Carrie Bebris

"Mrs Darcy," she said accusingly, "are you breeding?"

North By Northanger is the third Mr and Mrs Darcy mystery, and another excellent sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The references to Northanger Abbey are sadly few and rather undeveloped - Henry Tilney helps the Darcys with their investigation, but Catherine is only mentioned by name, and although the Abbey itself is visited, playing on the gothic undertones of Austen's original parody, the situation is rather contrived. show more However, the strongest storyline of this novel is actually Elizabeth Darcy's pregnancy, and her supernatural/sentimental connection with Darcy's late mother, which does work well. The religious relics and symbolism are perhaps a little overplayed, especially towards the end, but Anne Darcy's letters and the backstory of her marriage, children and friendship with Helen Tilney (Henry's mother, who also died in childbirth) are expertly and emotionally written around Austen's characters.

Elizabeth's confinement is treated realistically too, detailing all the ageless aches and anxieties of pregancy, but also addressing the dangers of giving birth in Austen's time - Darcy insists on an arrogant and overqualified doctor (accoucheur), but Elizabeth would prefer the traditional assistance of a midwife. Darcy is over-protective, fearing that Elizabeth will suffer the same fate as his mother, whereas Elizabeth is guided only by her body and the experience of other women, from the midwife to the memory of Darcy's mother: historically accurate and fitting for both characters.

Although there are rather too many cameo appearances, from Lady Catherine and the Wickhams to Isabella Thorpe, Carrie Bebris treats Austen's creations with typical reverence and affection. The Darcys are more Nick and Norah Charles than Mr Darcy and Lizzy Bennet of Pride and Prejudice, forever frozen in Austen's pre-marital bliss, but the subtle changes in character only add to the fun. Now I just have to wait for the next two book in the series to be delivered! show less

I'd forgotten how much I really love this author. I first read this book about 8 years ago and loved it then; but now, after visiting England a few times, reading through all the Austen novels, and learning a ton about their authoress, I found that I loved it all the more. I'll definitely be looking to find and reread the other Carrie Bebris Darcy Mysteries.

This was a fun mix of storylines as the Darcys traveled to Northanger Abbey and met the Tilneys, later finding that their lives are show more intertwined through the friendship of the two families' matriarchs. The story offered an interesting insight into what Elizabeth may have faced as new mistress of Pemberley---following in the footsteps of Darcy's mother.

My favorite phrase from the story was, "invent cause for correspondence", which I found to be much more poetic than, "find a reason to write a letter."

If I have any complaint about the story, it's that I don't think Lady Catherine and Lizzy would have been quite so horrible to one another. Once Lizzy was married and mistress of Pemberley, I believe the same spirit that caused Lady Catherine to be so cold to those "beneath" her would also force her to give more respect to the station Lizzy now occupies. With Lady Catherine, it's the standing of the person and not the person herself to which she responds. show less

This is the sixth in the Mr and Mrs Darcy series. Bebris takes the married Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and sets them down before various settings and characters of Jane Austen's other novels, involving them in various mysteries for them to investigate and solve.

And since no Austen novel is second in my affection to Persuasion, you can imagine my anticipation knowing The Deception at Lyme would deal with those characters. It was delightful to show more meet the Elliots again. Sir Walter Elliot and his eldest daughter are pitch perfect in their pompous snobbery. I enjoyed the company of Anne Elliot, now Mrs Wentworth. Mary, the youngest daughter, is her manipulative, self-pitying passive aggressive self. Mrs Clay and William Elliot are as shady as one could wish. Even such minor characters as the Harvilles and Mrs Smith are very recognizable. And as with the last mystery involving the characters of Emma, The Intrigue at Highbury, the major characters of the book are very central here--more so than in books prior. This feels very much a sequel to Persuasion, with those characters along a path I could easily see them taking.

