Book reviewers often say, “I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.” This title falls in that category. 100%. Murder Most Pemberley is a fantastic Jane Austen fan fiction/spin-off novel.

This isn’t a reimagining of Pride and Prejudice. It is a cleaver link: American born, school teacher Eliza Jane Darcy is a descendant of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. In fact, all of the characters in this modern story are Darcys, Bennetts, Wickhams, and Bingleys. The family has gathered at the Pemberley estate for a family reunion. Love that!!

There are many mysteries in this book. Lots of things for the amateur sleuth, Eliza to figure out. Some involve family secrets, some much more sinister and deadly. I didn’t guess the ending. There are many characters which kept me changing my mind as to who the main criminal was.

You’ll fall in love with the author’s characters: Great Aunt Iris is a HOOT! Tash the butler, Mrs. Bankcroft the cook, squishy, lovable Uncle Fitzwillian etc, etc.

I’m so glad there will be more books in this series.

I had to take away a star for one nit-picky reason. Sorry. The author included characters with the last names of Wentworth (Persuasion), Tilney (Northanger Abbey), and Willoughby (Sense and Sensibility). Maybe you have other thoughts, but I wish she would have stay in the P&P world. It could have been fun to visit descendants of those characters in other books.

Jessica Berg writes for Red Adept Publishing. I also recommend you try titles from that publisher. Always well written books. Amber Waves of Grace is written by Berg and is available now.