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Death Comes to Pemberley

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Death Comes to Pemberley

By: P. D. James
Narrated by: Katie Scarfe
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About this listen

Two great literary minds - master of suspense P.D. James and literary icon Jane Austen - come together in Death Comes to Pemberley, a bestselling historical crime fiction tribute to Pride and Prejudice. Conjuring the world of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and combining the trappings of Regency society with a classic murder mystery, James creates a delightful new story that will intrigue any fan of Jane Austen.

The year is 1803, and Darcy and Elizabeth have been married for six years. There are now two handsome and healthy sons in the nursery, Elizabeth's beloved sister Jane and her husband Bingley live nearby and the orderly world of Pemberley seems unassailable. But all this is threatened when, on the eve of the annual autumn ball, the guests are preparing to retire for the night when a chaise appears, rocking down the path from Pemberley's wild woodland. As it pulls up, Lydia Wickham - Elizabeth's younger, unreliable sister - stumbles out screaming that her husband, George Wickham, has been murdered.

Inspired by a lifelong passion for the work of Jane Austen, P.D. James masterfully recreates the world of Pride and Prejudice. Combining Austen's characters with her own signature excitement and suspense, James has crafted a brilliant crime story. Death Comes to Pemberley is a distinguished work of fiction, from one of the best-loved writers of our time, and was adapted as a miniseries by the BBC in 2013, starring Matthew Rhys, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Matthew Goode.

©2011 P.D. James (P)2014 Faber Audio Crime Historical Mystery Traditional Detectives Fiction Detective Marriage

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Critic reviews

"P.D. James has recreated the world of Jane Austen magnificently." ( Sunday Telegraph)
"Dazzling...a book that combines the grace of Jane Austen with the pace of a thriller...as good as anything P.D. James has written and that is very high praise indeed." ( Sunday Express)
"An elegantly gauged homage to Austen and an exhilarating tribute to the inexhaustible vitality of James's imagination." ( Sunday Times)
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Being a massive fan of Jane Austin, it was with hesitance that I ordered this book. The writer has just beautifully explained why she ventured writing this book and as I reader I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it! It doesn't take anything away from the original and I could linger around, a bit longer, in the lives of Elizabeth and Darcy and the dealings of their families. Good plot and well performed by the excellent Katie Scarfe.

still great!!

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All you would expect from both authors.
The characters are all dealt with as JA would have, I'm sure, approved of. However PDJ is less censorious bringing a refreshing humanity to some of the situations.
In is thrown in bloody murder and scandalous intrigue providing a wonderful who-dunnit.
Do try to guess the culprit - it is possible! Almost Christie-an in solution.
On top of that fantastic narration - thank you all!

Austin taken on by James what a delightful combination

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What a huge pleasure to listen to this book! It took me so successfully back to the pleasure of Jane Austen, with the additional pleasure of P.D.James‘ skill as a mystery writer. The narration was excellent. Thank you!

Wonderful collaboration

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I brought this book as I had seen the TV adaptation. The book is 10 times better. really enjoyed it. I would recommend.

brilliant

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If you loved Pride and Prejudice you'll absolutely love this follow up, I honestly think Jane Austen would approve. It's lovely to get more of the characters from the original and even add more depth so you're getting more to their stories than just who loves who. The story is gripping and well narrated.

Just wonderful

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This book is set in past times and not the authors normal thriller murders. Was not keen on this book hope to read some better books of theirs.

Different to the authors other books.

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I have really enjoyed the story. I am glad that love still prevales even when death and dispare enter lives. thankyou for writing this follow up to Pride and Prejudice.

enjoyment excellence.

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In the style of Austen a story beyond the HEA of Pride and Prejudice.

A must for fans.

six years after the HEA

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Being a total lover of Jane Austin novels I looked forward to more stories concerning some of her most beloved characters. I did enjoy the crime story itself but I got irritated when the author embellished other Austin character’s lives and personalities. For example Mr Collins and his wife’s life history, especially Charlotte’s feeling towards Elisabeth’s marriage to Darcy, had nothing to do with the story. Also inclusion of characters from Sense and Sensibility or Persuasion I found unnecessary and irritating. She should have just stuck to the personalities from Pride and Prejudice, and even that without trying to explain parts of the original in the final chapter.

To much meddling with Jane Austin characters!

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I’d only seen the television version which was slightly underwhelming, then read here that the book was different so thought I’d give it a try. I loved it. I can visualise all the original characters in this and the plot is fascinating but moves at the right pace for Austen - it wouldn’t be credible to unroll at the speed of a modern detective novel.
I was surprised early on to hear of a ‘one horse fight-on’ though - cockfighting was of the period, but horses? Turned out to be a phaeton. My heart sank as so many of the newest generation of narrators have no idea how to pronounce words from previous times and that can jar and spoil the flow of a book - but it was a false alarm. That was the only slip and the narration was excellent, really bringing the characters to life.
Overall, I loved it and found it head and shoulders above so many of the Austen sequels.

Excellent: I loved it

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