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Mystery:
A genre of fiction that follows a crime (like a murder or a disappearance) from the moment it is committed to the moment it is solved. Mystery novels are often called “whodunnits” because they turn the reader into a detective trying to figure out the who, what, when, and how of a particular crime

Pride and Premeditation
by Tirzah Price
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Summary: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young woman who desires a law career must be in want of a case. So when sixteen-year-old Lizzie Bennet hears about a scandalous society murder, she sees an opportunity to prove herself as a solicitor by solving the case and ensuring justice is served.

The man accused of the crime already has a lawyer on his side: Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious Pemberley Associates law firm. Lizzie is determined to solve the murder before Darcy can so that she can show the world that a woman can be just as good as a man. (The fact that Darcy is an infuriating snob doesn’t help.) But there’s still a killer on the loose, and as the case gets more complicated, Lizzie and Darcy may have to start working together to avoid becoming the next victims themselves.

Review: As a fan of Jane Austen and her many impressive works, I was floored by how much I enjoyed this retelling. The elements of the classic story are in the tone and vibe of this story. Price lends a new understanding of the concept to the original characters, providing more backstory and successful outcomes to some of our favorite underrated characters. Readers will find common ground with a female heroin fighting to be taken seriously and given the same career rights and accreditations as her fellow man. On top of that, a fun romance and the all-too-present family dynamic makes The Bennett's one of the most relatable and entertaining families!

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Key Elements: Mystery, Thriller, Family Dynamics, Class Issues, Romance, Female Empowerment

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Retelling, Modern Classic

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Stalking Jack the Ripper
by Kerri Maniscalco

Summary:  

A deliciously creepy horror novel inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

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Review

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this an impossible story to put down. Audrey is the strong female heroin we wish we saw more of in late nineteenth century London. The back and forth mystery of who may be Jack leading up to a shocking reveal keep readers hooked, constantly turning the pages for more content. It's hard not to fall in love with Thomas, except when we learn he might be the ripper himself! Audrey's uncle is the only man in her life who supports her dreams of being a doctor, but he could be using his expertise as the ripper! It could be anyone at anytime down any dark alley, and it's up to Audrey to discover who it is before others die. 

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Key Elements: Mystery, Thriller, Family Dynamics, Class Issues, Romance, Female Empowerment, History 

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Horror 

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Sense and Second-Degree Murder
by Tirzah Price 
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Summary:  

When eighteen-year-old aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood discovers her beloved father slumped over the desk of his office study, she knows his death means dire straits for the Dashwood women. To make matters worse, an outdated will entails his estate—including Norland & Company, the private investigation firm where her younger sister Marianne worked as her father’s partner and protégé—to their half-brother and his haughty wife, who waste no time in forcing the Dashwoods out of their home and into a cramped apartment on London’s Barton Street.

But before they go, the Dashwood sisters make a startling discovery that points to foul play, and the killer might be family.

Obviously, the girls must investigate. It could be dangerous; it could ruin their reputations; and most importantly, it won’t bring back their father. But if the Dashwood sisters can combine their talents and bring their father’s murderer to justice, it may bring them all some comfort—and it might even lead to love.

Review: In Sense and Second-Degree Murder, aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood and her sister Marianne, a budding detective, work together to solve the mystery of their father’s murder. As a fan of the first murder retelling from author Price, Pride and Premeditation, I was looking forward to this book for a year and was not disappointed. The Dashwood sisters suffering and grief is genuine and theirs mothers struggle to accept her new status of widow is nothing less than heartbreaking. Distracting themselves from their grief, the Dashwood sisters dedicate their time to tending to their mother and searching for the murderer of their father. Familiar Jane Austen characters creep into the story in the same easy way as the first novel and readers will enjoy the parallels between the classic and the retelling. 

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Key Elements: Mystery, Thriller, Family Dynamics, Class Issues, Romance, Female Empowerment

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Retelling, Modern Classic

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