Death Comes to Pemberly by P.D. James

Death Comes to Pemberly by P.D. James. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. ISBN: 9780307959850.
This is one of the best, if not THE best of the Pride and Prejudice sequels I have read, and I've tried quite a few of them. Most are disappointing, if not downright unreadable; this one not so much. I especially enjoyed the way Ms. James was able to capture the flavor of the language of the original, particularly in her introductory chapter. She gives over the formal language to more informal prose in telling the story, and this is only as it should be.

If there was anything disappointing at all about the book, it was merely that there had to be a death, and that it had to be a mystery, as opposed to a "pure" sequel, whatever that might be. And that the primary protagonists, Elizabeth and Darcy, have essentially no role in solving the mystery. The events of the plot play themselves out naturally, and the mystery is solved at the last instant, more or less by accident, or by a twist of fate, so to speak.

Still, this was a completely entertaining read, true enough to the original for even the most fastidious of Austen fans, yet providing a fresh and original tale that will be enjoyed by anyone who has wanted to read more about the lives of these two perennial literary favorites, Darcy and Elizabeth, their families and friends.