by Kelly Gardiner & Sharmini Kumar
Publisher: Harper Collins Australia, 2025
Review by Sarah Jackson
Entertaining from start to finish
Miss Caroline Bingley, whilst visiting her brother Charles and new wife Jane (formerly Bennet – yes, those Bennets) discovers that her friend, Georgiana Darcy, has left for London without her family’s knowledge. Ms Darcy is in pursuit of her maid, Jade, who has left her service without explanation. Caroline, covering for friend’s impulsivity, follows her to London to assist in the search, and in turn solve the murder of the maid’s brother.
The story follows the ladies’ adventures as they traipse through the less reputable quarters of London, consult with unsavoury and untrustworthy citizens, and get a swift education in the impact of British colonialism on citizens of India (and other nations).
But rest assured, the story is not all murders, dirty work and bad actors. There is a wonderful element of romance, matchmaking, upstairs-downstairs interactions, clothes shopping, afternoon teas, and even a pre-season winter ball.
Set in Regency England, the tale moves from the winter countryside, with its bitter cold and beautiful snowscapes, to a dreary and dirty London. The descriptions of Miss Bingley’s delightful Mayfair abode are brilliantly juxtaposed with the Dickensian East-End life. The similar, descriptive treatment of the lives of the upper-class merchants, servants, and working poor provide no doubt as to the significant differences in living standards.
Miss Bingley is a thoroughly agreeable, if slightly flawed, character. She is precise, proper and fastidious to a fault, the very characteristics essential in a good investigator. She is clearly a woman who does not suffer fools and at times struggles to find patience with those less measured. In contrast, Miss Darcy is charming, impulsive, empathetic and somewhat naïve. It is her kind-heart and concern for others which lands the ladies in the centre of the investigation.
Other characters are a delightful mix of upper-class toffs, loyal and observant servants, hard-working Indian immigrants, colourful local identities and assorted shady characters. Each offers that special something to the mystery and adds depth to the story.
It is clear that significant research has gone into the writing of this book. Not only is Regency England and British imperial activities described with pinpoint accuracy, the many small details, such as references to various literary figures, the Napoleonic war, Ratcliffe Highway murders and the Cheapside markets add to the flavour and feel of the story.
The plot builds smoothly, with several twists and turns, and engaging Austen-style romance and relationships.
The prose is precise with an air of magic, exactly as you imagine Miss Bingley would sound. A perfect example of the many coy quips littered throughout is as follows:
Mr Pickersgill leaned forward and twitched his head to one side, looking for all the world like a fox. Possibly flea-bitten.
You are kept on your toes right up until the end. The chapters are just the right length, making the book easy to read and hard to put down.
Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective is what I hope is the first instalment of a series. This is such wonderful, informative and most of all fun read for anyone looking for an entertaining book to curl up with on the sofa (with chocolates and maybe a wine or two).
I thoroughly enjoyed this reading story and loved pretty much everything about it. Whether you enjoy cosy mysteries or just like Regency/Austin style dramas, you will love Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective by Kelly Gardiner & Sharmini Kumar.
Publisher’s blurb
A missing maid. A murder most foul. A highly imprudent adventure. Only her fine eyes can uncover the truth.
Two years after the events of Pride and Prejudice, Miss Caroline Bingley is staying at her brother’s country estate close to Pemberley, wondering if there’s more to life than cribbage and paying calls.
So when Georgiana Darcy’s maid, Jayani, vanishes and Georgiana disappears in search of her, Caroline races after them to London, only to discover a shocking, cold-blooded murder.
Soon Caroline is careering through the grimy underbelly of the city, demanding answers of malevolent footmen, reluctant magistrates, Indian dockhands, and mysterious East India Company men.
As Caroline exercises her superior powers of investigation, she finds out exactly what an accomplished, independent woman with a sharp mind and a large fortune can achieve – even when pitted against secrets, scandal, and a murderer with no mercy.