This modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is set in the Hamptons, a famous resort area on the eastern end of Long Island in New York This modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is set in the Hamptons, a famous resort area on the eastern end of Long Island in New York state where the rich and famous soak up the sun and party away.
Elizabeth of East Hampton is the quintessential summer read infused with Jane Austen’s famous characters: Lizzy and the whole Bennet clan, Darcy, and many of the secondary characters as well.
Audrey & Emily are the writing team that brought us the hugely successful Emma of 83rd Street which we read last year. One wonders out loud which Austen novel they will take on for their next retelling? Are you as intrigued by what they could do with Mansfield Park as I am?
The dialogue was snappy and each of Austen's original characters and the settings were brought seamlessly into the 21st century. I smiled and laughed so much while reading this novel that my cheeks hurt.
I recommend Elizabeth of East Hampton to those who enjoy romcoms, Austenesque fiction, and a swoony romance.
This Persuasion-inspired story was beautifully brought into the 21st century by updating the characters to a wedding planner and a football star. The This Persuasion-inspired story was beautifully brought into the 21st century by updating the characters to a wedding planner and a football star. The parallels to Jane Austen's second-chance romance are palpable and relevant, even 2 centuries after they were written. Many lines really hit home like:
“There is so much of the girl I fell in love with inside this woman in front of me that I want to cry for the shame of it. How is the one person who’s perfect for me the one I wasn’t enough for?�
And the emotional climax with the hero Jett's final proclamation of his love to heroine Ava, just made me sob!
I highly recommend this delight contemporary romance to those who enjoy Austen-inspired stories, and are in need of an emotionally rewarding joy ride....more
Oh Emma Knightley, what are you up to now? Investigating murder? Of course you are!
My full review will be posted after publication, but until then, rOh Emma Knightley, what are you up to now? Investigating murder? Of course you are!
My full review will be posted after publication, but until then, returning to Highbury surrounded by Jane Austen characters embroiled in a mystery was such a delight. Please place this on your TBR list immediately Janeites and historical cozy mystery fans. You won't regret it. ...more
From post-Civil War America, an intrepid group of Jane Austen’s ardent admirers traverse the Atlantic to visit Sir Francis Austen, the last surviving From post-Civil War America, an intrepid group of Jane Austen’s ardent admirers traverse the Atlantic to visit Sir Francis Austen, the last surviving sibling of the esteemed authoress. In search of insights into Jane’s writing and life, what they discover is much more than the knowledge they sought—meeting heroes and villains, passion and purpose. Jenner again reveals her skill as a master storyteller whose astute observations of human nature rival Austen’s own. Readers will be delighted by her charming characters, engaging plot, and sensational denouement....more
This charming young adult retelling of Pride and Prejudice in set in 1980s Texas. The author did an excellent job converting the story from the RegencThis charming young adult retelling of Pride and Prejudice in set in 1980s Texas. The author did an excellent job converting the story from the Regency-era to modern day high school life for its heroine Elyse Nebbit, her sisters, friends, and love interests, Charlie Bingley and Billy Fitz. It is a light, humorous, and rewarding read for those new to Jane Austen's original story, and to those who can never have enough chances to re-read it in whatever variation is available....more
This modern re-retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is loosely based on the original, yet updates it in a fun way. There are still the slighThis modern re-retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is loosely based on the original, yet updates it in a fun way. There are still the slights, snubs, and snobbery that put the couple at odds with each other, and the great character arcs to bring them together. Those who are fans of the original story will be charmed, and first time readers will want to visit the original to compare both versions. Dudley has cleverly incorporated Asian culture into the story to help us realize that even 200 years after publication, the story and characters in Pride and Prejudice are timeless, and universal....more
What a delightfully refreshing modern Jane Austen-inspired story. The plot was fun, and the witty banter between heroine Maddy and hero Cameron was elWhat a delightfully refreshing modern Jane Austen-inspired story. The plot was fun, and the witty banter between heroine Maddy and hero Cameron was electric. A perfect summer read, I recommend it to those who enjoy romcoms, enemies to lovers tropes, a bit of mystery, and books with all-heart. ...more
Few who have read Pride and Prejudice can forget Mary Bennet. The middle sister among five daughters, she is a minor character in Jane Austen’s classiFew who have read Pride and Prejudice can forget Mary Bennet. The middle sister among five daughters, she is a minor character in Jane Austen’s classic with only a few scenes, and fewer lines of dialogue. Her unaccomplished pianoforte playing and singing at the Netherfield ball were an unwelcome embarrassment to her older sisters Jane and Elizabeth. She is plain and preachy and pedantic—a comedic ruse by Austen to offset the seriousness of scenes.
