MANSLAUGHTER PARK

MANSLAUGHTER PARK by Tirzah Price

SPOILER ALERT

After two wonderful YA books based on Jane Austen's classic novels, author Tirzah Price pulls a major switch on Manslaughter Park. In my past posts I shared about how much I enjoyed Pride and Premeditation and Sense and Second Degree Murder. I was absolutely delighted with the idea of a murder happening within a known classic while maintaining the foundation of the story. Unfortunately, Manslaughter Park does a complete 180 from that original model.

In the original Mansfield Park we are introduced to Fanny Price, a young, shy girl who is born into poverty. Her relatives, the Bertrams, take her into their sprawling estate as a sort of family charity. Here she is mistreated by everyone except for the younger son, Edmund. After a series of hard events falls on the family, Fanny's value and dedication is very apparent to most of the family. She and Edmund, whom she has loved for a long time, marry and live happily ever after. Forgive the very short overview of an amazing, classic work.

In Tirzah Price's Manslaughter Park we do see the appearance of all the main characters. Lord Bertram is a famous art dealer who ends up murdered. The family mistreatment of Fanny is very evident, and Fanny fancies herself in love with Edmund. However, before long we discover that a guest in the home , Mary Crawford, begins to catch her eye. Confused about her feelings, but then arriving at the point where they can no longer be denied, the book shares several passionate kissing scenes between the two women. And what about Edmund? He ends up being the murderer! Definitely a neat and tidy way to remove him from the picture.