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A review by natashaleighton_
In Want of a Suspect by Tirzah Price
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Tirzah Price is the queen of Jane Austen-based, YA mysteries. And like many others, I’m soo glad she’s returned once again to her Jane Austen Mystery protagonists, Lizzie and Darcy, for a delightfully chaotic and action packed spin-off that will steal you heart and keep you on the edge of your seat.
Now, this does have some spoilers for Price’s Jane Austen Mysteries series (which makes sense as it is a spinoff.) So if you haven’t had the chance to read that series yet, I highly recommend doing so before picking this up. But if you’ve been eager to see more of Lizzie and Darcy since heir appearance in Manslaughter Park, then you’re in for a treat!
Weaving cameos from the Dashwood sisters (and even a brief appearance of Miss Woodhouse) with themes of war, immigration, institutional misogyny and the pressures of family expectation—Price has managed to craft a compellingly modern take on the source material that I feel even Austen herself would approve of.
The cast of characters were all so quite interesting and multifaceted, but I think I adored Lizzie; whose stellar observational skills and ability to win over anyone (including children, dogs, Darcy) the most! Her tenacious drive to succeed will almost certainly endear old and new readers alike.
Plus, her temerity in the face of adversity, as a woman working in a male dominated field (and positively thriving) had me cheering her on every step of the way!
Darcy, no longer at loggerheads with Lizzie, was a wonderfully supportive character to explore as well. I enjoyed seeing just how far he’s come on his journey to being less prideful and stubborn, and found his efforts (in learning from his past mistakes, owning up to them and trying to make amends) pretty satisfying.
Together, he and Lizzie are a crime solving force to be reckoned with, and the snippets of romance and affection we encounter between them was soo enjoyable. I can’t wait to see what the pair with uncover next!
Overall, a really fun read that mystery, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen or Tirzah Price fans definitely don’t want to miss.
Also, a huge thank you to Harper360YA for the stunning proof.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Xenophobia
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: War
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Tirzah Price is the queen of Jane Austen-based, YA mysteries. And like many others, I’m soo glad she’s returned once again to her Jane Austen Mystery protagonists, Lizzie and Darcy, for a delightfully chaotic and action packed spin-off that will steal you heart and keep you on the edge of your seat.
Now, this does have some spoilers for Price’s Jane Austen Mysteries series (which makes sense as it is a spinoff.) So if you haven’t had the chance to read that series yet, I highly recommend doing so before picking this up. But if you’ve been eager to see more of Lizzie and Darcy since heir appearance in Manslaughter Park, then you’re in for a treat!
Weaving cameos from the Dashwood sisters (and even a brief appearance of Miss Woodhouse) with themes of war, immigration, institutional misogyny and the pressures of family expectation—Price has managed to craft a compellingly modern take on the source material that I feel even Austen herself would approve of.
The cast of characters were all so quite interesting and multifaceted, but I think I adored Lizzie; whose stellar observational skills and ability to win over anyone (including children, dogs, Darcy) the most! Her tenacious drive to succeed will almost certainly endear old and new readers alike.
Plus, her temerity in the face of adversity, as a woman working in a male dominated field (and positively thriving) had me cheering her on every step of the way!
Darcy, no longer at loggerheads with Lizzie, was a wonderfully supportive character to explore as well. I enjoyed seeing just how far he’s come on his journey to being less prideful and stubborn, and found his efforts (in learning from his past mistakes, owning up to them and trying to make amends) pretty satisfying.
Together, he and Lizzie are a crime solving force to be reckoned with, and the snippets of romance and affection we encounter between them was soo enjoyable. I can’t wait to see what the pair with uncover next!
Overall, a really fun read that mystery, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen or Tirzah Price fans definitely don’t want to miss.
Also, a huge thank you to Harper360YA for the stunning proof.