Today the blog tour for Jenetta James' new book, Lover’s Knot: A Mysterious Pride & Prejudice Variation stops by for my review. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read this book, having previously enjoyed reading Suddenly Mrs Darcy, The Elizabeth Papers and The Darcy Monologues. The other reason I wanted to read this is that it's a mystery. I love reading mysteries, and prefer historical ones such as those by Agatha Christie with sleuthing and legwork. The blog tour also has a giveaway attached! We'll start off with the blurb:
A great love. A perplexing murder. Netherfield Park — a house of secrets.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is in a tangle. Captivated by Miss Elizabeth Bennet, a girl of no fortune and few connections. Embroiled in an infamous murder in the home of his friend, Charles Bingley. He is being tested in every way. Fearing for Elizabeth’s safety, Darcy moves to protect her in the only way he knows but is thwarted. Thus, he is forced to turn detective. Can he overcome his pride for the sake of Elizabeth? Can he, with a broken heart, fathom the villainy that has invaded their lives? Is there even a chance for love born of such strife?
Lover’s Knot is a romantic Pride & Prejudice variation, with a bit of mystery thrown in.
I have read two of Jenetta James’ previous full length novels. They are quite different from each other – a forced marriage scenario, and a mystery/romance that has parts set in two different centuries, so I was interested to see what she would write next, and was pleased to hear that it would be a mystery. This story begins at Netherfield, when the Misses Bennet are staying there. While poor Jane is ill upstairs Elizabeth is facing unfriendly Miss Bingley, and coming off better, in a witty besting, and attracting Mr Darcy more than he’d like.
Hers is the sort of face that can reach into a man’s mind and take up residence. The nature of her appearance goes quite beyond beauty, and she manages to shine with character.At the end of the meal the ladies prepare to leave the gentlemen to their port and Elizabeth excuses herself to check on Jane:
Without warning, a scream breaks through the air like a splinter of glass. It smashes into the dining room without ceremony and eclipse all other sounds herein. It is the sort of sound to hit a man between the eyes and there is no time to react with noise of one’s own.One of the footmen has been murdered, and unfortunately for Elizabeth, she has been the one to discover it! The gentlemen spring into action, securing the house, and summoning Mr Allwood, the magistrate.
“He may be a madman, Darcy!”
“He surely must be a madman, but if he is still in the house then let us pray he is a madman who does not wish to be apprehended.”Darcy, as well as Allwood is trying to work out who could have carried out this crime, and we watch the evidence unfold as people are questioned and further mysteries crop up – who was the murdered man and why would somebody have wanted to kill him?
The events of canon go off course, as understandably they must – there can be no ball at the house of an unsolved murder, for example. Other aspects of the original story come in, such as the introduction of Wickham, and his trouble-making tongue, and the visit of Mr Collins. These events are all seen through the perspective of Mr Darcy, and as ever, one person can only be aware of so much.
I have an urgent need to know precisely when George Wickham arrived in the village. Was it before the horrific event at Netherfield, or after?Darcy’s focus on finding out the truth means that his interest in some other things wanes, for example, dissuading his friend from his interest in Miss Bennet. One thing that doesn’t change though, is his attraction to the unsuitable Miss Elizabeth. But as another murder follows the first how can Darcy keep her safe?
The blurb paints this book as a romance with a mystery but I’d call it more of a mystery with some romance. The romance is there, but I felt it was definitely secondary.
I really enjoyed trying to work out the pieces of this puzzle. I didn’t quite manage it, though; some of us are more sidekick than sleuth, unfortunately! I picked up a few points here and there that turned out to be relevant, so I had to content myself with that. I found the mystery engaging and the story a very enjoyable read. There were a few plot points that I didn’t quite buy though. I wanted the pieces of the puzzle all neatly tied up in a bow and I didn’t quite get it.
We meet quite a few of the characters of Pride & Prejudice here and I liked that the author went a different route with them than I’d expected. I have read so many variations that I like to be surprised!
The style of the writing helped make this a good read, as well as the humour. I enjoyed seeing things from Darcy’s perspective. There’s also a postscript to this book which I thought was a wonderful touch. I’d certainly recommend this book to mystery lovers. This book gets a 4½ star rating from me.
Jenetta James is a mother,
writer, lawyer and taker-on of too much. She grew up in Cambridge and read
history at Oxford University where she was a scholar and president of the
Oxford University History Society. After graduating, she took to the law and
now practices full-time as a barrister. Over the years, she has lived in
France, Hungary, and Trinidad as well as her native England. Jenetta currently
lives in London with her husband and children where she enjoys reading,
laughing, and playing with Lego. She has written, Suddenly Mrs. Darcy and The
Elizabeth Papers as well as
contributed short stories to both The Darcy Monologues and Dangerous
to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes and Gentlemen Rogues.
Contact Links
Giveaway Time!
