I liked this a lot. I AM a P&P fan ... as likely most of the readers of such a book would be. I received the audio edition for free in exchange for an honest review. I saw that the text version was also available to me (on Kindle Unlimited) and as I wrapped up the book, I found myself needing to go back and review a few things to make sure I understood. Sometimes my multitasking makes me miss things. I was very glad to have the kindle copy, as it's so much easier to quickly review and reread then trying to go back and relisten to audio portions.

I loved the narrator. Of course this was presented with a British accent, and it was great. I'd commented before on a narrator who pronounced "room" as "rum" (and it annoyed me) ... that happened here, but it aligned with the accent and English pronunciations.

I've read a few P&P re-imaginings and retellings. I don't think this book recreated any specific scene directly as some of the others have done. It would reference scenes that P&P fans would be familiar with, but most of the story was new back or side stories. I thought the tone and telling matched the original quite well. Although ... as I went to reread portions after listening, I think it came across much more naturally with the talented narrator telling the tale. When I read it myself, the writing seemed a little more stilted and unnatural in spots (something I hadn't really noticed at all when listening ... I guess I was completely caught up in the voice telling the story to critique).

There is the moment where this version disconnects from the original - there is a death, a MURDER, and this becomes a bit of a "who done it" mystery. Darcy's and Elizabeth's relationship progresses in a slightly different, but still enjoyable, manner. As with most murder mysteries, clues are dropped to make the reader suspect several individuals. As it all came crashing together at the end, it seemed a little abrupt to me ... SPOILERS AHEAD

Spoiler

When Elizabeth drinks the drugged tea and looks to C. Forster and says "it was you" ... I was like "who is he again? And why on earth would he have murdered Wickham?" and at that point no one really knows why he did it. It isn't until later when he confesses and explains that we learn more background. And Mrs. Yates/Younge. I liked her. It wasn't until the very end that I had any suspicions, and that was only as Elizabeth realizes she really doesn't know much about her. But when Darcy sees her and grabs her and "She writhed like the evil serpent she was" ... well, I guess we are being told she's bad! But it just seemed a leap, as while Darcy knows her background, WE (the reader) don't know for sure until it's explained a bit later.

I guess that's the only thing I really didn't care for. The conclusion where things came crashing together, yet still had to be explained to be understood.

But overall - I really enjoyed this. I would be interested in the sequels, but I think I'd absolutely want them in audio (with a kindle copy as backup, but I'm not sure I'd get around to reading them only on my own).