P. D. James has turned her pen to the writing of an historical novel in "Death Comes to Pemberley". This novel is a sequel to Jane Austin's "Pride and Prejudice", and James has written in the manner of Austin in creating this murder mystery.
To begin her story, she briefly retells the story and recreates the characters in "Pride and Prejudice", only time has gone by; it is six years later and the Darcy household is preparing for their annual ball. Unbeknownst to them, Lydia plans on surprising them by turning up for the ball. On her way there with her husband, Wickham and friend, Captain Denny, Denny stops the coach and runs into the nearby woodland. Wickham follows and shortly thereafter shots are heard. Lydia screams for the coachman to continue on to Pemberley where the household finds her to be very distressed. After telling her story, Darcy and his friend Colonel Fitzwilliam set out to investigate. They discover Wickham kneeling over the body of Denny, decrying "I killed him, my only friend and I killed him."
From there the story ensues. An inquest, and a trial where much is revealed about what really caused the death of Captain Denny.
P. D. James at her best.
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