SENSE AND SECOND-DEGREE MURDER

SENSE AND SECOND-DEGREE MURDER

Author Tirzah Price is back with another great murder adaptation of a classic Jane Austen story. Sense and Second-Degree Murder is a fun, mysterious YA rendition of the well-known book Sense and Sensibility.

Let's talk YA for a moment. YA literature can be very difficult to navigate with its rebellious, try anything mentality. After all, it is directed to teens through early twenties young people who are in the process of "spreading their wings." There are some who consider YA a genre in itself, and I don't really subscribe to that idea. It is directed to a particular age, just like middle grade readers, easy readers, etc. Even though oftentimes it is controversial and morally corrupt, that isn't true of all volumes, and we are seeing more infiltration of that same mindset into middle grade readers.

Just like Pride and Premeditation, Sense and Second-Degree Murder is a witty retelling with all of the beloved (and not so beloved) characters of Sense and Sensibility. Beginning in the home of the wonderful Dashwood family, a mystery unfolds with the murder of Mr. Dashwood, owner and head investigator of Norland and Co. The book quickly follows a similar path of its predecessor. Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters are not included in the will and are turned out due to their stepson/half-brother and his money grubbing little wife. A home in Cheapside is quickly secured and a new way of life unfolds for the women. However, Elinor and Marianne cannot let go of the unsolved murder of their father. On top of that, opium seems to be popping up everywhere they turn. Of course our book would not be complete without the characters of Willoughby, Brandon, and Edward. Tirzah Price does not disappoint in keeping the true spirit of each character.

HEADS UP- Two minor things to report on this one. There is a semi-intense kissing scene between Marianne and Willoughby. It only includes passionate kissing, but it does promote body tingles. Also the word "Bastard" is used once.

-LATER UPDATE - I really liked Pride and Premeditation and Sense and Second-Degree Murder in this series. However, Manslaughter Park had a lot of "HEADS UP" issues. Each book is a stand alone