Do you remember what your reaction was when you learned that famed British crime novelist P. D. James, an ardent admirer of Jane Austen, had written a sequel to Pride and Prejudice? I do. I gasped in total disbelief and stared at my computer screen for about a minute while the world around me stood still.
This – was indeed incredible news. One of my favorite mystery authors had written an Austen-inspired sequel? It doesn’t get much better than this Janeites!
The news was released the first week of October. It has received so much press that it is hardly breaking news anymore, but I am still giddy and a bit goofy over it.
On Monday I received my advance reading copy. Goosebumps! More goofiness. The book has released in the UK on November 3rd by Faber & Faber and it will release here in the US on December 6th by Knopf. Here is description of the book from the publisher:
BOOK DESCRIPTION
A rare meeting of literary genius: P. D. James, long among the most admired mystery writers of our time, draws the characters of Jane Austen’s beloved novel Pride and Prejudice into a tale of murder and emotional mayhem.
It is 1803, six years since Elizabeth and Darcy embarked on their life together at Pemberley, Darcy’s magnificent estate. Their peaceful, orderly world seems almost unassailable. Elizabeth has found her footing as the chatelaine of the great house. They have two fine sons, Fitzwilliam and Charles. Elizabeth’s sister Jane and her husband, Bingley, live nearby; her father visits often; there is optimistic talk about the prospects of marriage for Darcy’s sister Georgiana. And preparations are under way for their much-anticipated annual autumn ball.
Then, on the eve of the ball, the patrician idyll is shattered. A coach careens up the drive carrying Lydia, Elizabeth’s disgraced sister, who with her husband, the very dubious Wickham, has been banned from Pemberley. She stumbles out of the carriage, hysterical, shrieking that Wickham has been murdered. With shocking suddenness, Pemberley is plunged into a frightening mystery.
Inspired by a lifelong passion for Austen, P. D. James masterfully re-creates the world of Pride and Prejudice, electrifying it with the excitement and suspense of a brilliantly crafted crime story, as only she can write it.
Even better – listen to P. D. James reading a thrilling four minute excerpt of the arrival of the news of a death of a character that we have all wanted to kill.
Death Comes to Pemberley, by P. D. James
Faber & Faber (2011)
Hardcover (320) pages
ISBN: 978-0571283576
Cover image courtesy of Faber & Faber © 2011; text Laurel Ann Nattress © 2011, Austenprose.com
Austenprose 
Mr. Collins!! I never really liked him…
jaredreadsbooks@gmail.com
LikeLike
Definitely Mr. Collins for me.
I had a sixth sense you would receive a copy of the book – and post tonight! I have been sitting here waiting! It is 2 a.m.!! Finally you post! Now at 2 a.m. I must come up with why I should win this book?? Well, it is obvious – I waited up until 2 a.m.!!
Thank you!
Patricia
madley (AT) cogeco (DOT) ca
LikeLike
LOL Patricia – I like your goofy spirit!
LikeLike
A modern day famous mystery writer + a Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice sequel = a happy time reading! I’d sure love to read this book and win it.
LikeLike
It’s be nice to see Colins off
LikeLike
Definitely Mr. Collins.
lovetoread205 [at] gmail [dot] com
LikeLike
Excuse the blatant advertisement: there will be an extensive interview with P. D. James in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of Jane Austen’s Regency World magazine http://www.janeaustenmagazine.co.uk
:)
LikeLike
Duly excused Tim, but only because the news is so pleasing! Thanks for letting us know. What a coupe for you!
LikeLike
Okay gang. I admit that Mr. Collins deserves the ole knife in the back, but let’s be creative here. Who is really despicable? There are so many. Lady Catherine; Wickham; Mrs. Bennet; Lydia Bennet; Caroline Bingley; Louisa Hurst; Mr. Hurst? Oh I’m sure I am missing someone.
My top choice would be Caroline and Lady C.
LikeLike
Judging by the extract, it may be Denny who is dead and Wickham who is suspected, if it isn’t Wickham himself who is dead as Lydia fears. Certainly, I think Wickham would be the least mourned of the characters in Pride and Prejudice. Mr Collins isn’t actually wicked, just irritatingly pompous.
