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This has to be one of my favorite add-ons to Pride and Prejudice. Marsha Altman has kept true to the origins of the characters created by Jane Austen while at the same time blending in her own version of them. She has also created new characters that add depth and insight into her novel. Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape contains daring adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Although this is the third installment in Marsha Altman’s Pride & Prejudice Continues series, the novel truly stands on it own. The newly created characters has been thoroughly explained so that reader does not need to have read the previous two. I will say after reading Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape you will want to read the other two. Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape should come with a warning label that declares once you open the book you will not want put it down until you have read the last page.

Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is a continuation of the beloved classic Pride and Prejudice. Marsha’s third book in the Darcys and Bingleys series is as enticing as the previous books, even though some of the events were so far fetched.

It is the year 1812 and Darcy sets out to search for a missing family member. With Dr. Maddox in tow they set off on their mission. Little did they know, they were going to be abducted and held prisoner in Transylvania. When word reaches Pemberley, a search and rescue team is determined to rescue Darcy and Maddox.

Parts of this book were laugh out loud funny. If you like to see where different authors can build a sequel to a classic, then this is probably up your alley.

A better name might be Elizabeth Bennett Darcy meets Indiana Jones. The book is a fun read, but don’t look for historical accuracy or the type of personality development that is typical of Jane Austen. However, all my favorite characters from “Pride and Prejudice” are in this book.

I was most happy to find that Elizabeth had not lost her backbone. In fact, her character is spunkier than ever and ready to take on any adversity that crosses her path. And, I don’t think that any lover of the classics should be disappointed or put off by the modernization of the characters.


Elizabeth Darcy is surprised to receive a letter from Lady Catherine De Bourgh, after all other overtures from her had gone unanswered. Meanwhile, Darcy is worried about his half-brother, Gregoire, who is a monk on the war-torn European continent. Once the Darcys arrive at Rosings, they learn that Lady Catherine has an unimaginable plan for Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam, her daughter’s husband. After, Lady Catherine collapses, both couples decide to tread lightly on any subject capable of upsetting her. Later, Darcy decides to search for Gregoire by traveling with Dr. Maddox, who is journeying to Europe to see his brother and his brother’s new wife. Unexpected adventures occur as a result of these decisions.

Although there is a plot point which caused this reader some bewilderment, on the whole, Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is a very enjoyable read. This point is a change in the inheritance of Rosings, from what seemed to be indicated in Pride and Prejudice. While Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape gives ownership to Rosings to Colonel Fitzwilliam’s brother and Darcy on Colonel Fitzwiliam’s brother’s death, Pride and Prejudice seems to indicate Anne will inherit Rosings. Other than the instances where this is mentioned, which kind of took me aback, I was very involved in this story and the characters’ many struggles. This book doesn’t just focus on the Darcys and the Bingleys, for the Maddoxs have their own part to play in this story. Dr. Maddox and his wife, the former Caroline Bingley, and Brian Maddox and his Austrian princess wife, contribute greatly to the developing story. This reader was caught completely by surprise by many of the plot twists contained within this action-packed novel. However, please don’t go into this book expecting the light, sedate Jane Austen, because this book is darker and filled with adventures.

All in all, Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is an entertaining read, but it may not work for sticklers about Jane Austen’s work.

Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is the third in Marsha Altman’s "The Darcys & the Bingleys" series. I’ve read all three and I’ll just warn you now: they need to be read in order. Altman has created a wild, action-packed world for the cast of Pride & Prejudice; she takes the characters in a direction that would undoubtedly turn Jane limp and have her whispering for smelling salts. But, that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s all good because Altman’s stories are adventurous and massively entertaining.

Check my reviews of the first two, if you’re interested:

The Darcys & The Bingleys - A story in which the Darcy and Bingley couples are wed, several children are conceived, the women giggle a great deal about coupling, the men require a little visual help, and then . . . swashbuckling fun ensues. I suppose this one will always be my favorite.

The Plight of the Darcy Brothers - In which Mr. Darcy discovers not one but two half brothers. Astonishing. More action and adventure, more childbirth; the fun continues.

Back to the current installment . . . At the end of The Plight of the Darcy Brothers, one of Mr. Darcy’s brothers returned to his home in Europe. In Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape, however, Darcy becomes concerned when no word arrives from the continent for several months. What’s become of his brother? Has he been driven from his home by Napoleon? Caroline Bingley’s husband is also concerned about his wayward brother, Daniel Maddox (who appeared in Book 1). Napoleon has everyone on edge.

When Darcy and Dr. Maddox (Caroline’s husband) get together to air their concerns, they end up hatching a plan. They will travel together and then, eventually, split off in search of their respective relatives. But, things don’t go as planned. Without a hint of the whereabouts of either man apparent, they travel a bit farther in search of the Count, Brian Maddox’s father-in-law . . . and end up imprisoned in his castle.

