PBS TV Review: ****^Death Comes to Pemberly

 This is a tv miniseries presented on PBS Masterpiece.  There are three episodes.  It is very well done and captures the characters of the previouse PBS miniseries Pride and Prejudice but with all different actors.  Many times I was reminded of the original characters, their mannerisms and personalities, which was very gratifying as this presentation as a continuation of the characters.  The Darcys have a son, and the household is preparing for a ball.  However the preparations are halted after Lydia shows up the the estate in hysterics.  Her husband, and Denny went into the woods, and then two shots were hear, which spooked the horses and they were guided to Pemberly.  

A search party is formed and the discover that Denny has been murdered; and it looks like Wickham is the culprit.  Although Denny and Wickham are best friends.  Lydia was not invited to the ball, due to past issues with Wickham and Darcy's sister; but she came anyway thinking Darcy would not turn her away.

It is clear that Denny and Wickham were having an argument.  And Wickham first said he was responsible for Denny's death; but he insists he did not kill him.  He saw someone else in the woods and shot Denny's pistol in the general direction.  Wickham is arrested and held over for trial.

Other story incudes the courtship of Georgianna by Colonel Fitzwilliam, and the barrister Henry Alveston.  When the drams is at its worse, Eliza's sister Jane shows up to restore calm to Eliza.  She has a way of seeing good.  This story is well told.  It is based on a book by P.D. James.  It was published in 2011 when James was 91.  James is a mistery writer and there is the flavor of mystery and sleuthing in this book.

This story is very well told.  I like coming back to these characters.  The movie maintains their characters very well.

Anna Maxwell Martin as Elizabeth Darcy, Matthew Rhys as Fitzwilliam Darcy, Matthew Goode as George Wickham, Jenna Coleman as Lydia Wickham, Tom Ward as Colonel Fitzwilliam, Eleanor Tomlinson as Georgiana Darcy, Alexandra Moen as Jane Bingley and James Norton as Henry Alveston.

Book Review: A New Darkness: Joseph Delaney (Characters from the Last Apprentice)

In this book, Joseph Delaney starts a new trilogy after the thirteen book The Last Apprentice series.  I guess this is a new series as Tom Ward is no longer an apprentice.  With the death of the Spook, John Gregory, Tom Ward is now the spook at the age of 17.  His training was not quite complete, but it has to have been sufficient.  He wants to just do Spook's business, protect the county form the dark, but there is a menace which is coming much too quickly.  A Haizda Mage is in the county, and killing young women by drinking their blood.  How can Tom confront this new threat?
I don't want to give away the ending, but I don't like the way this story ends as it left me missing some of the characters.  Also the library does not have the next book yet so I am at a loss groping around for something to read.  I have felt it keenly since finishing this story.  I must admit, this story had me wanting to read on as quickly as possible to see what happens next.