#mr. and mrs. darcy mysteries

[lakecountylibrary]

Abby stopped in with some late recs just now! She seconds Her Royal Spyness and adds:

Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries by Tasha Alexander (a personal favorite!) Start with And Only to Deceive

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries by Carrie Bebris. Start with Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged

Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn (another personal favorite!) Start with A Curious Beginning

Rosalind Thorne Mysteries by Darcie Wilde. Start with A Useful Woman

Countess of Harleigh Mysteries by Dianne Freeman. Start with A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder

Can you recommend a cosy historical mystery series? I’d prefer a female protagonist if possible

We can! Historical cozies are a little harder to come by than ones set in modern day, but reader's advisor Susan has some suggestions!

Susan says:

You should try Rhys Bowen. She has two series that would be good; The Molly Murphy series and The Royal Spyness series. Start with Murphy's Law and Her Royal Spyness, respectively

Victoria Thompson writes the Gaslight Mysteries series about a detective midwife set about 1900 in New York City. Start with Murder on Astor Place.

Stephanie Barron has a series with Jane Austen as the detective. Start with Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor.

The Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear might work for you, too. It is set in 1929. Book one is just called Maisie Dobbs.

You might try Mary Roberts Rhinehart. She was often called the American Agatha Christie, so if Agatha Christie is a winner for you then definitely give Rhinehart a try.

And finally, take a look at The Cadfael Chronicles about a mystery-solving monk from 12th-centruy England. If you like them, you're in luck: there are a lot. These were written by Ellis Peters (pen name of linguist Edith Pargeter). Start with A Morbid Taste for Bones.

--

I hope there's something on that list that works for you! We don't actually have many cozy mystery recs in our backlog so I don't have a tag link for you, but I invite others to share their own recs on this post as well!

[its-a-me-mango]

desti has been revived by a life shroom and became human and Meggy finds it attractive

I never said I'd take suggestions seriously.

[lunarharp]

things.. uh... Gentry era au

[chaotic-pulsar]

I love Bingley because like… not everyone can be quiet and mysterious and cosmically misunderstood and stinking filthy rich like Mr. Darcy, but… anyone can smile and love as freely and unabashedly like Bingley. His golden retriever “I love you I love you I love you I’ll shout it from the rooftops” energy? Absolutely PRICELESS, I tell you. 10/10. Fantastico. I LOVE Bingley. He’s just… gahhh I love him

[seizonshe]

you look at this tiny tiny woman who is always foccused on something, serious and hardworking to the point of correcting you with a frown or simply not talking to you if you botter her too much, and who is just, better than you tm and don't think her playlist is silly lofis, shibuya pop and hatsune miku. and that she listens to it full volume on her earphones. and that she would dance it around her room while drawing cute pictures of cats, and writing poems and haikus.

[thegreeks]

Whispers in the Storm

Other parts here: Part 2, Part 3 Warnings: suspense, storm, unease, mysterious Synopsis: an urgent calling for you and your husband to Longbourn amidst a terrible storm

The storm had rolled in unexpectedly that evening, dark clouds gathering ominously over Pemberley, casting a heavy gloom over the grand estate. The rain, now pouring in torrents, beat relentlessly against the windows, the sound like ghostly fingers tapping at the panes. You stood by the fire in the sitting room, the warmth of the flames doing little to ease the unease that had settled deep in your chest.

Fitzwilliam Darcy, your husband of nearly a year, paced near the window, his brows furrowed in frustration as he stared out at the rain. He had been restless all evening, and though he had said little, you could feel the tension radiating from him. Something was wrong. You had felt it in the air since the letter arrived earlier that day.

It had come from Elizabeth Bennet—your and Darcy's dearest friend. The note was brief, almost frantic, pleading for help. There had been no details, only the urging for you and Darcy to come at once to Longbourn. A carriage had been sent for you, but with the storm now raging outside, any hope of travel tonight was gone.

“I should have gone earlier,” Darcy muttered, his voice low and strained. “I should have anticipated this storm.”

“You could not have known,” you said gently, though the worry in your own voice was unmistakable. “We will leave first thing in the morning.”

Darcy’s hand clenched into a fist at his side as he continued to watch the rain, his mind clearly working over something that troubled him deeply. You could see the conflict in his expression—the fear he was trying so hard to conceal. You stepped closer to him, placing a gentle hand on his arm. “Fitzwilliam, what are you not telling me?”

Darcy turned to face you, his eyes dark with worry. For a moment, he hesitated, as if deciding whether or not to share the weight of his thoughts with you. Finally, with a sigh, he spoke. “The letter… it worries me. Elizabeth is not one to send such a message without reason. Something has happened at Longbourn—something serious.”

You nodded, feeling a chill despite the fire. You had sensed it too. The note had been rushed, Elizabeth’s normally neat handwriting frantic and uneven. There had been no mention of Jane or the others, no explanation. Just that single plea: Come quickly.

Darcy placed a hand on your shoulder, his grip firm, as though grounding himself through you. “Whatever has happened, we will face it together,” he said quietly, but the certainty in his voice felt brittle, as though he were convincing himself as much as you.

