Death Comes to Pemberley

I will never get bored of claiming that, to me, one of the greatest love stories ever written is Pride & Prejudice. So far every companion novel, and the so called prequels and sequels, I've read, all recount the love story from different perspectives, hence, I was rather curious to see what a mystery novelist would make of it!

Death Comes to Pemberley written by P. D. James, author of the Adam Dalgliesh mysteries, was published in 2011 - I mention this because her first novel Cover Her Face came out in 1962 and she, the author - Phyllis Dorothy James, Baroness James of Holland Park, is 91 years of age! Why is this significant to me? Personally, she is the oldest living author that I've read. Anyway, the book.

The book is about the murder of Captain Denny, whom we know to be George Wickham's comrade-in-arms and, quite possibly, only male friend. Set primarily in Pemberley and the surrounding woods, the story begins with a recap of the events in Pride & Prejudice, the snide statement that Mrs. Bennet now has only one unmarried daughter remaining - Kitty, for those interested; Mary marries a clergyman - and the general knowledge that Jane and Elizabeth are quite content with their married lives and brood of children.

The events kick off with preparations for Lady Anne's ball, held annually in honor of Darcy's mother, six years after P & P. Georgiana is on the throes of possibly receiving a proposal of marriage from either Colonel Fitzwilliam, now the Viscount Hartlep owing to the death of his older brother, or a Mr. Henry Alveston, a successful young lawyer, when tragedy strikes. Lydia Wickham arrives at Pemberley, as a surprise to Elizabeth because the Wickhams have never been received at Pemberley owing to George Wickham's previous misdeeds, wailing that her husband has been killed on the grounds of the vast estate. It is found, however, that Captain Denny is the one that has been murdered, and Wickham, who in his moment of guilt, confesses that he has killed his only friend. Though his innocence is widely suggested, there appear to be no plausible explanation as to why he or someone else may hay done it! The rest of the story, divided into 6 books, concerns the hearing and subsequent trial of Wickham. Did he or did he not do it? Why would he have done it? What is he hiding? What is Colonel Fitzwilliam, the light-hearted man we were introduced to, hiding? The bulk of the story, obviously, deals with the law, but there is not great investigation. It's just based off of confessions, retelling of the stories, and more confessions.
It was interesting to read, but this story lacked the pace and intensity one would expect of a whodunit. There is no sleuthing, just each character with their own suspicions. There isn't, now that I think about it, much of a story in it either. No one seems extremely concerned about Wickham's fate - Darcy and the Colonel worry more about 'polluting the woods of Pemberley with another scandal' than anything else. Why would they be concerned anyway? No one likes Wickham. No one cares about Lydia. There is nothing noteworthy about their characters that might spawn even the slightest interest in their lives! It doesn't even affect the lives of the other characters all too much because the Wickhams were never entertained at any of their houses and they moved in completely different social circles.
P. D. James jostles Jane Austen with the occasional reference. Like, this line when talking about Elizabeth accepting Darcy's proposal.

If this were fiction, could even the most brilliant novelist contrive to make credible so short a period in which pride has been subdued and prejudice overcome?

Or introducing the fact that Wickham, upon leaving the army, worked for a short period as Sir Walter Eliot's  secretary. If you've read Persuasion, you'll know this reference, and also realize that that novel is set ten years ahead of the events of Death Comes to Pemberley, which makes it a bit of a push. There are also the references to characters from Emma, but that's where the connection to Miss Austen ends.

Having read Wilkie Collins, Dorothy Sayers, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle recently, I could not appreciate the attempt at mystery here. It was weak, the story itself. Even the trial scenes are plain. The writing is good, but that's it. The characters retain none of the appeal that Jane Austen created and don't create a lasting impression at the end of this book either. I guess my point is that they lack a certain depth that a good mystery story should've given them. But I suppose you can't expect any more from some of the least known or favorite characters from a famous book. There is an attempt, at the very end - in the epilogue, to salvage some of the Austen-esque writing, but it becomes more of a reiteration of what any compulsive reader of P & P would've have already deduced, so it doesn't necessarily salvage much.
The author has done her best with it, I'm sure, but it leaves one rather flustered and somewhat disconnected.
If you're reading this book hoping for a connection with the great classic, you will be disappointed. If you're looking to read this book just like that, then it's fine. I, for one, have to categorize this as 'one I read to add to my book count' and nothing else.