Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price
In this queer retelling of the classic novel and third book in Tirzah Price’s Jane Austen Murder Mystery series, Mansfield Park is the center of a deadly accident (or is it?). Perfect for fans of the Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper.
Aspiring artist Fanny Price is an unwelcome guest at her uncle Sir Thomas Bertram’s estate. It’s his affection for Fanny that’s keeping her from being forced out by her cousins Tom and Maria and nasty Aunt Norris, back to a home to which she never wants to return. But then Sir Thomas dies in a tragic accident inside his art emporium, and Fanny finds evidence of foul play that, if revealed, could further jeopardize her already precarious position.
Edmund, her best friend and secret crush, urges Fanny to keep quiet about her discovery, but Fanny can’t ignore the truth: a murderer is among them.
Determined to find the killer, Fanny’s pursuit for justice has her wading into the Bertram family business, uncovering blackmail, and brushing with London’s high society when Henry and Mary Crawford arrive at Mansfield Park with an audacious business proposal. But a surprising twist of fate—and the help of local legends Lizzie Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy—brings Fanny more complications than she ever expected and a life-altering realization about herself she never saw coming.
This book three could be read as a standalone, but there are characters from previous books in it.
Fanny was taken in by her aunt and uncle when she was young. Her family is poor and they have a lot of children. They also took in Edmund. Edmund and Fanny are not blood related, but the aunt and uncle are for both of them. One on the man’s side and the other from the woman’s. Edmund has always been nice to Fanny and she definitely has a crush on him. She even hoped that he might want to marry her. Her cousins and aunts aren’t nice to her. Her uncle was decent to both Fanny and Edmund. He even encourages Fanny’s painting. The uncle, Sir Thomas, falls down the stairs and ends up dying. Fanny believed he tripped on something and didn’t just fall. After meeting Lizzie, Fanny is encouraged to look into it more. Sir Thomas was keeping secrets and it’s possible that multiple people may have wanted him dead. Two art dealers, Henry and Mary, arrive. They are going to help auction off the artwork. While the oldest cousin and Henry seem overly friendly, Fanny befriends Mary. And she starts to feel like there is something more than friendship. But Fanny is in danger from looking into the possible murder and anyone close to her is at risk too.
I gave this book 4 1/2 stars. I figured out right away who did it, but I still enjoyed all the clues leading up to the ending.
Have you read this yet? Is it on your TBR?
