|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
The year is 1803, and Darcy and Elizabeth have been married for six years, with two sons. The happy couple's one worry is over the future of Darcy's sister, Georgiana. Will she marry Darcy's long-time friend, Colonel Fitzwilliam, or Henry Alveston, a friend of the Bingleys? On the eve of a ball, Elizabeth's younger sister, Lydia Wickham, makes the hysterical announcement that her husband had been murdered. Darcy, Fitzwilliam and Alveston go in search of the killer, but all is not what it seems. A carefully written prologue reminds us of the salient points from PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and does a fair job of capturing the spirit of Austen's style, so much admired by James. However, the ensuing story – in terms of narrative, dialogue, characterisation and plot – does justice to neither author. Austen's characters are reduced to cardboard cut-outs with stilted, repetitive dialogue that serves as exposition for readers who may have forgotten Austen's backstory. Worse, the detective story is painfully slow and relies on a denouement that is neither clever nor credible. James might be forgiven for failing to capture Austen's style (although fans will ask, 'Why try?') but it's harder to forgive her failure to deliver on the promise of a great crime novel, when she's written so many in the past. I'm not a fan of Austen, but even I was struck by the fact that so much of the action fell to the men in this story, leaving the women to relive such gripping domestic achievements as the decorating of Jane's home (four years ago, but she recounts it as if yesterday). No less enthralling is the constant remembering of Darcy and Elizabeth's courtship, as if the pair are trying to rekindle the spark from six years ago (as well they might, given how dull they've become in the interim). If this was the debut work of an amateur author, I'd be inclined to be kinder in my review, although of course it would never have been published under such circumstances and certainly not without a good editor to whip it into shape (Mr Collins is Mr Bennett's cousin, surely, not his nephew). As a fan of P.D. James, I can only hope she goes on to write another, original novel so that I can forget about this one. I know she has said she's put Adam Dalgliesh to rest, but a standalone story, in the spirit, for instance, of her outstanding INNOCENT BLOOD, would be unmissable. § Sarah Hilary is an award-winning short story author, currently working on a debut crime novel.
Reviewed by Sarah Hilary, January 2012
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
|
