Pride, Prejudice and Poison: A Jane Austen Society Mystery

Pride, Prejudice and Poison by Elizabeth Blake is the first novel in A Jane Austen Society Mystery series. I enjoyed the setting of Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, England. It is a quaint village with a variety of quirky residents. It seems that everyone is a fan of Jane Austen and her books. Erin loves to quote from Jane Austen’s novels and the villagers are frequently reading different versions of the authors works. I did feel that the Austen element was overdone (too many quotes). I wish it had been done with a lighter hand so it would have retained the humor. I did, though, like how the quotes connected to the plot. Erin Coleridge owns the used bookstore, Readers Quarry where the villagers tend to congregate for tea and gossip. Erin is a member of the local Jane Austen Society. At their monthly meetings there is controversy. While the group takes a tea break, the club’s president, Sylvia Pemberthy drops dead. Erin jumps into the investigation when it appears that the killer is setting up Farnsworth Appleby to take the fall. Erin flirts with the investigating detective who is referred to in my copy (an ARC) as DI Peter Hadley and DI Peter Hemming (talk about confusing). I am sure this was corrected for the final version. There were multiple suspects in this whodunit, but the killer can be identified quite easily (before the body departs for the inquest). I would have liked a bit more of a challenge. Erin’s behavior mimics that of most amateur sleuths. She lies to the police, asks questions, stumbles upon information and puts herself in danger. I felt that Pride, Prejudice and Poison was a slow starter because of the introduction of so many villagers (a little much at the start). Gossip spreads rapidly in the small village and tea is consumed in vast quantities. Pride, Prejudice and Poison is a lighthearted cozy mystery with Austen admirers, toxic tea, a bounty of books, an introverted investigator, and a set up suspect.

This is the first book in a new series by Elizabeth Blake and I am HOOKED! It is like Midsomer Mysteries and I could see it play out in my head as though it were on the small screen. I felt a connection with the various characters who were wonderfully written. I am really looking forward to seeing them evolve. The plot was well-paced. The dialogue was entertaining. I knocked it down one star because I felt like the mystery was too easy to solve. Perhaps that is the author’s style though, to let the audience in early while the characters remain in the dark. If I realize this to be the case, I will probably come back and give it full marks. Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Elizabeth Blake for giving me the chance to read this story and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.