Suspense and Sensibility revisits favorite Jane Austen characters Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy in a fun book that’s a novel twist on the regular Austen fare, while still retaining its flavor.

The Darcys reluctantly leave their peaceful home at Pemberley to “sponsor a London season” for Elizabeth’s younger sister Kitty. The husband hunting goes well, for Kitty finds herself an eligible young man, Henry Dashwood, almost immediately. The romance blossoms quickly, but then the young Mr. Dashwood all of a sudden starts behaving very oddly.

Elizabeth and Darcy are the team of “investigators” in this mystery. An ancient mirror with a strange history and possibly supernatural powers figures into the very bad behavior of the young Dashwood, who is more and more becoming like his embarrassingly reprobate ancestor Sir Francis Dashwood. The Darcys hope to get to the bottom of the mystery not only to keep Kitty from heartbreak, but to save the likeable Henry from himself — or whatever has hold of him.

Bebris’ novel stays very true to the characters and style of Austen’s works, and believably places them in mild detective roles. Being able to spend more time with the Darcys, as well as other beloved Austen characters Elinor and Edward Ferrars, is a delight. For an entertaining story that combines mystery with the romance and pleasantries of the Regency period, Suspense and Sensibility delivers right on the mark.

Rated: None, for a few occasions of very mild language and quite oblique references to sexual and other bad behavior “unbecoming a lady’s ears”