I enjoy visiting favorite characters from Austen's novels. The author has taken Jane Austen’s characters and settings, and reimagined them in the form of a “who done it”. Can't wait for the next one!

Claudia Gray is so good at characterization -- Jonathan and Juliet are two of my favorite characters being written right now. She sprinkles the Austen references throughout without being heavy handed. Can't wait for the next one!

I gobbled this book up. I love the representation of Jonathan and Juliet and their relationship. It is always fun to visit old favorite characters and see minor characters from Austen's novels dotted along the landscape. Can't wait for the next one!

Lots of characters and uneven pacing. And now the author is so desperate to keep our main characters apart that they’ve undone the work Austen had Mr. Darcy do and made him worse than he was in Pride and Prejudice. I hoped this installment would get it together with sweet Jonathan and Juliet’s relationship, but I’m struggling. The lack of reasonable progress is so contrived. I don’t even mind Mansfield Park, so that’s not my issue. I like these characters, I like the mysteries for the most part, but the contrived ways to make zero progress in their relationship is unbelievable even as they work together to solve a mystery. It’s not for character development or because of the mystery plot and for me now their continued separation doesn’t feel natural.

I’ll have to check reviews before I come back for book 5. I’m guessing it’ll be a Persuasion/second chance themed opportunity to inch forward, but still not culminating until we get book 6 at Northanger.

Review of uncorrected eBook file

When an accident causes James to break his arm, the Darcy family ends their stay in London and returns to Pemberley, leaving Jonathan [much to his chagrin] in in the city as a guest of the Bertram family. He is, however, in for a pleasant surprise when he reluctantly attends a ball and discovers that Juliet Tilney is also in attendance. Certain he can change his father’s mind about the suitability of a marriage with Juliet, he is pleased when the circle dance provides him with an opportunity to dance with Juliet.

It isn’t long, however, before Jonathan and Juliet find themselves enmeshed in a far more familiar activity: investigating a murder. Edmund’s sister, Maria Rushworth, had caused a scandal when she left her husband and ran off with Henry Crawford. Now divorced from her husband, she has returned with her daughter, Ellen.

And then Mr. Rushworth is murdered . . . .

=========

Set in 1823, this tale, the fourth in the author’s “Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery” series, takes Jane Austen’s characters and settings, reimagining them in a murder mystery. The author provides a short “About This Book” that gives readers new to the series sufficient background so that the book works as a standalone.

The tone of the nineteenth century is maintained; the growing attraction between Jonathan and Juliet is one of the highlights of the series although readers may become a bit impatient with the drawn-out situation. However, the two have an undeniable charm and do indeed reflect the society of the time thanks to the author’s strong world-building.

Readers who are fans of Jane Austen’s stories as well as those who enjoy historical stories will find much to appreciate here. Be warned, however, there’s a cliffhanger hear that [presumably] will be dealt with in the next book.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor / Vintage and NetGalley
#TheRushworthFamilyPlot #NetGalley

This series is one of my must-read series each year. I love Jonathan and Juliet - I am shipping their relationship (#jandjdarcy4ever). This mystery was interesting for several reasons. First, Juliet and Jonathan are being kept apart by their respective fathers, so there was no real reason for them to meet. Second, in a reverse of book 2, Jonathan ends up as company for the Bertram family and Juliet and her mother travel to London for the season. It was fun to see Austen's characters integrate with this cast because the personalities are so vastly different. Maria is flamboyant, Fanny is sad, hopeful, and meek all at the same time, Thomas is keeping secrets, and Mrs. Norris has her own agenda. Third, this particular book addresses illegitimacy, the effects of being disowned, family dynamics and how they can be manipulated, society's mixed reactions to behaviors and their long-lasing impact on status and reputation. I felt that Jonathan in particular was very focused and more developed in this book. As always, Gray leaves us with some cliffhangers as relates to Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney. The deaths in this book are solved in a rather fun manner. As a fan of Jane Austen, reading these books allows me the opportunity to once again revisit these worlds and sneak a peek at the lives my favorite characters are living (according to this author).