The storm outside showed no signs of letting up, and as the night deepened, the shadows in the corners of the room seemed to stretch and grow. You tried to shake off the sense of dread that was settling over you, but it clung to your mind, refusing to be dismissed.

Later, as you prepared for bed, the wind howled through the trees, its mournful wail echoing through the corridors of Pemberley. The servants had all retired for the night, leaving the house eerily silent. Even the crackling of the fire in your room did little to break the heavy stillness that had settled over everything.

Darcy sat at the edge of the bed, staring into the flames, lost in thought. You watched him from where you stood near the dressing table, feeling the distance between you grow in the silence. Finally, unable to bear the tension any longer, you approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He looked up at you, his expression softening slightly at your touch. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I did not mean to worry you.”

“I am not worried,” you lied gently, though you both knew the truth. “Whatever it is, we will handle it.”

Darcy’s lips twitched in a brief, humorless smile. “You always did have more courage than me,” he said softly.

You knelt beside him, taking his hand in yours. “You are the strongest man I know, Fitzwilliam,” you whispered, squeezing his hand reassuringly. “We will face this—together.”

The sound of the wind outside rose to a deafening roar, and for a moment, you could have sworn you heard something—a distant scream carried on the wind. Your heart leapt in your chest, and you looked at Darcy, whose expression had grown tense once more.

“What was that?” you whispered.

Darcy shook his head, standing quickly. “It was nothing. Just the wind.”

But you weren’t so sure. The sound had been too distinct, too human. You stood as well, wrapping your arms around yourself as a shiver ran down your spine. The storm seemed to press in closer, its fury growing with every passing moment.

“Perhaps we should try to rest,” you suggested, though you doubted either of you would find any sleep tonight.

Darcy nodded, though he did not move toward the bed. Instead, he remained standing by the fire, staring into the flames as if searching for answers that would not come.

Hours passed, and though you eventually found yourself in bed, your mind refused to quiet. Every creak of the house, every gust of wind seemed magnified in the darkness. Beside you, Darcy lay still, though you could tell by his breathing that he, too, was awake.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the door—a sound so abrupt and unexpected that you both sat up instantly, your hearts pounding.

“Who could that be at this hour?” you whispered, your voice tight with fear.

Darcy was already out of bed, pulling on his robe as he moved toward the door. He opened it cautiously, revealing one of the servants, pale and wide-eyed, standing in the dimly lit hallway. Darcy moved to preserve your modesty as you sit up in your nightgown from the manservant.

“Forgive the intrusion, sir,” the man stammered, his voice shaking. “But… there is someone at the gate. A rider—he’s come through the storm.”

Darcy’s eyes narrowed. “At this hour? Who is it?”

The servant shook his head, clearly as baffled as you were. “He would not give his name, sir. But he… he insists on speaking with you.”

Darcy glanced at you, a frown deepening on his face. “I will go,” he said quietly, before turning back to the servant. “Have him wait in the drawing room.”

The servant nodded quickly and disappeared down the hall.

Darcy moved to follow him, but before he left the room, he turned back to you. “Stay here,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I will return shortly.”

You nodded, though your unease grew with every passing moment. As soon as he left, the room felt colder, darker. You pulled the blankets tighter around yourself, your mind racing with possibilities. Who would come in the dead of night, through such a terrible storm? And why would they seek out Darcy?

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as you waited in tense silence. The storm continued to rage outside, the wind howling louder than ever. Your nerves were on edge, every sound in the house setting your heart racing.

And then, finally, you heard footsteps in the hallway—slow, deliberate. The door creaked open, and Darcy entered, his expression grim.

“Who was it?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Darcy shook his head, his jaw tight. “A messenger. From Longbourn.”

Your blood ran cold. “What has happened?”

He hesitated for a moment, as if trying to shield you from the worst. But there was no hiding the truth now. “It is Elizabeth,” he said quietly. “Something has happened to her. We must leave at once.”

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, and as you stared into his eyes, you knew that your life—and that of those you loved—was about to change forever.

[junewongapologia]

Catherine Moreland is certainly the type to saddle her kid with an unfortunate name.

Even so Albion Tilney is absolutely the name of a future Victorain politician, sorry Catherine.

[kammartinez]

I believe that the smallest hatred is a greater sin than the most misguided love.

-- The Murder of Mr. Wickham (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney #1), by Claudia Gray

[kamreadsandrecs]

