familiar with Austen's novels, so I can't say how faithful the author is to Austen's style or characters. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the occasional humor.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

This series is the best! I adored the first two, and this one was even better! I love how Claudia Gray brings all of these different Jane Austen characters together into such brilliant historical mysteries. My only issue is that I wish Jonathan and Juliet would hurry up and get together. Hopefully, they will in the next installment. I can't wait for that to happen!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In this third of the Austen spin off mysteries in the Miss Tilney/Mr. Darcy novels,the two sleuths are called upon to investigate attempts on the life of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Reminiscent of a classic "country house" mystery, this mash-up combines elements of Jane Austen novels with golden age mystery stories.

Readers of Jane Austen will find some old friends in this novel, as well as new additions to the famed stories. Those who enjoy classic mystery novels will enjoy the clues and the plot development that leads to an astonishing conclusion. While I had some skepticism regarding how the attempts were accomplished by the villain, it was still an enjoyable read.

Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone novel. I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions included here are entirely my own.

This is only the second of this series that I have read, and I have to say, I love this mash up of Jane Austen worlds. It's heartening to know dowager Lady Catherine de Bourgh is as demanding as ever. No wonder there have been attempts on her life, necessitating correspondence with the Darcys and Tinleys, as young Jonathan and Juliet have proved resourceful in investigating other mysteries. There's a good mystery and time spent with beloved characters.

This series is my example of how Austen adaptations can be done well. Gray’s creation of a “second generation” perfectly expands the universe and builds on what we know without interfering with what we know of the “first generation”. We are getting new stories that fit into the existing novels and characters, and I think that that is something that sets this series apart.

While I think that few of us harbour positive feelings for Lady Catherine de Bourgh, she was the perfect choice to be at the heart of this new mystery. We got to dig a bit more into her character and consider her in a way that we normally wouldn’t. And interestingly, Charlotte Lucas is one of the first generation characters that we get to spend a lot more time with. Charlotte is always written off as the one who settled for Mr. Collins and receives little further thought, but I loved getting to see what her life could look like.

Jonathan and Juliet are quite a lovely pairing together, as they always are. Although there is a romance slowly brewing, it in no way takes over the mystery. Both have parents present for this story, so I loved getting to see them interact not only with each other but also with their parents. (Families play an important role in Austen’s works, and I think that it only further helps to cement these stories within the wider universe.)

I will say, it really helps to have read the first two books in the series (The Murder of Mr. Wickham and The Late Mrs. Willoughby) but they are also brilliant!

THE PERILS OF LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH by Claudia Gray is the third installment of the Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery series.

Gray has a clever premise: what if the various characters dreamed up by Jane Austen interacted with each other? She must walk a fine line, though. How to develop individuals so they are not simply caricatures, and how to navigate characters both beloved and despised if murder is afoot? Who might be the victim and who the culprit? 

I had previously read the first book in the series, which provides a helpful introduction to the amateur sleuths, but readers may find this title stands sufficiently on its own and they shouldn't have trouble following along (be aware, though, that the murderer in the second book in particular is referenced). The pompous Lady Catherine summons Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney to her estate after three attempts have been made on her life; she insists they question everyone to determine why she has been targeted. We revisit the Collinses, and Lady Catherine and her daughter Anne figure prominently.

In the midst of the floundering investigation, there is also tension between the fathers of our detectives as each wonders about the motives of the other's child (are there romantic inclinations?), and there are similar questions between the children, and misunderstandings abound. 

(Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

Three attempts have been made on Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s life. Having successfully investigated crimes in the past, she calls on Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney to find the person responsible. She is demanding and expecting immediate results. Jonathan and Juliet have not seen each other for a year. He is the son of Lizzie and Mr Darcy. He is socially awkward, but determined to do better to please Juliet. She has missed him and hopes that working together will bring them closer. Her parents would like to see her settled. Juliet, however, would rather spend time analyzing knife cuts stabbed into a roast to further her investigative abilities. When they are summoned by Lady de Bourgh they are accompanied by their fathers, who do not get along. Claudia Gray once again centers her mystery around Jane Austen’s characters, making her story an absolute delight for Austen fans. I would like to thank NetGalley and Knopf/Vintage for providing this book.

This was another delightful addition to the series! It is enjoyable to see Miss Tilney and Mr. Darcy work through preconceptions about themselves and one another, and to watch their friendship blossom. I admit to being surprised by the culprit in this one. I'm quite looking forward to the next installment!

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

Once again, we find our hero and heroine at the center of another murder mystery, except this time it's BEFORE the murder occurs! Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney are called to prevail upon Lady Catherine de Bourgh and discover the miscreant that is trying to unalive her. <s>really who can blame them</s> She's as much of a terror as you remember, so there is no shortage of aspiring murderers.

As much of the mystery is the forefront of the story, we are treated to an ever increasing bond between our two MCs. Will Mr. Darcy overcome Miss Tilney's "broken heart"? Will Miss Tilney continue to hold onto hope that Mr. Darcy will see her as more than a friend?

That, dear reader, you would have to find out for yourselves. All I can say is this - I would request book 4 to be released posthaste.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

mystery was fun here, love seeing lady catherine going thru it. but this slowburn is a little too slow for me. i'd like for juliet and jonathan to just. figure it out and keep solving mysteries

**I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

In this third in the Miss Tilney and Mr. Darcy series, the two young people are requested to attend Lady Catherine de Bourgh at Rosings Park, who fears she is being targeted by someone. The Collins family makes an appearance, and Gray's interpretation of Mr. Collins is hilarious! I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the novel--it kept me guessing until the very end of the book. There are laugh out loud moments in the narrative, as well as some bittersweet moments.