Elizabeth and Caroline are distraught when they receive no word. Where have their husbands gone? Not the kind of women to sit by idly while men do the dirty work, a pregnant but determined Lizzy and headstrong Caroline head for Europe to rescue their husbands; that is, if they can find them.

Oh, goodness gracious. Seriously, Marsha. You have one heck of an imagination, lady!

I had a terrible time getting into Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape, at first, but it was merely because I couldn’t stop snuffling about my cat. Well, that and the fact that I had trouble figuring out which children belonged to whom; a family tree in the front of the book would have been extraordinarily helpful. Once I got back on an even keel and accustomed to the many characters, I finally got into the story and really, really enjoyed it. It’s a tremendously fun read. If you’re not afraid to go where Jane would never have dared to tread without a nice, long sword, this series is for you.

4/5 - Adventurous, complex enough to satisfy without becoming overdone, light and consistent with the tone of previous books and Jane herself, in manners and style. Marsha Altman has a fabulous sense of humor and an excellent ear for dialogue. I will follow this series for as long as it lasts.


Adventure it is in Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape, by Marsha Altman! This is the third book in this Austen Pride and Prejudice spin-off trilogy- and although I haven’t read the first two books, I immediately jumped in the fun.

Who would have thought that Mr. Darcy and Dr. Maddox would become prisoners in Transylvania of all places? Altman weaves the mystery and keeps us smiling while anticipating what will happen next. All the wonderful characters of Pride and Prejudice are included in this loveable mystery. Let me tell you, this book stems from a wild imagination- yet it’s pulled off cleverly and it’s totally enjoyable.

The book also portrays Darcy as someone I would never have imagined as so- but it worked! Elizabeth of course, is there to help save the day- and everything becomes a family affair. I absolutely loved the old aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, feisty and not so kindly, yet unexpectedly shocking! There’s also Brian, Dr. Maddox’s brother, and his lovely Princess (whose disappearance is what caused this whole plight to Transylvania to begin with)-what a romantic piece to the story. The other fun character that made me smile and soon became a favourite for me, was Darcy’s brother (from one of his father’s illicit affairs), a Monk with a story to tell;)

I won’t say more, except that Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is a fun read and a very different twist from anything you might imagine could happen. An enjoyable read through and through.


Marsha Altman continues the story of The Darcys and the Bingleys in Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape, bringing us to 1812. This is book three of the series following The Darcys and the Bingleys and The Plight of the Darcy Brothers. While the lives of the major characters have continued since Pride and Prejudice, Altman has remained true to the character of each person and yet allowed them to grow and change, not to mention beginning a new generation of Darcys and Bingleys.

The book opens as the entire clan gathers at Netherfield, which Mr. Bennet has had to rent, for Kitty’s wedding. It’s an occasion that allows the reader to catch up on the growth that has taken place and refresh their memories of the previous books. It also sets up the relationships between the characters and their families, so what happens later in the story fits into these new and expanding friendships and family connections.

Once past the confused chaos and joy of the wedding, we’re hit with incident after incident with little quiet time to relax until the end of the book. That’s not to say the book is episodic or has gaps that make the story jerky — it’s just much more of an action adventure thriller than the sedately paced story most readers would expect from a Pride and Prejudice follow on. In fact, I don’t think any of Altman’s books are quite what you’d expect, but they are nevertheless some of the best follow on stories to Pride and Prejudice that I’ve read to date. Each volume is filled with humor, quirky happenings, incidents that will have you laughing right out loud, as well as scenes that will catch at your heart and put a tear in your eye.

You probably wonder why I’m not getting to what the book is about, well, it’s a book that brings a lot of characters together in way that you would not expect, doing things you probably would never have thought possible. Lady Catherine de Bourgh finally invites the Darcys to Rosings and of course she has ulterior motives that in themselves bring on some especially trying and unexpected consequences. Dr. Maddox’s brother Brian has invited him to visit with him and his wife in Transylvania. It’s a strange letter and Dr. Maddox feels he must not just respond but take the journey to find out for himself what is going on. Darcy has lost contact with his brother, Gregoire. The war is heating up in Europe and many of the monasteries are being disbanded. Concerned that traveling alone could be dangerous, Darcy and Dr. Maddox decide to travel together. When their wives receive notes that make them suspect that something is going on, Elizabeth and Caroline put aside their differences and set out on a mission to discover what has happened to their husbands. Bingley and Jane, of course, need to stay behind and watch over all the children, related businesses and establishments. I’ll leave it up to the reader to determine who had the worse part of this adventure.