Author Katherine Cowley has embraced that tedious creature and given her a new life as a British spy. Mary a spy, you ask in astonishment. Indeed. We were introduced to her transformation in the first book in the series, The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet (2021). We were amazed and delighted. Now Cowley has given Mary another adventure set during the London Season of 1814, a perfect cover for a young lady who must investigate the murder of a government messenger.
Invited to stay with her older sister Elizabeth Darcy, Mary is more interested in the fact that Parliament is in session than dancing at balls. She still has much to learn about being a spy, but with the previous training of Lady Trafford, the guidance of Mr. William Stanley, and the assistance of fellow student Miss Fanny Cramer, she is determined to succeed. Also staying with the Darcys is Georgiana Darcy and Mary’s younger, flighty sister Kitty.
Tasked with investigating the murder of Oliver Rice, Mary must discover his ties to three radical members of parliament who wish to revolutionize the government. Conveniently, Rice’s married sister Selena König lives next door to the Darcys and Mary secures an introduction to the family. Shortly after, the Darcys, Georgiana, Kitty, and Mary dine with the Königs, further opening connections and future introductions to people on Mary’s list of suspects.
Georgiana encourages Mary to accept invitations to balls that the family will be attending. Mary agrees, seeing that the events will provide her with opportunities for espionage. During her first ball, instead of dancing and flirting like Georgiana and Kitty, Mary requests an introduction by Mr. Darcy to Sir Francis Burdett, a radical on her list who she must engage in conversation and earn his trust.
Meanwhile, Georgiana reveals a romantic interest in new acquaintance, Mr. Johnstone, a widower on the wrong side of 45. He is also on Mary’s list of suspects so this could work to her advantage. When the ball concludes, most young ladies would be discussing dancing partners and competitors� frocks, but Mary’s reflections to her sister on her first London ball are entirely different.
With the help of her associate Fanny Cramer, who is undercover in the Darcy household as Mary’s maid, she visits London sites, attends an Ice Fair on the Thames, and spies on the radicals when they meet at a French restaurant during her duties to uncover the killer.
Cowley cleverly uses and expands upon Mary’s idiosyncrasies and foibles. Her proclivity for reading and her manner of speech are exemplified in her discussions with her suspects. Imagine being introduced at a ball to an important political figure like Sir Francis and within moments grilling him on his speech on the Magna Carta! This passage made me laugh out loud. Cowley had captured the pedantic geekiness of Mary Bennet perfectly. Who indeed would suspect such a young lady of being a British spy? It is a brilliant, ironic flip to our previous impressions of Austen’s character—and a delightful, sardonic twist that the original author would delight in. There are many more moments such as this throughout the novel which makes it special and entertaining.
Many of the political personalities and events in the story are based on historical fact, notably Lord Cochrane who inspired the book and the film Master and Commander. For those who enjoyed the Patrick O’Brien novel and the Peter Weir film, you will be pleased to read an account of his sea battle tactics against the French and Spanish in chapter seven, prompted by the inquisitive Miss Bennet, of course! The use of newspaper epigraphs to start each chapter was insightful and enjoyable. We can only imagine the research involved in finding the perfect passage and we suspect that Cowley is a bit of a Mary Bennet herself. There were some points where the historical details slowed down the plot, but they soon passed. Cowley captured and expanded upon Austen’s characters with reverence and style, her depictions of 1814 London during an extreme frost were atmospheric, and the mystery elements were complex, clever and captivating.
The True Confessions of a London Spy will appeal to those who enjoyed the Being a Jane Austen Mystery series by Stephanie Barron. Both draw upon real lives, social events, and history to frame their mystery narrative. We especially appreciated the message of this story—that we all have gifts, and if given the right environment and support, we can achieve our heart’s desire.
Of the many Mary Bennet makeover novels out there, and there are dozens, Cowley has crafted a story to admire and cherish. The third book in the series, The Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception releases on September 6th.
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