If you are a fan of Jane Austen's writings and like the "fan fiction" that has emerged surrounding her stories then you will find this an intriguing murder mystery. What makes it fun also, in my opinion, gives it a flaw which makes me lower it from a five star to a four star rating.
What's fun about the novel is that all of Jane Austen's major characters from all her major novels come together in this one story. The Darcy's, the Wentworth's, the Knightly's, the Bertram's, even Frank Churchill. While this is fun it also makes the book a bit tedious. So many backstories must be told that you start to get swamped with details. But it is also fun to see how the characters all relate to each other in a most trying time.
The story is set two decades after the wedding of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. This allows for bringing together all of the various characters (time line wise). It also allows for three new characters to come together, Jonathan Darcy, Juliet Tilney and Grace Churchill, all three teenagers, children of our major story characters.
The Knightly's are hosting a house party to which all of our characters (except the Churchhills) have been invited. After they are all together another guest spoils the party. Mr. Wickham shows up, uninvited. But due to severe weather he is offered a room for one night.
As the title of the book suggests, Mr. Wickham is eventually murdered. He has been forced to stay more than a night because of the weather. He starts to grate on everyone's nerves, and is a most un welcomed guest.
The question of the book is, "Who murdered Mr. Wickham?" But I think a better question might be, "Who didn't want Mr. Wickham murdered?" That question is what really drives the story.
The bulk of the time is spent developing why each character had a good reason to murder Wickham. The only issue is to determine who had the temerity to actually commit the murder?
The fact that we all want to see Wickham dead is what drives us to continue reading the story. We can't wait to see "Who did it!"
I think this was a good blend of Jane Austen's books as well as being a good Who Done It.
Get a pad of paper and a pencil so that you can take notes while reading, that will help you keep track of all the characters and their various motives.
Enjoy!