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced kindle copy.

***SPOILERS***

The dynamic duo is at it again, this time with more ankle *GASP*. Juliet and Johnathan are united again with not one but two murders to solve. I think this was my favorite mystery within the series so far. You were able to appreciate how their skill of deduction have grown. But Lord help me, can these two not catch a break when it comes to their budding "attachment". This is a slow burn, not in affection but of circumstances. It took me time to get over the portrait scandal. I knew this would cause another significant obstacle for the young pair. Follett is, of course, portrayed as an antagonist, but this action seemed even too far compared his previous actions. It would be good to have context for why he despises Johnathan so much because he acted out of malice with no regard for collateral damage a year after they last interacted. While not friends, they seemed to part ways on neutral grounds from the last book. He claimed it was a lark, but his reasoning behind the act didn't fit how things played out. May I request he be murdered next? And now we also have Caroline Bingley to deal with. Can these kids please get a win soon? I imagine we are waiting for Mr. Darcy to get closer to a more appropriate marrying age, but my heart hurts for Juliet. I really enjoyed the book. I finished in less than 24 hours and have gone back to read my favorite parts. The next book can't get here soon enough!

I received this as an ARC.

This series is such a delightful concoction. Jane Austen’s characters get involved in murder mysteries, while staying true to form. At this point I’m so interested in the romance, will Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy finally get together? This is not something that normally appeals to me, but Juliet and Jonathan are so perfect for each other that I can’t help but root for them. My problem with this 4th volume is that the plot didn’t work as a mystery. It takes too long to get to the crime and the investigation is not as well organized as usual. The suspects, the clues, the whole plot is not tight. The denouement is almost an afterthought, and it was hard to follow the inquiry to its conclusion. The final part was suspenseful and I was really engrossed, but it didn’t have anything to do with the crimes so it was just distracting and felt rushed. My other problem was that the author gives contemporary principles to these Regency people. We all now know the horrors of slavery, but having all these characters have endless discussions about it over and over takes away most of the suspense. There are also all the parts about Fanny and her struggle to have children. In general, there are too many subplots, which slows down the pace. The final chapters about Jonathan and Juliet (and that awesome very last sentence) get five stars. The rest of the content, including the murder(s) get 3. Rounded up because I’m still waiting for the next one.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage.

Miss Tilney and Mr. Darcy meet again to solve a murder in London. Although it seems they have finally recognized their mutual attraction to each other, circumstances seem to pull them apart. Two murders, a little girl, a duel and the angry parents factor into this charming book. Looking forward to where the story goes from here.

I am a self-admitted book worm, and I have been the majority of my life. Here lately, I gravitate towards suspenseful books. I admit that while I don’t really read much mystery, I was really excited to get a chance to read this book. “Pride and Prejudice” was one of my favorite books growing up. I read “The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh” and I fell in love with the characters of Jonathan and Juliet.

Although I did read book three, I do think that this book is possible to be read as standalone. I definitely enjoyed this book. As a slight spoiler, there was a second murder in the book that I did not see coming at all. At that time, I will say it threw off my theory. I will honestly say that, unlike book three, I did not feel any sympathy at all for the killer in this book.

I definitely enjoyed this book. I’m not “in love” with the ending; however, it does make me excited to read what is next. Ultimately, I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for something different that holds your attention, and also if you are a fan of “Pride and Prejudice.”

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Claudia Gray has once again taken two beloved characters and made them even more dear and more sweet than before in this fourth installment of the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney series. Jonathan, son of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, and Juliet, daughter of Catherine and Henry Tilney, both wind up in London for the season. Neither expects to see the other, but they wind up reunited at a ball and become sleuthing partners again. Jonathan's disapproving father has taken the family back to Pemberley and Jonathan is staying with the Bertams.

