To condemn the female of the species for frivolity while simultaneously limiting her to frivolity is patently unjust, and yet grievously common.
Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney understand each other (and their own hearts) perfectly; it’s a pity their families do not. A series of misunderstandings, misplaced pride, and—indeed—prejudice, never mind that Fitzwilliam Darcy is a judgemental prig, has led their fathers to deem the pair unsuited to wed (but more like the other father unsuited as their child’s in-law. And Darcy is a judgemental prig.) And of course if the fathers have spoken, then the mothers have to agree. Now, Juliet’s grandfather, General Tilney, has sent her to London for the Season with money for a new wardrobe and a demand to find herself someone more worthy of his second-generation extension of himself granddaughter for a bridegroom than Jonathan Darcy. Meanwhile, while they return to Pemberly, Jonathan has been forced by his parents (especially his father’s continual belief that Jonathan will just get over his neurodivergence if he just pushes himself)
to remain in London with old friends Edmund and Fanny Bertram at the house of Edmund’s brother, Sir Thomas. Oblivious to his father’s desire to have him find a woman who is not Juliet, Jonathan is at risk of falling into the trap of Caroline Bingley and her plans to make herself—or her daughter—mistress of the Darcy Estate.
Happily for the both of them, Jonathan and Juliet meet at a dance, with nary a murder in sight. Now they may have a chance to court each other without their families getting in the way; surely if they present themselves as a matched united front their families can not object? (Oh, my sweet summer children.)
But all Marriage Market plans fall to the wayside when Edmund and Thomas’s sister Maria reappears in London. The cause of one of the greatest scandals of its day, Maria left her new husband, Mr. Rushworth, for the notorious rake (and Fanny’s former suitor) Henry Crawford; however. when he wouldn’t marry her, she fled to Continent in disgrace. Now she has returned, bringing with her a child she swears is her former husband’s. Despite the uncanny likeness to Crawford (who also happens to be back in town), Rushworth has written this child into his will. And of course, seeing as this is a Literary Mystery, it’s to no one who is reading the book”s surprise that Mr. Rushworth is promptly found dead in his own home.
Now to spare Edmund and Fanny further social shame (and grief), Juliet and Jonathan must solve the mystery and unmask the killer before the drama surrounding the Rushworth and Bertram families and their fortunes claims another victim.
This was definitely a better book than the previous one, but it remains far from my favorite series. I do still enjoy Jonathan and Juliet (even more now that Gray has stopped making his neurodivergence a major plot point on every single page he appears on. Representation matters, but this poor man has more going on with him than his dislike of crowds, loud noises, or his habit of rocking as a way to calm himself), and Catherine and Elizabeth (in that order) are okay, but the rest of them? Hoo boy. Fitzwilliam Darcy is who you’d see under the definition of “insufferable, self-righteous prig” (having read about his aunt in the previous book I can see where he gets it from), and Fanny and Edmund had me torn between saying “get off the cross, someone needs the wood” or “no one likes martyrs, it’s why we burn them at the stake.” Caroline Allerdyce, nee Bingley, needs a sock full of horse manure right across the face. Though I can now see where Julia Quinn got her inspiration for Cressida Cowper. And Thomas Bertraam? Apparently he will cut his conscience to fit this year’s fashion, or whatever will get him both a wife and a sizable income.
I will say the murder weapons in this book were truly original, even if the motives were old standards. The murderer was so annoying that I can only hope that something where they wind up kills them; believe me, there are plenty of options. It was refreshing that the action has gone from the “locked room” mystery of a single house or a small village to the anonymity of a larger city; it’s far more difficult to verify alibis when your suspect is just another faceless person in the crowd. We now also have the joy of Jonathan and Juliet’s skills being recognized enough that they’re called in to assist the police; though of course we have to wade through the period-appropriate gender divide over how the police (and Fitz Darcy) think that while this knowledge improves Jonathan’s character, it completely mars Juliet’s.
This book made me once again think I should definitely pick up a Jane Austen book one of these days; and maybe Ivanhoe as well. I am glad that Jonathan and Juliet share my opinion in regards to Claudio’s treatment of Hero in Much Ado About Nothing; I also agree that Benedick and Beatrice are the far more interesting characters and Hero is just basically set dressing (or a plot point) with lines. Follett, who makes a reappearance from the previous book, was still a dick; it’s okay because she’ll never come to London (really?), nor will anyone who knows her (REALLY?) One question: if this painting is so well known, how come no one either ever mentioned it to Catherine or Juliet, or gave them the Cut Direct at a party because of it. Or kicks them out of the party; seriously, no one?
And am also glad that no one does anything about the publicly discussed, highly illegal duel; there is a reason they were usually arranged in private, and that reason is that you could be arrested for having one. But I guess that doesn’t happen in Romantic Literary Land.
I do have full support for Jonathan Darcy and his “hang the world, I don’t care what society or my family says, I am no Claudio I am Ivanhoe, ride or die” affection for Juliet. And Elizabeth, I know you’re worried about your son, but honey: look at your son realistically. It’s sad that in the end the one person who truly understands him is the one woman you and your husband don’t want him to marry.
I am actually looking forward to the next book (and I did not think I would ever say that after the last three), mostly to see if these crazy kids can make it work without eloping to Continent, and whether or not Elizabeth, Jonathan, or Juliet (or quite possibly Catherine) will just sucker-punch Darcy for his prat-ness.
