I am a long time fan of both Jane Austen and P.D. James. This is not the first P&P mystery I have read, but I can honestly say that I wish it were. James did an excellent job of keeping the characters realistic and human, unlike the typical Mary-Sue hyper-sexualized versions of the post P&P novels. Everything was carefully written, with meticulous attention to detail, and a story that was solid and engaging. Not only was it a wonderful glimpse into the continuation of the lives of beloved characters (which took a couple little liberties in what became of people, but that was mostly necessary for the purpose of the story), it was also a very well-crafted and believable mystery. James gives the reader clues to the unfolding mystery that are adequate for solving what has happened, without being too obvious. Where other writers may have turned everything into a Regency version of Friday the 13th, this was very carefully written to make sense in the setting.

The attention to historical detail and accuracy was very nice, and the settings described were done in a style compatible with Austen, so that one did not feel distracted by inconsistencies or improprieties the way one might with other "sequels" - and that was a great relief. There are a couple parts of the story that seem to crawl for a bit, but that is matched by the fact that the POV characters feel the same way. There is a smooth conveyance of story, and a knowledge of crime investigation and the legal system of the time that James has shown proficiency toward in the past. Austen fans will delight in some surprises that occur in the story, and mystery fans will enjoy the intrigue.

If you are in the market for a fast-paced, heart-pounding thriller, this is not the book you seek. The tone and the pacing are well-matched to the appropriate style for the time period. If you are in the market for a post P&P story with modernized viewpoints and explicit romance, this is also not for you. The characters are realistic to the expectations of their status and station, and are portrayed as fully human and believable. I found this book delightful.