The subplots deal with the Bertam family's sugar plantation. Fanny is an abolitionist and Edmund has joined her in wanting the plantation sold. Eldest brother Tom has come to London to complete the sale. There is another subplot involving the former Miss Bingley, who has decided that if she couldn't have Pemberley, she'll scheme for a way for her daughter to marry Jonathan and have it. This second storyline is the impetus for the big finale of the book, which could drive a permanent wedge between Jonathan and Juliet.

I am very hard on Austen pastiche and find these books delightful. Jonathan and Juliet are the sweetest couple, but are excellent sleuths as well. I love getting to see so many characters from the original Austen books in the future with their children around. Lastly, Jonathan's neurodivergence and Juliet's acceptance of it is sensitive and charming. This book was an absolute delight!

The Rushworth Family Plot is the fourth and strongest book of this Jane Austen murder mystery series! This is a lot of fun for fans of Jane Austen and meddling mystery-solving young adults.

Every book in this series is a murder mystery featuring characters and settings from Jane Austen novels with some new original characters and fiendish murder plots. The mystery solving main characters are the most notable Claudia Gray original characters. The MMC is the son of Darcy and Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice and the FMC is the daughter of Henry Tilney and Catherine (née Morland) from Northanger Abbey. The cast and plot of this book mainly focus on the family of Mansfield Park, including Fanny Price and Edmund Bertram, Susan Price, all the Bertram siblings and their spouses, Mrs. Bertram and her sister Mrs. Norris, and the Crawfords. Catherine Tilney (finally) has a supporting role in this series and Caroline Bingley from Pride and Prejudice also enters the fray. Themes from Mansfield Park, including colonial slavery, society's double standard for women's versus men's behavior, and familial hierarchy dynamics, play out here. The author does a good job handling the nineteenth century characters' realistic repudiation of slavery and also introduces a thoughtful sub-theme on infertility.

The writing continues to be great in this series, and Claudia Gray finds a great balance of fitting the tone of the era and Jane Austen without bogging down the reader with 19th century prose. With the first three books in the series (which I rated 4 stars each), I would hit lulls in the plot that made me lose interest at times, but I stayed very engaged for the entirety of this book (and I'm not a murder mystery girl myself). I did not guess the murderer in this series, but I truthfully was more focused on the great friendship and burgeoning romantic relationship between the two main characters. I love both main characters and I hope that the fifth book is the last in the series only so that these poor kids can finally be together without everyone and their dog meddling in their relationship.

You do not need to have read the previous books in this series to read this one, but I think the relationship and its development between the main characters will be more meaningful if you have read the first three books that are great, too. You also need not have read Jane Austen's novels before, but I think a major accomplishment of this book is making me appreciate Mansfield Park, which is rarely anyone's favorite Jane Austen novel and is most definitely not mine (cousins raised as siblings get married :( ). I am hoping the next in Claudia Gray's series spends more time with Anne Elliot of Persuasion but I eagerly await the next book regardless.

Thank you, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, for this arc!

This is the fourth in the Austenesque mystery series featuring Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney. Written in the style of Jane Austen, Jonathan is the son of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and his wife, the former Elizabeth Bennet. Juliet is the daughter of residents of Northanger Abbey. Challenging the mores of their era, they have worked together investigating and solving prior crimes.

Although attracted to each other, their parents do not approve of their beginning a relationship and separately have sent both of them off to London for “season” in the hopes of finding suitable partners. They are drawn together again by mutual friends and another murder to investigate.

This is the third of the four installments that I have read. This continues to be a delightful series. I enjoy the young characters….both of them with their intelligence, unique charm, and Juliet’s willingness to accept Jonathan’s neurodivergent behaviors. The mystery is well plotted and kept me guessing. Gray remains true to the Austen writing style and employs a good sense of humor.

This can work well as a standalone. The stories are so charming, though, I would suggest reading all four at some point to thoroughly enjoy the characters. You do not have to be overly familiar (or remember) Austen’s writings to appreciate these books for their plots and reflection of the society at that time. My advice is to read them slowly to savor the language and nuances.

