Suspense and Sensibility (Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery, #2)

by Carrie Bebris

Fresh from the curious and unsettling matter of Caroline Bingley (as related in Pride and Prescience), Mr. and Mrs. Darcy have every intention of enjoying their still newlywed status at Pemberly until they are confronted with another mysterious situation. Elizabeth Darcy and her beloved husband Fitzwilliam have taken on the responsibility of finding a suitable suitor for Elizabeth's younger sister, assuring her a proper place in society. The angels smile on the young woman as a perfect match is found. Wedding plans are soon underway until a change in personality occurs in the soon to be model husband, a change so striking as to jeopardize not just the Darcys' social standing but their lives as well. A mysterious mirror, an insidious reprobate from the past, and matters far beyond the social circles around Pemberly all come into play in a dangerous puzzle where the entry fee may indeed be a soul for a soul. Once again the Darcys take center stage as the Regency era's answer to The Thin Man's Nick and Nora, searching for truth between tea times amidst the social whirl of Jane Austen's England.

• ISBN10: 0765305097
• ISBN13: 9780765305091
• Publish Date: 1 February 2005
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 13 December 2008
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[MurderByDeath]

It took me awhile to get through this book as I never enjoy watching a hero fall. But the story is a very good one, with a terrific ending. Well written and in keeping with Austen's tone, the author does a great job respecting Austen's creations and while not perfect by any means, I didn't find myself irritated or annoyed by any liberties taken with any of the characters. Lucy Ferrars is still very much Lucy Ferrars. As is Fanny, bless her tiny little heart.

This series is sold as a mystery series, but this book in particular contained very little in the way of mystery as one would normally expect it. There is a murder, but it's committed and solved all within a chapter. The greater "mystery" is the abnormal behaviour of Mr. Dashwood and fans of the supernatural will find something to like here, perhaps.

I look forward to continuing with the series.

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Suspense and Sensibility is the second in the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries in which the Darcys mingle with characters from other Austen novels and solve crime in between sips of tea.

In Suspense and Sensibility Elizabeth and Darcy sponsor Kitty Bennet and Georgiana Darcy during a season in London. Kitty meets Harry Dashwood, a young cousin of Elinor and Marianne who is now all grown up. It seems to be a match made in heaven until Harry begins exhibiting some strange and disorderly behavior, putting Mr. and Mrs. Darcy on the case.

This novel was a very lite read, but felt more like a fantasy than suspenseful. The dialogue was rather witty and was interesting to see the mix and reintroduction to many characters. But as a Austen retelling just didn't fit the bill for me. The leading characters could easily have been interchanged to any person and just weren't as developed or believable to stand out as this classic couple. Regardless, Suspense and Sensibility put an interesting twist on familiar names with their own unique flair.