. . . of most interest to Bennet was Mr. Darcy of Pemberley.
When Fitzwilliam Darcy attends the Meryton assembly, he befriends a quiet, intelligent gentleman. In frequent visits to his friend’s home, he becomes acquainted with the Bennet family of Longbourn. Yet Mr. Darcy is distracted by a strange feeling of having met some of them before. This is a different Bennet family from the cleverly crafted one in Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.
This Mr. Bennet is a responsible gentleman who takes an active role in the education and upbringing of all five of his daughters, manages Longbourn to be prosperous, and displays loving guidance toward Mrs. Bennet—a gentle, caring mother and wife.
There is a mystery lurking at Longbourn—a secret unknown even to Elizabeth Bennet—and Mr. Darcy is entangled in its extraordinary revelations.
Who is Thomas Bennet?
A second story, separate from the Pride and Prejudice Variation, is woven throughout: the revelation of why Mr. Bennet is completely opposite to the one of the original Austen novel. It involves a carriage crash, a fire, a rape, a murder, a duel, a peer of the realm who must flee his country with an infant and a toddler, a link to Mr. George Darcy (Fitzwilliam's father), a chance meeting on the way to Bermuda, and a new love, all taking place years before Pride and Prejudice. This second romance to the one of Darcy and Elizabeth has made readers grow to love an original character even more than Mr. Darcy, and the reveal of the mystery is not at all what is expected!
All the characters of the novel hold their original Austen character flaws, but the Bennet family is so improved in manners, readers have been gobsmacked.
Because of his secret background, Mr. Bennet knows a little of Mr. Wickham's personality. This takes the story beyond that of Austen and into an original plot with dramatic tension and constant twists to keeps readers on their toes.
The conclusion involves a surprise about the real heir of Longbourn, and it is not Mr. Bennet or Mr. Collins!
This book contains one brief scene of non‑explicit sexual violence that may be concerning to sensitive readers. The sexual violence does not include Elizabeth Bennet.
In addition, there is violence and explicit sexuality that is certain to entice readers who love an evil villain, dramatic and sexual tension, and steamy scenes typical of the Regency Romance genre!
So You Think You Know Mr. Bennet…
Review by Meredith Esparza
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
What if Mr. and Mrs. Bennet both experienced traumatic and disturbing tragedies that forever altered their lives?
What if Mr. Bennet was indeed quiet and private, but unlike Jane Austen’s character, he was a responsible parent and attentive husband?
What if there were secrets, secrets, and more secrets surrounding the Bennet daughters???
In many Austenesque novels we see Mr. Bennet depicted as negligent, acerbic, unsociable, and even unreasonable. Sometimes he is one of the antagonists and sometimes he is a confidante and companion. In Suzan Lauder’s debut novel, Alias Thomas Bennet, she places Mr. Bennet in a role he does not often have the good fortune to occupy – the role of hero!
In this novel Mr. Bennet takes more interest and care in his family. He doesn’t make sport of or ignore his wife, and she in turn is a bit more sensible and economical. He isn’t careless with his finances and management of Longbourn, which results in a very comfortable living situation and adequate dowries for his daughters. When Mr. Darcy comes to town, he finds the Bennets (especially Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth) to be very intelligent and pleasant company. How do the improved manners and abundance of propriety in the Bennet household effect the illustrious Mr. Darcy of Derbyshire…Is Elizabeth still inferior? Is marrying her still a degradation?
What an originative take on Pride and Prejudice! I enjoyed seeing how the different dynamics of the Bennet family impacted the storyline, and the happy and congenial atmosphere around Longbourn was heartwarming to witness. Much better than their usual disorder and disfunction! I enjoyed seeing Mr. Bennet be active in his daughters’ lives and take steps to protect them from Wickham. While at times, I may have thought the Bennet family a little too near “pictures of perfection,” I overall enjoyed seeing them portrayed in a more favorable light for a change!
What I loved most about this story was that it had a duel plot – besides the present-day story of Mr. Bingley letting Netherfield Park, readers learn about the traumatic experiences Mr. and Mrs. Bennet faced twenty years ago and how those experiences brought them together through periodic flashbacks. For me, learning the secrets of their past and witnessing their falling in love was my favorite part of the story. More so than the Darcy and Elizabeth storyline! (I know, how shocking, right?!?) In fact, I would have loved to see more of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet! Especially Mrs. Bennet – if Mr. Bennet is this story’s hero, I think she should be the heroine.
Unique and enthralling, Alias Thomas Bennet is a wonderful choice for readers who want to see a different side of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet! I sincerely hope we see more creative and unique novels pour from the pen of Suzan Lauder real soon!
Warning: Some sexual intimacy (between Darcy and Elizabeth) and sexual violence (not between Darcy and Elizabeth).
An afternoon of coffee, treats, and discussion with Suzan Lauder, author of Alias Thomas Bennet, enhanced the selection of her first novel as the September read for "The Real Orange County Book Club" of Trabuco Canyon, California. The group's name is a play on words a group of friends made from the popular TV show. Unlike the TV show, these are “regular” ladies, who have cleaned a bathroom or two in their lives, and the hour was casual and relaxed. The toughest feedback was from a reader who found the Austenesque language difficult at first, but as she got into it, she loved it.
