‘Holiday at Pemberley’ by Kelly Miller

A huge fan as I am of Kelly Miller’s work, the fact that I’ve already read the story of the angel of death coercing Mr Darcy into entertaining him as his guest at Pemberley so that he could study the mortals’ ways didn’t stop me from purchasing this book. I loved the original version, ‘Death Takes a Holiday at Pemberley,’ and, since I never miss a new release from this author, I couldn’t skip this one.

I wasn’t disappointed in the least! The story proved to be as charming as I remembered it, and I devoured it in just a few sittings. An epilogue was a welcome addition to the previous version and supplemented the overall story most fittingly.

I enjoy the way Kelly Miller expands the universe that Jane Austen fans have grown to love. If you, like me, reread ‘Pride and Prejudice’ countless times – yes, I lost count of how many times I’ve thumbed through the now yellow and thinning pages of my very first beloved volume of the book – and every time felt bereft at the end, craving to get a glimpse of Lizzy and Mr Darcy’s married life, then you simply must read this book. ‘Holiday at Pemberley’ is full of charming domestic and familial bliss scenes of those two. I admire the elegant manner in which the author steps into Ms Austen’s shoes and carries on seamlessly from where the original story finished or, in some of the variations, offers an alternative course of events.

In this book, Mr Graham, a new character the author introduces, has the potential to become readers’ favourite in his own right, not because they fell in love with him in one of Jane Austen’s original novels. An angel of death he might be, which lends him a portion of guaranteed allure; yet, there is more to him than magical powers and great looks. I liked witnessing his transformation from the arrogant, all-powerful, deity-like creature to someone very different.

Elizabeth and Mr Darcy are lovely in the roles of parents. But even more than reading about their interactions with their two-year-old son Bennet – a wonderful choice to name their firstborn if you ask me – I loved the twist involving Lady Catherine. I don’t think I’ll be far from the truth if I say that for most fans, the formidable lady of Rosings is the character who, along with Mr Collins – another absolute charmer – ‘spices up’ the ‘Pride and Prejudice’ otherwise gentle narrative. So, it was all the more gratifying to read Kelly Miller’s interpretation of why Lady Catherine has become the way we know – and love/hate – her.

Another moment that filled my heart with warmth is the role that Mr Darcy’s horse played in his fate. So in tune with what I think about these incredible creatures – the closest we get to magic in the real world – and how I see them.

I highly recommend this newest release by Kelly Miller to all ‘Pride and Prejudice’ fans, who aren’t averse to a supernatural twist to a beloved story.