This delightful young-adult read reimagines the beloved novel's narrative in a fun, new way. I loved it (to be honest, it was a soothing follow-up to the engrossing but emotionally fraught Of Women and Salt).

This book takes place during the same time period as the original, but Lizzie is a teen who--while still feisty, judgmental, and strong-willed--wants to become a barrister in her father's firm, Longbourn and Sons (which has no sons). When Charles Bingley is accused of the murder of his brother-in-law Mr. Hurst, she's determined to find the real killer. Using logic--to secure the goodwill of her father, who has promised to go against the societal conventions of the time and allow her to work in his firm if she proves her mettle--she sets out to solve the case. The one handsome, brooding thing in her way? One "Fitz" Darcy, the barrister-in-training for Pemberley and Associates, the firm Bingley hired to take his case.

I loved this new twist on the classic tale. The crackerjack romantic tension between Lizzie and Darcy is still there, as are the other plot points we love--Wickham's deviousness, Jane's sweetness, Mrs. Bennett's daffiness, and Mr. Collins's creepiness. The changes that are made serve the new story and didn't take away from my thorough enjoyment. This was another young-adult novel that charmed me with its cleverness and romance. If you're a fan of P&P or just fun mysteries with a romantic bent, pick this one up. The planned sequels--Sense and Second Degree Murder and Manslaughter Park--will definitely be auto-buys for me.