Ahoy there me mateys! Though this log’s focus is on sci-fi, fantasy, and young adult, this Captain does have broader reading tastes. So occasionally I will share some novels that I enjoyed that are off the charts (a non sci-fi, fantasy, or young adult novel), as it were. This be a contemporary retelling of a classic title.
a case of first impression (A.M. Blair)
I picked this book in 2019. It be a pride & prejudice retelling. I don’t normally read them but this one focused on the trial of George Wickham’s associate. The combo of P&P and law is what drew me in. It was okay. This is likely due to the fact that I have never loved a P&P retelling. However, this concept was different and I wanted to see how it would play out.
I found I didn’t really love the trial aspects and thought they got in the way of the story. I rather enjoyed the different take on the Bennett family and the bakery that they run. I would have liked to see more of this version of Mary. Though I always want Mary to have a better story, not get subsumed by her family, and have a better ending. I did like seeing more of Lydia and would have loved seeing more of Charlotte. I think the characters were the best part of the book.
It was a quick read that entertained so I have no regrets. Arrr!
Side note: I am not sure where ye can get a copy as it doesn’t seem to be sold online anymore at Amazon which is where I got it.
Goodreads has this to say about the novel:
What if George Wickham hadn’t married into the Bennet family?
A Case of First Impression — a modern twist on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice – gives George and his accomplice, Mrs. Younge, the alternate endings they deserve. George Wickham’s 21st Century counterpart, George Wickersham, is more corrupt than the original, but then again, who knows what the original is up to when he goes off to “enjoy himself in London or Bath.”
Elyse Barret, an updated version of Elizabeth, narrates this modern tale. She’s the only family member her father trusts to keep an eye on Mrs. Younge’s criminal trial, which involves a modern Mr. Darcy as a key witness.
To visit the author’s website and blog go to:
A.M. Blair – Author
To add to Goodreads go to:
Yer Ports for Plunder List
Captain's Quarters 
Reblogged this on The Misfortune Of Knowing and commented:
This is a recent review of A Case of First Impression (a legal drama inspired by Pride and Prejudice). The story isn’t available anymore, but someday, I’ll republish it.
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This sounds like an interesting part of P&P to retell. I have to say, Wickham never interested me that much in the original, so I wouldn’t normally give a retelling of his story a second look.
I agree with you about Mary, though. I think she usually gets sidelined because that’s easiest, though I’m really curious what her story would entail.
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I also thought Wickham was kinda boring in the original and is there as motivation for E & D to get back together. I did write a (bad) story about Mary’s point of view for an assignment back in high school. Even then I thought she was misunderstood. Arrr!
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Thank you for reading A Case of First Impression! I appreciate your feedback. I decided to pull it from Amazon. The early reviews were positive, but it stopped selling after receiving a certain number of low stars (without reviews to help future readers know if they would feel similarly or differently). I found it challenging to find the right audience for this story, which combines elements of many genres (classic retelling, legal drama, romantic elements without enough romance for some readers, etc.). I still love the story, so I’m planning to make it available on another platform in the future, but I might re-write parts of it to make it acceptable to a wider audience. There are a lot of copies out there, so people who already have it on their Kindles might give it a try. Thanks again for reading and reviewing it.
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Thank ye kindly for the lovely comment and explanation. I did quote this comment on me review on Goodreads. I can remove it from there if ye prefer. The combination of elements of different genres is what made the book so interesting. I still continue to think about the sections I really enjoyed. Arrr!
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Feel free to quote my comment! I’m glad you liked the combination of elements in the book.
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