A super fun idea! Jane Austen's beloved classics reimagined into the equally beloved cozy mystery genre — for YA readers. It's teen Jane Austen meets teen Agatha Christie with a contemporary feminist flavor, and I'm definitely here for all of that. Two more books are already in the works: "Sense and Second-Degree Murder" and "Manslaughter Park."

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a brilliant idea, conceived and executed by a clever young woman, must be claimed by a man." And thus "Pride and Premeditation" opens with Elizabeth Bennet glaring at Mr. Collins, the inept junior partner of her father's law firm, as he regales the Longbourn & Son employees with "his" brilliant casework. Ugh. It's impossible that Collins should inherit the firm and all the family properties, but that's exactly what will happen if Lizzie can't persuade her genial but too traditional father that he should hire her instead. And, of course, she'll need to avoid her mother's matchmaking schemes and the young Mr. Darcy's attempts to derail her as he protects the interests of his friend Bingley and his firm Pemberley and Associates. The game is afoot and a number of familiar characters are players.

The characterizations of the players are fairly well done here, though all are younger than the originals and lacking some depth, none are stretched into unrecognizable roles. Lizzie is smart and lively and headstrong, though I missed the original's sly humor. The setting is just a bit off. It feels more Victorian (or after) than Regency and probably should've been adjusted so that was the case. I did love the obvious research that went into the barrister/solicitor/courtroom parts though! And an attempt was made at some racial diversity with Lizzie acknowledging racial and class privilege. I loved finding familiar phrases throughout, though tighter editing could have reduced a bit of distracting repetition in the use of that technique. The investigation/mystery plot was fun, with higher stakes than I was anticipating, but it felt both drawn out and frantic at times. Overall, however, this was fun read and I'll be looking out for the next one.

Content notes: death, murder, stabbing, drowning, kidnapping, blood, gunshot, brandished knife, piracy, locked in enclosed space, gender discrimination, racism, no sexual content (a couple of kisses) or profanity

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for a digital ARC.