In for a penny, in for a pound, right? After reading Pride and Premeditation, I figured I should go ahead and read Sense and Second-Degree Murder before conquering Manslaughter Park and I’m glad I did. Although they’re not intricately tied together there are definitely mentions of Lizzie in this book and I’m part of the way into the third and Lizzie, Darcy and Charlotte actually make an appearance and the Dashwoods are mentioned.
For the most part, I enjoyed this adaptation of Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Price did an excellent job with sticking to the core character traits of Marianne and Elinor, and even gave Margaret a bigger role which I could appreciate as I always forget there’s a third sister. If there’s one thing I didn’t like about the adaptation it was that Colonel Brandon became Mr. Brandon. And it made sense for the story, but EVERY time I read it I was like “Bah! What is this nonsense?!”
Similar to Longbourn and Pemberley being shifted from houses/estates to law offices, in this case Norland becomes an investigative firm run by Mr. Dashwood with Marianne’s heavy involvement, while Elinor is interested in chemistry and experimentation.
‘Mr. Farrows has recommended that you seek advice from a legal firm called Longbourn. They were in the papers earlier this year, and he thinks quite highly of them. One of the solicitors solved a murder case, so I imagine if anyone can prove that Miss Steele really did set out to kill your father, it’s them.’
‘The one with the lady solicitor?’ Marianne asked. ‘I rather like that.’ (Loc. 4,376)
All of the usual characters make an appearance and rather than moving to Barton Cottage by the sea, they move to Cheapside in London. Price’s decision to put both of these novels in London makes sense because there’s a lot more action and a lot more opportunity to hit the big points of each novel without having to include travel or additional characters.
Where Price truly excelled was in the characterizations of Marianne and Elinor. Elinor’s steady and methodical approach to love and life comes across in her chosen interests and that carries through in her reserved interactions with Edward Ferrars:
She didn’t love him. But she liked him. And she thought that perhaps, with some time and a chance to get to know him better, and for him to get to know her, maybe deeper affection and love could blossom. (Loc. 2,263)
And Marianne’s impetuousness is even more over the top. It’s amazing that she hadn’t already gotten in more trouble by the time Willoughby appears on the scene.
But Marianne . . . sometimes I think you believe that you must be madly in love, or absolutely disinterested. You don’t allow for anything in between. For possibility. (Loc. 2,959)
This novel had as much action as the last and my favorite scene is either when the Dashwood sisters (all three) invade an opium den and “accidentally” set it on fire after Marianne beats the crap out of Willoughby, or the scene where Elinor busts into their former house and calls out everyone there. The way that scene was written and her vitriol, specifically toward Fanny for not even raising an eyebrow, was perfectly written.
I’m not sure how I’ve liked the endings of the novels so far. I get that Price has taken a more modern approach to the happy for now and not the happily ever after married off at 18 or under years old. And I can 100% appreciate that, but maybe an epilogue or something to tie them off together would be nice. Yes, I know I almost always complain about epilogues, but with such famous books you’d think she’d want to do that.
Recommendation: I thoroughly enjoyed it. Price has an excellent eye for slightly modernizing and genre-shifting Austen’s works so that they’re fresh and fun without feeling over labored or abandoning the source materials. She’s been spot on with the characters if only by amping up their personality traits slightly or leaning into their quirks. Honestly, my biggest fear is that she’ll abandon the series after the next one. That being said, I think she would most definitely adapt Emma, as it’s one of the most adapted. But I have concerns she won’t get to Northanger Abbey or Persuasion.
Opening Line: “ON THE DAY THAT her life was to change forever, Elinor Dashwood awoke late with a wild hope fluttering in her rib cage.”
Closing Line: “Elinor wanted for nothing more in that moment, except for perhaps a bit of patience for their eventual success. But she decided to give it a prettier name and call it hope.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)
Additional Quotes from Sense and Second-Degree Murder
“‘My, you Dashwood women have a flair for the unconventional!’ Fanny exclaimed. ‘What’s next, do you think women ought to have a seat in Parliament?’
‘Why not?’ Marianne asked, just to spite her.” (Loc. 292)
“. . . money is, in many ways, power. To shame people into not discussing it is to limit their power.” (Loc. 1,461)
“One thing she hadn’t quite realized until now was that when someone died, you were robbed of new memories of them. But hearing about facets of her father’s life she hadn’t known about felt like a small reprieve, even if it didn’t lessen her hurt.” (Loc. 1,895)
“She fled then, hoping he was enough of a gentleman to do as she asked. She also knew that she should stick close by, and ensure that he did just that, and observe how it went. Lucy was paying her, after all, and Elinor prided herself on being steady in all things. But lately, she felt herself coming apart, like a knitted garment. Slowly unraveling at first, but then faster and looser as more stitches were loosened.” (Loc. 2,673)
“There was nothing so humbling as realizing all the things you didn’t know.” (Loc. 3,097)
“Perhaps the bravest thing they could do was to pursue happiness in their own right.” (Loc. 4,521)