History Literature / MrAndMrsDarcyMysteries

* NotSoDifferent: Elizabeth tries to reassure Jane (Fairfax) Churchill that they're this and that Jane's marriage can survive such an inauspicious beginning as having to deal with a murder.

As the series progresses Elizabeth and Darcy gain a certain amount of GenreSavvy and reputation at being good at solving crimes, earning some enthusiastic endorsements from a range of people. Neither of them are particularly thrilled by this but generally consider it their duty to help where they can.

* GenreSavvy: Played straight in that after [[spoiler: Mr. Parrish]] the Darcys get better at not assuming innocence based on appearance but subverted in that they often still don't consider the suspect until it's almost too late.
** During ''The Matters at Mansfield'' Elizabeth and Darcy joke about her carrying around a muff pistol becaue they often find themselves in dangerous situations. [[spoiler:Then at the end of the book he buys her one and has her take lessons in shooting]].
** Lord Chatfield enthusiastically recommends that Mr. Knightley ask the Darcys for help in solving Edgar Churchill's murder.

* NeverSuicide: Sir Thomas Bertram is happy to consider [[spoiler:the apparent death of Henry Crawford]] as suicide when all the facts bar a few point in that direction. Darcy isn't nearly so [[GenreSavvy convinced]].

* SheepInSheepsClothing: While Knightley and Emma are willing to speculate that Jane (Fairfax) Churchill might have been responsible, past experience with her means [[GenreSavvy they don't believe]] it's remotely likely she'd kill anyone. Elizabeth and Darcy are more willing to entertain the idea as poison suits her personality. Turns out Jane is exactly as she's always been.

A novel series by Carrie Bebris in which newly wed [[PrideAndPrejudice Mr. and Mrs. Darcy]] solve the murders and crimes that seem to crop up wherever they go. In the process they meet characters from the other Austen novels who are somehow embroiled in each mystery with varying degrees of innocence and culpability. Meanwhile they are learning to be husband and wife and some of the joys and tribulations that go along with that and their new families.

** From PrideAndPrejudice – Kitty Bennet, Anne de Bourgh, Anne Darcy (despite being dead nearly twenty years).
** From SenseAndSensibility – Henry 'Harry' Dashwood.

** Kitty Bennet, as stated at the end of PrideAndPrejudice, is much more sensible after Jane and Lizzy start guiding her.

** From NorthangerAbbey – despite being dead, Lady Tilney.

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** From PrideAndPrejudice – Most of the Bennet family, except Kitty, Mr. and Mrs. Collins, Bingley and Wickham. Georgiana, while often mentioned, is rarely actually present – until ''The Deception at Lyme''.
** From SenseAndSensibility – Of the three Dashwood sisters and their husbands only Elinor and Edward have significant attention in ''Suspense and Sensibility'', though Marianne appears briefly.
** From NorthangerAbbey – most of the characters but significantly Catherine (Morland) Tilney.
** From MansfieldPark – most of the characters but significantly Fanny (Price) Bertram who doesn't appear at all and Edmund Bertram who does so only briefly.

* NapoleonicWars: Happening in the background for most of the series yet they are only significant during ''The Deception at Lyme'' – which is set after Napoleon was defeated.

** Isabella and John Thorpe – eventually find themselves [[spoiler:shipped to Sydney for ten years and seven years, respectfully]].

* ChristmasCake: Anne de Bourgh and Miss Bates. [[spoiler:Both find happy endings and marriages]].

* OfficerAndAGentleman: Colonel Fitzwilliam who is willing to [[spoiler:fight a duel for Anne's honour and do so by Lord Sennex’s rules, despite Darcy's protests and the fact the rules favour Lord Sennex]].

** [[spoiler:Lieut—''Captain'' St Clair. We spend most of the novel being suspicious of his motives but it turns out he is actually under cover for the navy trying to expose a smuggling ring. He also risks the entire operation just to save Georgiana from drowning]].

* ADayInTheLimelight: Elizabeth and Darcy generally share the POV for the series but in ''The Intrigue at Highbur'' part of the pov is given to Emma.

* TheGoodCaptain: [[spoiler:''Captain'' St Clair. The story highlights this, because it appears that Lieutenant hasn't been promoted and if he was any good at his job he should have been. It turns out he has been promoted, but only the admiralty knows because they need people to think he’s a lieutenant so he can investigate the smuggling ring.]]