There are plenty of incidents that occur in England and in Europe and Altman manages to keep us informed on what is happening to each of these various groups: Darcy and Maddox; Elizabeth and Caroline; Gregoire; the Bingleys, and the Fitzwilliams. Just as in life, it’s complicated, but once you begin you just can’t put the book down. I ended up reading it through four times preparing for this review because if I opened it to look up something, I ended up rereading it. In fact, I’m about one third of the way through again.

So don’t waste any time, Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape should be available from Amazon and from wherever you usually buy your books. But don’t start reading until Friday night because you’ll want to finish it in one go and start over again to savor the humor, the adventure, and the pleasure of spending time with the Darcys and the Bingleys.


A campy, madcap adventure story, Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is Marsha Altman’s third book, in her Pride and Prejudice Continues series. The year is 1812, seven years after Elizabeth Bennet and her devoted sister Jane married Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley respectively, and the families are all returning to Longbourn for the wedding of Kitty Bennet, daughter number four. Within the first 100 pages, Elizabeth Darcy finds herself immersed in the intrigues of the Napoleonic War as she races across the continent to the rescue of Mr. Darcy, who has become imprisoned in a medieval cell in Transylvania! Unbelievable? Quite, but hang on . . . there’s more.

Licentiously diverting is Altman’s treatment of her own original character’s as well as Jane Austen’s canon characters. Altman’s Mr. Darcy was half brother to George Wickham who he apparently killed in a duel in Book 2, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers: A Tale of the Darcy’s and the Bingley’s. And, Darcy’s other illegitimate brother Gregoire, by his father’s dalliance with his mother’s French maid, is now a monk in Austria and favors prominently in this bold undertaking. Mary Bennet is now the mistress of Longbourn, although having been compromised while on tour of the Continent. (also in Book 2) Oh, and there is also an utterly convoluted entail of Rosings that deems Darcy as heir apparent, regardless of the fact that Anne is now married to Colonel Fitzwilliam. And, if that is not enough action there is also an insane Oriental assassin en route to Pemberley. This is all cleverly forged to create an eyebrow raising, humorous, 486 page saga.

Wild? Far-fetched? Contrived? Yes, to all. But Marsha Altman bravely undertakes this continuation of Pride and Prejudice and makes it entirely her own. Although inspired by Jane Austen’s masterpiece, little if any of Austen’s original is obvious in this series. However, that’s not to say that readers won’t enjoy this fun romp. In the same vein as the British ITV series “Lost in Austen,” those that want more of the Darcy’s and the Bingley’s might find this wicked tale a satisfying joke. “I can hardly write for laughing.”


Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape (5/5)

This is the third book in Altman’s series, which picks up where Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice left off. In this book, Mr. Darcy and Dr. Maddox head off in search of their brothers. They end up kidnapped by the father-in-law of Dr. Maddox’s brother, Brian. He is holding them hostage to try to get Brian to return with his daughter. Mr. Darcy and Dr. Maddox’s imprisonment has some lasting effects on them. Not ones to sit at home waiting, Lizzy and Caroline end up going after their husbands to rescue them. They enlist the help of Darcy’s cousin and the brother of the Count holding them hostage. The families of the Darcys, Bingleys, and Maddoxes increase throughout the book. They’re a fertile bunch.

Once again, Altman remains true to Austen’s writing style and characters. Mr. Darcy is a tad different in this book but it is realistic given what he goes through. More importantly, Darcy and Lizzy’s love for each other shines through once again.

I enjoy this series a lot and this book was no exception. I hope Altman continues it. A chunkster at almost 500 pages, this book flew by. I rated it a 5/5. This book was sent to me by SourceBooks to review.


Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is a terrific continuation to an already awesome series (The Darcys & The Bingleys and The Plight of the Darcy Brothers). This is one of those rare series where it just keeps getting better and better. Every new addition to the series bring something unexpected to the mix. I think this may have been my favorite of the trio because it combined so many genres and themes into one amazing package.

This series is a combination of so many different genres but it is never more true than in Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape. Drama, romance, comedy and adventure are so intricately combined and utilized perfectly in Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape. I have never seen a novel, much less a Jane Austen sequel, combine this many genres and themes and do it so successfully.

Darcy was perhaps the most shining example of Altman’s accurate yet unique character portrayal. He was brave, debonair and, at times, borderline hilarious. I also thought that Altman’s portrayal of post-traumatic stress disorder was brilliant. It was heartbreaking to see Darcy and Lizzy go through such difficult emotional trials after Darcy is rescued (trying to avoid spoilers). Lizzy acting like the Big Damn Hero and rescuing Darcy was excellent. I love it when the heroine rescues the hero. It does the Women and Gender Studies major that is still sorta alive in me good. The children in the book were again a huge highlight for me. They were funny and adorable and helped to break up the tension.

Overall, this book was the highlight of the series for me. I loved every single part of it and would recommend this series to just about anyone.

Grade:A