ARC Review: Sense & Second-Degree Murder by Tirzah Price

…a fascinating and brilliant page-turner

~ UNDER THE COVERS BOOK BLOG

Jane Austen is my favorite author and I do love adaptations from her novels. In Sense and Second-Degree Murder, Tirzah Price brings together the first Jane Austen’s novel and murder and mystery and what it comes out is an entertaining, gripping, and unique novel.

The characters are the same as in the original novel, but in a more modern and progressive version. Rational and mature Elinor loves science and she has created her own lab at the family home, while romantic and impulsive Marianne wants to follow her father’s footsteps and become a private detective. The third sister, young Margaret, is an aspiring writer and she enjoys eavesdropping on her sisters’ private conversations to get material for her novels. Characterized as in the original novel, the story features also charming but cunning Willoughby, adorable and caring Edward, the supportive Mr. Brandon, and the infuriating “villains” Fanny and Lucy.

When their father suddenly passes away, the Dashwood sisters and their mother are forced to leave the family home and move to a small apartment on London’s Barton Street. While their mother is overcome by grief and Elinor and Margaret try to adapt to their new arrangement, Marianne is furious at the loss not only of the family home, but also of their father’s private investigation firm, Norland & Company, in which Marianne worked as her father’s apprentice.
After moving into their new home, Elinor and Marianne start to suspect that their father didn’t die from natural causes, but was murdered, and they decide to investigate his old cases to find out who could have wanted him dead.

Sense and Sensibility is not my favorite novel by Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice and Emma are at the top – and I haven’t read it in a while, but I remember enjoying it and Sense and Second-Degree Murder made me wish to reread it.

The story is very well-written and intriguing, and the mystery is full of twists and suspense. It remains faithful to the original novel, including the most important events, while adding new and modern themes that make for an engrossing read. The characters are well-developed and engaging and I enjoyed their witty dialogues. I loved the close relationship between Elinor and Marianne. They not always get along or see eye-to-eye, especially when it comes to their father’s death, but they are always there for each other and work well together as a team.

All in all, Sense and Second-Degree Murder is a fascinating and brilliant page-turner and I am looking forward to reading more books from this series.

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