Title: The Late Mrs. Willoughby (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney #2) Author: Claudia Gray Genre/s: historical, mystery, Jane Austen pastiche Content/Trigger Warning/s: murder Summary (from author's website): The suspenseful sequel to The Murder of Mr. Wickham, which sees Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney reunited, and with another mystery to solve: the dreadful poisoning of the scoundrel Willoughby’s new wife. Catherine and Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey are not entirely pleased to be sending their eligible young daughter Juliet out into the world again: the last house party she attended, at the home of the Knightleys, involved a murder—which Juliet helped solve. Particularly concerning is that she intends to visit her new friend Marianne Brandon, who’s returned home to Devonshire shrouded in fresh scandal—made more potent by the news that her former suitor, the rakish Mr. Willoughby, intends to take up residence at his local estate with his new bride. Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley are thrilled that their eldest son, Jonathan—who, like his father, has not always been the most socially adept—has been invited to stay with his former schoolmate, John Willoughby. Jonathan himself is decidedly less taken with the notion of having to spend extended time under the roof of his old bully, but that all changes when he finds himself reunited with his fellow amateur sleuth, the radiant Miss Tilney. And when shortly thereafter, Willoughby’s new wife—whom he married for her fortune—dies horribly at the party meant to welcome her to town. With rumors flying and Marianne��known to be both unstable and previously jilted by the dead woman’s newly made widower—under increased suspicion, Jonathan and Juliet must team up once more to uncover the murderer. But as they collect clues and close in on suspects, eerie incidents suggest that the killer may strike again, and that the pair are in far graver danger than they or their families could imagine. Buy Here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-late-mrs-willoughby-claudia-gray/18822240 Spoiler-Free Review: And yet another delight of a novel in this series! The mystery is a little less structured now because it's happening within the context of a small town instead of just one manor house, but it just opens up more opportunities for twists, and this book DEFINITELY takes advantage of that. The way rumors were used, in particular, was interesting: they opened up alternate ways of viewing the suspects, but also breathed life into the town, showed its dynamics: who was loyal to whom, and who was connected to whom. It also made the true culprit a bit less obvious, which is always fun. While the mystery at the heart of the plot is pretty fun, I was a lot more focused on the character dynamics this go-round. Marianne and Brandon were a delight to read about, especially after what happened in the previous novel, and it was just as lovely to see Elinor (Ferrars now, given that she's married), and to see the rest of the Dashwood clan. It was nice to read how Elinor and Marianne get on after their respective marriages, as well as to see how well Elinor and Edward have settled into married life. And of course, there's Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney. As a second murder brings them together again, it becomes immensely clear to the reader that these two have Feelings for each other - but keep on being unable to express it. This can get a bit frustrating in a good way, especially because Jonathan and Juliet keep on making entirely mistaken assumptions about what the other is thinking or feeling. It's true they can read each other very well, often able to discern each other's intent from just a glance, but they are most definitely NOT mind-readers. Please note that all of this is a GOOD thing: I like me a slow-burn romance, and the kind of misunderstandings these two have about each other are pretty much par for the course of a Regency novel - and, given that Jonathan is neurodivergent, make sense.

Given how this book ended, of course, I'm fairly sure that there's going to be at least one more in the series, because the protagonists need to get together - and this time, hopefully, in matrimony.

Rating: five glasses of port

[nzbookwyrm]

June 2024

[la-libreria-chula]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Selena (@la_libreria_chula)

Just finished The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray, Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery #2, and it was so good! Again, it had me guessing who the killer this time was when there were so many people with motives 😩 but knowing how it ended, it means there's definitely going to be a next book and I can't wait to read it 💕 since I couldn't get enough of Jane Austen's characters I just had to watch Pride & Prejudice.

[ghostmaggie]

not me investing all my pre nancy drew free time and emotions into binge reading a book and then just as obsessively immediately devoting all my attention to the sequel and THEN taking the time to notice that the sequel in question came out a whopping TWENTY SEVEN DAYS AGO and the next book (??? there must be another but I can't find an official announcement yet) will, based on precedent, not be out until next may 🥴🙃🥲

[novelmonger]

"I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these."

- Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

[bargainsleuthbooks]

The Late Mrs. Willoughby (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery) by Claudia Gray #ARC #BookReview #NewBooks #JaneAusten

There's a new mystery featuring Jane Austen's characters' children. I thoroughly enjoyed #TheMurderofMrWickham, would it be the same for #TheLateMrsWilloughby #NetGalley #ARC #BookReview #Jane Austen #newbooks #MrDarcyandMissTilneyMystery #vikingbooks

Catherine and Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey are not entirely pleased to be sending their eligible young daughter Juliet out into the world again: the last house party she attended, at the home of the Knightleys, involved a murder—which Juliet helped solve. Particularly concerning is that she intends to visit her new friend Marianne Brandon, who’s returned home to Devonshire shrouded in fresh…

[sharksandsquirrelsandsnakes-ohmy]

I just read a published lawyer AU Pride and Predjudice fanfic Called Pride and Premeditation and it was SO FUCKING GOOD BRO. Like, Lizzie is trying to convince her dad to let her work at the firm and Darcy is working at his (living)father's firm and they end up working together to solve a murder and its FANTASTIC

u ever read a fanfic so good that you want. fanfic of the fanfic

[tudorblogger]

‘Pride and Premeditation’ by Tirzah Price

Genre: Adult Fiction – Historical Mystery Published: 2021 Format: Paperback Rating: ★★★★★ I loved this book! I hadn’t heard of it before, and a friend gifted me it. I was intrigued by the premise as I really enjoy Jane Austen’s books. My friend hadn’t read it either but thought I would enjoy it, which I did. I love Austen’s works, and this is a more modern retelling of the Pride & Prejudice…