LikeLike
I think Mr William Walter Elliot the heir presumptive to Sir Walter Elliot of Kellynch Hall . This Mr Elliot should be killed off because he first makes Elizabeth Elliot unhappy and disappointed by not marrying her, then he dares to draw Anne Elliot into his plots by trying to marry her, he destroys the hopes of Mrs Smith that her husband’s money affairs will be sorted and finally goes off wiith Mrs Clay to London and sets Mrs Clay up in an establishment under his protection. Enough awful conduct for any man to hope to survive.
Ann
LikeLike
I agree with Laurel Ann- not silly Mr Collins- someone more worthy of “murder most foul” is Caroline Bingley- with her poisonous tongue and malicious wit.
A knife in the back would be too crude- some poison in her drink would be more appropriate,don’t you think?
Rebecca Ann Collins
LikeLike
Mr. Darcy’s aunt should be killed off. Then again, since I’ve read the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies series more recently than the original, that’s probably coloring my view. :)
Thanks for the giveaway!
LikeLike
Without a doubt, Lydia. She is the most annoying character, and has been a great source of aggravation and distress to this reader since she first appeared. I can’t imagine anyone who is forced to spend any time with her thinking otherwise.
LikeLike
I love anything involving mystery and intrigue with these beloved characters. I would love to see Mr. Collins bumped off.
LikeLike
I agree that Mr. Collins is obnoxious and irritating, but not necessarily deserving of being murdered. Wickham, on the other hand……….
Thanks for the giveaway. The mystery sounds so intriguing.
LikeLike
Yes, I think Lydia. She would create such a dilemma, loved but exasperating!
If I don’t win, I shall have to shut myself in a garret, subsisting on tea and toast (at least until the book is available in the US).
Sigh…
LikeLike
Ann
a character from Pand P to have murdered has I think to be Mr William Collins
LikeLike
When you collect all things Jane Austen and Ruth Rendell, the only thing missing is a Jane Austen inspired book by Ruth Rendell. I rest my case!
LikeLike
I immediately recognized the font on the cover as “Inked God”… is that geeky enough? :-P
I’m going to be mean and say it would be the most interesting and fun if she kills of Mr. Bennet.
LikeLike
Well, you have my attention and now I am very eager to read this book! And the character from P&P that I would like to see get bumped off in this novel would have to be Lydia. Her behavior is horrible and I never liked the way Mrs. Bennett continued to dote on her no matter how she acted!!
LikeLike
Lady Catherine, definitely! Mr. Collins is irritating, but he’s got nothing on his “noble patroness!!”
LikeLike
oops I mean Bennet…=)
LikeLike
Mr. Collins!!!!!! He’s just too much!
LikeLike
I recall reading somewhere that PD James got through World War II in London in part by reading Austen–and named her daughters after Austen characters. This book seems so utterly unlike her usual work that I’ll be fascinated to see whether she’s able to take it seriously–or whether it reads as a spoof. Also interested that she set the book prior to P&P’s 1813 publication date.
As for which character to strangle, suffocate, or bludgeon with a blunt instrument? Caroline Bingley. Hands down.
LikeLike
Oh my… I just stumbled across this site, and had a quetion of an entirely different nature… What an utterly delightful place. Instantly bookmarked! :)
But as it is, without any aspirations of winning anything really, I’d just like to play along and list who I’d very much like to see off the P&P character crew! While poor Mr Collins is every bit of the tedious, meddling simpleton – I wouldn’t say that he, above all, needs to be snuffed out. (Even though it might mean that the estate wouldn’t be entailed away then? Hm…)
Lydia on the other hand… Ooooh! That tiresome, self-centered, incorrigible loud mouth of a girl would be such a relief to be done with. Eh… *blushes* no surprise who I couldn’t stand in that novel ;) However, being a bit of a softie… the thought of the Bennet-sisters being decimated at all is too evil a thought to mull over, so I’d have to retract the bid for Lydia.
Wickham would be a nice itch to have scratched. But consider – with him gone, Lydia would be as wild and scandalous as ever, back in her old, flirtatous form again. Causing grief.
Who remains of the tiresome lot then? Oh well… I’d imagine Caroline Bingley and Mrs Hurst do better stewing in their resentment over being beaten to the cream by ‘the likes of’ Lizzy and Jane. Such a fate is worse for them than any death. Lady Catherine? I suppose that old hag is the only one I could part with who wouldn’t have too severe a ripple-effect on the lives of the others. So Lady Catherine de Bourgh it’d be, if I’d have my say!