I am looking forward to the next in this series. There is somewhat of a “situation” at the close of this installment and I can’t wait to see how it is resolved.

Augh! Why, Claudia Gray, why?!

Another installment in this series that I originally thought I wouldn’t like (see my previous reviews on these books) that I thoroughly enjoy.
She manages to take beloved characters and handle them well. I thought that to official romance between two characters would start in this book, but alas! it wasn’t to be so (hence my first sentence of this review).
I enjoy traveling around with Jane Austen’s characters (primarily their kids) and living in their world. Another murder and mystery that I was trying to solve with Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilley. There were quite a lot of characters in this story, a bit too many I think, but I managed to keep it straight and enjoy the story.

I still don’t know how she makes me love these stories so much. I shouldn’t, but I do. And I cannot wait for the next to come out!

I recommend you start with the first book - The Murder of Mr. Wickham

I have been a fan of the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery series and enjoyed that this latest installment took place in London. I remain a fan and am already impatient for the next book in the series. This one left off on a cliffhanger that could end up bringing a higher level of intensity to upcoming books that I would like to see.

I continue to love the world building and the next generation of Austen characters in this series. This book also continues the pleasure of classic Austen characters making appearances. My small issue with this book is that I think there were too many characters and storylines to keep track of and that didn’t add to my enjoyment.

This series is promoted as a mystery series, but it also has the romantic storyline between Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney. Different readers are going to expect and appreciate different ratios of these elements. I am decidedly in favor of more romantic elements and after so many books in this series I am weary of the storyline tactics that are keeping them apart.

I think this is a series best read in order and I don’t recommend that this book be read as a stand-alone. I think this is a fun and clever concept for a book and a series and it is well-executed. The tone and writing style is complementary to Austen’s classic works. I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

3.25 stars. The Rushmore Family Plot is the fourth in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney series by Claudia Gray. I had only read the first in the series prior to reading this, but enjoyed the continued adventures of Jonathan and Juliet. In this book they are working to solve the murder of Mr. Rushworth. Their investigations are intermixed with the parties, shopping, and social calls that are integral to the London season.

I enjoyed this book and spending time with the children of some of the characters from Jane Austen’s famous novels. Along with the well-crafted mystery we have all the scheming and manipulation for good matches and climbing the social ladder typically seen in Austen’s books. At one point the author mentioned that Jonathan failed to notice the stratagem of the situation. I looked this up and see it is defined as “a plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve and end.” This perfectly sums up all that is transpiring in both a Jane Austen novel and in this series, which is based on the historical books.

While I am glad to have read the book, I did find that at times the book didn’t hold my attention. There was a lot going on with a number of characters and side stories and it was a lot to keep track of.

Thank you to the publisher Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor | Anchor, author Claudia Gray, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney are back with another scintillating mystery to be solved and aren’t we all grateful that we get to come along for the detective adventure?! I continue to be hooked on this fun series that combines two of my favorites- Austen characters and murder mysteries. This installment brings us back to the Bertram family and all the family drama that seems to plague them incessantly. Poor Fanny!

I’m honestly not sure what to make of the portrayal of Mr. Darcy in this series so far. In my opinion, his attitude and behavior toward Juliet Tilney do not seem to match what we know of him from Pride and Prejudice. Granted, his behavior in this series lines up with what we thought of him at the beginning of Pride and Prejudice, but most certainly not by the end of the book. Why would he be so vehemently opposed to his son marrying for love when that’s exactly what he did? I have complete faith that the author will eventually bring this conundrum to a positive resolution for all characters. Only time will tell the tale. On that note I’m definitely ready for book five!

Be sure to add The Rushworth Family Plot to your TBR! Thank you to the publisher and Austenprose for a complimentary e-ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Good to Know: miscarriage, infertility, descriptions of an explicit and disturbing painting.

