Kristina A. reviewed on 3/5/2020 + 1528 more book reviews

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.

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