'''''North by Northanger''''' follows Elizabeth and Darcy as they look for some relaxation in Bath. They come into contact with the son of a friend of Anne Darcy’s and are quickly embroiled in a plot that nearly sees Darcy charged with theft.

In '''''The Matters at Mansfield''''' Elizabeth and Darcy, now new parents, find themselves unable to relax when Anne de Bourgh elopes with none other than Henry Crawford. When the party is forced to stop at an inn in Mansfield they find themselves dealing with [[DuelToTheDeath duels]], murder, [[ProfessionalKiller hitmen]] and [[OopsIForgotIWasMarried Mr. Crawford’s]] [[HumiliationConga past]].

* ADayInTheLimelight: Elizabeth and Darcy generally share the POV for the series but in “The Intrigue at Highbury” part of the pov is given to Emma.
* AdventureTowns: They don’t seek it out but the Darcys travel about and stumble upon a variety of crimes.

* AmbiguouslyGay: Mr. Thomas Dixon. He’s interested in fashion and interior design and when Elizabeth queries the fact that he’s never married, Jane (Fairfax) Churchill quietly comments that ‘perhaps he has not had the inclination.’ Years after the fact a dear friend of his is killed in a duel defending his honour and leaves him his fortune.

** From SenseAndSensibility – Henry ‘Harry’ Dashwood.

* AssholeVictim: Mrs. Clay – Elizabeth reflects that if it wasn’t for baby Alfred she and Darcy would probably just have told the magistrate of their suspicions and left the investigation alone. [[spoiler: Which would have been a mistake]].
** Caroline Bingley, YMMV whether or not she quite deserves the [[MindRape trauma]] she’s put through, though.

** Harry Dashwood in order to be worthy of Kitty’s love and Darcy’s mentorship.

** Emma (Woodhouse) Knightley tries really, really hard to not play matchmaker but decides it’s necessary to protect Miss Bates’ future.

* CriticalResearchFailure: Generally averted. The author has done as much research as she can, most notably visiting locations where possible and consulting primary sources and Janeites – in addition to a variety of other secondary sources.
* CrossingTheBurntBridge: When Darcy is imprisoned and likely to be convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, Elizabeth is forced to turn to the one person who she knows will solve the problem: Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

* DancesAndBalls: Considering this is Austen… there are relatively few. They are mentioned but usually happen off-screen. Understandable, as they don’t relate to the main action.

* DemotedToExtra: A number of the main characters from Austen’s originals.

** From MansfieldPark – most of the characters but significantly Fanny (Price) Bertram who doesn’t appear at all and Edmund Bertram who does so only briefly.

* GenreSavvy: Played straight in that after [[spoiler: Mr. Parrish]] the Darcys get better at not assuming innocence based on appearance but subverted in that they often still don’t consider the suspect until it’s almost too late.

** Lord Chatfield enthusiastically recommends that Mr. Knightley ask the Darcys for help in solving Edgar Churchill’s murder.
* HappilyAdopted: Walter Alfred Arthur Henry Elliot, according to the prologue and much to Sir Walter’s chagrin.
* HappilyMarried: Specifically Elizabeth and Darcy. Though it would appear all of Austen’s heroines and their chosen loves fit this.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: While Elizabeth and Darcy befriend characters from most of Austen’s novels, Knightly and Darcy find in each other a kindred spirit. Elizabeth even jokes that if she leaves to join Georgiana nothing will get done because the two men will just sit around discussing agricultural practises.
* HighClassGlass: Professor Randolph has one but it’s stated his has a purpose of aiding his work in examining ancient artifacts – unlike the ‘affected London dandies’.

** Mrs. Norris – depending on your point of view. Yes, she isn’t [[spoiler:tried for murder, self-defence or not]] but she does have to spend the rest of her life caring for Maria Rushworth Bertram.

** Isabella and John Thorpe – eventually find themselves [[spoiler: shipped to Sydney for ten years and seven years, respectfully]].