This review includes SPOILERS! Claudia Gray is a master at creating situations and dialog that feels authentic to the world of Austen. She has created characters that feel like the natural extensions of the characters we originally met in the original Austen books. She also creates mysteries that keep me hooked and keep me guessing until the end. I also believe that the author intends to create a mystery story centered around each finished Austen novel and this fourth one is centered on "Mansfield Park." There are two left - "Persuasion" and "Northanger Abbey." I will absolutely read any all books that the author releases with this delightful duo!

However... and here are where SPOILERS start, so stop reading if that is going to affect you...

I believed (AND TRULY WANTED) that Juliet and Jonathan would "get together" in this book based on the ending of the third book. By "get together" I mean in the context of the era, maybe they agree to begin courting by the end, or they start courting during the book and are engaged at the end. But the ending left the characters even more apart than ever before! My hope was that they would be together for some of the books and the readers could get some playful banter like Nick and Nora Charles. I'm getting the feeling the author is going to keep them apart until the very end of the series!

It felt like each obstacle the characters encountered on the road to happiness was put there deliberately by the author and didn't necessarily arise from the organic interactions and situations between the characters. I know that sounds weird to say since the author IS THE CREATOR of the story, the world, the characters. For example, what purpose did the Mrs. Allerdyce (fka Caroline Bingley) subplot serve other than specifically to create an obstacle between Jonathan and Juliet? What purpose did the Follett painting subplot serve besides creating an obstacle between Juliet and Jonathan?

Thank you to Knopf and Netgalley for granting my ARC request.

I’ve never heard anyone say Mansfield Park is their favorite Austen novel. I know it’s not my favorite Austen novel. But I think Claudia Gray did a great job taking the characters and the plot line from that story and running with it.

Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy are back together again, solving murders. I was unable to figure out who the culprit was before being told. In Book 2, I thought the killer was obvious, so I enjoyed how this time it was difficult to figure out who did it and how it took place.

I’d also say that more time was spent on character development and romance development than on solving the murder. Now that we’re in Book 4, I think it’s a good thing to have the Jonathan and Juliet romance ramping up and being more center stage. They’re able to admit to themselves they love each other. People around them can see it too.

Also, not since Book 1 have we had so many different characters from different Austen books meeting. Caroline (formerly Bingley) shows up with her daughters, and she made me shake my fists. So did Fitzwilliam Darcy, but I know Elizabeth will eventually set him straight. I enjoyed that we got more of Catherine Tilney since we didn’t see her in Book 1-3 all that much. And then we had something that happened in Book 2 create major problems in this one. I appreciate that Claudia is tying all the books in the series together.

The Rushworth Family Plot ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger, and I am excited to see how the next book in the series will handle it.

Bring on Book 5!!!

⭐️=4.75 | 😘=2 | 🤬=1.5 | ⚔️=3 | 14/15+

summary: Book 4 of the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney mystery series; they’re both in London for the season, with Mr. Darcy staying at the Bertrams’. Mr. Rushworth is suddenly killed—but by whom?? and how?? and why??

thoughts: questioning whether I will recover from this?? the balance between mystery and a continuously developing relationship between Jonathan and Juliet has always been fantastic in this series but in TRFP specifically!! so good!! the cliffhanger?? brutal. the DRAMA????? excruciating. I can't say anything else without spoilers but like I audibly gasped several times like the plot twists were SERIOUS. this is also just thematically fantastic and manages to tackle a lot of the issues brought up in Mansfield Park (colonialism, generational trauma, et cetera) while still maintaining a compelling mystery and Jonathan & Juliet shenanigans bc the characters in Mansfield Park are soooo messy and just perfect for a murder mystery. and I've always adored the prose here, ft. Austenesque witty asides and commentary and keeping the narrator very close to the reader in that delicious, well-done omniscient manner. the mystery denouement felt very slightly rushed, but tbh I don’t care because the rest of this was so clever and delightful.