*Right…! Now to the off-topic question; does anybody know what piece of music Elizabeth sang while playing the pianoforte, in the 1995-movie? You know, in the scene where Lizzy and Mr & Mrs Gardiner are invited to dine at Pemberley. It’s driving me half mad not being able to place it.
Sorry for the long, rattling post from this forum-newbie :) Cheers!
LikeLike
Wow, I can’t decide between Caroline Bingley or Mr. Collins. But either way, I am really looking forward to this. Such a fantastic author revisiting “Pride and Prejudice!” Who wouldn’t be excited??
Wait!! Just realizing I’m posting right after Stephanie Barron!! This post gets better and better!
LikeLike
Oh my goodness this is exciting! I have to admit I was pretty thrilled imagining Lydia screaming her head off about Wickham kicking the proverbial bucket…but if anyone else has to go, it’s got to be a tie between Collins and Caroline B. I can’t decide!!! :)
LikeLike
This has been the year of the Austenathon over at LibraryThing–we are just getting set to read the sixth book this year, Persuasion. As a Janeite, but not so much a fan of the “sequels” with the exception of Stephanie Barron’s mysteries (and Austenland, which isn’t really a sequel), I am very, very curious as to how a celebrated writer such as James handles this. As for what character other than Wickham I’d like to see murdered, either Caroline Bingley or Lady Catherine, definitely, but I can’t see Lydia involved in either of their cases.
LikeLike
Wickham! You know he’s got to go. He’s going to be a terrible husband, and heaven forbid, an awful father.
Laura
LikeLike
I’d really like to see Lady Catherine bite the dust, and not just because she’s a thoroughly disagreeable woman: I’m curious to see how her death would affect everyone around her, especially her daughter Anne. Anne de Bourgh is barely there in P&P, and I never know whether to scorn her or feel sorry for her. I’d love to see her character developed more, especially if she suddenly inherits Rosings and her mother’s fortune!
No matter who dies, though, this book looks amazing! Can’t wait to read it!
LikeLike
I once tried to write a sequel to P&P called The Bingleys at Home — it was so difficult, I gave up, leaving Jane Bingley stranded in a window embrasure forever! P. D. James mentions one of my pet peeves in JA adaptations and sequels, and not just limited to JA — the past was much more formal and few people addressed each other by their Christian names. She also talks about the fairy tale fear of “into the woods.” If Wickham the rascal is not the victim, he should be! I guess my second choice would be Caroline Bingley as victim. I can’t wait to read Death Comes to Pemberley!
LikeLike
Bump off Georgiana….that would certainly up the stakes!!! :)
LikeLike
I should like to see a nice little Merry Widows club here,with Lydia not only being free of Wickam but Charlotte from Mr. Collins and Mrs. Hurst of her forever sleepy husband(a little poison in his favorite ragout would do the trick).
This would all be done under the leadership of Lady Catherine(who rid herself of her own spouse in her usual orderly fashion) ,who would probably have Lydia disposed of since that girl can’t keep a secret for long. Mr. Bennet would most likely be offered the token widower’s spot but he’d refuse simply because he would miss the excuse to hide out in his library,not to mention his old friends(Mrs. Bennet’s nerves).
LikeLike
As a woman who has found a good husband not in possession of a great fortune, which requires me to win the bread, I am 5/6 of the way through pursuit of my master’s degree and am quite sick of reading about how to run a hospital. Winning this book would coincide just perfectly with the end of my semester and provide a most wonderful diversion from the dry, lifeless reading I have been most torturously subjected to for these past 4 months.
LikeLike
So need my P&P to help me escape the horrors of NFL…
LikeLike
What a treat for all of us P&P lovers! It does sound delicious! If Wickham truly is gone, then my first choice for a highly anticipated ‘bump-off’ would have to be Caroline Bingley. Oh how nice it would be to see that smirk wiped off her face! My next choice would be Lady Catherine. Finally, Anne might be able to bloom and have a chance at happiness. How could anyone not be sickly or ill with a mother like hers!
I have not a single reason to offer as to why I should win a copy of this book. I have been so fortunate in the past…but…who in their right mind could not WANT to win it!!! P.D. James and Pride and Prejudice together, how utterly delightful!
