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qwelling4's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
asreadbykat's review against another edition
4.0
True Rating: 3.75 Stars
Content/Trigger Warnings: Nongraphic mentions of drug addiction/drug abuse, mentions of animal testing (rats), brief mention of scientific study of hanged criminals
Thoughts
I read the first book in this series, "Pride and Premeditation," last year and found it an enjoyable read. It was a quick, cozy read using characters I love and imagining them in different scenarios. While it had its flaws, I enjoyed it enough to pick up "Sense & Second-Degree Murder" as soon as it was available in my local bookstore. I'm happy to say that not only did I enjoy this one just as much, I actually enjoyed it more and can definitely see the author's improvement.
The Good
The Plot's Center
While yes this is a murder mystery, the author is smart enough to keep the same heart of the story as the original novel: the relationship between Elinor and Marianne. Price even takes it a step further by showing their differences not in how they deal with their respective love interests or society, but by their interests in general. Sensible Elinor loves science and wants to seriously study chemistry, while passionate Marianne thrives on the danger and intrigue their father's detective work provided. These different interests work to show the gap in their relationship, and how that relationship grows with them as they learn how they (and their interests) can work together.
Romance Takes a Backseat
Going into this, I was fully prepared to read another novel of insta-love, which happens far too often in YA literature. I was VERY pleasantly surprised to find that not to be the case. Price instead keeps in with Jane Austen's original writing, but also making it more realistic. Austen fans will remember that in the S&S novel, Austen didn't spend a lot of time on the lead-up to the romances. The girls meet their love interests, time skip, and they're in love. Many romantic aspects people enjoy are actually found in the TV or film adaptations. Price takes the Austen approach by having some feeling come across in very little time, but stops short of "insta-love". I won't say too much more, except that it's nice to see an author keep to the spirit of the original while also making it more realistic.
The Characters
Just as in the first book, part of the fun in this is seeing how the author uses the characters. Fans of the original S&S novel will have fun trying to guess which characters will appear and what roles they'll play. And, even in the more predictable roles, it's fun to see just how those roles are played.
The Weak
The Mystery's Solution
This is really my biggest problem with the novel, and it's kind of a big one, so I did dock quite a few points. DO NOT read this book purely for the mystery. It starts off well and has some interesting points to it (some of which are explained in the Author's Note, which should definitely be read), but unfortunately it falls a little flat in the final delivery. I've read other YA novels (even middle grade ones) with more well-plotted mysteries so I'm not going to accept that as an excuse. If the mystery was just a side plot it wouldn't be so bad, but since it's the main plot driving the novel, I would have liked to see the mystery more fleshed out and the villains more capable.
TL;DR/b> A fun, enjoyable read for fans of Jane Austen, but not by anyone looking for a good, solid mystery.
Content/Trigger Warnings: Nongraphic mentions of drug addiction/drug abuse, mentions of animal testing (rats), brief mention of scientific study of hanged criminals
Thoughts
I read the first book in this series, "Pride and Premeditation," last year and found it an enjoyable read. It was a quick, cozy read using characters I love and imagining them in different scenarios. While it had its flaws, I enjoyed it enough to pick up "Sense & Second-Degree Murder" as soon as it was available in my local bookstore. I'm happy to say that not only did I enjoy this one just as much, I actually enjoyed it more and can definitely see the author's improvement.
The Good
The Plot's Center
While yes this is a murder mystery, the author is smart enough to keep the same heart of the story as the original novel: the relationship between Elinor and Marianne. Price even takes it a step further by showing their differences not in how they deal with their respective love interests or society, but by their interests in general. Sensible Elinor loves science and wants to seriously study chemistry, while passionate Marianne thrives on the danger and intrigue their father's detective work provided. These different interests work to show the gap in their relationship, and how that relationship grows with them as they learn how they (and their interests) can work together.
Romance Takes a Backseat
Going into this, I was fully prepared to read another novel of insta-love, which happens far too often in YA literature. I was VERY pleasantly surprised to find that not to be the case. Price instead keeps in with Jane Austen's original writing, but also making it more realistic. Austen fans will remember that in the S&S novel, Austen didn't spend a lot of time on the lead-up to the romances. The girls meet their love interests, time skip, and they're in love. Many romantic aspects people enjoy are actually found in the TV or film adaptations. Price takes the Austen approach by having some feeling come across in very little time, but stops short of "insta-love". I won't say too much more, except that it's nice to see an author keep to the spirit of the original while also making it more realistic.
The Characters
Just as in the first book, part of the fun in this is seeing how the author uses the characters. Fans of the original S&S novel will have fun trying to guess which characters will appear and what roles they'll play. And, even in the more predictable roles, it's fun to see just how those roles are played.
The Weak
The Mystery's Solution
This is really my biggest problem with the novel, and it's kind of a big one, so I did dock quite a few points. DO NOT read this book purely for the mystery. It starts off well and has some interesting points to it (some of which are explained in the Author's Note, which should definitely be read), but unfortunately it falls a little flat in the final delivery. I've read other YA novels (even middle grade ones) with more well-plotted mysteries so I'm not going to accept that as an excuse. If the mystery was just a side plot it wouldn't be so bad, but since it's the main plot driving the novel, I would have liked to see the mystery more fleshed out and the villains more capable.
TL;DR/b> A fun, enjoyable read for fans of Jane Austen, but not by anyone looking for a good, solid mystery.
vic_forlani's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kennedibled's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Kind of a slower start, but once I finally got into it I couldn’t put it down!
robbynjreeve's review against another edition
3.0
Summary: Eleanor Dashwood and her sister, Marianne, have their lives turned upside-down when their father suddenly and unexpectedly passes away. Eleanor loves to experiment and hopes to improve her scientific study and Marianne has helped her father with his detective business from a very young age. The more they learn about their father the most the inconsistencies with his sudden passing don't add up. Throw in the charming Mr. Willoughby, the kind and understanding Mr. Ferrars, the stoic Colonel Brandon, a depressed mother, and far too spirited younger sister and things get really topsy-turvy in the Dashwood sisters' lives.
Review: This was my favorite book of the 3. I think it helped that I listened to this one and heard it with the English accent. It always was advantageous to being familiar enough with the story to recognize characters, but not so familiar as to notice all the many differences from the original.
Star Rating: ✮✮✮✩✩
Review: This was my favorite book of the 3. I think it helped that I listened to this one and heard it with the English accent. It always was advantageous to being familiar enough with the story to recognize characters, but not so familiar as to notice all the many differences from the original.
Star Rating: ✮✮✮✩✩
eebeagles's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
thebookishrunner_etc's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
annebeth's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
2.0
2/5
At first I was excited about this book because it seemed different from the first so it had a chance for me to enjoy it more than the first. Sadly though, I found it to drag and I wished for the characters to be more interesting. The plot was what really kept me going.
At first I was excited about this book because it seemed different from the first so it had a chance for me to enjoy it more than the first. Sadly though, I found it to drag and I wished for the characters to be more interesting. The plot was what really kept me going.
gabrielle_erin's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as the first one but still lots of fun.