Death Comes to Pemberley Review

Death Comes to Pemberley – P. D James. 2011 Faber and Faber

The sequel you never knew you needed! Enter the remarkable P D James. James's novel follows on six years after Elizabeth and Darcy have tied the knot and we join them on the eve of a ball, only for the dark night to be shattered by murder and old wounds that have never really healed as the Wickham's come blundering back into the folds of Pemberley.

I first new of Death comes to Pemberley from the TV adaptation, I had no idea that P D James has written the novel and it wasn't until years later that I found the hard back book in “Poundland” for yes a £1....I had to have it and I was not disappointed.

P D James uses her voice as an author, she doe not try to be Jane Austen (You have to read her author note at the start of the book) she touches on words used from Pride and Prejudice and lifts a few very know quotes from it to give us all a little squeal of delight.

The novel absolutely keeps the world of Jane Austen alive, nothing Jame's writes seems to be out of character for Austins Characters, she knows them so well her self. P D James brings death to Pemberley and it's a ride all the way. We get to see characters we know and love trying to navigate a world they have never been introduced to. It's remarkable.

The story creeps forward at a good pace, we are taken on turns and twists and we get to enjoy the past as we knew it, the present as we watch with baited breath at what P D James has in store and the future for these characters who I truly believe go on living, long after the story has finished.

P D James know how to handle a good solid story and her characters are based on Jane Austen's but they move under her direction and I am glad to see a warmer Darcy, a bolder Georgiana and a happy Elizabeth. The old bonds are there but P D James gives new life to them.

Overall the story is enjoyable, its fast passed and it reads beautifully. There are some moments near the end of the novel that I did start to find a little tedious, but I still understood it and why it was written that way. Overall I am so glad I read it and it is different in parts to the TV show so I would say read it even if you have seen the show.

If like me you loved Pride and Prejudice you may just wish to read it to see what everyone had been up to! Otherwise it is a fine P D James mystery and one I know I will read again.