I like this more than the last Bebris mystery based on Austen however. If there's one thing I thought the last book missed compared with the others, is that there was little at stake for the Darcys compared to the ones before. In the case of this book, however, the Darcys bring Fitzwilliam's sister Georgiana with them to Lyme. There she gets involved with two possible suitors both of whom may have been involved with murder. That of Mrs Clay, found injured at the book's beginning, and the possible murder of Darcy's cousin Lieutenant Gerard Fitzwilliam aboard HMS Magna Carta some years earlier. I liked how both mysteries were developed and resolved, keeping me guessing to the end.

Bebris can't match Austen in quality, no. (But who does?) But she can write the characters with a convincing voice and apt characterization. Nor does she match, say, a Josephine Tey or Agatha Christie with brilliant plots. What these novels are, for me, are comfort reads. Works I really enjoy immersing myself in, like visiting with old friends. Add to that a good touch with the historical detail and the element of romance, I do find these books a pleasure. So I'm happy there's a hint at the end they'll continue, even though Bebris has now made her rounds through the world of Austen's six novels. show less

Wonderful, entertaining, creative. At last, an Austen sequel where the author has used her imagination without presuming that the reader lacks one of their own. A recent convert to Austen's novels, I too was left wanting to read more about Darcy and Elizabeth, Marianne and Brandon, Emma and Knightley, etc., but without sacrificing the good taste, engrossing storylines and sharp wit of the originals. Carrie Bebris has captured all of those qualities and more in her 'Mr and Mrs Darcy' series. show more Familiar characters are brought to life once again - Kitty Bennet and the Dashwoods and Ferrars of 'Sense and Sensibility' - but with a spooky twist. Elizabeth Darcy retains her intelligence and humour after marriage - 'Ladies are quite capable of blood sport, darling. Their field is the drawing room' - and her inscrutable husband shows a deeper, more human side to his nature now that he has a wife to love and care for. I have truly fallen more in love with Carrie Bebris' Mr Darcy than I ever could with Austen's perfect hero.

The supernatural aspect of this series - a refreshing break from the tired 'romances' or smut which have flooded the sequel market - is a definite break from the traditional Regency society that Austen was writing about, but part of the reason why I enjoy these books so much. Here, to merge not only 'Pride and Prejudice' with 'Sense and Sensibility', set - if not written - over a decade apart, but to tie in the fictional Dashwoods with the very real personality of Sir Francis Dashwood, Carrie Bebris has conjured up a magical 'Mirror of Narcissus', a device which sounds ludricrous but works surprisingly well! Kitty Bennet, next of the five daughters in line for the marriage market, is staying with Lizzy and Darcy for the London season when she meets and falls in love with Harry Dashwood, the now grown and very eligible son of Elinor and Marianne's selfish brother and his manipulative wife Fanny. Well matched and very happy together, Kitty is looking forward to becoming mistress of Norland, despite the intervention of Fanny and Lucy Ferrars, when Harry suddenly changes from a devoted fiance into a drinking, gambling, cheating scoundrel. A transformation familiar to readers of the original novels, but all is not as it seems. Harry is no Wickham or Willoughby, and his fall from grace is more Milton than Austen. Can Lizzy and Darcy redeem Kitty's fiance before he is lost forever?

'Apparently, the family row somehow involved Robert's wife, the former Miss Lucy Steele, but that story could fill a book by itself ...'

I really can't recommend this series, or the author, enough. Carrie Bebris obviously loves and respects Austen's characters, but allows them to develop beyond the original novels. Lizzy and Darcy are ridiculously happy and in love, as they should be, but not to the exclusion of the reader or the reduction of their own individual merits. Even Elinor Ferrars is just as sensible and direct as she was in 'Sense and Sensibility', and joy of joys, both she and Marianne have a brood of children! Jane Bingley is also expecting, but the honeymoon lingers on for the Darcys. The sweet and rather poignant epilogue promises future joy, however obvious, and is a perfect teaser for the next book in the series (as though I need persuading!) show less