The Rushworth Family Plot

I’ve been loving Claudia Gray‘s Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery series, so I could hardly wait for the fourth installment, The Rushworth Family Plot. Now that Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney have a reputation for solving murders, it’s no wonder the London police immediately give them free rein to investigate the latest crime: Mr. Rushworth has been found dead in his home. While these two work on following the clues, they’re also there to enjoy the London season… and becoming more sure that they want to be together despite their respective fathers’ disapproval. Can they solve murder and take their relationship to the next level?

What I Liked:

• Humorous, insightful, incisive writing. As always, and perhaps even more than ever, Claudia Gray’s writing is a joy to read in and of itself. Throughout this novel, her witty and tongue-in-cheek prose is on full display. The omniscient narrator keeps with the style of the time (February 1823), calling out societal norms of the era with plenty of room for laughs along the way. Murder notwithstanding, this is hilarious and smart.
• Jonathan and Juliet’s romantic relationship continuing to blossom! Throughout the first three books, I enjoyed seeing Jonathan and Juliet get to know each other. Now that they know their romantic feelings are mutual, Jonathan has decided he wants to court Juliet in earnest. But their fathers stand in the way, as do the machinations of a certain other character I hadn’t expected to see. I love their cute relationship and seeing them overcome so many hurdles!
• Seeing the many Jane Austen characters brought to life here. In The Rushworth Family Plot, we get to spend a lot of time with the Bertrams and Rushworths from Mansfield Park and Catherine Tilney from Northanger Abbey. Caroline Allerdyce (née Bingley) and the Darcys are also present. Across characters, their mannerisms, speech, and actions are consistently accurate to their original books, making it a rewarding read for those familiar with Jane Austen’s work.
• What family looks like. A secondary plot throughout this book is Fanny’s desire to become a mother. Will she ever be able to bear children of her own? Are there other ways she and Edmund can grow their family? This aspect of the story was done with tenderness that brought tears to my eyes.
• Jonathan’s neurodivergence. As with previous books, I appreciated getting to see Jonathan in all his uniqueness. Characters of the time wouldn’t have known what to call it, but he’s portrayed to be autistic, and it’s done so well.
• Combating crime! The first murder doesn’t occur until about 25% into the book, but once it does happen, there’s a lot for Jonathan and Juliet to uncover. Their investigation feels less circuitous here, to its merit, allowing the story to remain more engaging and progress in other ways. So much happens and I enjoyed every bit of it!

Final Thoughts

The Rushworth Family Plot may be my favorite Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery so far! I had so much fun reading it and already can’t wait to see where our characters go next. This whole series is a must-read for Jane Austen fans and anyone who enjoys historical mysteries with a side of romance.

Special thanks to Austenprose PR, Vintage, Claudia Gray, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy The Rushworth Family Plot here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray
Series	Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery (#4)
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Mystery; Historical Romance
Setting	England
Number of Pages	336
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	June 17, 2025
Publisher	Vintage

Official Summary

The fourth book in New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s Jane Austen sequel series, which finds amateur sleuths Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney caught up in the whirlwind of the London Season—and in a murderous scheme involving the family of Edmund and Fanny Bertram

Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney understand each other perfectly; it’s a pity their families do not. A series of misunderstandings, misplaced pride, and—indeed—prejudice, has led their parents to deem the pair unsuited to wed. Now, with the Season approaching, Juliet’s grandfather, General Tilney, has sent her to London with a new wardrobe and orders to prove herself worthy of someone better than the snobby Darcys. Meanwhile, Jonathan has been forced to accept an invitation to stay in town with old friends Edmund and Fanny Bertram at the house of Edmund’s brother, Sir Thomas. Oblivious to and undesiring of female attention outside of Juliet’s, Jonathan is at risk of being ensnared by Caroline Bingley’s previously rebuffed plans to make herself—or her daughter—mistress of Pemberley.

But when Mr. Rushworth, the former husband of Edmund’s sister Maria, is discovered dead in his home, Jonathan and Juliet find themselves with problems far weightier than the marriage market. In one of the greatest scandals of its day, Maria abandoned her new husband in favor of the notorious rake Henry Crawford, and when he wouldn’t marry her, was forced to flee to the continent in disgrace. Now Maria is back, accompanied by a daughter she claims Mr. Rushworth fathered after their divorce—and who he wrote into his will just before his death. To spare Edmund and Fanny further social shame, Jonathan and Juliet must unmask a killer before the drama surrounding the Rushworth family fortune claims another victim.