LikeLike
Caroline Bingley, with a resounding thud, please. She is a witch – how dare she meddle in other’s lives in such a nasty way. Off with her head! Okay, maybe that’s over the top but she’s the top of my list.
I’ve adored P.D. James books forever. I’m very excited about Death Comes to Pemberley.
LikeLike
And when I say Wickham, I mean that I wouldn’t have chosen another character.
LikeLike
Oh, Mr. Hurst because he would be so easy to catch – we just finished watching THE Pride and Prejudice miniseries (Colin Firth, of course) and Mr. Hurst is almost always recumbent and drunk. ;)
LikeLike
@ninarowan59 – you’re so right, he was always lolling about! He was brilliantly portrayed by Rupert Vansittart who is currently involved in the filming of “Austenland” (check it out on IMDb.com). Vansittart is also known to viewers of the UK tv production Heartbeat as Lord Ashfordly.
LikeLike
I’m ever hopeful that Mr. Collins might bite the dust in any given sequel, but I know that Ms James will really be able to do him in in style! I so sympathize with Charlotte.
LikeLike
My choice would be Lady Catherine. She’s such a domineering character and expects everyone to bow to her wishes
LikeLike
In an effort to honestly deserve to win a new book, I offer my poem:
“Jane Answers her Critics”
Some dreams run well against the wind,
their fragility and virginity alone
allowing them over the top of the current,
traveling quite comfortably.
These dreams, I’m sure,
don’t live in stone temples
where gargoyle faces laugh
each time the wind shifts,
and we are made to turn again.
They said, “You write the quotidian,
of fripperies.”
I said, “Teach yourself the gift of words,”
and wrote the next page.
Still a literary geek after 37 years of teaching high school English and now happily retired, I actually have the time to do what I tried to inspire in my students – read, think, re-read, write, create. Do I really need another book to read? Oh, yes! Incidentally, I’m delighted that the prize is a real book, printed on real paper, and with real ink. How can one properly read an electronic book? How can one underline, highlight, annotate, write snippets of poetry, and generally create within a book if it’s on a screen?!
LikeLike
OMG poems? You guys what these books bad!
Keep em coming. If the response is amazing, I might be able to convince the publisher for more giveaway copies!
LikeLike
I first discovered PD James in one of my book clubs and found her to be an excellent mystery writer. I am more than a little excited to see what she will do with a mystery sequel to Pride and Prejudice! There are so many characters that would make good people to be murdered in Pride and Prejudice.
1. Caroline Bingley – Who doesn’t want to see Caroline offed after her condescending treatment of Elizabeth. My only reason for not wanting this to happen is that I actually sympathize with her and have hope for her redemption after reading Monica Fairview’s excellent novel, The Other Mr. Darcy.
2. Lady Catherine – There are so many possibilities of characters that would want to see Lady Catherine meet her maker, which could even include the Darcys themselves. I think her murder would make the greatest plot device.
3. Mr. Wickham – just because I don’t like his cadish behaviour and think it deserves its just rewards. I must admit I laughed out loud when I read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and he was rendered a mute cripple stuck with Lydia for the rest of his life. I actually think that is more of a just reward than death.
4. Mr. Collins – I think Charlotte would make an excellent widow, as long as Mr. Collins leaves her with enough to live.
Thanks for the great topic and giveaway!!
LikeLike
I’m going to try and be different and hope that it’s not a despised character who is killed, but a likeable one. It’s so much more satisfying to find the murderer that way. Perhaps Colonel Fitzwilliam?
LikeLike
Oh my, this is fun! Let’s see…Mr Collins and Lady Catherine amuse me too much to wish dead. If it were “I’d like to see,” for sure Caroline Bingley or Lydia would be my choices. But as mentioned in a previous post, maybe a more loveable character might make for an unsettling good bit of drama and mystery. Either way, I look forward to the story unfolding when the book is finally released!
Thank you so much for this fun give-away!
LikeLike
I deserve to win this book because I have read every P.D. James book even before she was popular in the US. I was and am a huge fan. I am also a fan of anything Austen; so the combination of P.D. James’ skillful mystery writing worthy of the word, literary with Austen’s literary genius gives me chills and thrills! I cannot wait to read this book whether I win or not! Thank you, P.D. and keep on writing; you are a treasure.