* MurderTheHypotenuse: [[spoiler:Loretta Jones to poor Nellie, who wasn’t even remotely in the running for Mr. Deal’s affection, and Miss Bates]].
* NapoleonicWars: Happening in the background for most of the series yet they are only significant during ‘’The Deception at Lyme’’ – which is set after Napoleon was defeated.
* NeverSuicide: Sir Thomas Bertram is happy to consider [[spoiler:the apparent death of Henry Crawford]] as suicide when all the facts bar a few point in that direction. Darcy isn’t nearly so [[GenreSavvy convinced]].
* NonIdleRich: Elizabeth and Darcy. They don’t need to solve crimes but they do anyway.
* NotSoDifferent: Elizabeth tries to reassure Jane (Fairfax) Churchill that they’re this and that Jane’s marriage can survive such an inauspicious beginning as having to deal with a murder.

* OfficerAndAGentleman: Colonel Fitzwilliam who is willing to [[spoiler:fight a duel for Anne’s honour and do so by Lord Sennex’s rules, despite Darcy’s protests and the fact the rules favour Lord Sennex]].
** [[spoiler:Lieut—‘’Captain’’ St Clair. We spend most of the novel being suspicious of his motives but it turns out he is actually under cover for the navy trying to expose a smuggling ring. He also risks the entire operation just to save Georgiana from drowning]].

* OldMoney: Not surprising given it’s set in Regency England and focuses on Austen’s characters.
* OneSteveLimit: Averted. Bebris usually plays it straight with her own characters but her hands are tied with Austen’s characters.
* OopsIForgotIWasMarried: [[spoiler:In his haste to ‘rescue’ Anne de Bourgh, Henry Crawford ‘forgets’ he is already married to someone else – under a different name. Meg Garret turns up looking for her husband and just adds to Henry’s humiliation]].

* ProfessionalKiller: [[spoiler:In ''The Matters at Mansfield'' there’s a – not particularly effective – one. He fails to kill Henry Crawford and then is killed by Mrs. Norris]].
* PutOnABus: Professor Randolph. A major character in the first two novels, he vanishes from sight completely for the next three novels. It’s very nearly ChuckCunninghamSyndrome but—
** TheBusCameBack: He appears briefly in ''The Deception at Lyme''. The narrator tells us that the Darcys aren’t in London very often and the busy Professor Randolph was often out of town when they are.

* ResentfulGuardian: Subverted. No one other than the newly wed Wentworths is actually interested in raising Sir Walter’s heir. So while everyone who might have turned out like this congratulates themselves on not being saddled with the child, the Wentworths raise him as their own.

* SheepInSheepsClothing: While Knightley and Emma are willing to speculate that Jane (Fairfax) Churchill might have been responsible, past experience with her means [[GenreSavvy they don’t believe]] it’s remotely likely she’d kill anyone. Elizabeth and Darcy are more willing to entertain the idea as poison suits her personality. Turns out Jane is exactly as she’s always been.

** Catherine de Bourgh for Anne and Mr Sennex
** Elizabeth for [[spoiler: Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam]]

* Darcy for Georgiana and Sir Laurence. [[spoiler:Until he knows the truth]]

* SilkHidingSteel: Elizabeth. She manages to fill the role of being a gentleman’s wife enough that she’s liked and respected in society but she also does just as much legwork – mental and physical – as her husband when solving crimes.

* TheCameo: Many of Austen’s characters. Most of the main characters either appear – with varying degrees of importance to the story – or are mentioned.
* TheGoodCaptain: [[spoiler:’’Captain’’ St Clair. The story highlights this, because it appears that Lieutenant hasn’t been promoted and if he was any good at his job he should have been. It turns out he has been promoted, but only the admiralty knows because they need people to think he’s a lieutenant so he can investigate the smuggling ring.]]

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Mrs. Jennings, Anne de Bourgh’s companion, is dismissed by Lady Catherine after Anne elopes – despite the poor woman being utterly ignorant of Anne’s actions. She’s never seen or heard from again.

** Invoked in ‘’The Deception At Highbury’’. When contemplating whether or not Mr. Elliot could intend on killing baby Alfred, Elizabeth thinks about the princes in the tower and how children are sometimes victims of adult greed
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Poor, poor Harry Dashwood. [[spoiler:Fortunately, he doesn’t look as bad as he did while possessed by his ancestor but it’s stated the twenty-one year old ends the novel looking somewhere in his mid-thirties]].