Hi y’all!

Hope you are enjoying summer and staying cool. Anyone else ready for fall? 😉

Today I am sharing my ARC review of The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray. I was so thrilled to get the chance to read another Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney mystery ARC! These stories are fantastic, engaging and so clever! This is a great addition to this series. I loved it!

This book releases tomorrow, June 17 2025!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.

Book Summary: “Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney understand each other perfectly; it’s a pity their families do not. A series of misunderstandings, misplaced pride, and—indeed—prejudice, has led their parents to deem the pair unsuited to wed. Now, with the Season approaching, Juliet has been sent to London with a new wardrobe and orders to prove herself worthy of someone better than the snobby Darcys.

Meanwhile, Jonathan has been forced to accept an invitation to stay with old friends Edmund and Fanny Bertram at the house of Edmund’s brother, Sir Thomas. Oblivious to and undesiring of female attention other than Juliet’s, Jonathan is in danger of being ensnared by Caroline Bingley’s plans to make herself—or her daughter—mistress of Pemberley. But when the former husband of Edmund’s sister Maria, Mr. Rushworth, is discovered dead, Jonathan and Juliet find themselves with problems far weightier than the marriage market.

In one of the greatest scandals of its day, Maria abandoned her husband for the notorious rake Henry Crawford and, when he wouldn’t marry her, was forced to flee to the continent in disgrace. Now Maria is back, with a daughter she claims Mr. Rushworth fathered after their divorce—and who he wrote into his will just before his death. Now Jonathan and Juliet must unmask a killer before the drama surrounding the Rushworth family fortune claims another victim.“

My favorite parts of these stories are the connections between different Jane Austen characters. I love how Claudia connects all our favorite Austen characters from Elizabeth and Mr Darcy to General Tilney, Fanny and Edmund Bertram to Emma and Mr, Knightley. These connections are so clever and seamless. It feels natural that these characters would connect at house parties and as part of the London season. In this story, we delve into the most shocking of family secrets — Maria Rushworth’s decision to leave her husband for another man. Their resulting divorce is a full blown Regency scandal. In this story, Maria returns from exile years later claiming to have had Mr Rushworth’s child before their divorce. And then Mr Rushworth is killed. The connections between the Bertrams, Darcys and Tilneys take center stage as Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney are again on the case.

I was so excited for another murder mystery with my favorite Regency sleuthing duo! Jonathan and Juliet just fit together. They bring out the best in each other and I love seeing them together again (especially after how the last novel ended). I love their banter, their meticulous research, and the journey they go on to discover the killer. I love how they get each other and allow each other to be themselves. It’s so fun to get inside both their heads and see how they think about the different aspects of this particular case. They see the world very differently but that only contributes to their natural strengths as a detective team. From the first moment they see each other across a London ballroom, Jonathan and Juliet are clearly meant to be back together solving this crime. And I was cheering for them both as murder mystery detectives and to find a way to be together always.

These murder mysteries are fast paced, clever, and always full of surprises. Claudia has a talent for creating engaging stories that suck you into the drama. Even if you haven’t read any Jane Austen novels, you will be pulled into this classic who-done-it novel. I don’t read a lot of mysteries so I have little to compare these with. But I am always surprised in the end. I think I have the mystery figured out. I think I know who the killer is. And then I am totally surprised! I don’t want to share more details because you should experience this one for yourself. But I will say this is another fantastic mystery with compelling twists and turns and a truly surprising ending!

This is a great series for fans of Jane Austen, mystery fans, and especially those who love both!

What are your favorite historical mysteries?
Which are your favorite Jane Austen novels?