LikeLike
I have to agree with previous posts about Caroline Bingley, who would be an excellent candidate to get “offed.” She is so wicked and horrid to Elizabeth; she has no redeeming qualities. Further, I would suggest that she plans to do evil towards Elizabeth, and it backfires; she attempts to poison Elizabeth’s tea, but Caroline drinks from the wrong cup. Not only is she a bad person, but she is also not that bright.
Without resorting to gushing, I would love to win a copy of this book!
LikeLike
Caroline Bingley or Louisa Hurst would be excellent victims in a murder mystery.
LikeLike
Thank you ever so much for making it open to all. So very much appreciated. Have been wanting to read this book from the time it hit the reviews!!!!
LikeLike
What amazing timing…I just finished my very first P.D. James book last week and now I can look forward to another with a Jane Austen twist-how exciting! As for who I would like to “bump off” in P & P….I would have to agree that Caroline Bingley would be a perfect target but I have to say that I would even more so love to see Wickham go! Thanks for the fantastic giveaway and I am so looking forward to this book!
LikeLike
I have to say I was thrilled when I read that Lydia claims Wickham has been murdered. Let’s stick with that. And as everyone knows that someone else ALWAYS bites the dust before the first murder is solved, let’s have Lydia be the second victim. Her character is fixed, there is no hope of reform and think how much more peaceful life will be for Lizzie and Jane.
I did think of Mrs. Bennet, but decided that Mr. Bennet deserves to have her plague him, as he never put a check on her more outrageous behavior and had he put forth any effort to improve his daughters’ prospects, she would not have been so inappropriately aggressive in her pursuit of sons-in-law.
LikeLike
I always enjoy when someone writes Wickham experiences his own mortality.”He’s a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly prose-breaker, the owner of no one-good quality.” Shakespeare
LikeLike
Issy, I believe the song Lizzy sang at Pemberley in the 1995 film series was “Voi Che Sapate” from the Marriage of Figarro.I think.
LikeLike
Christina B Brilliant! I was seriously stuck on that one. Thank you.
LikeLike
I am 70 years old and have loved Jane Austen’s novels since I learned to read in first grade.I have also read all of P.D. James mysteries.Two of my most favorite authors. I deserve to win this one.
Arlene
LikeLike
You go Arlene!
LikeLike
I was tracking with you through all your ‘gushing’ as I have been excited about this book’s release too. I love P. D. James mysteries and I love Jane Austen. I have a feeling about how careful she will treat the spirit of the story while she adds her usual depth and drama.
As to who I would like to see be killed off? The story already takes care of that- Wickham. Who would probably get themselves killed off because of talking like they know more than they do as so often happens in mysteries- Collins or Mrs. Bennet.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
sophiarose1816@gmail.com
LikeLike
Why do I deserve to win the book? I do not, of course. “But I’d rather like to have it all the same.” ;-)
There are plenty of nasty or annoying characters that could be killed off in Pride and Prejudice, but Darcy, Elizabeth, and we the readers, would be more vested if a character we cared about was murdered. However, I can’t bring myself to even recommend someone like either Gardiner or other loved characters.
Sounds like a good read! Thanks Laurel Ann.
LikeLike
I too think Mrs. Collins would make an excellent widow.
LikeLike
Thank you for brightening up an otherwise grey November day with the delightful possibility of winning this ‘hybrid’ sequel of P & P!
Given the extraordinary talent of P.D. James, as a writer of intrugue, I am wondering if, perhaps, she has come at this from a different angle:
Wickham and Lydia are travelling to Pemberley on one of their predictible trecks to beg for money and attention, when the carriage is set upon by robbers and Lydia is badly injured and later dies! Wickham is unharmed and seems to have been released from his ‘arranged’ marriage to a woman he never loved.
Shortly thereafter, Wickham is arrested, and charged with conspiracy with the villians, and the murder of his wife!
In England, during the nineteenth century, hanging was the punishment for crimes of much less weight. Thus, we are given the satisfaction of seeing two of our least favourite characters meet their just reward!
I have loved reading everyone’s posts!
LikeLike
Oh, I would love to win this!
