A Review of Claudia Gray's Austen-Inspired Murder Mysteries

Jane Austen fanfiction, but make it good. In this review, you will get a two-for-one!

So, you have read all of Jane Austen's novels. You were swayed by my review of P.D. James' novel, Death Comes to Pemberley. And now you are wondering if there is anything else out there to quench your thirst for Jane Austen. Well, look no further, and welcome Claudia Gray to the scene!

• If you like murder mysteries, and if you read a lot of young adult fiction, prepare to love these easy to read novels.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham:

Starting with The Murder of Mr. Wickham, you will quickly be introduced to every Jane Austen hero and heroine all comfortably (or uncomfortably) in one big house. The murder mystery element of the story works like a classic Poirot: no one can leave until the crime is solved. However, along with the local law, our two protagonists are also investigating the murder.

Gray's protagonists are not reimaginings of Austen's solidified characters. Rather, Gray cleverly creates her own characters as the teenage son of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy (from Pride and Prejudice), and the teenage daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tinley (from Northanger Abbey). These characters are quintessentially "young adult", but in a campy way that one can appreciate. You will love them both. You will love them for the campiness, but you will also love them for the moments of sweet and surprising depth.

The mystery itself is well-written, easy to read, and the perfect amount of predictable. You will find yourself questioning everyone, and suspecting everyone of secrets, just like any good who-dun-it. And when the culprit is finally found out, you will be surprised, and all will be right with the world again. But the budding romance (you will see miles away) between our protagonists, will be left on a cliff-hanger, preparing you for the next installment.

All in all, Gray writes a very classic mystery story with 90% of the characters already written for her. But she does not rely on Austen to a fault. This story is supposed to take place many years later, and she does a lovely job of creating new storylines for Austen's characters. from the grief of losing children, to the general difficulty of marriage. And just like with any good murder mystery: everyone has secrets.

The Late Mrs. Willoughby:

While still good fun, The Late Mrs. Willoughby was not quite as good as Gray's first book. The story rambled a bit, and I found that the mystery itself was much more predictable. The additions of two other non-Austen characters, while well-written, did distract from the Austen elements necessary to the story.

• If you don't read a lot, or any, Austen, these books may not be quite as accessible, unfortunately.

One would expect that with less Austen-specific elements, Gray's second book would be more accessible to non-Austen readers. However, this is not the case. Not only does she delve into subplots from Austen novels like Sense and Sensibility, the fact that there is more focus on the new characters means that the already existing Austen characters are less fleshed out.

The mystery itself worked, but just didn't pack the same punch that Gray's first book did. The red herrings proved to be more confusing than actually drawing your attention away from the actual crime/culprit, and I found (not through my own cunning, I promise you) that I had solved the mystery by the middle of the book.

That being said, the two protagonists still shone, were still lovable, and still got into the classic YA mischief expected of this type of murder mystery; now, with the added element of a love triangle. Over all, you will still thoroughly enjoy this installment of Claudia Gray's Jane Austen mystery "fanfiction." It is easy to read, highly entertaining, and a nice break if you tend to read weightier books on a regular basis.

Additionally, from the ending of The Late Mrs. Willoughby, it would seem that Gray intends to write more of these mysteries soon!

(Adult themes: mild references to how victims were murdered).