As an Austen spin-off it does not come even close to the masterful writing and characterization of the original. Taken on it's own, it is an okay romantic mystery. ( )

What happens to Jane Austen's minor characters after the events of Pride and Prejudice? What audacity. Lacking consistency of character and plausible plot but what a hoot. ( )

>Ein bisschen Krimi, ein bisschen Gesellschaftsroman und eine kurzweilige Reise an die Schwelle zum 19. Jahrhundert.

Kidnapping! Stolen diamonds! Suicide! Secret bastards! Secrets in attics! And yet, terribly dull. There is absolutely no point to this book, which supposedly continues the story of Catherine de Bourgh and her relations and hangers-on. I say supposedly because not only was this book dull, but *none* of the characters match their namesakes in [book: Pride and Prejudice]. Maria Lucas, who was last a shy girl overawed by Rosings, is now a sparkling wit akin to Elizabeth Bennet. Anne de Bourgh, latterly an ill, silent enigma, runs around befriending gay painters and doing heavy garden work with her illegitimate half-brother--wait, no, half-sister! Oh the unnecessary plot twists. The new characters are even worse, because they serve no purpose at all. Why does Aiken pay so much attention to the Delaval siblings (carbon copies of the Crawfords in [book: Mansfield Park]) if absolutely nothing happens due to them? Catherine's brother has Lady Catherine kidnapped so he can search Rosings' attic--and finds his old poems. Idiocy!
There is no emotional weight to this story. The various revelations and shocking events go by without any of the characters appearing in the least surprised, let alone affected. A frustrating novel. ( )

Janeites are quite prone to rereading the six books she completed during her brief lifetime, and some of us can't be satisfied with that. Joan Aiken is one of several authors who have imagined either "what came next" or mysteries with the characters from Austen's books. In this one, the characters from [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1158963071s/1885.jpg|3060926] must deal with the disappearance of a necklace belonging to the obnoxious and snobbish Lady Catherine de Bourgh. A good effort and enjoyable, although not without anachronisms. ( )