Assuming that Wickham is truly dead, I would love to see Lady Catherine be the next to go. What a small-minded, vicious woman she is, and assuming that Anne is not also a nasty person, it would be lovely for her to escape her mother’s oppressive influence.
LikeLike
Always the Pollyanna, I like to think that if Lydia were free of Wickham, it is possible that she could rise above her youthful and childish impulses and reclaim {I suppose that may not be possible} . . . maybe claim for the first time, her proper maturity and usefulness in proper society. Eventually, through the years . . . the Bennet’s may be able to rise above Lydia’s shame . . . Would that scenario just be all too tidy?
{I’m rarely right, but I still hope for, and somehow always believe the best will win . . . }
LikeLike
Caroline Bingley– because even though she is a horrid person, she is still soft-hearted Charles’s sister so you know that is sure to cause interesting drama!
LikeLike
I’ve never read anything by P.D. James; mysteries are not my favorite reading material. However, one of my best friends is a big fan. She has been trying to get me to read one of her books. This would be a good choice for me to try this well-known writer, and I’m not totally against mysteries. However, P.D. James is a fairly prolific writer and I guess I’m afraid of liking her too much and wanting to read all her books. I have altogether too many books already, more than I can possibly read. Ah well, such is life.
LikeLike
I have never read a book by P.D. James before and I would really like this one to be my first.
LikeLike
Why do I deserve this book… let me count the ways.
I never read P.D.James although I do like mysteries.
I have read all Jane Austen Books at least 10 times @ year.
I have seen the all movie versions at least 10 times @ year.
I have read many of the sequel and prequels at least once.
I would like to read her (P.D.James) new book because it is a sequel of my favorite Jane Austen novel and because of the mystery angle.
I like all things Jane and will never run out of time, there are never too many books for me to read.
The publisher’s description got to me from the first paragraph.
I’d like to be giddy and goofy about this book just like Laurel Ann.
LikeLike
I can share your goofiness. I must be living in a vacum…I do live in a vacum. Anyway this is the first I have heard about P.D James and a Pemeberly sequel. I love her mysterys and have read them all. I just encouraged a friend to start reading her books. I want to thank you for your blog. Until I stumbled on it I was missing a great number of books that I have since read. They are wonderful.
I think…from a parental point of view that the person who should kill the villan Wickham should be Mr. Bennet. I know he is in all things a tad bit lazy about taking on responsibility but he should do it.
LikeLike
Mrs. Bennet needs to be permanently silenced! Let Mr. Bennet enjoy his golden years with some sweet young thing who devotes herself only to him.
LikeLike
IF the murder were a clean instantaneous death, I say let Mrs Bennet be done in. This would leave her interesting, handsome, 44 year old husband free to remarry in about a year — and we know he’d choose wisely and be luckier this time than he was first time as an innocent 20 year old lad.
Thank you so much for including the wonderful PD James clip in this review, Laurel Ann. I’ve already ordered the book.
LikeLike
Oh it must be Lady Catherine! She deserves to be murdered as much as I deserve to win this book! Actually, I’ll run out and buy it next week if I don’t win it, so I’m good either way. I’m just so excited for a PD James sequel to P&P. This is the first I’ve heard of it and it’s just amazing to think of my two favorite authors ‘working’ together. Thanks for the interview–I think PD James is one of the most fascinating and talented women. Happy Thanksgiving!
LikeLike
I kinda hope that Lady Catherine gets the bump. She is such a mean spirited person. Collins is bad but I think that he just has a lack of social skills more than anything else.
LikeLike
It is a truth universally acknowledged that everyone desires to get something free. Therefore I humbly present myself for your consideration. I have read and appreciated both Jane Austen AND P.D. James for many years and luxuriate in the possession of most of their works. I was privileged to tread in Jane’s footsteps when I visited her house in Chawton. While purchasing a garment in Victoria, B.C, I was informed that the previous customer in the haberdashery had been P.D. James, so my feet have followed in her footsteps also. My library would be completed by the addition of Death Comes to Pemberley, either by your kind donation or my purchase. And if we live but to make sport for our neighbours, I have fulfilled my destiny today!
MickOne
LikeLike
What a tough choice. I’ll have to say Collins cause he’s the only one (besides Lady Catherine) who I don’t think would ever be redeemed. Caroline and Wickham at least have a kernel of hope that they may change for the better. Although Almost any would make a truly delicious story and I look forward to reading this. It’s definitely on my buy list when it comes to Canada.