I sincerely hopes this series continues!

Thoroughly enjoyed this one too! I'm having such a great time with this series and I really think it's because Claudia Gray has continued on with the lives of these beloved characters in a way that is so believable. For example, I find it entirely believable that Mr. Collins & Charlotte would have two kids named Catherine (Katy) and De Bourgh (Deb).

But the shining story in here that I felt needed to be told was of Anne & Colonel Fitzwilliam. I've often wondered what happened to Anne after Pride & Prejudice. She didn't marry Darcy as her mom wanted and she was described as kind of sickly so... did she die? I love that this story had Colonel Fitzwilliam (who we met in P&P as a nice guy) married to Anne out of mutual necessity and that their union grew into love. They both deserve that and it was so satisfying.

As for the mystery, I did guess who right away, but for me, it wasn't the driving force of this story. I was much more interested in the characters themselves and seeing how their relationships unfolded. I also love that Jonathan Darcy was very clearly described as autistic without using the word since that label didn't exist then. Claudia Gray was very clear in describing his attributes and "peculiarities" that this is an autistic character. And the fact that he's out there solving crimes and falling in love with a fellow crime solver is just so positive and lovely.

Two thumbs up! (But I knocked a star since the mystery itself was a no brainer)

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital copy.
This is the third book in a murder-mystery series that takes place in Jane Austen's regency world. The main characters are the son of Mr. Darcy & Lizzy Bennet (Pride & Prejudice) and the daughter of Henry Tilney & Catherine Morland (Northanger Abbey). This is the third time they team up to solve a murder.
You do not need to read the previous books in order to read this installment, however you will have the murderer from the second book revealed early in the third volume. Though you will get the satisfaction in watching annoying characters from Jane Austen's books die.
I enjoy Ms. Gray's choice to have Johnathan Darcy be a socially awkward introvert. As an introvert, I also appreciate her showing how hard he must work to improve himself in the eyes of society and how these "improvements" do not fix the problems he's facing.
There is some frustration with Miss Tilney's willful ignorance towards regency expectations of females. I feel like if she was as intelligent as portrayed, she would understand these limitations and choose to push against them, rather than creating an unnecessary misunderstanding with Darcy.

There are very few Jane Austen-inspired novels that can compare to the precision with which Claudia Gray writes like the original. And although she is very precise in style of language, in good character development, and in hewing to the cultural conduct of that era, she also puts together an engrossing story in each of these mysteries. Very highly recommended. Looking forward to the next installment.

There’s a new installment to the “Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery” series — if you recall, they were “The M—rder of Mr. Wickham” and “The Late Mrs. Willoughby” and this is the latest!

Pub Info — June 2024, Vintage Books. 4.15 average and 1,350 reviews on Goodreads. Claudia Gray is the author, and she has many other books including Star Wars, scifi and young readers.

The other two in the series — The M of Mr. Wickham (2022, 3.69 average) and The Late Mrs. Willoughby (2023, 3.9 average).

Categories — Historical Fiction, Mystery, Jane Austen, Amateur Detectives, Romance, Cozy, Retelling/Reimagining, Regency

TLDR — Read either as a series or standalone, this is a historical mystery based off the characters of Jane Austen’s creations. Amateur detective duo aims to solve who is targeting Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s life.

More Info (No Spoilers) ⤵️

🌸 This is based off Jane Austen’s characters in a cozy investigative fictionalized imagining. It is part of a running series but can be read standalone.

🌸 The main duo are Mr. Jonathan Darcy (Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett’s son) and Miss Juliet Tilney (her father is Mr. Henry Tilney). They come together after some time apart to figure out the mystery.

🌸 The mystery is who is trying to 💀 Lady Catherine de Bourgh, the rich and landed aunt of Mr. Darcy and patroness to Mr. Collins. Sabotage, direct attempts on her life and more add to the urgency of the mystery.

🌸 All the while, sometning seems to be brewing between the amateur detective duo. It may be a slow-burn romance, friends to lovers situation? 😄

Who’s It Good For? — Readers who like Jane Austen, retellings or reimagining of classic literature and JA characters, cozy mysteries, amateur detective duos, historical fiction and historical mysteries, books set in the regency era, books with slow burn or FTL romances, books for casual reading.

An interesting read, and I love what Claudia Gray has done with the Austen characters in a murder mystery way, but it was a little dry. Also, i felt like the murderer was quite obvious from the beginning. With the cast of characters this time, it would've been hard to do a character assassination (haha) of any of the established Austen characters, so there were only however many realistic suspects. But nonetheless a richly built story especially if you have not read Austen before.

I have been waiting for Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney to reunite at Rosings since the first book in the series. Lady Catherine de Bourgh has been the victim of several assassination attempts. She demands the presence of her great nephew Mr. Darcy, and his partner in crime solving Miss Tilney. Both are accompanied by their fathers, who take an instant dislike to each other.

I was very much looking forward to Gray's characterization of Mr. Collins and I was not disappointment. He is as ridiculous as ever. Juliet questions his sincerity at times, convinced that no one could be that obsequious. Charlotte is an ever sensible wife and mother and children Katy and Deb are a great addition.

Normally I would be annoyed by a drawn out will they/won't they love story, but in the context of the time, it works well. I do hope our two hero's are on the same page for the next book.

I will read any Austen inspired book especially one that's inspired by Pride and Prejudice. The characters are fairly good and I of course enjoy lady Catherine. She is really true to her original character. It just wasn't as exciting of a mystery as I thought it would be. I like the way the author is building toward a potential between the two main characters but I fear that it's going to be a very very slow burn.