Kelly Miller’s ‘Accusing Mr. Darcy’ is the ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Variation Thriller Fans Have Been Waiting For [REVIEW]

He’s handsome. He’s charming. He’s eligible. But is he a killer? When the odds are stacked against him, will Fitzwilliam Darcy be able to prove his innocence and exonerate his good name? Find out in Kelly Miller’s new Pride and Prejudice variation, Accusing Mr. Darcy.

Nicholas and Rose Kendall live in the stunning Peak District in Derbyshire. Having attempted to get her cousin, Elizabeth Bennet, to visit them for some time, Rose decides she must up the ante, so she decides it is time to host a glamorous house party and invite the crème de la crème of English society. And she won’t take no for an answer, even if Elizabeth doesn’t exactly feel like she belongs in the same circles as her doting cousin. Besides, Rose has an ulterior motive. She’s eager to play matchmaker and introduce Elizabeth to her dashing brother in law, Captain James Kendall.

Meanwhile, Nicholas is eager to see his dear friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, again, and extends him an invitation as well. Like Elizabeth, Darcy is also hesitant to accept the invitation, but for very different reasons. After all, as a man of means with an immaculate reputation, he’s bored with all the women trying to win his affection, regardless of how reticent he may be. He’s simply not interested in being paraded around like a prize-winning bull. Yet Nicholas assures him that won’t happen at their home, even though he secretly hopes Darcy will take an interest in one of the eligible young women who are also attending.

Once everyone gathers at the Kendall estate, the party begins well enough, but the fun and games soon come to a screeching halt. When news of a brutal murder makes its way to the convivial group, things take a dark turn. One of the Kendall’s guests is also attacked, and suddenly the partygoers are caught in the midst of a full-blown investigation and every man in attendance is suddenly a suspect. And now, the man charged with investigating the crime sets his sights on Mr. Darcy himself!

Now that author Kelly Miller has a few books under her belt, she proves with Accusing Mr. Darcy that practice does, in fact, make perfect. She’s honed her skills and wields her pen quite effectively in this novel of romantic suspense, which puts a fresh spin on the budding relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy that Jane Austen first created in her classic novel, Pride and Prejudice. The result is a tale which elevates this novel from mere fan fiction to an enthralling mystery able to stand capably on its own.

I personally enjoyed this book more than I liked the original work, primarily because it was written as a murder mystery that actually kept me guessing throughout much of the novel. Complete with red herrings and other misdirects, it made for a fun read that was true to the period, although maybe not entirely to Austen’s text. Yes, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are more or less the same, although I do think Darcy talks more in this book than I ever remember him speaking in the original. But that worked for me, because we get to know him a bit better here, which I like. And, of course, there are brand new characters added to the mix, which makes this story a bit more relevant and engaging for modern readers. I also thoroughly enjoy Miller’s humor, which weaves its way throughout the novel, lightens the darker elements just enough, and simply results in bringing a smile to this reader’s face.

If you’re a die-hard Pride and Prejudice purist and want to relive the Austen you read in college, this probably isn’t the book for you. In fact, I suggest you just re-read the original and avoid fan fiction variations altogether if that is the case. But if you’re open minded enough to enjoy this novel for what it is, a romantic thriller where Austen’s characters cast familiar shadows, this is a story which will delight and entertain you for a few enchanting, nail-biting hours.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelly Miller is the author of Mr. Darcy’s Perfect Match and Death Takes a Holiday at Pemberley. Accusing Mr. Darcy is her third novel published by Meryton Press.

A native Californian and Anglophile, she made her first visit to England in 2019. When not pondering a plot point or a turn of phrase, she can be found playing the piano (although like Elizabeth Bennett, she is errant when it comes to practicing), singing, and walking her dogs.

She resides in Silicon Valley with her husband, daughter, and their many pets.

To find out more, visit KellyMiller.MerytonPress.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

ACCUSING MR. DARCY
By Kelly Miller
360 pp. Meryton Press. $12.95

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