LikeLike
Wow! I had no idea this was available. I love Pride and Prejudice. I would love a copy of this book to share with a college friend.
LikeLike
Kitty (because really, she’s a non-character and wouldn’t be missed). Or Lady Catherine….she’s a fantastic villian.
LikeLike
I love both JA and P.D. James – thought her last book, The Private Patient, was absolutely astounding for having been written by an 89-year-old (Agatha Christie’s last books, by contrast, were unreadable).
I had assumed that Wickham was to be the corpse – but if it’s still open, my vote is for Lady Catherine; or Caroline Bingley; or Mr. Collins, not because he’s such a bad guy, as because it would undoubtedly improve Charlotte’s life (as long as she has a son already).
LikeLike
Lady Catherine? Poor Anne DeBourgh is such a sad and pitiful character. Just think what she could do for her health and the general mood of Rosings! The old battle axe would hardly be missed by anyone but toady Mr. Collins!
Another? Caroline. What a nasty creature. As they say in certain places in the deep south “She needed killin” Having never read anything by the legendary P D James, it is never too late to begin.
LikeLike
This book could go on my shelf of “eek” books, that I am intrigued by, want to read, but feel like I may be betraying Miss Austen to open. I have a few on there already, but this one may actually get me reading these. Through reading your blog, I am beginning to understand these novels as Jane-inspired rather than cheap imitations or spin offs sucking off the success of Austen.
Since this one seems very high caliber, it will likely inspire me to read what I have been (probably unfairly) viewing as aberrational.
Thanks to your site, I am beginning to see that “spinoffs” of Miss Austen’s work are often really “Austen-inspired,” which I think is an important distinction and worthwhile endeavor. Who knows, maybe this book will help me decrease my prejudices ;)
LikeLike
Maybe Anne de Bourgh, not because she’s a devious character, but because upon her death, it is discovered that she is the author of several horrid novels and suspision falls on Lady Catherine because she was anxious to conceal her daughter’s secret from the world.
Or, though I realize she mellows once she doesn’t have her other sisters to compete with: Mary Bennet. In the drawing room. With a piano wire.
LikeLike
Oh farewell Caroline Bingley,! She has been bumped off by a crazed aristocrat whom she managed to ensnare in marriage for the rewards of a title, prestige and a headstone! Now he’s better off with her large fortune and hoping to get off scot-free, since she’s died the respectable death of the Muslin Disease – nobody needs to know he dampened all her gowns, undergarments and even bedsheets for weeks, hoping she would finally succumb!
I would love to win the book and I think I should because it would only whet my appetite for dreaming up more dire and dreadful ends for our least-favourite characters – next, Mr Collins, drowned by Lady catherine in his own baptismal font!
LikeLike
Lady Catherine! Wouldn’t it be just marvelous to see Anne de Bourgh step up to take her place and give Caroline Bingley a run for the money as the biggest (“enter gauche word here”) in town?! Bu wait…what if Anne mrdered Wickham?
Love P&P and am so intrigued! Hope to win!
LikeLike
Lady Catherine! Wouldn’t it be just marvelous to see Anne de Bourgh step up to take her place and give Caroline Bingley a run for the money as the biggest (“enter gauche word here”) in town?! But wait…what if Anne mrdered Wickham?
Love P&P and am so intrigued! Hope to win!
LikeLike
I’d like to see Lady Catherine bumped off!
LikeLike
Why I desreve the book…
While I await the return of Downton Abbey, I sit alone, quiet, and my feelings are preying upon me! I long for a distraction much in the same giddy manner of Lydia Bennet longing for a journey to Brighton.
Anything that will free me from my tremblings and flutterings, from the pains in my head and the beatings of my heart. I yearn passionately for more tales of that grand estate at Downton, and yet, these new tales of Pemeberley, I own, do intrigue.
And so, I beseech you, my kind friend (mayn’t I name you friend?) for the best of friends you shall ever be if you grant this one small wish of owning that most precious volume written my Mrs. James.
LikeLike
I would like to see Mary Bennett knocked off. There would be one less daughter for Mrs. Bennett to find a husband for.
LikeLike
Let’s bump off Mrs. Bennett. The entire family would be happier without her.
LikeLike