Readers may enter the drawing by tweeting once each day and by commenting daily on a blog post or review that has a giveaway attached to this tour. Entrants must provide the name of the blog where they commented.
The winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter and the giveaway is international.
Blog Tour Schedule
March 30 Savvy Verse & Wit / Guest Post & Giveaway
March 31 Liz's Reading Life / Book Review & Giveaway
April 1 My Vices and Weaknesses/ Excerpt Post &
Giveaway
April 2 Of Pens and Pages / Book Review & Giveaway
April 3 So Little Time / Guest Post & Giveaway
April 4 Austenesque Reviews / Author
Interview & Giveaway
April 5 From Pemberley to Milton / Excerpt Post & Giveaway
April 6 Babblings of a Bookworm / Book Review & Giveaway
April 7 More Agreeably Engaged / Book Review & Giveaway
April 8 My Love for Jane Austen / Guest Post & Giveaway
April 9 Diary of an Eccentric / Guest Post & Giveaway
April 10 Laughing with Lizzie / Excerpt Post &
Giveaway
April 11 Margie’s Must Reads / Book Review
& Giveaway
April
12 Just Jane 1813/ Author Interview & Giveaway
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Glad it is more of a mystery with a touch of romance, I prefer my stories that way
ReplyDeleteThen maybe you should give this one a go, I'd say it was a mystery first and romance second. If you are a seasoned mystery reader maybe you will do better than me and work out who did it!
DeleteHi Ceri,
ReplyDeleteMust say I enjoyed your review of this mystery with a little romance on the side.
It's definitely something different and appeals to the mystery buff in me as a reader!
I'm looking forward to finding out 'whodunnit' and the ways Darcy and Lizzy will work together to fit the various puzzle pieces together to solve the crime.
Hope your home renovation is progressing nicely. Looking forward to seeing the 'after' pictures when it's all complete. Happy reading!!
Thanks Mary! It was interesting to see Darcy's Watson to the magistrate's Holmes.
DeleteThe housework is coming on pretty well, than you. Surprisingly I have managed to read a bit, helps me to ignore the boxes of items that have been relocated while the work is being done!
Thank you for the review of this book. I like that it is different from everything else I've read for P&P.
ReplyDeleteHi Darcybennett. It was good to read something a little bit different. I liked that I didn't know what to expect.
DeleteI suppose and E&D story will end up in a romance, but I like the idea of a JAFF mystery. Glad you favoured it with a review on its blog tour and enjoyed this book so much, Ceri. I too love all Jenetta James's writing so I look forward to reading this one. Thanks for a wonderfully detailed review without spoilers. Best of luck on the blog tour, Jenetta!
ReplyDeleteHi Suzan. I haven't read many JAFF mysteries, so it was good to have a change. I hope you enjoy it when you read it.
DeleteGreat review Ceri and one mystery I am looking forward to reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carole!
DeleteI love this excerpt. Thanks Ceri for hosting. Thanks to our author Jenetta James for the generous give-a-way... lovely. Good luck to everyone in the drawing. Thanks for the opportunity to participate since many of us still do not Tweet, Face, Insta-whatever or Pin. Yep... old school here. I am just happy that I can put my name in for the drawing. I wish our author a very successful blog tour and much success in the launch of this book. I look forward to reading it. I have all your books on my wish-list. Thanks for the visit today.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanne. If you haven't read Jenetta's books so far I hope you get to them soon.
DeleteI am all for mysteries IF there is a romance included! :)
ReplyDeleteI am with you there, Brenda. That's one of the things I like about Agatha Christie mysteries, there's always a romance as well! It's like the cherry on top of the cake.
DeleteThe mystery sounds awesome. I'm really looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for your review and hosting Jenetta.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jen. I hope you enjoy it when you read it.
DeleteRead and loved this book. The prize package is lovely. I don't do FB so my entries are limited. Lovely review. Thanks for sharing and for the generosity.
ReplyDeleteHi Sheila. Isn't the prize wonderful! Good luck with the giveaway.
DeleteI think the Darcy first-person pov will make this a different but interesting read.
ReplyDeleteHi Ginna. I like to see an author's take on Darcy. This Darcy is quite focussed on the mystery.
DeleteLove the idea of Darcy being a detective of sorts
ReplyDeletedenise
Hi Denise. It is a role that I'm not used to seeing Darcy in, and it was a nice change!
DeleteIt sounds like such an exciting read!!
ReplyDeleteHi Jo's Daughter. It really gets you thinking, although in my case it didn't make much difference as I didn't work it out!
DeleteGreat review. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Christina!
DeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts on Lover's Knot, Ceri. I enjoyed reading it and getting to know more plot details than it was in the blurb. Look forward to reading the novel and finding out who the murderer is.
ReplyDeleteHi Luthien. I hope you enjoy it when you read it. I didn't work out who the murderer was but perhaps you will be more perceptive!
Delete